How to Get Admission in University of Amsterdam

About the University of Amsterdam

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is a public research university in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, offering a wide range of bachelor's and master's programmes, including many taught in English. It is among the well-known European research universities and appears in the QS and THE rankings (rankings are issued by those bodies, not by the university).

This guide explains how international students apply. Admission requirements, deadlines, and any tuition are set by UvA and reviewed each year, so always confirm the current details on the official UvA website before applying.

Studielink — the national application step

Applications to Dutch universities go through Studielink, the national online enrolment platform, where you register your details and the programme you are applying for. Many UvA programmes then ask you to complete a separate application in the university's own system in addition to the Studielink registration.

The exact combination of Studielink plus any UvA-specific application depends on the programme, so follow the application instructions on the official UvA programme page alongside Studielink to make sure you complete every required step.

• Register for your programme in Studielink (the national platform)
• Complete any additional UvA application step the programme requires
• Follow the official UvA programme page for the exact steps and order

Admission requirements for international applicants

Bachelor's admission generally requires a secondary-school diploma that is considered equivalent to the Dutch pre-university level, plus any programme-specific subject requirements. Master's admission generally requires a relevant bachelor's-level degree and any specified prerequisites, assessed per programme.

Because equivalency and programme-specific requirements vary and can change, check the admission-requirements section of the official UvA programme page for the qualification and subjects your chosen programme expects.

Numerus fixus and selection programmes

Some UvA programmes have a numerus fixus (a capped number of places) or a selection procedure, which usually means an earlier application deadline and additional selection steps beyond meeting the basic requirements. These programmes admit a limited number of applicants through a defined selection process.

Whether a programme is numerus fixus or selective, and what the selection involves, is set by UvA and can change year to year, so confirm this on the official programme page early, as the deadlines are typically earlier than for non-selective programmes.

Language requirements and how to apply

For English-taught programmes, UvA requires proof of English proficiency through an accepted test or exemption, while Dutch-taught programmes require Dutch proficiency. The accepted tests and required scores are set per programme.

In outline, the process is: choose your programme and check its requirements and deadline; register in Studielink; complete any UvA-specific application; and submit your documents and language proof on time. Use the official UvA pages as your authoritative source, and verify any student-visa or residence-permit steps for the Netherlands on the official government source — this is general information, not immigration advice.