Our application deadline is April 1st
On this page, you will find more information about the entry requirements for our bachelor programme. Each application is a viewed holistically and carefully examined by the Admissions Board.
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 doubt about your eligibility, please refer to the list of most common diplomas granting 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.
To be able to participate in small-scale education, a good command of English is essential. You therefore 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 above-mentioned countries 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 an 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 by the university confirming this. (Not applicable when you have only completed the first year/propedeuse);
- The GCSE O-level English first language is only accepted for those students who apply on the basis of 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, 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 Exam | CAE:C / CPE:C |
If you are a Dutch applicant and you do not meet the language requirements, we offer a special arrangement: you can take the English assessment at the Language & Training Centre of EUR at our expense. If you wish to do so, please send an e-mail to bachelor@essb.eur.nl (subject “English assessment for Dutch applicants”) and mention your name, student number and the bachelor 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 own responsibility to contact us in time. *This test is only valid for our bachelor programmes and you will therefore not receive a certificate for other purposes.
IMPORTANT
- Test score reports must be submitted together with your application before or on the deadline, 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 takes your motivation to participate in the programme into consideration.
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.
Also, 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 do you choose to study this discipline at Erasmus University Rotterdam, as opposed to 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 choose to study in English and in an international environment.
Your Curriculum Vitae or resume is also one of the required documents in your application.
A CV should not exceed two A4 pages. A resume 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 involvement in NGO’s.
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 order of operations. It would be helpful if you already feel comfortable using a scientific calculator. If at this point you think your knowledge of mathematics is insufficient, you can start practicing by yourself to improve your knowledge of mathematics in preparation for the programme.
Mathematics is, however, not a mandatory requirement and applicants are not assessed based on their mathematics level or grade.
In addition to the credentials mentioned above, the Admissions Board will also consider your academic performance. Please note that there is no minimum score or average grade required; your application will be assessed against the pool of applicants of 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 are sure you can make your time as a students a pleasant one.
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 you know what to expect.
Housing, fees and immigration
Different individuals are used to different lifestyles and standards of living, hence the cost of your residence in the Netherlands will obviously 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 very difficult to find suitable housing. 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 it can take a fair amount of time to find something suitable. For details regarding tuition fees you are welcome to visit the dedicated page and/or contact Erasmus Student Service Center.
In case 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 proof of ID section of application for admission to a degree programme. This way the university will have enough information in order to determine the right amount of tuition fees.
External scholarships
For some countries, there may be cultural agreements with the Netherlands that include the possibility of financial support. Please contact your Dutch embassy or consulate for more information, or visit the website www.nuffic.nlOpens external and search for scholarships.
For information regarding further funding possibilities visit StudyinNLOpens external, a website providing information on scholarships for studying in the Netherlands.
Scholarships at Erasmus University Rotterdam
In October the information about the funding options for next year (2024-2025) will be updated. Keep an eye on this webpage for more information.
An excellent overview of financial aid possibilities is available at the Scholarship & grants page of the university. 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 if you have obtained a Dutch HBO Propedeuse.
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 all literature are in English. This requires that you can read, write, speak and understand English at an academic level and 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 have a look on the admission page to find out if you are eligible for exemption. Keep in mind that in case you believe that you qualify for exemption you need to present a 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 requested documents. Prior inquiries will be purely hypothetical. For this reason, we encourage you to officially apply for admission. You can also assess your eligibility yourself by taking a look at the detailed admissions criteria on this page. We have tried to make the criteria as transparent as possible.
We do our utmost best to inform you about your application within two weeks. Please note this might take longer during holiday season.
The programme is only offered on campus. Unfortunately, we do not offer any 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 other, which 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 (a university, a notary, a sworn translator etc.). Applicants with Dutch prior education do not have to send us certified copies, we are able to verify your previous education online.
An official translation is normally done by a registered sworn translator normally associated with a notary. Alternatively, an institution issuing the respective document may be rightful to issue official translations. Please note that you must send a copy of the documents in the original language along with the translation.
Places might become available any time between April and, at the latest, 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.