Our application deadline is April 1st.
On this page, you will find more information about the entry requirements for our bachelor's programme. The Admissions Board views each application holistically and carefully.
As a rule, you are eligible to apply for our bachelor programme if you have obtained or will obtain a secondary school diploma such as the Dutch vwo-diploma or a foreign equivalent.
If you have doubts about your eligibility, please refer to the list of the most common diplomas that grant you access to studies at a research university. Whether or not your diploma is at the required level will be determined upon receipt of your application and documents.
If you have not graduated yet on the day of application, you can apply with a diploma statement in your application.
A good command of English is essential for participating in small-scale education. Therefore, you must prove your proficiency in English in your application.
You meet our English language requirements when:
- You went to secondary/high school with English as the language of instruction for at least 2.5 years in one of the following countries: USA, UK, Canada (with the exception of Quebec), Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa. (Please note that possessing a passport from an English-speaking country without attending school in one of the countries mentioned above does not grant exemption).
- You hold an International Baccalaureate Diploma, English A (HL or SL 4 or higher), English B (HL 4 or higher).
- You hold a European Baccalaureate and took English as L1 or L2 with a minimum of 7.0 (not with L3).
- English was part of your final exam of the following diplomas and you have obtained an average of at least 70% of the maximum score: Dutch vwo, Belgian ASO (in the Flemish and German-speaking part of Belgium), German Abitur (at least 11 points), Norwegian Vitnemal, Swedish Slutbetyg, Finnish Ylioppilastuskintotodistus, Icelandic Studentprof, Danish Studentereksamen, Swiss Maturität (in the German-speaking part of Switzerland), Austrian Maturazeugnis, French Option Internationale du Baccalauréat (Anglo-American section);
- You have obtained an hbo diploma at a University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands where the language of instruction of the complete programme was English. Please submit proof thereof by uploading a statement from the university confirming this. (Not applicable when you have only completed the first year/propedeutic).
- The GCSE O-level English as a first language is only accepted for those students who apply based on British GCSE O-levels + GCE A-levels.
- You have obtained a diploma of higher education in English in of one of the following countries: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and South Africa (the entire programme lasted for at least 2.5 years) and will submit proof or a statement by the university that your degree was taught fully in English.
If you do not meet our requirements, you will have to demonstrate your English skills with an English proficiency test and submit the results along with your application.
We accept the following language tests and results:
| Test | Minimum score | Minimum sub-scores |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT (code: 5971) | 90 | 20 |
| IELTS (we do not accept IELTS online) | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced (formerly: CAE) | 180 | |
| Cambridge C2 Proficiency (formerly: CPE) | 200 |
If you are a Dutch applicant and do not meet the language requirements, we offer a special arrangement: you can take the English assessment at the EUR Language & Training Centre at our expense. If you wish to do so, please email bachelor@essb.eur.nl (subject “English assessment for Dutch applicants”) and mention your name, student number and the bachelor's programme you have applied for. We will inform you on how to register for the assessment. The test will take place in March, and it is your responsibility to contact us on time. *This test is only valid for our bachelor's programmes, and you will, therefore, not receive a certificate for other purposes.
IMPORTANT
- Test score reports must be submitted with your application before or on the deadline of 1 April. Without the results, we will not be able to assess your application. It is not possible to submit the test results after the application deadline.
- Only the Internet-Based TOEFL is accepted (not the Institutional TOEFL test).
- We do not accept TOEFL iBT home edition and IELTS online.
- Test results may not be older than two years at the time of application.
- We do not accept any other language proficiency tests.
Apart from your grades, the Admissions Board also considers your motivation to participate in the programme.
- The motivation letter must be 1 A4 page maximum.
- You are expected to write your letter in English and address it to the Admissions Board.
- Please make sure to mention your name and student number.
Please answer the following questions in your motivation letter:
- Why have you chosen to study this particular discipline?
- Why did you decide to study this discipline at Erasmus University Rotterdam, instead of at other universities?
- Why does our active, self-directed form of education appeal to you?
Demonstrate international orientation and experiences through your CV/ life story/ interests and explain why you chose to study in English and an international environment.
Your curriculum vitae or resume is also one of the required documents for your application.
- A CV should not exceed two A4 pages.
- A CV allows you to list your educational career and the work experience you have obtained so far. Do not worry if you do not have any professional experience yet.
- Please mention your interests, extracurricular activities, and/or NGO involvement.
Since the course includes statistics, which requires a sufficient grasp of mathematics, it is advised that you have had mathematics (pre-academic level) in secondary school. Subjects you will encounter in this programme are basic arithmetic (+, -, *, /) and the order of operations. It would be helpful if you already feel comfortable using a scientific calculator. If you think your knowledge of mathematics is insufficient at this point, you can start practising by yourself to improve your knowledge of mathematics in preparation for the programme.
However, mathematics is not a mandatory requirement, and applicants are not assessed based on their mathematics level or grade.
The Admissions Board will consider your academic performance in addition to the credentials mentioned above. Please note that no minimum score or average grade is required; your application will be assessed against the pool of applicants for the given year.
Of course, we love to receive applications from all over the world! Before applying, make sure to look into the (expected) costs of living and studying in Rotterdam. This way, you can be sure you can make your time as a student a pleasant one.
Here, you can find an overview of the expected costs, ways to prepare for studying abroad, and possibilities for financial support. Please read this information carefully so that you can plan ahead and know what to expect.
Housing, fees and immigration
Different individuals are used to various lifestyles and living standards; hence, the cost of your residence in the Netherlands will vary depending on what you choose and can afford. Housing-related information will certainly greatly influence your preparation. Please be aware that it can be difficult to find suitable housing, so prepare yourself for challenges. Current housing conditions in the Netherlands are not favourable. There is a severe shortage of affordable rooms and accommodations in the Netherlands. Moreover, some agencies or landlords limit their housing opportunities to national students only. Hence, it is vital to start looking for housing as soon as possible, as finding something suitable can take a fair amount of time.
- For details regarding tuition fees, you are welcome to visit this dedicated page and/or contact the Erasmus Student Service Centre.
- If you want to know more about job possibilities or legal regulations, please visit the website providing advice on working in the Netherlands.
Please note that for non-EEA applicants, there are also costs associated with visas and/or residence permits. Be sure to upload all documentation reflecting your nationality and/or immigration status by submitting all the necessary documentation under the proof of ID section of the application for admission to a degree programme. This way, the university will have enough information to determine the right amount of tuition fees.
External scholarships
For some countries, cultural agreements with the Netherlands may include the possibility of financial support. For more information, please contact your Dutch embassy or consulate, or visit the website www.nuffic.nl and search for scholarships.
For information regarding further funding possibilities, visit StudyinNL, a website providing information on scholarships for studying in the Netherlands.
Scholarships at Erasmus University Rotterdam
The information about the funding options for the next academic year (2026-2027) will be updated in October.
An excellent overview of financial aid possibilities is available on the university's Scholarship & Grants page. For the applicants of degree programmes of Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences at Erasmus University Rotterdam, the following funding possibilities are available:
Please keep in mind that more often than not, scholarship organisations require an offer of admission in the course of application for a scholarship, which means that you have to be very cautious about your planning.
Have a look at the latest detailed information regarding tuition fees.
Yes, you are eligible when you have completed an associate degree or obtained a Dutch hbo propedeutic at a recognised educational institution.
A transfer of grades is not possible. Due to the special educational build-up of the curriculum, which mainly consists of obligatory as opposed to optional courses, we, unfortunately, cannot accept transfer students.
Our programme is an English-taught programme. All lectures and literature are in English. This requires that you can read, write, speak, and understand English at an academic level; thus, we need proof thereof from our applicants. This applies to our Dutch and non-Dutch applicants.
Yes, in some cases, you might be exempted from presenting the results of an English proficiency test. Please look at the admission page to determine your eligibility for exemption. Keep in mind that if you believe you qualify for an exemption, you need to present proof thereof.
The eligibility of your prior education can only be determined after you have submitted an application and only after we have received all the requested documents. Initial inquiries will be purely hypothetical. For this reason, we encourage you to apply for admission officially. You can also assess your eligibility by looking at the detailed admissions criteria on this page. We have tried to make the criteria as transparent as possible.
We do our best to inform you about your application within two weeks. Please note that this might take longer during the holiday season.
The programme is only offered on campus. Unfortunately, we do not offer distance or online courses. Due to the teaching method of the programme, active participation in class, and therefore, active preparation, and mandatory class attendance are required.
A certified copy is a copy of a filed document, legal or otherwise, that contains a seal and a signature that establishes that the document is genuine, a true copy. A document may be certified by an official authorised person (e.g., a university, a notary, a sworn translator, etc.). Applicants with Dutch prior education do not have to send us certified copies; we can verify your previous education online.
A registered sworn translator usually does an official translation, generally associated with a notary. Alternatively, an institution issuing the respective document may be entitled to issue official translations. Please note that you must send a copy of the documents in the original language and also the translation.
Places might become available any time between April and, at the latest, the end of June. You need to decide for yourself what the ultimate waiting deadline is most suitable and comfortable for you; if you are not informed by then, please withdraw your application. If you do not receive an offer of admission by the end of June, it means that you will not be considered for admission any longer, and the waiting list is terminated.