Admission requirements | Language requirement

Are you going to study a Dutch or English master's? Make sure you meet the language requirements of the study in time.

Find out what language requirements apply and what certificates you may need to provide.

Dutch language requirements

The University of Twente has several Dutch-taught (pre-)master’s programmes. These programmes have a Dutch language requirement, besides the English language requirement.

To the Dutch-taught master's programmes

English language requirements

Success in your studies requires a high level of English proficiency. Therefore, prospective master's students with an international degree must meet the English language requirement.

Make sure you have obtained a valid English test result before the application deadline. If your application is accompanied by a language test score report with a test date after our application deadline, we will not process it. Therefore, make sure to do the test in advance, as it will take time for you to get the official certificate.

As proof that you meet this requirement, you will be asked in the application procedure to upload one of the requested language certificates below. Only these internationally recognised test results will be accepted. Without a valid certificate, your application cannot be processed.

IELTS (academic) certificate, not older than two years, with an overall band score of at least 6.5, and a minimum score on each section of at least 6.0. The IELTS Online test, IELTS Indicator test, and IELTS General Training are not accepted by the University of Twente.

TOEFL iBT (internet-based) certificate, not older than two years, with an overall score of 90, and a minimum score on each section of at least 21. Please note that the University of Twente does not accept the MyBest scores of the TOEFL test. An alternative English test can be the TOEFL iBT (Special) Home Edition test. This test is valid for February 2023, September 2023, and February 2024 intake.

Cambridge C1 Advanced, formerly known as; Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) from 2015 onwards (when the subscores were introduced). Obtained an A, B or C grade, with an overall score of at least 176 and a minimum score on each section of at least 169. The Cambridge online test is not accepted by the University of Twente.

Cambridge C2 Proficiency, formerly known as; Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE) from 2015 onwards (when the subscores were introduced). Obtained an A, B or C grade, with an overall score of at least 176 and a minimum score on each section of at least 169. The Cambridge online test is not accepted by the University of Twente.

KEEP IN MIND

The language requirements when applying for a scholarship may be different because scholarship providers may have different requirements.
If you are a native English speaker and/or you have (fully) completed your education in English, you also have to meet the specific English language requirement.

Exemptions

You are exempted from the English language requirement if you hold:

A relevant bachelor’s degree and/or master's degree from an accredited academic institution in the Netherlands
A three-year bachelor’s degree in Australia, Canada (English-speaking part), Ireland, New Zealand, UK or USA. When your awarding institution is in one of these countries, but your teaching institution was not, you are not exempted. The same rule applies to distance (online) education.
You have English as an exam subject during your secondary education. This exemption depends on your country, please check our country list to make sure if you must do the additional English language test or not. Please note: not every master's programme allows this as an exemption. Please submit your application and your application will be reviewed whether or not an additional English language test is required.