Application procedure European (EEA) students

Application procedure

The EEA includes all members of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, plus Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Deadlines

Application deadline: 1st August

We strongly advise Bachelor students to apply before 1 May to make beneficial use of the study choice check

For more information about the deadlines, please consult our deadlines section.

Step 1: Application in Studielink 

If you wish to apply for a study programme, you first have to apply through Studielink, the online application system for higher education in the Netherlands. (If this is the first time you are applying to a Dutch University please select Create a Studielink-account without DigiD). You can already submit your application before finishing your final exams.

Once you have created a Studielink account, please choose the programme you are interested in and indicate the year you want to commence your studies in.

For questions about how Studielink works, please consult their information page.

Bachelor students will receive an invitation to do the study choice check. This is an online questionnaire and helps you to find out whether studying at VHL is in line with your expectations. 

Apply in Studielink Register here

Step 2: Application in the SIS Portal

After you have finished your application in Studielink, please already collect the following documents. Within a few days you will receive an email from us with a link to get access to our application portal SIS where you will be requested to upload these documents: 

  • a colour copy of official diplomas or certificates of all previous education 
    (secondary and university level and other relevant courses )*
  • copies of the corresponding lists of marks - transcripts of records*
  • an internationally recognised certificate of proficiency in English language (e.g. IELTS Academic, TOEFL IBT or Cambridge CAE of FCE)**
  • colour copy of ID or passport

* If you are submitting your application before obtaining your official diploma, we require a recent list of grades and a signed statement from your school which states the name of the diploma you will obtain and when you are expected to receive it. With these documents we can conditionally enroll you.
* Certification and translation of documents is required when documents are not written in one of the following languages: Dutch, English of German.
** The VHL institutional TOEFL code is: 4478. 
** Please check the specific admission requirements of your study programme to see whether or not it is necessary to provide proof of English proficiency. Some diploma's or students are exempted.

Step 3: Assessment admission requirements 

Once a complete application (including all necessary documents) has been received, the Student Service Centre of VHL will assess your eligibility. The Student Service Centre will decide whether:

  • You are not eligible to enter the study programme: VHL will withdraw your application.
  • You are eligible to enter the chosen study programme. We will inform you on further actions in order to complete your file.

Step 4: Final admittance

The next step for you is to transfer the tuition fee. Your application becomes final when VHL has received the tuition fee and you have fulfilled all other remaining admittance conditions. You will receive the details of the VHL’s bank account in a separate email from May 1st. You can transfer the money directly to this bank account or pay by direct debit (preferred method). In Studielink you can indicate if you want to pay via direct debit in 1 or 5 terms. Please make sure you transfer the tuition fee before 30 August, but preferably sooner.

When your enrolment is final, you will receive a confirmation by e-mail. After that you can start making arrangements to travel to the Netherlands. 

Start academic year

A few months before the start of the academic year, you will receive an email with a link to a webpage where you will find all practical information that you need to start your study programme (information about your schedule, the academic calendar, your book list, facilities etc.). You will also receive an invitation to a pre-departure webinar where all relevant information is presented and you can ask live questions.