The International Bachelor Arts and Culture Studies (IBACS) welcomes applicants who meet the entry requirements and whose intellectual ability, (international) education, international background and personal motivation will both benefit from and contribute to the learning environment of the programme.
Deadline and response time
As of October 2022, you can submit your application. The application deadline is 1 May for EEA students and 1 April for non-EEA students.
The admissions committee will assess your application documents and communicate the outcome of the assessment within 6 – 8 weeks after you have submitted your application. If the committee doubts whether IBACS is a good match for you, the student advisor will contact you for further information.
How to apply
You need to start in Studielink, which is the Dutch national registration system for higher education. Subsequently, you continue your application in the Admissions Portal of Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR).
Important
- Only submitted applications will be taken into consideration!
- Depending on the type of diploma you have obtained (or will obtain before 1 September), different documents need to be submitted.
Application and registration
- Dutch students need their DigiD to log in on Studielink.
- Non-Dutch students are required to log in with a Studielink username and password. Step by step plans are available on the Studielink website.
- Did you use Studielink before? Please check your personal details and change your email address in case this is necessary. The Studielink Q&A offers instructions on how to change this.
- Check the entry requirements to see if you need to take a test!
- If you are required to submit an English language test report but have not yet taken a test, you will be asked to fill in your planned test date. You can choose either IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, ITP-TOEFL or Cambridge C1 Advanced.
These are the documents you need to submit in pdf:
- if already obtained: a copy of your vwo diploma
- a copy of your end-of-year report vwo-5 or final list of grades vwo-6
- your personal motivation letter (see guidelines below)
- proof of your proficiency in English (if already available, and only if applicable: see entry requirements)
The application deadline 1 May for EEA students and 1 April for non-EEA students
If you have any questions, check out the FAQ section or contact the Admissions Coordinator.
These are the documents you need to submit in pdf:
- if already obtained: a copy of your hbo propaedeutic certificate or your hbo diploma
- a copy of your hbo list of grades
- your personal motivation letter (see guidelines below)
- proof of your proficiency in English (if already available, and only if applicable: see entry requirements)
The application deadline is 1 May for EEA students and 1 April for non-EEA students.
If you have any questions, check out the FAQ section or contact the Admissions Coordinator.
These are the documents you need to submit in pdf:
- if already available, a certified copy of your secondary school diploma
- your final list of grades or, if you do not have a diploma yet, your end-of-year report from your final or penultimate secondary school year
- your personal motivation letter (see guidelines below)
- proof of your proficiency in English (if already available, and only if applicable: see entry requirements)
- a copy of your passport
The deadline for applications is 1 May for EEA students and 1 April for non-EEA students.
This video gives you a quick overview of the application procedure.
If you have any questions, check out the FAQ section or contact Erasmus University's International Admissions Office.
Your personal motivation letter must include five items:
- Personal information: your full name, date of birth, complete postal address, e-mail address and (mobile) phone number;
- Your motivated interest in arts and culture;
- Why you would like to study at Erasmus University Rotterdam;
- Your international career aspirations;
- Your international background, including nationality, previous education and international experience.
The letter must be written in English and be no longer than two pages. You need to upload it in the EUR Admission Portal, along with the other required documents.
- Dutch students need their DigiD to log in on Studielink.
- Non-Dutch students are required to log in with a Studielink username and password. Step by step plans are available on the Studielink website.
- Did you use Studielink before? Please check your personal details and change your email address in case this is necessary. The Studielink Q&A offers instructions on how to change this.
- Fill out your previous education. You only need to fill out the previous education that provides entry to the study programme you wish to take.
- After you have filled out (or checked) your personal details and previous education, you state which study programme you wish to take.
- Finally, you submit your enrolment in Studielink.
- After you have enrolled in Studielink, you will receive an email from Erasmus University with your ID and password to log in on the EUR Admissions Portal. Please be aware that automatically generated emails may end up in your spam or junk folder. Therefore, check these folders!
- If after enrolling in Studielink you do not receive an email from us with your login details for the portal, please contact our Information Technology (IT).
- In the EUR Admissions Portal you are invited to finalise your application by uploading the required documents and answering some additional questions. Once you have done this, you can submit your application.
- You can start working in the portal, save your entries and use your login information to return to the portal later.
- Important: We will only start processing your application after you have submitted it in the portal (by clicking on the 'submit' button on the last page of the questionnaire).
- Once you have submitted your application in the EUR Admissions Portal, we will check your application documents and contact you as soon as possible if anything is missing.
The admissions committee will assess your application documents and communicate the outcome of the assessment within 6 – 8 weeks after you have submitted your application. If the committee doubts whether IBACS is a good match for you, the student advisor will contact you for further information.
You can check your application status at any time by logging in on the EUR Admissions Portal. Below you will find an explanation of the various statuses and what you need to do.
Not yet submitted
You have not yet confirmed your application by clicking on the ‘submit’ button at the bottom of the last page of the questionnaire. Please note: only submitted applications will be processed!
Submitted
You have submitted your application. We will let you know whether or not your file is complete within approximately two weeks.
In progress
Your application is under consideration by the programme’s admissions committee.
Or: we are waiting for your additional documents!
Completed
Your admission has been completed. You may now finalise your registration (see next step).
Cancelled
If you wish to cancel your application, please withdraw your enrolment in Studielink. Your application status in the Admissions Portal will automatically change to ‘cancelled’ as well.
Approved
You are unconditionally admitted to the programme. You may now finalise your registration (see next step).
Conditionally approved
You are conditionally admitted, which means that you still need to submit additional documents, such as your diploma, your grades list or your language test results. Please send us the additional documents no later than the deadline mentioned in your admissions offer. Without them we cannot finalise your registration!
In the admission offer we sent to you by email, you will find an overview of the documents you still need to submit and where to send them.
If you have any questions about the additional documents
- mail to bacheloradmission@eshcc.eur.nl if you apply with a Dutch vwo or hbo diploma
- mail to admissions.office@eur.nl if you apply with an IB or EB diploma, or any other non-Dutch diploma
Declined
You receive an email informing you about the reason(s) for rejection.
Our central immigration desk will assist international students with arranging immigration formalities. Once you are selected for the programme, our immigration officers will reach out to you. You can have a look at our website as well.
Upload your passport size photo in Osiris Student. Go to https://eur.osiris-student.nl/#/personalia. Need help? Contact Erasmus Student Service Centre.
As of approximately mid-June, you will be able to arrange payment of tuition fees. You start with entering your payment details in Studielink (see your 'to do list' in Studielink). On our website you will find detailed information regarding payment of your tuition fees. If you still have questions, please contact Erasmus Student Service Centre.
The ultimate date for finalising your registration is 30 August, but please do not wait until the last minute!
If your registration is not completed on time, your student account will be blocked on 1 September.
- You will have access to your digital student ID card in Osiris Student. Follow this link for further information on your student card: https://www.eur.nl/en/education/practical-matters/registration/student-id-card.
- You can download and print your proof of enrolment via Osiris Student.
It is advisable to arrive in Rotterdam well in time for the first lectures. On this page you will find practical information such as the academic calendar and course guides.
ESN Introduction Days and the EUReka week are planned for mid-August and are a nice way to get settled before classes start.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, we do not.
Prospective students should register in Studielink and subsequently upload their application documents in the EUR Admissions Portal. Once the registration in Studielink is complete, a link to this portal will be sent via email. Depending on the type of diploma (Dutch / non-Dutch) you have obtained or will be obtaining, different documents are required. Please follow the procedure applicable to your particular type of diploma. Once your application package has been assessed by the programme’s admission committee, the faculty will let you know whether or not you are invited to join the programme and, if applicable, under what conditions (e.g. obtaining your diploma). You will receive our reply within 6-8 weeks after you have submitted your application. Detailed information and instructions on how to proceed will be sent to invited students.
If you have not received the email with the login details for the Admissions Portal, please send an email to our ICT service desk at it.servicedesk@eur.nl
Please be aware that automatically generated emails may end up in your spam or junk folder. Therefore, please check these folders!
No, we do not.
You will receive our reply within 6-8 weeks after you have submitted your application.
Please be aware that automatically generated emails may end up in your spam or junk folder. Therefore, please check these folders!
Studielink is the Dutch registration system for universities. We can only register you as a student at our university if you enrol through this system. Please note that after enrolling in Studielink, you always need to finalise your application in the university’s Admissions Portal.
Your home school/university can provide you with an official transcript of records. This needs to be stamped and signed
Yes, you can apply. You need to upload your most recent transcript of records instead.
Yes you can apply. You may send the test results later, but no later than the deadline mentioned in your admissions offer.
Your home school/university can provide you with an official transcript of records. This needs to be stamped and signed
A more than average proficiency in English is required for a reason. Students whose English is below the entry requirement, will have trouble successfully completing the courses. We expect a lot from our students and being able to communicate well is very important. We therefore recommend you not to take this requirement lightly. This standard has been set for a reason and has also proven to be necessary over the years. Students who think their English grade does not reflect their actual proficiency, are very welcome to demonstrate their increased skills by taking a TOEFL or IELTS exam.
You need to send us the test report no later than the deadline mentioned in your admissions offer.
Congratulations! Please send legalised copies of your diplomas together with final transcript of records and translations to the Admissions Office before August 1:
Erasmus University Rotterdam
USC – Department of Education & Student Affairs
International Office - Admissions Office
Sanders building, L3.010
PO Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam
the Netherlands
Courier address
Erasmus University Rotterdam
USC – Department of Education & Student Affairs
International Office - Admissions Office
Sanders building, L3.010
Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
3062 PA Rotterdam
the Netherlands
We only have one intake moment, which is in September.
We do not allow any transfers into the programme, not in September, nor in January or February. All Bachelor students have to start in year one of the Bachelor's programme, and complete all three years. It is not possible to transfer any credits. Exemptions based on previous education are rarely granted and can only be applied for after being accepted into the programme. The Examination Board will deal with such a request, based on your personal file.
It is important to realise that the Binding Study Advice (BSA) applies, which means that you have to obtain all 60 EC of the Bachelor’s first year. In addition, we have mandatory attendance of the workgroups and quite a number of deadlines for assignments, hence good planning skills are required if you want to combine two studies. To find out whether this is possible for you, we advise you to check your current calendar and then check the calendar for the upcoming terms to see if it would, hypothetically, be possible for you to combine both, schedule wise. For some students it is possible to combine two studies, however, it requires a lot of planning and determination on the part of the student. If you have any further questions or want to discuss your situation in person, please do not hesitate to make an appointment with the student advisor.
Once you arrive in Rotterdam, you can join one of the many courses offered at our Language and Training Centre.
You can find out more about housing on this page. All international students who are invited to join the programme, will receive a detailed email from our International Officer with information about housing.
It is advisable to arrive in Rotterdam well in time for the first lectures. Introductions such as ESN and the EUReka week are planned for mid-August and are a nice way to get settled before classes start.
Yes, we do. All students to whom this applies, will automatically receive further information from our International Officer.
In Rotterdam there are many places you can turn to for help and assistance. Please look here for more information.
Please note that for medical assistance, the usual practice in the Netherlands is for a patient to have an initial consultation with a general practitioner (Dutch: huisarts), before making an appointment with a specialist in hospital.
Erasmus University Rotterdam has made arrangements with several general practitioners. For information, click here.
For information on your student card please view Digital Student ID card.
If you have any questions you may contact ESSC.
Please also check our practical information pages. If you are still unable to find the answers you are looking for, please contact the faculty’s Admission Coordinator at bacheloradmission@eshcc.eur.nl