Applying for a course at an institute of tertiary education
If you wish to study at an institute of tertiary education, be aware of the application deadline. The application deadline for a bachelor’s programme is 1 May in the year in which you wish to start studying. This deadline does not apply to master’s programmes. If the course you wish to study has a limited number of places, then the deadline for applying is 15 January.
Last updated 13 October 2021
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Tertiary education in the Netherlands
There are different types of tertiary education available in the Netherlands. Universities offer highly academic, research-oriented programmes. Hogescholen (polytechnics) are more practical and profession-oriented.
Applying for a course
If you intend to study at a tertiary education institution for the first time, the deadline for submitting a course application via Studielink.nl is 1 May. If you have taken a break from studying, you will need to re-register.
To find out more about the application process and the course requirements for the course you wish to study, please check with the university or hogeschool.
Studiekeuzecheck and the right of admission
If you apply before 1 May, you have the option of completing a Studiekeuzecheck (Study Choice Check). This is an online pre-entrance check offered by your chosen institution to help you confirm whether the course you have selected is the right one for you. Sometimes it is compulsory to take a Studiekeuzecheck before being allowed on a course. If you chose a course before 1 May but are unsure whether it is right for you, you have until 1 September in which to switch to another course. This is called the toelatingsrecht (right of admission).
Applying for a course with limited places
Some courses at tertiary education institutions have a limited number of places, in which case they impose a numerus fixus (fixed intake). If too many people apply for a course with a fixed intake, then the tertiary education institution selects who will be admitted. For courses with a fixed intake, the application deadline is 15 January of the year in which the course starts
Laws and regulations (in Dutch)
Wet op het hoger onderwijs en wetenschappelijk onderzoek, artikelen 7.31a, 7.31b, 7.31c en 7.31d
Regeling aanmelding en toelating hoger onderwijs, artikel 4.6