Starting university with an hbo first-year certificate

Is a research university right for you?

In the Netherlands, you learn differently at a research university than at a university of applied sciences. You’ll focus more on theory, conduct research and learn to think critically about complex issues. That may sound challenging, but it also means you’ll have a lot of freedom and responsibility to organise your studies independently.

Are you curious, do you enjoy exploring topics in depth and want to understand why things are the way they are? Then studying at a research university might be a great fit for you.

The key differences

Is a bachelor’s degree at a research university very difficult?

Making the transition from a university of applied sciences to a research university requires a different approach to studying. You’ll have more freedom, conduct more independent research and explore theory in greater depth. It may take some getting used to. However, study results show that students with a first-year certificate from a university of applied sciences perform about as well on average as students who start university after completing pre-university education (VWO). And you’re not on your own: support and guidance are available whenever you need them.

All student support

Admission requirements

For many bachelor’s programmes, you can be admitted with a first-year certificate from a Dutch university of applied sciences. Some programmes have additional admission requirements. For example, you may need to obtain certificates for subjects such as mathematics (A or B) and English at the level of the Dutch pre-university (VWO) final exams.

View the admission requirements for each programme