Numerus Fixus Selection Procedure in the Netherlands

What 'numerus fixus' means

A numerus fixus programme is one where the number of places is capped — demand is expected to exceed the available seats, so the university runs a selection to decide who is admitted. Common capped fields can include medicine, dentistry, psychology, biomedical sciences, physiotherapy and some popular liberal arts or business programmes, but the exact list changes each year and varies by university.

Capped programmes do not select on a first-come basis and they cannot simply admit everyone who is qualified. Instead, every eligible applicant who applied on time is ranked, and offers go down the ranking until the seats are filled. Confirm whether your chosen programme is numerus fixus, and the method it uses, on its official page each year.

The strict 15 January deadline

For numerus fixus programmes you generally must register your choice in Studielink by 15 January for the following September intake. This deadline is firm — unlike non-selective programmes (often 1 May), late registration for a capped programme is generally not possible.

Because the date is unforgiving and the file you submit afterwards can be part of how you are ranked, plan ahead: have your documents, English-language test and any required statements ready well before mid-January. Always confirm the current deadline and any limit on how many numerus fixus programmes you may apply to on the official sources, as these rules are reviewed periodically and some fields have their own limits.

• Register in Studielink by the 15 January deadline — no late entry for capped programmes (verify the live date).
• There may be a cap on how many numerus fixus programmes you can choose at once, with field-specific rules.
• Prepare documents and tests before January, not after.
• Verify the live deadline and choice limit on the programme page and Studielink.

Decentralised selection and how applicants are scored

Many Dutch capped programmes use decentralised selection (decentrale selectie): each university designs its own selection for that programme. There is no single national formula — the criteria and their weightings are set by the programme and published in advance.

Typical criteria can include prior academic grades, a motivation or written assignment, an on-site or online selection test, and sometimes an interview or other activity. Each applicant receives a rank based on these criteria; offers are then made in rank order until the cap is reached. Because every programme weights things differently, read that specific programme's selection page rather than assuming a general rule.

Ranking, offers and accepting a place

After the selection activities, the university produces a ranking of eligible applicants. You are typically told your rank (often published in Studielink), and admission offers are issued from the top down. If applicants ahead of you decline, places can move further down the list, so a borderline rank is not necessarily the end.

When you receive an offer for a numerus fixus place you usually must accept it within a set window in Studielink, or it is released to the next applicant. Keep an eye on your Studielink messages and email throughout the selection period, and confirm the exact ranking-publication date and acceptance window on the official portal — timings change and missing them can cost the place.

Selection methods, including the lottery option

Dutch rules on how capped programmes select students have changed over time. For several years a centrally weighted lottery was not permitted, and programmes selected on their own published criteria (decentralised selection). The rules were later changed so that universities may again choose to use a lottery (selection by lot, 'loting') as a permitted method — some programmes have adopted it, while many others continue to use decentralised, criteria-based selection.

What this means for you: the selection method is set per programme and can be decentralised selection, a lottery, or a combination, and a programme may change its method between years. Do not assume a programme is purely merit-based or purely lottery — read that specific programme's current selection page and Studielink to confirm the method, criteria and timeline that apply to your intake before you build your plan around them.