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 an 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.

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 2025 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 deadline. 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?

Please upload your high school diploma certificate and official final transcript of records in the original language. When the original language is not English, Dutch or German, please upload an official translation into English/Dutch as well. There will be a new question if you have or will obtain an additional degree, which should be the HBO-P certificate.

Please upload your official final HBO-P certificate and the official final transcript of records. In addition, make sure to upload course descriptions. Keep in mind that we do not accept an upload of your transcript of records. This document can be an official document from your institution, but you are also allowed to make the document yourself. Each description should include the title (the same as in the transcript of records), a course summary (a brief description of the main areas that are covered during the course), and the books that you have used during the courses.

Not graduated yet?

Please upload your most recent transcript of records till the moment of applying. The transcript of records should show all the courses of the first year, including the courses yet to be obtained. Preferably upload the transcript of records after the first half-year, so the first obtained 30 ECTS are visible. In addition, upload the course descriptions, keep in mind that we do not accept an upload of your transcript of records. This document can be an official document from your institution, but you are also allowed to make the document yourself. Each description should include the title (the same as in the transcript of records), a course summary (a brief description of the main areas that are covered during the course), and the books that you have used during the courses. Finally, please also upload a document in which you state whether you will obtain your HBO-P (first year, 60ECTS) before September when you want to start your bachelor's study at the University of Twente.

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 can always apply even when you still have to graduate. Please be aware that you need to be graduated in the school year prior to the start of the academic year.

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 certificat
- 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 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.
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