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 refers to the admission requirements of 2023-2024 only. 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

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.

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.

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

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, min. grade 4/Genügend	Yes

Belgium

Algemeen Secondair Onderwijs (ASO)

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
71/100 or 15/20	4-uursvariant wiskunde min. grade 60/100 or 12/20	Exempt in case of a minimum final grade 81/100 for English

Certificat d’enseignement Sécondaire Supérieur

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
71/100 or 15/20	stream mathematics and/or science min. grade 60/100 or 12/20	Yes

Bulgaria

Diploma za Sredno Obrazovanie - Academic stream

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
5,0	Profile Mathematics/Informatics, or Natural Sciences/Foreign Languages with Mathematics Intermediate level or Advanced level taken up until the final year with min. final grade 4,5	Yes

France

Baccalauréat Général

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
13,5	Mathématiques complémentaires or specialité in the final year, minimum final grade 11,5	Yes N.B. Students in the OIB (British/American) are exempt if a passing grade for English is obtained.

Germany

Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
2,0	Mathematics Grundkurs as Prüfungsfach or Mathematics erhöhtem Anforderungsniveau (eA)/Leistungsfach minimum grade 7 (out of 15)	Exempt in case of a minimum grade 13/sehr gut for either English Grundkurs as Prüfungsfach in the Abitur, or English at advanced level (erhöhtem Anforderungsniveau (eA)/Leistungsfach).

Italy

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
84	Mathematics in the Liceo Scientifico or Liceo Classico stream min. grade 6	Yes

Lithuania

Brandos Atestatas from a Gimnazija or Licejus

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum GPA of 8.0 (school grades) + an average score of at least 80% for 3 state exams on A-level	Mathematics (level A or B) min. 60% state exam or minimum final grade 8 for Mathematics (level A) in year 12	Yes

Poland

Swiadectwo Dojrzalosci Liceum Ogolnoksztalcacego

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
4 (dobry) + at least 67% overall on the Matura exams	Advanced/Extended level Matura exam in Mathematics with minimum grade 60%	Yes

Spain

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

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
Minimum 7.2 overall for Bachillerato + min. 7.2 overall 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 6.5	Yes

Romania

Diploma de Bacalaureat

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
9.0	Profile: Mathematics/Informatics or Natural Sciences with minimum grade 7.6 for Mathematics	Yes

United Kingdom

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, Computer Science, Digital Technology, 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 (last 2 years of high school)	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 Advanced Placement (AP) exam certificates, with minimum grade 4 for at least three AP's and no score lower than 3. Please upload a digital copy of your AP score report if you have already obtained any AP results at the moment of applying.

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. 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 4

South America

Surinam
VWO Diploma

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

7.0 Wiskunde Q min. grade 6.0 Exempt with a minimum final grade 8 for English

International

European Baccalaureate

GPA (last 2 years of high school)	Mathematics	English language test needed?
8.0/80%	3 periods Mathematics minimum grade 7.0	Exempt with English L1 or L2, minimum grade 7

International Baccalaureate Diploma

GPA	Mathematics	English language test needed?
31 points excl. TOK and Extended Essay	Mathematics SL/HL, Applications & Interpretation HL, Analysis & Approaches SL/HL minimum grade 4	Exempt if language of instruction is English

International A-levels

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

GPA (last 2 years of high school)	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