Application procedure for non-European (EEA) students

Application procedure for Bachelor, Master and Certificate students

Applicants that qualify as non-European are nationals of countries from outside the EU/EEA area. Are you not sure if your country is EU/EEA? Click here for the EU/EEA list and application procedure. 

Do you want to apply for a study programme with the Nuffic OKP Scholarship? Please check the webpage Orange Knowledge Programme for information on this procedure.

Application deadlines

Bachelor, Certificate and Master Innovative Dairy Chain Management: 1 June*
Master Agricultural Production Chain Management and Master Management of Development: 1 July
Master students with an OKP Scholarship:  8th March
Certificate students with an OKP Scholarship: 13th March

*We strongly advise Bachelor students to apply before the 1 May with regard to the study choice check. You can still apply between 1 May and 1 June, but then there’s a chance that you’ll not be admitted.

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 make the study choice check. This is an online questionnaire and helps you to find out whether studying at VHL University of Applied Sciences (VHL) is in line with your expectations. Students from our partner universities (Baramati, YAU, Sichuan, Kunming) attending 2+2 or 3+1 programmes will not need to do a Study Choice Check. They will undergo a pre-selection process at their home university.

Are you applying for a Certificate Programme? Then you do not have to use Studielink, instead you need to start your application here. 

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
  • a letter of motivation for attending the course (only for master applicants)
  • a CV (only for master applicants)

* 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 ensure you allow enough time to investigate the availability and costs of attaining a language certificate in your own country.
** 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 diplomas or students are exempted.

Students already living/ studying in the Netherlands should also add the following:

  • a copy of a valid residence permit (front and back)
  • proof of current health insurance 

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 fees 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. 

Upon receipt of the payment of the tuition fee and the fee for VISA and health insurance, we will arrange your VISA and health insurance for you.

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 and the location of VHL. 

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.