Frequently asked questions
On this page you will find all frequently asked questions about the application and admission process at the UvA.
Find out how to re-enrol in the next year of your programme →
Follow our step-by-step guide on how to apply for our Bachelor's programmes.
The application process for Master's programmes differs per programme, but you can find a general overview of the steps on our Master's application process page.
Follow the steps below to check the deadlines and the entry requirements for the Bachelor programme of your choice:
Choose a programme from the list of English-taught Bachelor’s programmes
Click on ‘Application and admission’ in the navigation menu
Click on 'International prior education’ (or Dutch prior education)
‘Check the deadlines’ and ‘Check the entry requirements’
You can also use the diploma calculator to check the international diploma requirements. If your prior education is not listed this does not mean that you cannot apply, just that we have to check on an individual basis.
Please note that your prior education will only be evaluated by the admissions committee, after you submit your enrolment request in Studielink and submit your application file.
Follow the steps below to check the deadlines and specific entry requirements for the Master programme of your choice:
Choose a programme from the list of English-taught Master’s programmes
Click on ‘Application and admission’ in the navigation menu
‘Review the deadlines’ and ‘Check the entry requirements’
Conditional admission means that you will be admitted after fulfilling all the requirements indicated in your conditional offer. These requirements can range from sending in certified copies of your diploma, final transcript of grades and English language proficiency test certificate to extra courses.
You can find more information about the steps that you need to take after conditional admission on www.uva.nl/application.
In order to start your application you should submit an enrolment request in Studielink. You can find a step-by-step guide on www.uva.nl/application.
In short:
After submitting your enrolment request in Studielink, you will receive two emails from the University of Amsterdam within 48 hours.
The first email enholds your UvAnetID (username and password).
→ Follow the instructions in the email to activate your UvAnetID, for you will need it to complete your application.
The second email enholds an invitation to our online application system.
→ You log in with your UvAnetID in order to submit your application file to the programme of your choice.
After you submit your application file, you will have to wait for the admission decision.
If you have applied to the UvA before, you will not receive a new UvAnetID. You can use the UvAnetID you received when you applied at the UvA before.
If you have forgotten the password for your UvA-net ID, go to www.id.student.uva.nl, select I forgot my password and follow the steps. You can create a new password right away.
If this by any chance does not work properly, please contact the Central Student Service Desk.
After you have received the email to activate your UvAnetID account it can take up to 48 hours before you are actually able to activate your UvAnetID.
Try again after reading these instructions:
Visit www.id.student.uva.nl and click on ‘activate your account’. Your username is equal to your student number.
Double check if you have entered the same personal details (e.g. name, date of birth, email) to activate your UvAnetID as you have used to register in Studielink.
If this doesn’t solve the issue, please try the following steps:
Try to use a different laptop or computer (be advised that it is not possible to activate your UvAnetID on your smartphone or tablet)
Try to use a different browser or a private browser window
Empty your browser history, cache and cookies
Do you still experience problems? Contact the Central Student Service Desk.
UvA Matching for international students is an introduction to the Bachelor’s programme for which you have applied. It is designed to help you assess whether you have chosen the right programme, through a combination of online activities such as assignments, reading course literature and/or making a test. The activities may differ per programme.
More information can be found on the webpage about UvA Matching for international students.
If you have any further questions, you can also check the UvA Matching FAQ page or contact the Central Student Service Desk.
Yes, you can already submit your application. However, it is important to meet the requirements for sufficient proficiency in English before the set deadline.
If you do not have your test results certificate at the moment of application, please upload a proof of registration for the English language proficiency test along with the other required documents. This document must at least include the following information: test name, test date and expected release date of the test results.
On the UvA application website you can find more information about the English language proficiency requirements, including the deadline(s) for providing the UvA with an English language test certificate.
On www.uva.nl/application you can read more about which documents to submit in your application file, as part of the online application.
If you have not yet obtained your diploma, please submit your most recent transcript of grades as well as your predicted grades.
If your diploma or transcript are not in English, Dutch, French or German, please send in an official translation as well.
On www.uva.nl/application you can read more on how to submit certified documents.
You can also watch the video about certified documents for more information.
You will receive an email with more information about how to register for immigration, housing and a start appointment after you have been conditionally admitted.
More information can be found in the practical matters section.
For more information on practical information, such as visa and housing, you can visit one of the UvA web pages below:
For your visa application at the Immigration and Naturalisation Department (IND) you need to provide the UvA Immigration Office with financial proof showing that you have sufficient financial means to stay and study in the Netherlands.
More information can be found in the financial proof section.
You can track the status of your enrolment on www.sis.uva.nl, by logging in with your UvAnetID. You can check by yourself which checklists still need to be completed in order to complete your enrolment at the UvA.
In addition, you will be kept informed of the status of your enrolment via status updates sent by email.
Each UvA faculty has its own admission procedures with specific entry requirements for their Master’s programmes. You can find more information on the admission procedure for your programme under ‘application and admission’ by selecting the programme via the list of master programmes.
Once you have started the application procedure, the programme informs you about the further steps necessary to determine your admissibility.
Once you have met all admission requirements for the programme, your faculty will issue a “Statement of Admission to the Master” via SIS. In this statement the faculty declares you have been admitted to the Master’s programme.
You can track your enrollment status at www.sis.uva.nl. At this time your programme has not yet registered your admission in SIS. Possibly you still have to send documents to the faculty, which you should arrange as soon as possible. If you have already received a message from the faculty stating that you have met all admission requirements, there may be another reason your Statement of Admission has not been issued as of now.
Please contact your programme directly if you have any questions about this.
Pre-master’s Programme
In case you are currently completing your Pre-master’s programme, the Statement of Admission will be issued once your last grade has been registered.
Admission with study delay (Soft cut)
For the transition from the Bachelor's or pre-masters phase to the Master's, the UvA has opted for a so-called 'soft cut' with restrictions. This “soft cut” allows students who have not been able to complete their bachelor's or pre-Master’s programme in the academic year 2020-2021 due to the corona situation to start with their Master’s by 1 September 2021.
Between 1 July and 31 August 2021, it is possible to submit a ‘request for admission with study delay’ in order to begin a Master's programme with an incomplete Bachelor's or Pre-Master's. More information on the conditions applicable and procedure can be found on your study programme page (application and admission).
If your request is granted, you have the full academic year 2021-2022 to complete your previous programme. Besides your enrolment in the Master's, it is therefore necessary that you also re-enrol in your Bachelor's or Pre-Master's programme.
N.B.: It is your responsibility that you finalise your enrolment in due time. Contact your faculty in case you have any doubts regarding the status of your admission. You can track your enrolment status at www.sis.uva.nl. Once your enrolment has been finalised, you will receive your Proof of Enrolment by e-mail. Your enrolment should be finalised no later than 31 August.
As soon as you have completed all the checklists of your enrolment on www.sis.uva.nl, you will automatically receive a Proof of Enrolment by email within 24 hours. Unfortunately, it is not possible to receive a Proof of Enrolment earlier.
Visit the Central Student Service Desk and we will print, stamp and sign your Proof of Enrolment.
More information can be found in the Student ID card section.
If you want to ‘change’ your enrolment application request, you will have to ‘cancel’ your current enrolment application request first and then submit a new request for the programme of your interest. You can do this in Studielink.
We advise you to wait 48 hours between the two requests, so Studielink can process these separately and no errors are performed.
In Studielink you can submit a total of 4 enrolment application requests per academic year, so you can make your final study choice later on in the application process.
You can cancel your enrolment application request in Studielink one day before the start date of your programme (e.g. if your programme starts on September 1st, you can cancel your enrolment application request at the latest on August 31st).
General information and frequently asked questions about enrolment can be found on the Studielink FAQ page.
Do you have any further questions on this topic? If so, please contact the Central Student Service Desk.