Applying with a non-Dutch diploma: numerus fixus programmes (ENG)

• Before you apply: learn more about the programme and check if you match the admission requirements

  Bachelor's Day and webinar

  VU Amsterdam organises the Bachelor’s Day twice a year. During these open days you can attend presentations and talk to representatives from all of our programmes. Most Bachelor's programmes also offer the opportunity to attend a Taster Day on campus. 

  Check the admission requirements and selection procedure

  Go to the programme page of Psychology and check the admission requirements and selection procedure ('Numerus Fixus') for the programme under the tab 'Admissions':

  • Psychology 

  Student Self-Check tool

  There is also the option to fill out the online Student Self-Check tool - prior to applying - to find out more about your chances to be admitted.

  Application procedure

  Before you apply: take a look at the step-by-step application video to find out how you can apply for our English-taught programmes with a non-Dutch diploma. Then progress to 'Step 1: Apply in Studielink' below.

  Switching programmes

  Are you having doubts about your current study programme and would you like to switch programmes within VU Amsterdam or from another institution? Or would you like to learn more about transferring credit? VU Amsterdam is happy to guide you in the transition to another study programme.

• Step 1: apply in Studielink

  Go to Studielink and create an application for the study programme you wish to apply for. 

  Application deadline: 15 January 2027

  Do you currently live in the Netherlands? Then you will need to log in with your DigiD. 
  If you do not yet live in the Netherlands you can choose the option: 'International students - Create an account'. When you create your Studielink account via this option you will need a scan or photo of your valid passport or European ID card.

  • Studielink Step-by-step plans - instructions on how to create a Studielink account (with or without DigiD)
  • Online Studielink Q&A

  Important when you register in Studielink:

  • Make sure that the email address you fill in in Studielink (My details) is correct: you will receive important notices concerning your enrolment via this address.
  • Please enter your prior education (on the basis of which your application will be evaluated) correctly.
  • Select the study programme of choice with (Bachelor) at the end from the list in Studielink (note: specialisations and tracks can be selected in your personal dashboard on VU.nl, the next step of your application).
  • Enter your payment details so the correct tuition fee can be calculated. This does not generate an automatic payment. The deadline for payment is 15 July 2027 for numerus fixus study programmes.

• Step 2: complete your application via your dashboard on VU.nl

  Within 48 hours* (two working days) of finishing your application in Studielink you will receive your VUnetID (username) and password via email. You can use these to log in to the application portal in your personal dashboard on VU.nl.  If you already are (or have been) a VU Amsterdam student, or if you applied before, use your existing VUnetID and password to log in.

  Complete you application by answering the questions asked in the application portal and make sure to upload the requested items. Complete your application until 100% in your VU dashboard within six weeks and no later than one week after the application deadline closes.

  Questions? Read our step by step guide to completing your application in your dashboard on VU.nl.
  
  *In case you did not receive your login details, please first check your spam folder. If you are still unable to locate them, then contact the UCIT service desk on ucit-servicedesk@vu.nl or +31 (0)20 598 0000.

  Application documents

  In the portal you are asked to upload the required documents in PDF-format and submit your application.

  Required application documents (including the VU Application Form - Numerus Fixus)

  Note that you do not have to send original documents when applying! For the application phase uploading scans of your previous education documents is sufficient. 

  Complete your application by 15 January - this includes the payment of the 100 euro application fee

• Step 3: pay the application fee

  If you obtained your diploma outside of the Kingdom of the Netherlands we ask you to pay a non-refundable €100 application fee before the deadline of 15 January. Only after you have paid this fee will we be able to start the assessment of your application file. Please do not delay paying the fee as this will delay your application.
  
  Application fee payment options and possible exemptions
  
  Do you think you qualify for an exemption? Please get in  touch with the International Student Advisor via the online form (Psychology) before 15 January in order for us to exempt you from paying this fee.

• Step 4: wait for the admission decision

  The International Office will confirm receipt of your complete application once your file is submitted and all documents have been checked. Your admission decision will be determined based on the submitted documents only. Note that during holiday times and closer to the deadline dates the processing time (i.e. checking of all documents) and decision time is longer than in slower periods. Keep this in mind in planning when to submit your application. 
  
  Once you have received confirmation that the application is complete, we aim to send you the admission decision within 4-6 weeks. 

  All information regarding your application will be sent to your Studielink registered email address. It is your own responsibility to check your inbox regularly, including the spam folder. 

  Unsure if your application is complete? 

  You can always check the status of your application in your status overview. Note that your application is only complete when you have received a confirmation email from us. 

• Step 5: participate in the Selection Procedure

  You will receive an invitation to take part in the selection procedure for your chosen Numerus Fixus programme after the application deadline of 15 January. Information about the selection procedure can be found on your programme's Admissions page.

  • Psychology 

  Read more about the selection rules and deadlines for programmes with a selection procedure.

• After admission: start your international student onboarding journey!

  Once you have secured your (conditional) admission to VU Amsterdam, your exciting student onboarding journey begins. 

  International student onboarding

  To optimise your student experience, VU Amsterdam offers a range of onboarding services and activities. All activities within the onboarding process are aimed at social and academic integration and cultural adaptation to foster your study success.  

  Read more about student onboarding  

  Confirm your participation in your VU Dashboard after conditional admission

  Do not miss out on any of our essential student services and confirm your participation.

  You will receive your decision on admission by e-mail (make sure to check your spam folder regularly). Please read this e-mail carefully and keep it in your personal administration.

  Confirm your participation in your VU dashboard once you have been conditionally admitted. This will enable you to apply for Accommodation and Visa services. Please note the following:

  • If you have one or more deficiencies, you can only apply for our accommodation and/or visa services after you have eliminated them by passing your entrance exam(s) before the deadlines mentioned in your decision on admission e-mail
  • If you decide to withdraw your application before 15 January, you will not have used up one of your participation opportunities in a Numerus Fixus programme application procedure. Find more info here.
  • It is possible to withdraw your application after 15 January, but you will have used up one participation opportunity in a Numerus Fixus programme application procedure. Find more info here.

  Arrange practical matters

  Before and when you arrive, the International Office will help you to arrange practical matters such as picking up the keys to your room, opening a Dutch bank account, picking up your residence permit and registering at the municipality.
  
  More information about the arrangement of practicalities can be found on our When you arrive page.

• Step 6: accept your place within two weeks after placement

  After taking the selection test, you will receive your ranking number through Studielink on 15 April. When your ranking number entitles you to a place then you will be offered a place through Studielink. You must accept your place within two weeks. If you do not accept or accept after the deadline, your place will become available to the candidate with the next lowest ranking number. You will then not be able to begin the degree programme on 1 September. 

  If you are still waiting for a spot and require one of the International Student Services (such as Accommodation or a student visa), you are expected to have your information ready to complete the required procedures at short notice. 

  For an up-to-date overview of the released ranking numbers, see our numerus fixus page.

• Step 7: submit the required documents

  In most cases, you will still need to send documents to complete your admission. This could be a certified paper copy of your diploma, the results of your English proficiency test and/or other specific test results such as the result of your Mathematics entry exam.

  Please make sure to include your student number in all correspondence via postal mail and email. Your student number can for instance be found in your admission decision email.

  Certified copy of your diploma

  The Student Administration of VU Amsterdam requires a certified copy of your diploma (not your original diploma) to verify your previous education –  if your diploma and grades transcript are not issued in English, German, Dutch, French or Spanish, please also submit an English translation by a sworn translator.
  
  Information on how to submit a certified copy of your diploma

  Deadline for submission: 15 July

  English proficiency test results

  If you are applying for one of our English-taught Bachelor's degree programmes you will have to demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency. All applicants are asked for a valid English language test that meets the minimum score requirement, unless you qualify for an exemption. Check carefully if an English language test result is listed as one of the conditions in your admission decision. 

  English language requirement: accepted language tests and exemption options

  The results of your English language test has to be uploaded in the application section of your VU Dashboard. After receipt of the scores we will verify your scores with the test centre and process them in your application status. Please see the instructions: Verification of your test scores.

  Deadline for submission:

  • Students who need a study visa or residence permit: 1 June
  • All other students: 1 August
    

  Additional requirements

  Subject deficiencies (mathematics or other), or specific course/grade requirements 

  If your conditional offer states that you need to meet additional requirements this refers to any requirements in addition to the submission of your certified diploma copy.
  
  This can refer to the submission of additional (school/university) transcripts, submission of specific test results (deficiency tests/entrance exams), and/or the requirement to complete a specific course or obtain a certain GPA. You will need to share the official results with VU Amsterdam so we can verify your scores. In your admission decision you can find information on what additional requirements you have to meet and how to share your results.

  Contact your International Student Advisor if you have any questions about the conditions for your admission.
  
  Please note: until we have received all documents requested in your admission decision and you have completed the tuition fee payment, you will not be able to register for courses.

• Step 8: pay the tuition fees before 15 July

  Make sure that you have paid the tuition fees or issued the digital direct debit mandate before 15 July 2027. You will not be enrolled and will not be able to start the degree programme in September if you miss the deadline.

  If you opt for a digital direct debit mandate in Studielink you will need to confirm this when the action appears in your to-do list. This will be within 24 hours. This confirmation is deemed to be the actual payment, so don't forget this step!

  Read more about the payment of tuition fees

• Step 9: confirm your enrolment is complete

  You will receive a notification from Studielink when your student registration is complete. Only when you have received this notification, you'll know you have met all requirements for a full student registration. Your status in Studielink will then change to 'enrolled'. The deadline for a full enrolment is 1 August 2027. If you are not yet enrolled and do not know why, please contact your International Student Advisor for advice.

  Within one month of the enrolment being completed you will receive:

  • A declaration of registration (downloadable from your VU Dashboard)
  • A student card (if you have uploaded a jpeg. document of your passport format photo in your dashboard)

  Please note: being in the possession of these two documents is not required in order to follow classes. However, having a valid enrolment is required. To confirm your ID at an exam you can either use your student card or your ID/passport in combination with a paper version of the Declaration of Registration (available from the Student Desk once your status is enrolled).

  Other Important things to think about

  In addition to completing your enrolment, we recommend that you read the following information prior to starting your studies:

  • Financing your studies
  • The International Onboarding Guide is full of practical information about your stay here like insurance, medical care, etc. 

• (Online) Campus Tour and Student Experiences

  Visit the Campus online

  The University Campus is the lively hub of the university and you are welcome to pay a virtual visit to get to know the university.
  Visit the online campus tour and explore the campus, university buildings and more!

  Contact our Student Ambassadors

  Do you have a question for a current student? Are you curious about everyday life in Amsterdam, from our campus to the food, music and events going on throughout the city? Want to know how much homework you will have each night, or how the Dutch educational system differs from your own? Ask one of our ambassadors! You can contact the VU Student and Alumni Ambassadors for questions about their experiences with the programme, the university, the Netherlands, finding a job, or whatever you would like to ask. Check the Student Ambassadors page to find an ambassador from the programme you’re interested in or from your home country. 

  Read the Student Blog

  On www.amsterdamstudents.com you can read blog updates from our (international) students.

Applying for a numerus fixus study with a Dutch diploma

• Step 1: check the admission and selection requirements of the programme of your choice

  Make sure to check the programme page first to see which admission and selection requirements apply.

• Step 2: apply for the programme in Studielink

  Log in to Studielink with your DigiD and select the programme of your choice. Please note: the application deadline for numerus fixus studies is 15 January at the latest!

• Step 3: meet the selection requirements

  Make sure you meet the selection requirements before the application deadline. You can find these on the page of the relevant programme.

• Step 4: complete your application in your personal dashboard on VU.nl

  Complete your application in your application portal and upload the requested documents before 15 January. Do this in time, or you will not be able to take part in the selection. After completing your application, you will receive more information from the faculty about the selection procedure.

• Step 5: accept your place within two weeks after placement

  On 15 April you will receive your ranking number through Studielink. If it entitles you to a place, you will be offered this place through Studielink. You must accept the offered place within two weeks. If you do not accept or do not accept in time, your place will be allocated to the next candidate. You will then no longer be able to start with the study programme. For an up-to-date overview of the released ranking numbers, see our numerus fixus page.

• Step 6: submit the required documents

  You will be informed by VU Amsterdam whether you need to hand in a proof of your previous education. The deadline for handing in your documents is 15 July. The following documents are accepted:

  
  

  • Original certified copy of diploma. Submit the document by post (Student Administration, de Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands) or to the Student Desk (Main Building, ground floor). You can have your diploma authenticated at the Student Desk as well. Make sure to bring your original diploma and a copy with you. Please note: do not submit original documents, as these will not be returned.
    
    
  • Graduation certificate. Apply for this from your current study programme. The declaration must state the programme and the examination date and must be signed by the Examination Board. Submit the original by post (Student Administration, de Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands) or to the Student Desk (Main Building, ground floor). 
    
    
  • Digital extract from the Diploma Register. Download the extract from www.mijndiplomas.nl and submit it digitally via the contact form. You cannot submit a printed version of the extract as it is not valid. Please note: this option is only valid if you do not have an original certified copy of your diploma or graduation statement before the deadline. Unless stated otherwise, we only process documents that are handed in by post or at the student desk. If you submit a digital document, we may ask you (at a later moment) to submit a hard copy.

• Step 7: pay the tuition fees

  Make sure you pay the tuition fees or issue the digital authorisation before 15 July. Otherwise, you will not become enrolled and cannot start the study programme. Have you opted for digital authorisation in Studielink? Then you still have to confirm this when the action appears in your to-do list. This will take a maximum of 24 hours. The confirmation is the actual payment, so don't forget this step!

• Step 8: check if you are enrolled

  Your enrolment is only complete once you receive a message from Studielink and VU Amsterdam that you are enrolled. You can always check the status of your application in your dashboard on VU.nl.

• Want to know more?

  Click here to read more on how to apply for a numerus fixus programme with a Dutch diploma.

Do you have any questions?