Sorry! De informatie die je zoekt, is enkel beschikbaar in het Engels.
This programme is saved in My Study Choice.
Something went wrong with processing the request.
Something went wrong with processing the request.

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 2024-2025 (applications from 1 October 2023 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

Diploma/GPA/Mathematics:

  • Europe

    Austria

    Reifeprüfung/Matura awarded by an Allgemeinbildende Höhere Schule/Realgymnasium

    GPA MathematicsEnglish language test needed?
    minimum GPA of 2,0 or “Ausgezeichnetem Erfolg"Profile with MathematikYes

    Belgium

    • Algemeen Secondair Onderwijs (ASO) 
    GPA MathematicsEnglish language test needed?
    71/100 or 15/204-uursvariant wiskundeExempt in case of a minimum final grade 81/100 for English
    • Certificat d’enseignement Sécondaire Supérieur
    GPA MathematicsEnglish language test needed?
    71/100 or 15/20stream mathematics and/or scienceYes

    Bulgaria

    Diploma za Sredno Obrazovanie - Academic stream

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

    France

    Baccalauréat Général

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

    Germany

    Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife

    GPA MathematicsEnglish language test needed?
    2,0Mathematics Grundkurs as Prüfungsfach or Mathematics erhöhtem Anforderungsniveau (eA)/LeistungsfachExempt 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 MathematicsEnglish language test needed?
    84Mathematics in the Liceo Scientifico or Liceo Classico streamYes

    Lithuania

    Brandos Atestatas from a Gimnazija or Licejus

    GPA MathematicsEnglish 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 (level A or B) min. 60% state exam or minimum final grade 6 for Mathematics (level A) in year 12Yes

    Poland

    Świadectwo Ukończenia Liceum Ogólnokształcącego + Świadectwo Dojrzałości (maturity certificate)

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

    Spain

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

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

    Romania

    Diploma de Bacalaureat - academic stream

    GPA MathematicsEnglish language test needed?
    9.0Sciences Profile: Mathematics/Informatics or Natural SciencesYes

    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, 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. 

    GPAMathematicsEnglish 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)MathematicsEnglish language test needed?
    B+AP Calculus AB or BC, minimum grade 3Exempt 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

    Suriname

    VWO Diploma

    GPAMathematicsEnglish language test needed?
    7.0Wiskunde QExempt with a minimum final grade 8 for English

  • International

    European Baccalaureate

    GPA MathematicsEnglish language test needed?
    8.0/80%3 periods MathematicsExempt with English L1 or L2, minimum grade 7

    International Baccalaureate Diploma

    GPA MathematicsEnglish language test needed?
    31 points excl. TOK and Extended EssayMathematics SL/HL, Applications & Interpretation HL, Analysis & Approaches SL/HLExempt 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 MathematicsEnglish 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