Bachelor's language requirements and exemptions
In order to be eligible for admission you will have to meet the language proficiency requirements applicable to the programme of your choice.
You can find an overview of generally accepted exemptions at the bottom of this page.
Overview language requirements per faculty
Each faculty has its own language requirements.
Validity of certificates
Keep in mind that TOEFL and IELTS certificates are only valid for 2 years. Cambridge certificates do not have limited validity.
Campus Fryslân
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Bachelor's programme
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Requirements
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* TOEFL MyBest Scores are not considered in the Admissions procedure.
** We do not accept IELTS Online certificates.
Additional exemption possibility
- Minimum final grade of 7 for the English course for the Dutch VWO diploma
- Minimum final grade of 10 for the English course at Leistungskurs (LK) / erhöhtem Anforderingsniveau (eA) for the German Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife (however, please note that taking an English language proficiency test meeting the minimum requirements for this programme is strongly recommended)
Faculty of Arts
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Bachelor's programme
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Requirements
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English-taught programmes
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Dutch-taught programmes
Archaeology
Arts, Culture and Media (Dutch track) Classical Studies Communication and Information Studies (Dutch track) Dutch Language and Culture History (Dutch track) Linguistics Middle Eastern Studies |
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* TOEFL MyBest Scores are not considered in the Admissions procedure.
** We do not accept IELTS Online certificates.
Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences
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Bachelor's programme
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Requirements
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English-taught programme
Psychology (English track) |
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Dutch-taught programmes
Pedagogische Wetenschappen
Psychologie (Dutch track)
Sociologie
Academische Opleiding Leraar Basisonderwijs (AOLB)
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* TOEFL MyBest Scores are not considered in the Admissions procedure.
** We do not accept IELTS Online certificates.
Faculty of Economics and Business
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Bachelor's programme
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Requirements
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* TOEFL MyBest Scores are not considered in the Admissions procedure.
** We do not accept IELTS Online certificates.
Faculty of Law
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Bachelor's programme
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Requirements
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* TOEFL MyBest Scores are not considered in the Admissions procedure.
** We do not accept IELTS Online certificates.
Faculty of Medical Sciences
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Bachelor's programme
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Requirements
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You are exempted from proving your proficiency in Dutch if you apply based on:
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(to be obtained) IB diploma with ‘Dutch A’ (SL or HL);
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a (to be obtained) A-level in Dutch
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you have obtained a VWO diploma including Dutch as a subject
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a (to be obtained) Belgian Diploma van Algemeen Secundair Onderwijs (ASO)
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a (to be obtained) Dutch-taught Bachelor’s degree programme in the Netherlands
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a Dutch HAVO diploma (in combination with a (to be obtained) HBO propaedeutic certificate or another qualification leading to VWO-equivalency)
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Faculty of Philosophy
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Bachelor's programme
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Requirements
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* TOEFL MyBest Scores are not considered in the Admissions procedure.
** We do not accept IELTS Online certificates.
Faculty of Science and Engineering
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Bachelor's programme
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Requirements
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* TOEFL MyBest Scores are not considered in the Admissions procedure.
** We do not accept IELTS Online certificates.
NB: If you have been diagnosed with dyslexia, please contact the relevant test providers directly.
Faculty of Spatial Sciences
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Bachelor's programme
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Requirements
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* TOEFL MyBest Scores are not considered in the Admissions procedure.
** We do not accept IELTS Online certificates.
Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society
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Bachelor's programme
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Requirements
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* TOEFL MyBest Scores are not considered in the Admissions procedure.
** We do not accept IELTS Online certificates.
University College Groningen
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Bachelor's programme
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Requirements
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Exemptions are granted at the discretion of the Admissions Office.
*TOEFL MyBest Scores are not considered in the Admissions procedure.
** We do not accept IELTS Online certificates.
Please note that certain exemptions* from the above-mentioned requirements may apply in the following cases:
- Applicants with a Dutch VWO diploma and a 7 or higher in English;
- Applicants with a German Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, including English PF, eA or LK with a minimum grade of 10
Exemption options
Overview exemption options
You are exempted from proving your proficiency in English if you apply on the basis of a (to be obtained):
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American High School Diploma with at least 3 content-based AP courses externally examined by the College Board (grades 3-5) and a high school unweighted GPA of 3.0/4.0;
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European Baccalaureate diploma from a European School or one of the Accredited European Schools and have (completed) English as an L1 or L2 subject;
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French Diplôme du Baccalauréat Général, Baccalauréat Francais Internationale (BFI) - British version;
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GCE A2-level certificates (British Examination Board), minimum 3 with grades A* to C from an accredited British examination board;
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International Baccalaureate diploma, with English as the medium of instruction;
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Singapore/Cambridge GCE/ A-levels in at least three H2, and one H1 content courses (of which at least 1 course in a contrasting discipline), together with either the course General Paper, or Knowledge and Inquiry (5 courses in total);
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South Africa National Senior Certificate (NSC) in combination with an IEB Advanced Programme Certificate in English (with minimum result 55% in case this is the only IEB AP certificate; otherwise with a passing grade), or in combination with an IEB Further Studies (Certificate) in English (with minimum result 55% in case this is the only IEB certificate; otherwise with a passing grade);
In addition, the following may be exempted:
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A (to be obtained) upper secondary qualification, or a (to be) completed Bachelor's programme obtained in one of the following countries: USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (English speaking provinces/territories), Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Providing the applicant also meets our general end-level requirements for that specific qualification.
Additional exemptions
Additional exemptions may apply for the programme of your choice, however this is at the discretion of the Admissions Board and will be assessed when your application has been received by the Admissions Office.
The following faculties offer additional options for an exemption to the English requirement:
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the Faculty of Arts
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the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences
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the Faculty of Economics and Business
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the Faculty of Spatial Sciences
If you are applying to a programme at one of these faculties make sure to check the list below to see if an exemption applies.
| Last modified: | 10 April 2025 3.54 p.m. |