Dutch HBO-Propedeuse | Diploma equivalents

Admission Requirements

As the Netherlands has a binary higher educational system, there are two different kinds of bachelor’s degrees. If you complete the first year completely and successfully (obtain the 60ECTS) of a bachelor’s degree at a University of Applied Sciences, you will get the so-called HBO-Propedeuse (HBO-P) certificate. With this certificate you can apply for a bachelor’s degree at the University of Twente. Please note that the HBO-P programme must be accredited and recognised by the Dutch NVAO.

The University of Twente closely reviews all applications individually due to their distinctive nature. Therefore, the only way to determine admissibility is by submitting an official application for enrolment via Studielink and providing all required documents in Osiris. After you have done so, you will be informed about your admissibility via email.

It is possible to switch to the University of Twente from another institution in the Netherlands or abroad when you meet the admission requirements. However, in all cases, you will start in the first year of the bachelor’s programme.

These admission requirements are valid for the September 2026 intake.

The admission requirements can change per intake moment. The requirements are announced in October for the following September intake moment. The University of Twente therefore cannot provide any information regarding admission requirements for future intake moments that are not yet open for applications. Please check the current admission requirements for advice, until the new admission requirements for the specific intake have been announced.

Note: the admission office reserves the right to make the final decision regarding the admissibility of your application. The admission requirements mentioned are for your information only.

Not the required grade, subject or level?

If you do not have the required grade, subject, or subject level, you might be eligible to do an additional test(s) if your overall level is equivalent to the Dutch VWO-Level. The University of Twente only accepts certificates from CCVX, James Boswell-Bèta (both online and physical tests from James Boswell-Bèta are accepted, contact them about the online possibilities), or the Dutch 'Staatsexamen'. The OMPT and Korteweg-de Vries tests are not accepted by the University of Twente.

The test must be passed with a positive result and should be taken before the application deadline (check the deviating deadlines for the bachelor's programme in Technical Medicine). Please submit your application to the University of Twente before you make a reservation for one of the tests (to prevent possibly unnecessary costs). The University of Twente assesses on individual bases whether you are eligible for such a test and inform you via email after a submitted application. You can continue your application the first time by answering with ‘No, I still have to complete a *subject* test’ if you are unsure if you meet the additional admission requirements. You will get additional questions about uploading a reservation, which you can skip as they are not mandatory. After submitting your application, you will be informed via email.

The Netherlands has different Mathematics subjects. For the social sciences bachelor's programmes, VWO Mathematics A is required. For the technical bachelor's programmes, VWO Mathematics B is required. For the subjects Physics, Chemistry and/or Biology you have to take the VWO Level, there are no sublevels like Mathematics.

Documents required for application

Already graduated?

If you have already obtained your HBO-P, it means you hold two diplomas/degrees. Within the application questionnaire, you will first be asked to upload your secondary school documents. After that, a new question will appear where you can indicate that you also hold an HBO-P qualification.

Please upload the following documents:

Secondary School Diploma Certificate
Secondary School official final transcript of records
Official HBO-P certificate
Official final HBO-P transcript of records (showing at least 60 ECTS credits)
Course descriptions of your HBO-P subjects (please note: the transcript of records does not substitute the course descriptions document), each description should include:
- The course title (as shown on the transcript of records)
- A brief summary of the main topics covered
- The textbooks or literature used during the course

If the original documents are not in English, Dutch or German, please upload an official translation into English or Dutch as well.

Not graduated yet?

If you are currently working towards obtaining your HBO-P, this means that, upon completion, you will hold two diplomas/degrees. Within the application questionnaire, you will first be asked to upload your secondary school documents. After that, a new question will appear where you can indicate that you are currently pursuing an HBO-P qualification.

Please upload the following documents:

Secondary School Diploma Certificate
Secondary School official final transcript of records
Official statement from your HBO institution confirming that you are currently enrolled in the HBO-P and expected to complete it before September
Most recent HBO-P transcript of records
- showing completed credits so far
- indicating the subjects still to be completed
Course descriptions of your HBO-P subjects (note: the transcript of records does not substitute this document), each description should include:
- The course title (as shown on the transcript of records)
- A brief summary of the main topics covered
- The textbooks or literature used during the course

If the original documents are not in English, Dutch, or German, please upload an official translation into English or Dutch as well.

English Language requirement

When applying with an HBO-P certificate, the English language requirements depend, among other factors, on your secondary school diploma. Possession of a Dutch HBO-P certificate alone does not exempt you from the English language requirement. Your secondary education diploma is always considered when determining whether an English language test is necessary.

HAVO or VWO diploma physically obtained in the Netherlands	You are exempt from providing an additional English language test.
Other Dutch diplomas (not HAVO or VWO), for example MBO	English proficiency will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, an additional English language test might be required.
International or foreign secondary school diploma	Please consult our country list to check if your secondary school diploma is exempt. If you are not exempt, an additional English language test may be required.

Admission requirements per bachelor's programme

You are not directly admissible with an HBO-P certificate to a bachelor's programme of the University of Twente. Additional tests may be required, a minimum required CGPA may be required, and the HBO-P programme should be relevant to the chosen bachelor’s programme. Since there are a lot of different HBO-P programmes every application will be individually reviewed if it is relevant to the chosen bachelor’s programme.

Still need to graduate?

You may apply while still completing your HBO-P; however, you must have successfully graduated in the academic year preceding the September intake.

Non-EEA nationals are required to submit official proof of graduation by 1 July at the latest, in accordance with IND visa regulations.

Advanced Technology

VWO Mathematics B
VWO Physics
VWO English, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate

Applied Mathematics

VWO Mathematics B
VWO English, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate

Applied Physics

VWO Mathematics B
VWO Physics
or a Dutch HBO-P Applied Physics with a CGPA of 8 or higher on a 10-point scale
VWO English, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate
VWO Dutch, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate

Biomedical Engineering

VWO Mathematics B
VWO Physics
VWO Chemistry
VWO English, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate
VWO Dutch, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate

Business Information Technology

Dutch HBO-P in an engineering field with a CGPA of 7.5 on a 10-point scale or higher with VWO Mathematics B.

VWO English is also required, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate.

Chemical Science & Engineering

VWO Mathematics B
VWO Physics
VWO Chemistry
VWO English, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate

Civil Engineering

VWO Mathematics B
VWO Physics
VWO English, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate

Communication Science

VWO Mathematics A, B, or C or HAVO Mathematics A or B
VWO English, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate

Creative Technology

VWO Mathematics A, B, or C
VWO English, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate

Electrical Engineering

VWO Mathematics B
VWO Physics
VWO English, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate

Health Sciences

VWO diploma or HAVO diploma

Industrial Design Engineering

VWO Mathematics B
VWO Physics
VWO English, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate

Industrial Engineering & Management Science

VWO Mathematics B
VWO English, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate

International Business Administration

VWO Mathematics A
VWO English, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate

Management Society and Technology

VWO Mathematics A
VWO English, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate

Mechanical Engineering

VWO English, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate

Additional tests in:

VWO Mathematics B
VWO Physics

Psychology

VWO Mathematics A, B, or C or HAVO Mathematics A or B
VWO English, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate
VWO Dutch (only applicable for the Dutch-taught track), this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate

Technical Computer Science

Dutch HBO-P in an engineering field with a VWO Mathematics B certificate is required.

VWO English is also necessary, and this will be reviewed on an individual basis, as it depends on the high school attended before obtaining the HBO-P certificate.

Technical Medicine

VWO Mathematics B
VWO Physics
VWO Chemistry
VWO Biology
VWO English, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate
VWO Dutch, this will be reviewed on individual bases as it is depending on the high school followed before the HBO-P certificate