Language requirements 2025-2026

• The test scores cannot be older than two years (except for the Cambridge certificates).

• The modality required is 'academic'.

• We do not accept institutional TOEFL tests.

• Please note that TOEFL MyBest Scores are not considered in the admissions procedure.

For international students:

• IELTS: a scan of the score report can be uploaded in Progress Portal. We can also verify the score online.

• TOEFL: please upload a scan of your score report in Progress Portal and submit a request with ETS to allow us to access your test results in the ETS online database (institution code 7191).

• Cambridge Certificate: initially, a scan of the score report can be uploaded in Progress Portal. Should you be admitted we will need to receive a certified copy of your certificate or you may authorize us to verify your results online (register with your Candidate and Secret Number on the Candidate Results Website) and inform us by email when this step has been completed, so we can verify your score.

For students who applied via Colloquium Doctum or HBO propaedeutic certificate:

• IELTS: a scan of the score report can be submitted via the admission request or to admissions.board.bsc.fse@rug.nl. We can also verify the score online.

• TOEFL: a scan of the score report can be submitted via the admission request or to admissions.board.bsc.fse@rug.nl. Also submit a request with ETS to allow us to access your test results in the ETS online database (institution code 7191).

• Cambridge Certificate: initially, a scan of the score report can be submitted via the admission request or to admissions.board.bsc.fse@rug.nl. Should you be admitted we will need to receive a certified copy of your certificate or you may authorize us to verify your results online (register with your Candidate and Secret Number on the Candidate Results Website) and inform us by email when this step has been completed, so we can verify your score.

You are only exempted from proving your proficiency in English if you:

• have completed/will complete secondary education or a Bachelor’s programme in one of the following countries: USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (English speaking provinces/territories), Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines;

• apply on the basis of at least 3 (to be obtained) academic GCE A-level certificates with grades A* to C from one of the British examination boards;

• apply on the basis of a (to be obtained) International Baccalaureate diploma, with English as the medium of instruction;

• apply on the basis of a (to be obtained) European Baccalaureate diploma from a European School or one of the Accredited European Schools and have (completed) English as an L1 or L2 subject;

• apply on the basis of (to be obtained) at least 60 ECTS from an English-taught Bachelor’s degree programme in the Netherlands;

• apply on the basis of a (to be obtained) French Option Internationale du Baccalauréat – British version;

• apply on the basis of a (to be obtained) South African National Senior Certificate in combination with an IEB Advanced Programme Certificate in English (with minimum result 55% in case this is the only IEB AP certificate; otherwise with a passing grade)

• apply on the basis of a (to be obtained) Singapore/Cambridge GCE A levels in at least 3 H2 and 1 H1 content* courses (of which at least 1 course in a contrasting discipline) together with either the course General Paper or Knowledge and Inquiry (5 courses in total)

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* Please note that H1 Mother-Tongue Language (MTL) subject cannot be considered in-lieu of a H1 content-based subject.