Language requirements

Speaking the language is essential to succeeding in your study! International students who enrol in one of our English-taught Bachelor’s or Master’s programmes must show proof of English proficiency through an English-language test. In a limited number of cases, exemptions can be granted. Students who apply for a Dutch-taught programme must pass the Staatsexamen NT2 programme II.

English-taught Bachelor Programmes

For international students enrolling in one of the English-taught Bachelor programmes, HU accepts one of the following documents as proof of English proficiency:

Information on test dates, scheduling, and costs can be obtained at the respective websites of TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge ESOL. When taking a TOEFL or IELTS exam, please use the HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht institutional code of 9942 to request your results certificate to be sent directly to us.

Exemptions to the English Language Requirement

Students who have obtained a diploma in the UK, US, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia; students with an accredited international American high-school diploma or British international GCSE/ A-levels; and students with the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma or European Baccalaureate with main language English are exempted from this requirement. All others must submit a proof of English proficiency by submitting one of the above certificates.

English-taught Master Programmes

For the English requirements for our Master’s programmes, please refer to the admissions procedures of the specific programme in our Study Programmes.

Dutch-taught Programmes

Students with a non-Dutch diploma must obtain an NT2-level II diploma to participate in a programme given in the Dutch language. (This also applies to students with Dutch nationality who have obtained their high-school diploma outside of The Netherlands!) We advise you to contact the specific study programme to confirm this requirement. The NT2-II test is centrally administered through the DUO/ IB-groep organization. Please see their website for information on test dates, costs and registration.