PPE Diploma requirements

Applicants holding a non-Dutch pre-university diploma must meet a number of requirements to be eligible for admission to the Bachelor's programme Philosophy, Politics and Economics. In this list we have included examples of diplomas that meet the PPE admission requirements.

Admission requirements

For more information about the academic requirements, selection criteria and application procedure you can check the PPE admissions page.

The current list is applicable only for 2025-2026 (applications from 1 October 2024 onwards). Please note that our diploma list may be updated for future intakes. No rights can be derived from this list and the final decision on admission to the programme will be determined by the PPE Admission Board and the International Office.

How to determine if you meet the requirements

Below you can find a list of examples of accepted diplomas.
Is your diploma not included? Then check our diploma list to find out if your diploma is evaluated as being equivalent to the VWO level.

A final decision will only be taken after you have submitted a complete online application for admission. As the admissions process for PPE is selective, meeting the academic requirements does not guarantee that you are accepted in the programme. The selection committee evaluates your application file as a whole, considering all factors.

The only way to determine whether you are eligible for admission is by submitting an official application via Studielink and providing all required documentation in the application section of the VU Dashboard. After submission the International Office will evaluate your documents to determine whether your diploma is equivalent to the Dutch VWO-diploma and whether your Mathematics level and GPA is sufficient. If already obtained at the moment of application, you are also asked to submit proof of sufficient proficiency in English (you can find all accepted tests, exemptions and scores on our Language Requirements webpage).

Questions?

You can send an e-mail to the PPE International Student Advisor via admissionsppe@vu.nl

Europe

Albania

Diplomë e Maturës Shtetërore / Diploma e Maturës Shteteröre Profesionale

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum GPA of 8,0	Followed up until and including final year or as electives	Yes

Austria

Reifeprüfung/Matura awarded by an Allgemeinbildende Höhere Schule/Realgymnasium

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum GPA of 2,0 or “Ausgezeichnetem Erfolg"	Profile with Mathematik	Exempt in case of English as Lebende Fremdsprache as part of the final examination (Reifeprüfung) with a minimum grade of 2,0 or ‘Gut’

Belgium

Algemeen Secondair Onderwijs (ASO)

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum GPA of 71/100 or 15/20	4-uursvariant wiskunde	Exempt in case of a minimum final grade 70/100 for English

Certificat d’enseignement Sécondaire Supérieur

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum GPA of 71/100 or 15/20	stream mathematics and/or science	Yes

Bulgaria

Diploma za Sredno Obrazovanie, Academic stream from a gimnasia or a sredna obchschoobrazovatelna uchilishte

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum GPA of 5,0	Profile Mathematics/Informatics, Natural Sciences or Foreign Languages with Mathematics Intermediate level or Advanced level taken up until the final year (grade 12)	Yes

Czech Republic

Vysvědčení o maturitní zkoušce obtained at a Gymnázium

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum GPA of 2 (Chvalitebný)	Followed up until and including final year with a final min. grade of 2 (or chvalitebný); OR followed up until and including final year incl. Maturita in Mathematics with a grade of 3 (or dobry)	Yes

Estonia

Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Overall grade 4 and at least 70% in a min. of the 3 Riigieksamitunnistus (State examinations)	Broad or Extensive up until and including final year	Yes

France

Baccalauréat Général

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum GPA of 13,5	Mathématiques complémentaires or specialité in the final year	Yes N.B. Students in the OIB or BFI (British/American) are exempt if a passing grade for English is obtained.

Germany

Zeugnis der allgemeinen of fachgebundenen Hochschulreife

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum GPA of 2,0	Mathematics Grundkurs as Prüfungsfach or Mathematics erhöhtem Anforderungsniveau (eA)/Leistungsfach	Exempt in case of a minimum grade 11/gut for either English Grundkurs as Prüfungsfach in the Abitur, or English at advanced level (erhöhtem Anforderungsniveau (eA)/Leistungsfach).

Hungary

Gimnaziumi Erettsegi Bizonyitvany

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum GPA of 4,0 over final two years including at least 5 matura exams	Followed up until and including final year	Yes

Ireland

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
B3/H3 + min. 380 CAO points	Higher Level	Exempt if the diploma was obtained in Ireland

Italy

Diploma di Superamento dell’Esame di Stato Conclusivo, awarded by a Liceo classico/Scientifico/Linguistico/Scienze Umane

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum GPA of 84	Mathematics in the Liceo Scientifico or Liceo Classico stream	Yes

Latvia

Atestāts par vispārējo vidējo izglītību

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Overall GPA of 7 (Labi) in final year + average of 70% for all State Exams	State exam with min. grade 50%	Yes

Lithuania

Brandos Atestatas from a Gimnazija or Licejus including 3 State Matura Exams in extended A (isplestinis) level subjects with a minimum of 36% in each subject

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum GPA of 8.0 (school grades) + an overall average score of at least 80% for 3 state exams on A-level (and min. 36% per exam)	Mathematics extended A (isplestinis) level + State Matura Exam in Mathematics with a minimal score of 50%	Yes

Poland

Świadectwo Ukończenia Liceum Ogólnokształcącego + Świadectwo Dojrzałości (maturity certificate)

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum GPA of 4 (dobry) + at least 67% overall on the Matura exams	Advanced/Extended level Matura exam in Mathematics with minimum grade 40%	Yes

Portugal

Diploma or Certificado Nivel Secundário Educação - Cursos Científico-Humanísticos (CCH)

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Profile Ciências e tecnologías OR Ciências socioeconómicas with média final of min. 16/20	Matemática A with a min. grade of 12/20 in year 12	Yes

Slovakia

Vysvedčenie o Maturitnej skúške awarded by a Gymnázium

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Maturita exams with overall GPA of at least 2 (Chválitebný) or 65%	Maturita in Mathematics with a min. grade of 50%	Yes

Slovenia

Spričevalo o Splosni Maturi from a Gimnazia

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Overall GPA of 4 in final year + overall grade of 22 for the Matura exams	Matura exam in Mathematics with a passing grade	Yes

Spain

Bachillerato (Titulo de Bachiller) and the PAU/EBAU/EvAU exams

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Overall minimum GPA of 7.2 for Bachillerato + overall min. 7.2 for the PAU/EBAU/EvAU exams in the fase obligatoria	Matemáticas aplicadas a las ciencias sociales or Matemáticas II exam in the PAU/EBAU/EvAU with minimum grade 5	Yes

Sweden

Högskoleförberedande Examen från Gymnasieskolan with one of the programmes mentioned on this website

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum GPA of 17,1/C	Mathematics 3	To be confirmed

Switzerland

Maturity Certificate / Maturitätszeugnis / Maturitätsausweis / Certificat de Maturité

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum GPA of 5,1	Mathematics as Grundlagenfach in final year	Yes

Romania

Diplomă de Bacalaureat - academic stream

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum GPA of 9.0	Sciences Profile: Mathematics/Informatics or Natural Sciences	Yes

United Kingdom

England
For VWO level: At least 3 GCE A-levels (A2) in general, academic subjects with an A*, A, B or C grade + 3 GCSE’s with grade A*, A, B or C/grade 4-9 in six different subjects, incl. English and Mathematics.
Examples of accepted A-level subjects: All Languages*, Ancient History, Biology, Chemistry, Classical Civilisation, Classical Studies, Economics, Environmental Science / Technology, Further Mathematics, Geography, Government and Politics, History, History of Art, Islamic Studies, Latin, Law, Literature, Marine Sciences, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Politics, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Statistics

*A maximum of 1 GCE A-level in languages is accepted.

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
B (with BBB as the lowest possible combination)	3 A-levels in academic subjects grades BBB incl. A-level Mathematics 3 A-levels in relevant academic subjects excl. maths grades BBB + A-level Mathematics grade C 3 A-levels in relevant academic subjects excl. mathematics grades BBB + Online Mathematics Placement Test - OMPT-A - minimum score 70%	Exempt if the diploma was obtained in the UK. Otherwise see: International A-levels

North America

USA
High school diploma - accredited by an official US education board - with at least 4 College Board AP exam certificates*, with minimum grade 4 for at least three AP's and no score lower than 3.
*AP Seminar, AP Research, AP Capstone and vocational subjects are not accepted

GPA (last 2 years of high school) Mathematics English language test needed?

B+ AP Calculus AB or BC, minimum grade 3 Exempt if the diploma was obtained in the USA.
South America

Suriname
Surinamese VWO Diploma

GPA Mathematics English language test needed?

7.0 Wiskunde Q To be confirmed

International

European Baccalaureate

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum GPA of 8.0/80%	3 periods Mathematics	Exempt with English L1 or L2, minimum grade 6

International Baccalaureate Diploma

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum of 31 points excl. TOK and Extended Essay	Mathematics SL/HL, Applications & Interpretation HL, Analysis & Approaches SL/HL	Exempt if language of instruction is English

International A-levels (Cambridge or Pearson)

At least 3 GCE A-levels (A2) in general, academic subjects with an A*, A, B or C grade

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
B (with BBB as the lowest possible combination)	3 A-levels in academic subjects grades BBB incl. A-level Mathematics 3 A-levels in relevant academic subjects excl. maths grades BBB + A-level Mathematics grade C 3 A-levels in relevant academic subjects excl. mathematics grades BBB + Online Mathematics Placement Test - OMPT-A - minimum score 70%	Exempt if an A-level English Language or English Language & Literature is obtained with minimum grade B

U.S.-Patterned Education outside of the United States

Recognised U.S. curriculum High School Diploma obtained from an accredited high school with at least 4 College Board AP exam certificates*, with minimum grade 4 for at least three AP's and no score lower than 3.

Other accredited diplomas with at least 4 College Board AP exam certificates*, with minimum grade 4 for at least three AP's and no score lower than 3 will be considered on a case by case basis.

*AP Seminar, AP Research, AP Capstone and vocational subjects are not accepted

GPA (last 2 years of high school)	Mathematics	English language test needed?
B+ or equivalent	AP Calculus AB or BC, minimum grade 3	Exempt if the diploma was obtained in the USA. In case of a high school diploma obtained outside of the USA an exemption only applies to students with an AP exam English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition minimum grade 3