Language requirements

Exemptions may be granted – please refer to the list below for more information. 

International students who apply for a Dutch-taught programme must provide proof of Dutch proficiency of at least CEFR level B2.

HU accepts one of the following documents as proof of English proficiency:

For our English-taught Master programmes, you can find the requirements on the respective websites for Data-Driven Design, Next-Level Engineering, Sustainable Business Transition and Teacher Education in English, German or French. Make sure to arrange and prepare for your language test as soon as possible.

You can get information on test dates, scheduling and costs at the respective websites of  TOEFL or IELTS, or Cambridge English. When taking the TOEFL or IELTS exam, please use HU's institutional code 9942 for your results to be copied to us directly.

Some international students are granted exemption from the English language test based on their high school diploma:

• Students who have obtained a secondary school diploma in the UK, US, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia.
• Students who receive the South-African National Senior Certificate and have taken English as their Home Language.
• Students with an accredited international American high-school diploma or British international GCSE/A-levels.
• Students with the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, the Caribbean Examinations Council certificate, or European Baccalaureate with English as first or second language.
• Students with a secondary education diploma mentioned in the Nuffic Diploma list (download as PDF-file), including English language as part of the curriculum. This only applies if you actually took English as an exam subject in your final year.

All other students must submit a proof of English proficiency by submitting one of the abovementioned certificates.

Students with a foreign diploma must show proof of Dutch proficiency to enrol into a Dutch-taught programme. This also applies to students with a Dutch nationality who have obtained their high school diploma outside of the Netherlands.

HU accepts the following documents as proof of Dutch proficiency:

• NT2 Diploma Programme II (CEFR level B2). The NT2-II test is centrally administered through DUO; check their website for information on test dates, scheduling and costs.
• As an alternative to the Staatsexamen NT2-II, HU offers its own language tests in July and August of 2022. More information can be found on this page.
• Certificate Dutch as a Foreign Language (CVaNT in Dutch): either certificate 'STRT' (CEFR level B2) or certificate 'EDUP' (CEFR level C1).

Some international students are granted exemption from the Dutch language test based on their former diploma:

• Students who have obtained a MBO-4, HAVO or VWO diploma in Suriname, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, BES Islands or Aruba.
• Students with an EPI diploma taught in Dutch.
• Students who have obtained a diplomas from the Dutch-taught education system in Belgium.
• Students with the International Baccalaureate (IB) with Dutch Language A (SL or HL) or Language B (HL).
• Students with the European Baccalaureate (EB) with Dutch as Language 1 or 2.