University of Groningen for international applicants: Bachelor entry in September 2027

A Bachelor application to the University of Groningen from abroad runs through Studielink, a €100 non-refundable fee and the Progress Portal. For the September 2027 start the deadline is 15 January for fixed-quota programmes and 1 May for regular ones, and three requirements decide the outcome: a VWO-equivalent diploma, the subjects of the programme and English.

The deadlines page, headed academic year 2027-2028, applies its international deadline to all students applying with a prior diploma from outside the Netherlands. That covers readers from Italy, France, Poland, Romania, Indonesia, Brazil, Spain, Greece, Algeria, Japan, Egypt, Germany, the Netherlands, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and anyone with an IB, A-level or AP qualification.

• Diploma level. The general end level of the previous education must be equivalent to pre-university education (VWO) in the Netherlands. A qualification that is not on the list can still apply, because all applications are assessed on an individual basis.
• Subjects. For Economics and Business Economics and International Business, mathematics should have been passed as a standard/methods level subject; Computing Science asks for the stronger mathematics option on the IB and European Baccalaureate routes (see the mathematics chapter).
• English. Programmes sit at three levels from CEFR B2 to C1: the University of Groningen uses three English proficiency levels. A test is not needed to apply, because it is not a problem if you submit your application while you have not yet taken a language test.

Two things in the university's own wording are worth holding on to. First, the Early Bird arrangement lists five faculties, yet its own FAQ says this academic year the Early Bird deadline only applies to the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Faculty of Arts; check the Early Bird page for your faculty before relying on it. Second, the central page sets the English-test deadline for non-EU/EEA applicants at 1 July, while the Faculty of Economics and Business page states 1 June.

Where a page names no year, the text says according to the page as of October 2026.

The University of Groningen lists over 45 Bachelor programmes, mostly English-taught, and this page follows five English-taught ones: International Business, Psychology (English track), Economics and Business Economics, Computing Science and International and European Law.

International Business and the English track of Psychology are fixed-quota programmes with a selection procedure. Economics and Business Economics, Computing Science and International and European Law are regular programmes: admission follows the diploma, subject and English rules, and the application deadline is 1 May. Medicine and Dentistry appear on the entry-requirement pages as Dutch-taught programmes, so they are outside this page.

The six fixed-quota Bachelors

The registration page says the university has 6 Bachelor's degree programmes with a fixed-quota. Two are taught in English as far as this page is concerned:

• International Business: 400 places.
• Psychology, English track: 225 places; the Dutch track has 365 places.
• Medicine and Dentistry, listed as Dutch taught: Dentistry (69 places) and Medicine (400 places).

Start dates: both selective programmes take applications through Studielink for the September 2027 start, with 15 January as the deadline (International Business; Psychology).

The Bernoulliborg on the Zernike campus of the University of Groningen

The University of Groningen does not publish a duration or ECTS table for these five programmes on its admission pages; the programme pages hold that information in sections that load separately.

Applicants with a non-Dutch diploma apply in Studielink, pay the application fee, complete the file in the Progress Portal and wait for an offer: the university says the registration procedure for international applicants consists of three phases.

The Progress Portal is the portal where students with a non-Dutch or international diploma must upload the required documents. Studielink is the national application service, and the page adds that you can hold up to 4 active applications in your Studielink account, including a maximum of 2 programmes with a fixed quota.

The application fee

• The fee is €100, non-refundable, for applicants with a non-Dutch diploma.
• It is paid once: you only need to pay the application fee once per academic year.
• Without it nothing starts: the Admissions Office can only start reviewing your application(s) after this fee has been received on time.
• The payment deadline equals the programme deadline: the deadline for completing your payment is the same as the application deadline for your programme.
• Exemptions are narrow: refugee status in the Netherlands or an Erasmus Mundus application; applications based on a Dutch secondary education or a Dutch Bachelor's degree, and a VWO diploma from Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius or Surinam.

After the fee and a complete file, a decision takes time: it may take several weeks for you to receive a decision.

Offers: conditional, provisional, unconditional

There are three types of offers. A conditional offer applies to someone who still has to prove English or lift a subject deficiency; a provisional offer becomes full admission once certified documents arrive; an unconditional offer means all requirements are met and the certified documents are supplied, and it comes with a Decree of Admission.

• Only fixed-quota places need an official reply: only in case of fixed-quota programmes will you need to officially accept your place (through Studielink).
• No deferral: it is not possible to defer your application to the next academic year, as entry requirements may vary between academic years.
• An incomplete file stops the process: if your application is not complete before the deadline, it will not be processed.

For Psychology, the page adds that the Admissions Office assesses your application and issues an admission decision within six weeks.

Two rules to keep in mind: three offer types and no deferral. Acceptance by qualification is in the diploma chapters.

For a September 2027 start the international deadline is 15 January for the fixed-quota programmes (International Business and Psychology) and 1 May for regular Bachelor programmes; applications after the deadline are not processed.

The central deadlines page is headed academic year 2027-2028 and says that the international application deadline applies to all students applying with a prior diploma from outside the Netherlands. It also states: your application will not be processed after the application deadline has passed.

Applicants from the EU/EEA who apply to a fixed-quota programme have an earlier proof date: 15 July for admission conditions and certified copies or predicted grades.

Documents, language test and tuition

• Non-EU/EEA: 1 July for admission conditions and certified copies, the language test result and the immigration application.
• The language test result deadline: EU/EEA 20 August, non-EU/EEA 1 July, for both fixed-quota and regular programmes; the English page shows 31 August for EU/EEA, but the registration page says 20 August, so plan for that date.
• By start date, the English page gives: 1 July (mvv visa applicants) and 31 August (EU/EEA) for a 1 September start, 1 December and 31 January for a 1 February start.
• The Faculty of Economics and Business page states 1 June for non-EU/EEA English results, against the central 1 July: plan for the earlier date.
• February-start Bachelors: Data Science & Society, Global Politics & Sustainability and Liberal Arts and Sciences have international deadlines on 1 November.
• No November or April intake: none of our programmes have a regular starting date in November or April.

Early Bird

The Early Bird arrangement promises a decision quickly: submit the complete application between 1 October and 28 February and you receive a decision within 15 working days. It applies to applicants with a non-Dutch or international prior education who complete the application between 1 October and 28 February; if you miss it you can still apply, but no later than 1 May.

The participating faculties are Science and Engineering, Arts, Law, Economics and Business (except International Business) and Spatial Sciences. International Business is excluded: it is a numerus fixus programme with its own separate application deadline. One FAQ answer narrows this: the Early Bird deadline only applies to the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Faculty of Arts. The programme page carries the details from 1 October onwards.

Fixed-quota dates for 2027: 15 July 2027 for entry requirements, otherwise the place goes to another student; 31 August 2027 for tuition payment; ranking numbers on 15 April 2027.

The general end level of your previous education must be equivalent to Dutch pre-university education (VWO); the university's list of VWO-equivalent qualifications is headed academic year 2027/2028, and a qualification that is not on it can still apply.

The general end level of the previous education must be equivalent to pre-university education (VWO) in the Netherlands. The list covers academic year 2027/2028 and names qualifications considered equivalent to the Dutch pre-university diploma.

A qualification that is not listed can still apply, as all applications are assessed on an individual basis. The list is not a promise: the Admissions Board still assesses each file (the Admissions Board assesses whether the educational qualification meets the general entry level requirement).

International qualifications on the list

The list names the American High School Diploma, CAPE, the European Baccalaureate, GCE A2-levels and the International Baccalaureate. Each has its own page with subject rules per programme (IB, A-levels, European Baccalaureate and AP chapters).

• IB: International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.
• A-levels: a minimum of 3 academic GCE A2-levels with grades A* to C.
• European Baccalaureate: European Baccalaureate (EB) diploma.
• USA: USA High School Diploma with at least 4 content-based AP courses externally examined by the College Board (grades 3-5).

Which of your countries are listed

The country list names Indonesia and Italy, France, Germany and Greece, Poland and Romania, Spain and Turkey, the USA and Vietnam. In other words, Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Poland, Romania, Spain, Turkey, the USA and Vietnam have a country page; Brazil, Algeria, Japan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia do not appear on it.

If your diploma country is not in the list, the secondary diploma may not meet the general end level requirements for admission. Applicants from unlisted countries have one more route: international certificates such as 3 British Advanced Level certificates, 4 International Baccalaureate Higher Level certificates or 4 AP College Board certificates, next to the diploma, may make you admissible on end level; the page defines the certificates as externally examined by the IBO (grade 4-7) or the College Board (score 3-5).

In short: end level equal to VWO; unlisted qualifications still apply; international certificates next to the diploma.

Acceptance by qualification at a glance

• GCE A2-levels: minimum 3 academic A2-levels with grades A* to C (GCE A levels; according to the page as of October 2026)
• European Baccalaureate diploma meets the end-level requirement (European Baccalaureate diploma; according to the page as of October 2026)
• France: Diplome du Baccalaureat General (France; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Germany: Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife / fachgebundenen Hochschulreife (Germany; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Greece: Apolytirio Genikou Lykeiou with a minimum average score of 10 in the Panhellenic Exams (Greece; according to the page as of October 2026)
• IB diploma meets the end-level requirement (International Baccalaureate diploma; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Indonesia: Ijazah SMA from an Indonesian top school (Indonesia; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Italy: Maturita from a Liceo Classico/Scientifico/Linguistico/Scienze umane (Italy; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Poland: Świadectwo Dojrzałości (Poland; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Romania: Diploma de Bacalaureat (Romania; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Spain: Titulo de Bachiller plus university entrance examination of at least 6.0 (Spain; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Lise Diplomasi with at least 4 content-based AP courses (grades 3-5) (Turkey; according to the page as of October 2026)
• USA High School Diploma with at least 4 content-based AP courses (grades 3-5) (USA; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Vietnam: Bang tot nghiep trung hoc pho thong from a High School for the Gifted, GPA at least 7.5 (Vietnam; according to the page as of October 2026)

The IB diploma, GCE A2-levels, the European Baccalaureate and a US diploma with AP courses are all on the VWO-equivalent list, and mathematics is the subject that decides most programme choices: for Economics and Business Economics and International Business the IB asks for Mathematics: Analysis and approaches SL/HL or Mathematics: Applications and interpretation HL, A-levels for Mathematics A-level and the AP route for AP Calculus AB or BC.

These rules sit on four credential pages of the university, none of which names an intake year, so each is described as it stood on the page as of October 2026. The Faculty of Law and the Behavioural and Social Sciences list no subject requirement for International and European Law or Psychology on any of them.

International Baccalaureate

• End level: International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.
• Economics and Business Economics, International Business: Mathematics: Analysis and approaches SL/HL or Mathematics: Applications and interpretation HL (before 2019: Mathematics at least SL).
• Computing Science: Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL; Econometrics and Operations Research: Mathematics: Analysis and approaches HL.
• A mathematics deficiency can be lifted with an IB certificate of at least grade 4 (see the mathematics chapter).

GCE A-levels

• End level: a minimum of 3 academic* GCE A2-levels with grades A* to C.
• Not every A-level counts: accounting, art and design, dance, design and technology and similar skills-based A-levels are not accepted.
• We can only take A-level curricula into consideration if the GCE A-level certificate will be obtained.
• Mathematics: Mathematics A-level for Economics and Business Economics, International Business and Computing Science.

The Zernikeborg on the Zernike campus

European Baccalaureate

• End level: European Baccalaureate (EB) diploma.
• Economics and Business Economics, International Business: Mathematics (3 or 5 periods); Computing Science: Mathematics (5 periods).

US high school diploma with AP

• End level: USA High School Diploma with at least 4 content-based AP courses externally examined by the College Board (grades 3-5).
• Mathematics programmes: AP Calculus AB or BC.
• AP rules: AP courses must be externally examined by the College Board with grades 3-5, and AP Physics C is judged insufficient.
• Documents: include your College Board AP report in the Progress Portal.
• Test scores: ACT and SAT scores are not considered in the application procedure for the above mentioned programmes.

A Turkish Lise Diploması follows the same AP logic: Lise Diploması with at least 4 content-based AP courses externally examined by the College Board (grades 3-5).

Subject rules in one list

• A-level: Computing Science needs Mathematics A-level (Computing Science; GCE A levels; according to the page as of October 2026)
• European Baccalaureate: Computing Science needs Mathematics (5 periods) (Computing Science; European Baccalaureate diploma; according to the page as of October 2026)
• IB: Computing Science needs Mathematics Analysis and Approaches HL (Computing Science; International Baccalaureate diploma; according to the page as of October 2026)
• A-level: Economics and Business Economics / International Business need Mathematics A-level (Economics and Business Economics; International Business; GCE A levels; according to the page as of October 2026)
• European Baccalaureate: Economics and Business Economics / International Business need Mathematics (3 or 5 periods) (Economics and Business Economics; International Business; European Baccalaureate diploma; according to the page as of October 2026)
• France: Economics and Business Economics / International Business need Mathematiques Specialite (premiere + terminale) or Specialite + Complementaire (Economics and Business Economics; International Business; France; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Germany: Economics and Business Economics / International Business need Mathematics GK/gA or LK/eA (Economics and Business Economics; International Business; Germany; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Greece: Economics and Business Economics / International Business need Mathematics in all years of the Apolytirio; course descriptions assessed (Economics and Business Economics; International Business; Greece; according to the page as of October 2026)
• IB: Economics and Business Economics / International Business need Mathematics Analysis and approaches SL/HL or Applications and interpretation HL (Economics and Business Economics; International Business; International Baccalaureate diploma; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Italy: Economics and Business Economics / International Business need Mathematics completed in all years of the Liceo; course descriptions assessed (Economics and Business Economics; International Business; Italy; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Poland: Economics and Business Economics / International Business need Mathematics in all years of the Liceum; course descriptions assessed (Economics and Business Economics; International Business; Poland; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Romania: Economics and Business Economics / International Business need Matematica-Informatica or Stiinte ale Naturii profile (Economics and Business Economics; International Business; Romania; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Spain: Economics and Business Economics / International Business need Mathematics I+II or Mathematics Applied to Social Sciences I+II (Economics and Business Economics; International Business; Spain; according to the page as of October 2026)
• AP route: Economics and Business Economics / International Business need AP Calculus AB or BC (Economics and Business Economics; International Business; Turkey; according to the page as of October 2026)
• AP route: Economics and Business Economics / International Business need AP Calculus AB or BC (Economics and Business Economics; International Business; USA; according to the page as of October 2026)
• A-level: Econometrics and Operations Research needs Mathematics A-level (Econometrics and Operations Research; GCE A levels; according to the page as of October 2026)
• IB: Econometrics and Operations Research needs Mathematics Analysis and approaches HL (Econometrics and Operations Research; International Baccalaureate diploma; according to the page as of October 2026)

Each country page of the University of Groningen names the diploma that counts as VWO-equivalent and the subject rules per programme; for a Polish Świadectwo Dojrzałości the diploma counts, and Economics and Business Economics and International Business want mathematics in every year of the lyceum.

The pages below carry no intake year, so the rules are given as they stood on the page as of October 2026. Law and Psychology list no subject requirement on any of the country pages: for example International and European Law: none and Psychology: none for Poland.

Poland

• End level: Świadectwo Dojrzałości.
• Economics and Business Economics, International Business: mathematics within all years of the Liceum Ogólnokształcącego programme; the mathematics is assessed, so course descriptions must be provided.
• Computing Science: Mathematics.
• Your transcripts will be used to assess whether you have the background required; the Admissions Board may ask for additional information about the topics covered in your courses.

Country-specific notes

• Italy: applicants with a diploma from a Liceo Artistico or Tecnico may apply, and the Admissions Office assesses whether the academic component of their curriculum is sufficient.
• Spain: equivalency certificates (Credencial de Homologación) issued by Spanish authorities are not accepted as an alternative to an official final diploma.
• Greece: mathematics followed in years A and B only does not meet the faculty's subject-specific requirements.
• Indonesia: A-level curricula count only if the GCE A-level certificate will be obtained; for the Faculty of Law, the GPA is also taken into account.
• Turkey: ACT and SAT scores are not considered in the application procedure.

For Brazil, Algeria, Japan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the University of Groningen publishes no country page; those applicants fall under the unlisted-country rule in the diploma chapter.

American high school diploma

An American applicant needs a USA High School Diploma with at least 4 content-based AP courses externally examined by the College Board (grades 3-5). AP Calculus AB or BC covers the mathematics programmes; ACT and SAT scores are not considered.

Country rules in one list

• France: Computing Science needs Mathematiques Specialite (premiere and terminale) (Computing Science; France; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Germany: Computing Science needs Mathematics LK/eA (Computing Science; Germany; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Italy: Computing Science needs the Maturita from a Liceo Scientifico (Computing Science; Italy; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Romania: Computing Science needs Matematica-Informatica or Stiinte ale Naturii profile (Computing Science; Romania; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Spain: Computing Science needs Modalidad Ciencias including Mathematics in year II (Computing Science; Spain; according to the page as of October 2026)
• AP route: Computing Science needs AP Calculus AB or BC (Computing Science; Turkey; according to the page as of October 2026)
• AP route: Computing Science needs AP Calculus AB or BC (Computing Science; USA; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Vietnam: Computing Science needs Advanced Mathematics (Computing Science; Vietnam; according to the page as of October 2026)
• France: Econometrics and Operations Research need Mathematiques Specialite (premier) + Mathematiques Expertes (terminale) (Econometrics and Operations Research; France; according to the page as of October 2026)

• Greece: Mathematics followed in years A and B only does not meet the faculty requirements; lift the deficiency with an accepted certificate (Mathematics; according to the page as of October 2026)

Mathematics is the subject requirement that most often decides admission: the Faculty of Economics and Business asks for mathematics at standard/methods level, Computing Science asks for the stronger mathematics option on the IB and European Baccalaureate routes, and a gap can be closed with a deficiency certificate from the accepted list for academic year 2027/2028.

the level of mathematics will need to be assessed by the Admissions Board for all BSc programmes, and Econometrics and Operations Research needs mathematics as a higher level (advanced) subject.

Deficiency certificates for 2027/2028

the accepted certificates to lift a deficiency for the academic year 2027/2028 are listed on one page, and a certificate that cannot be verified online must be submitted as a physical, certified copy. Altius Groningen is another route: applicants who do not yet meet all admission requirements may find a suitable pathway at Altius Groningen.

• Faculty of Economics and Business: pass the FEB Mathematics entrance examination with a minimum passing grade of 5.5; or the online OMPT exam with a minimum score of 60% and a maximum of 2 attempts per year.
• Econometrics and Operations Research: online OMPT exam, minimum score 60%, a maximum of 2 attempts per year, only accepted for non-Dutch applicants.
• Other certificates for the Faculty of Economics and Business: AP Calculus AB or BC (grade 3-5), Mathematics A-level, or an IB certificate of at least grade 4 in Mathematics: Analysis and approaches SL/HL.
• Faculty of Science and Engineering, other BSc programmes including Computing Science: the online OMPT exam with a minimum score of 60%, a minimum of 55% for each category and a maximum of 2 attempts; or AP Calculus AB or BC (grade 3-5), Mathematics A2-level, or IB Mathematics: Analysis and approaches HL at grade 4 or higher.
• Campus Fryslân, Data Science and Society: online OMPT-A exam, minimum score 60%, no subsection score of 0%, a maximum of 2 attempts.
• A deficiency left over after assessment is lifted by a subject certificate: you can lift this so-called deficiency by obtaining a subject certificate.

Faculty of Science and Engineering and Campus Fryslân

For the Faculty of Science and Engineering the same pages list a Dutch VWO mathematics certificate from CCVX or Boswell-Beta among the accepted routes (the page as of October 2026). The University of Groningen does not publish a separate mathematics test for Computing Science applicants beyond the OMPT exam and the certificates above.

Tests that lift a deficiency

• FEB mathematics deficiency: pass the FEB Mathematics entrance examination with minimum grade 5.5 (Faculty of Economics and Business; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• FEB OMPT-A online exam: minimum score 60%, max. 2 attempts per year (International Business, Economics and Business, Business Administration) (Faculty of Economics and Business; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• FSE (other BSc programmes incl. Computing Science): OMPT-D online exam, minimum 60%, minimum 55% per category, max. 2 attempts (Other BSc Programmes; on a page for the 2027 intake)

• FEB mathematics deficiency: pass the FEB Mathematics entrance examination with minimum grade 5.5 (Faculty of Economics and Business; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• FEB OMPT-A online exam: minimum score 60%, max. 2 attempts per year (International Business, Economics and Business, Business Administration) (Faculty of Economics and Business; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• FSE (other BSc programmes): AP Calculus AB/BC, A-level Mathematics A2, IB Analysis and Approaches HL with minimum grade 4 (AP Calculus AB; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• FSE (other BSc programmes incl. Computing Science): OMPT-D online exam, minimum 60%, minimum 55% per category, max. 2 attempts (Other BSc Programmes; on a page for the 2027 intake)

• FEB: Econometrics and Operations Research needs mathematics as a higher level (advanced) subject (BSc Econometrics and Operations Research; according to the page as of October 2026)
• FEB: Economics and Business Economics, International Business and Business Administration need mathematics at standard/methods level (BSc Economics and Business Economics; BSc International Business; according to the page as of October 2026)

• A-levels not accepted as academic: accounting, art and design, dance, design and technology and others (A-levels; according to the page as of October 2026)

English-taught Bachelors sit at three Admissions Levels: International Business, Economics and Business Economics and Computing Science need Level 1 (CEFR B2, for example IELTS Academic 6.0), Psychology needs Level 2 and International and European Law needs Level 3 (IELTS 7.0).

The university's English page is labelled for the 2027 intake. International applicants prove their English proficiency with a language test result submitted to the Admissions Office; you can submit your initial application without a language test.

Which programme sits at which level

• Level 1 (CEFR B2): Admissions Level 1 (CEFR B2) aligns with the national minimum language requirements for higher education; the faculty table puts the Faculty of Economics and Business and the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Level 1.
• Computing Science and Economics and Business Economics are on the Level 1 list (Computing science, Economics and Business Economics); so is International Business (International Business).
• Psychology, at the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, sits at Level 2 (Behavioural and Social Sciences; Admissions Level 2 (CEFR B2-C1) is the most common proficiency level).
• International and European Law sits at Level 3 (International and European Law; Admissions Level 3 (CEFR C1) is required for many selective programmes).

Faculty of Economics and Business: the section scores

For International Business and Economics and Business Economics the faculty page lists IELTS Academic overall 6.0 with speaking 6, writing 6, listening 5.5 and reading 5.5. Other tests: TOEFL iBT 4 overall; Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 169 overall; LanguageCert Academic 65 overall; Pearson PTE Academic 61 overall. A lower minimum applies to the Listening and Reading bands of this faculty: Cambridge/Linguaskill 160, IELTS 5.5, LanguageCert 60, Pearson 46 and 47, TOEFL 17 and 18.

TOEFL iBT taken before 21 January 2026 needs an overall 80, speaking 20, writing 21, listening 17 and reading 18. For International and European Law, a lower minimum applies only to Listening and Reading: Cambridge/Linguaskill 169, IELTS 6.0, LanguageCert 65, Pearson 54 and 62, TOEFL 21 or 4.5.

Accepted tests, validity and deadlines

• The accepted tests are Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, IELTS Academic, LanguageCert Academic, Linguaskill, Pearson PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT, taken at an official exam centre.
• IELTS, LanguageCert, Pearson PTE and TOEFL certificates are only valid for 2 years; Cambridge and Linguaskill certificates do not have limited validity.
• TOEFL MyBest Scores and IELTS One-Skill Retake results are not considered, and scores cannot be older than 2 years.
• If no test centre is available: IELTS Online and TOEFL iBT Home Edition.
• Linguaskill on the old scale: a score of 180+ is not accepted as sufficient proof for Level 3 programmes.
• Deadlines: applicants who need an mvv visa submit a sufficient test result in the Progress Portal before the immigration application deadline; applicants without an immigration procedure submit it before the official start date.
• Without a test: you may be conditionally admitted, and one of the conditions is that you take and pass a (new) test.

Exemptions from the English test

You may qualify for an exemption if you completed your secondary or higher education in a listed majority-English speaking country, or if you passed English as a subject at VWO-level. the first exemption needs full upper secondary education, a full-time undergraduate degree of at least 3 years or a postgraduate degree taught exclusively in English in a listed country; the list includes Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

• A higher education exemption: a full-time undergraduate degree of at least 3 years or a postgraduate degree taught exclusively in English, from a country or region on the additional list.
• Proof of English-only teaching: upload an official Medium Of Instruction letter if the diploma does not state it.
• IB: English as language of instruction.
• A-levels: at least three A2-level certificates with grade A-C from an accredited British examination board.
• European Baccalaureate: English as L1 or L2.
• Germany: English must be an examined course, either as Leistungskurs or Grundkurs.
• Romania: Limba Engleză as a subject on the national Bacalaureate examination.
• France: the Baccalauréat Français International, Section Britannique or Section Anglais.

Italy, Poland, Spain, Greece, Indonesia, Turkey, Vietnam, Brazil, Algeria, Japan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have no English-subject exemption on the university's list, so a test applies unless the education was completed in a listed country or the diploma is an IB, A-level or European Baccalaureate that meets the rows above.

English rules in one list

• Language test result deadlines: EU/EEA 20 August, non-EU/EEA 1 July (fixed-quota and regular) (language proficiency results; according to the page as of October 2026)
• FEB Bachelors: Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency overall 169, speaking 165, writing 165, listening 160, reading 160 (Apply for a Bachelor; according to the page as of October 2026)
• FEB Bachelors (incl. International Business): IELTS Academic 6.0 overall, speaking 6, writing 6, listening 5.5, reading 5.5 (Apply for a Bachelor; according to the page as of October 2026)
• FEB English test deadline: 20 August for EU/EEA students, 1 June for non-EU/EEA students (Apply for a Bachelor; according to the page as of October 2026)
• FEB Bachelors: LanguageCert Academic overall 65, speaking 65, writing 65, listening 60, reading 60 (Apply for a Bachelor; according to the page as of October 2026)
• FEB: IELTS, TOEFL, LanguageCert and Pearson scores cannot be older than 2 years; TOEFL MyBest and IELTS One-Skill Retake are not considered (Apply for a Bachelor; according to the page as of October 2026)
• FEB Bachelors: Pearson PTE Academic overall 61, speaking 60, writing 60, listening 46, reading 47 (Apply for a Bachelor; according to the page as of October 2026)
• FEB Bachelors: TOEFL iBT overall 4 with each skill 4 (Apply for a Bachelor; according to the page as of October 2026)
• FEB Bachelors: TOEFL iBT taken before 21 January 2026 needs overall 80, speaking 20, writing 21, listening 17, reading 18 (Apply for a Bachelor; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Language test deadline by start: 1 September start - 1 July (mvv applicants), 31 August (EU/EEA); 1 February start - 1 December, 31 January (mvv visa applicants; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• exclusively in English (majority English-speaking countries; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• exclusively in English (countries or regions; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• English exemption: at least three A2-level certificates with grade A-C from an accredited British examination board (GCE A-level certificate; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• English exemption: European Baccalaureate with English as L1 or L2 (European Baccalaureate; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• English exemption: German Abitur with English as an examined course (Leistungskurs or Grundkurs) (Abiturprüfung Gymnasium; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• English exemption: IB diploma with English as language of instruction (International Baccalaureate; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• English test exemption: majority-English country education or English as a VWO-level subject (exemption; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• English exemption: Romanian Bacalaureat with Limba Engleza as an examined subject (Romania; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• The initial application can be submitted without a language test (initial application; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• Level 1 scores: Cambridge 169 (162/162/165/165), IELTS Academic 6.0 each band, LanguageCert 65 (Admissions Level ; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• Cambridge/Linguaskill 160, IELTS 5.5 (Economics and Business; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• Pearson PTE Academic 61 54 54 60 60 (Admissions Level ; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• Level 2 scores: Cambridge 180, IELTS Academic 6.5 overall (6.0 listening and reading), LanguageCert 70 (Admissions Level ; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• Pearson PTE Academic 66 58 64 56 70 (Admissions Level ; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• IELTS Academic 7.0 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 (Admissions Level ; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• Cambridge/Linguaskill 169, IELTS 6.0 (LLB International and European Law; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• Pearson PTE Academic 71 58 64 58 70 (Admissions Level ; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• Computing science (Computing science; Economics and Business Economics; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• International Business (International Business; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• International and European Law (International and European Law; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• Bachelor English level per faculty: Behavioural and Social Sciences = Level 2 (Behavioural and Social Sciences; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• Bachelor English level per faculty: Economics and Business = Level 1 (Economics and Business; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• Bachelor English level per faculty: Science and Engineering = Level 1 (Science and Engineering; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• Accepted tests: Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, IELTS Academic, LanguageCert Academic, Linguaskill, Pearson PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT (language tests; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• IELTS, LanguageCert, Pearson and TOEFL certificates are valid for 2 years; Cambridge and Linguaskill do not expire (certificates; on a page for the 2027 intake)

• International and European Law: compulsory online matching, advice not binding (matching procedure; on a page for the 2027 intake)

International Business and the English track of Psychology admit by selection: International Business ranks applicants on a 13 or 27 February 2027 online Fit & Benchmarking Activity in February 2027, and Psychology combines an online test on 6 March 2027 with a lottery that counts for 50% of the final score.

the International Business selection is based on performance in the selection tests, and the Psychology English track assigns places through a selection test; you can only apply for a maximum of two fixed-quota degree programmes in one academic year.

International Business: Fit & Benchmarking

• Places: 400 places, assigned without considering your CV and prior study results.
• Window: apply in Studielink from 1 October 2026 until 15 January 2027 for the September 2027 start.
• Steps: Studielink, the Fit & Benchmark web form, preparation, the activity and the ranking number.
• Web form: the final deadline is 1 February 2027.
• Activity: a programme preview with mini videos, short readings and questions; a short general aptitude quiz; it is entirely in English.
• Dates: option 1 on 13 February 2027 and option 2 on 27 February 2027, 11.00 - 17.00 CET, online, about one to two hours, and both parts form the overall score, benchmarked worldwide.
• Result: a ranking number within the fixed quota of 400 is offered a place at once, to be accepted within two weeks; ranking numbers arrive through Studielink on 15 April 2027 and offers can continue until 31 August 2027.
• Attempts: applicants who have already taken part three times are not reviewed.

For non-Dutch diplomas the portal deadline is the same: the deadline for submitting your application in the Progress Portal is 15 January 2027.

Psychology, English track

For the English-taught Bachelor's programme in Psychology, 225 places are offered. The selection procedure page is headed 2027/2028 and says for 2027-2028 the selection score will be combined with a random score assigned by lottery. The selection score and the lottery score each count for 50% of the final score.

• Test: admission is determined through a selection procedure that consists of a selection test; it covers Introduction to Psychology, Statistics and Social Psychology.
• Date: the online test is on 6 March 2027, 10:00 - 20:00 CET, about 3 hours including breaks.
• Preparation: study material is available from 1 December 2026; material and test are in English.
• What does not count: your CV and prior academic results are not considered.
• Requirements: you can apply and take part without meeting every requirement yet, but all must be met by 15 July.
• Ranking: ranking numbers 1 to 225 are offered a place, those above 225 go on the waiting list; the ranking date is 15 April 2027.

Last year's figures for the same track, 2026-2027: 250 places, 932 applications, 233 students admitted and a highest ranking number offered of 639. The 2027-2028 procedure differs by the lottery component, so the university itself warns that a reliable estimate of the chance of admission is difficult.

Attempts and limits

• Selection attempts: Dentistry 1, International Business 3, Medicine 2, Psychology 3.
• An attempt is used up if you have an active application after 15 January, whether or not you take part.
• Two fixed-quota programmes per academic year, but not both the Dutch-taught and English-taught Psychology in Groningen.
• Personal details must be verified by 15 February or you lose a selection attempt.

Selection rules in one list

• International Business activity dates: 13 February 2027 or 27 February 2027, 11.00-17.00 CET, online (International Business; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• General aptitude quiz (International Business; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• International Business: both parts form the overall score, benchmarked worldwide for the ranking (International Business; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• International Business: no applicant who already took part three times is reviewed (BSc IB; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• International Business: 400 places assigned through a Fit & Benchmarking Procedure (International Business; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• International Business: Fit & Benchmark web form due 1 February 2027 (BSc IB; on a page for the 2027 intake)

• 50% of the final score (Psychology; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• Psychology English track: 225 places (Psychology; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• Psychology English track: admission through a selection test (Psychology; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• Psychology selection test covers Introduction to Psychology, Statistics and Social Psychology (three multiple-choice tests) (Psychology; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• Psychology selection test: online, 6 March 2027, 10:00-20:00 CET, about 3 hours (Psychology; on a page for the 2027 intake)

• Selection attempts: Dentistry 1, International Business 3, Medicine 2, Psychology 3 (International Business; on a page for the 2027 intake)

First-year students of a Bachelor without a selection procedure must register by 1 May 2027 and then take part in matching, which is compulsory for Law, most of Behavioural and Social Sciences and Human Movement Sciences; the Binding Study Advice asks for 45 ECTS in the first year.

If you want to register as a first-year student for the 2027/2028 academic year for a Bachelor's degree programme without a selection procedure, you must do so no later than 1 May 2027. With a non-Dutch prior education, your admission is handled by the Admissions Office and the Admissions Board of the programme.

Matching

• There is compulsory matching for programmes of the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences (except Pedagogical Sciences), the Bachelor in Human Movement Sciences and the Faculty of Law.
• Programmes with a selection do not use it: Bachelor's degree programmes with a numerus fixus or another selection procedure do not apply matching.
• International and European Law: the degree programme organizes a matching procedure, attendance is compulsory and the advice is not binding.

In practice, Law has a compulsory matching activity, Psychology (English track) goes through its selection test instead because it is a fixed-quota programme, and Economics and Business Economics and Computing Science have a faculty matching page where the programme explains its own procedure.

Binding Study Advice

• At least 45 ECTS by the end of the first year (20 part-time).
• University College Groningen and University College Fryslân Global Responsibility and Leadership: 60 EC.
• A negative BSA is valid for a period of 2 years and may apply to a cluster of related degree programmes.
• Clustering applies in the Faculties of Economics and Business, Science and Engineering, and Law.
• After a negative BSA, switching: complete the new application before 1 August for the September intake.

The BSA page carries a May 2025 date, so the rule is described as the page states it; the 45 ECTS threshold is also repeated on the programme pages.

• Compulsory matching: Behavioural and Social Sciences (not Pedagogical Sciences), Human Movement Sciences, Law (Faculty of Law; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• Programmes with a numerus fixus or another selection procedure do not apply matching (numerus fixus; on a page for the 2027 intake)

The University of Groningen reports 32,500 students (26% international), of whom 8,500 are international students, and 45 Bachelor programmes, mostly English-taught; it does not publish an overall acceptance rate for international Bachelor applicants.

Those figures come from the university's key-figures page, which cites its annual report. They describe the whole university, not one programme.

Places and selection figures that are published

The University of Groningen does not publish acceptance rates for the regular programmes, because only fixed-quota programmes have a cap; regular programmes admit applicants who meet the diploma, subject and English rules once the Admissions Board has assessed the file. For fixed-quota programmes the ratio of applications to places is the closest published signal, and the Psychology figures above are the only ones the university publishes for an English-taught Bachelor.

A reading for applicants: the numbers describe a selection by test and lottery, not by grades, because both selective programmes state that CV and prior results are not used (International Business; Psychology).

For 2027-2028 the statutory full-time Bachelor fee is €2,771 for Dutch, EU/EEA, Swiss and Surinamese students without an earlier degree at that level, and the university fee for students outside the EU/EEA is €14,400 for Economics and Business, Law and Behavioural and Social Sciences and €19,800 for Science and Engineering.

Fees are set per academic year, which runs from 1 September to 31 August. The fee level depends on nationality and on whether you already hold a degree: you pay university tuition fee II if you meet neither the statutory-fee nor the university-fee-I conditions.

Statutory fee

• Who pays: Dutch passport holders, EU/EEA nationals, Swiss nationals and Surinam nationals (plus some residence-permit groups).
• Condition: the same degree may not have been obtained before at a government-funded institution in the Netherlands.
• Amount: €2,771 for full-time study in 2027-2028 (2026-2027: €2,694).
• Why: the Dutch government funds one Bachelor and one Master per EU/EEA, Surinamese or Swiss student.

University tuition fee II for 2027-2028

The 2026-2027 figures on the same page were €14,000 for Economics and Business, Law and Behavioural and Social Sciences and €19,800 for Science and Engineering, so the fee for Science and Engineering is unchanged while the other three rise.

Each year the tuition fees are rated for one academic year. If you start in February or enrol late, enrolment after 30 September means you pay 1/12 of the fee for each remaining month.

Tuition must be paid before the programme starts: the University of Groningen must have received it no later than 31 August for a 1 September start, and an applicant who pays late is not enrolled.

EU/EEA students pay tuition by 31 August; non-EU applicants face a different date: for non-EU students other deadlines may apply due to the immigration procedure. If you pay too late you cannot be enrolled, which means no classes, no exams and no student finance (DUO).

Paying the fee

• You can authorize direct debit for the full amount or for staggered payment in five instalments.
• Paying in instalments carries a one-time administration fee of €24.
• A direct debit requires a bank in a SEPA country with SEPA direct debit, and a savings account cannot be used.

Working next to your studies

• Students from non-EU countries need a work permit before they can work legally.
• EU/EEA citizens can work in the Netherlands without a work permit.
• With a study residence permit: work full-time in June, July and August only, or part-time (at most 16 hours a week) the rest of the year, but not both.
• Dutch health insurance is required to work in the Netherlands, even part time.
• International degree students are entitled to 50 hours of Dutch classes, free of charge.

Scholarships

the university offers a number of scholarships for international students and researchers; several are available for international Bachelor, Master and PhD students. The page publishes no amounts, deadlines or eligibility rules, and the University of Groningen gives them on the scholarship pages it links to. It also notes that higher education in the Netherlands is subsidized, so tuition fees are relatively low.

Health insurance adds a monthly cost: the private Aon student insurance costs approximately 40 euro per month.

Students from outside the EU/EEA cannot apply for the visa or residence permit themselves: the University of Groningen Immigration Service Desk applies on the student's behalf, and the immigration application deadline for a September start is 1 July.

The University of Groningen is appointed by Dutch law to handle visa applications on behalf of its students and is the legal guarantor with the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

For Japan, the USA and the United Kingdom the university says the same as in the registration guide: students from Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, the UK, the USA and Vatican City only need a residence permit.

Deadlines

• 1 July for non-EU/EEA students: admission conditions, certified copies, the language test result and the immigration application.
• For a 1 September start the language test is due 1 July for mvv applicants, for a 1 February start 1 December.
• An applicant who needs an mvv submits a sufficient test result in the Progress Portal before the immigration application deadline.

The university warns that applying for a visa can take several months and that you cannot enter the Netherlands without a valid visa, so start the immigration step as soon as the offer arrives.

The University of Groningen does not provide accommodation: you are responsible for arranging your own housing, and landlords often require proof of (conditional) admission.

Every year thousands of students move to Groningen and Leeuwarden, so it is smart to start the search early. The Early Bird page says why an early offer helps: the student housing market is tight. The university's living-expenses page for bachelor's international students puts rent, including energy and other costs but not administration costs or the security deposit, at € 450 to € 650 per month, and the price of a room depends on its location, its size, how many people you share the bathroom and kitchen with and the general quality of the building.

Insurance, registration and arrival

• health insurance is mandatory for international students residing in the Netherlands; international students are not automatically insured.
• You must be registered at the municipality before you can take out a Dutch basic health insurance.
• The Dutch social security number (BSN) is received automatically when you register in the city of Groningen.
• Aon student insurance costs approximately 40 euro per month.

Practical steps such as a Dutch bank account and the university card are covered on separate pages of the university's practical-matters menu.

Every foreign diploma is assessed individually: the Admissions Board assesses whether the educational qualification meets the general entry level and any subject-specific requirement, and a qualification that is not listed can still apply.

Where a subject requirement is not met, you can lift the deficiency by obtaining a subject certificate.

Documents to upload

• The diploma of completed upper secondary education, or a statement of enrolment if it is not yet completed.
• A transcript with your academic record.
• Documents not in English, Dutch, French or German need translations.
• Motivation and reference letters are not considered in the Faculty of Arts admissions procedure.
• Your application is evaluated only once, so follow the guidelines.

Certified copies

• Submit certified documents digitally; processing hard copies takes longer.
• A certified hard copy needs a stamp and signature on every page.
• QR codes are not accepted to verify the authenticity of documents.
• Without certified documents before the start, submit a certified graduation statement.
• The graduation date must be before the start of the programme.

Recognition rules in one list

• GCE A-level curricula count only if the A-level certificate will be obtained (A-level; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Without certified documents before the programme starts, submit a certified graduation statement (graduation statement; according to the page as of October 2026)
• QR codes are not accepted to verify the authenticity of documents (QR codes; according to the page as of October 2026)
• The Admissions Board assesses whether the diploma meets the general entry level (VWO-equivalent) and any subject-specific requirements (Admissions Board; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Documents not in English, Dutch, French or German need translations (documents; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Indonesia: GPA also taken into account (listed beside International and European Law) (International and European Law; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Italy: Liceo Artistico or Tecnico graduates may apply but need class hours per course per year for assessment (Italy; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Spain: equivalency certificates (Credencial de Homologacion) are not accepted instead of the official final diploma (Spain; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Turkey: ACT and SAT scores are not considered for the listed programmes (ACT and SAT scores; according to the page as of October 2026)
• USA: AP courses must be externally examined by the College Board with grades 3-5; AP Physics C judged insufficient (AP; according to the page as of October 2026)
• USA: ACT and SAT scores are not considered in the application for the listed programmes (ACT and SAT scores; according to the page as of October 2026)
• Footnotes: IB certificates externally examined by the IBO (grade 4-7); AP externally examined by the College Board (score 3-5) (College Board; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• VWO-equivalence country list includes Spain (Spain; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• VWO-equivalence country list includes France, Germany and Greece (Germany; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• International qualifications listed as VWO-equivalent: American High School Diploma, CAPE, European Baccalaureate, GCE A2-levels, IB (International qualifications; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• VWO-equivalent qualifications list: academic year 2027/2028 (qualifications; Academic year 2027/2028)
• VWO-equivalence country list includes Indonesia and Italy (Italy; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• Diploma country not on the list: its secondary diploma may not meet the general end level (Country not listed; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• VWO-equivalence country list includes Poland and Romania (Poland; on a page for the 2027 intake)
• VWO-equivalence country list includes Turkey, the USA and Vietnam (Turkey; on a page for the 2027 intake)

Official pages of University of Groningen, UCAS, gov.uk and the ranking publishers. Applicant reports, where shown, are self-reported and labelled.

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Photos: The Academiegebouw, the main building of the University of Groningen: photo C messier, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons · The Bernoulliborg on the Zernike campus of the University of Groningen: photo Choinowski, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons · The Zernikeborg on the Zernike campus: photo Www.sportstatistieken.nl at Dutch Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons