The University of Amsterdam (UvA), whose roots go back to 1632, is one of the largest universities in the Netherlands. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 60th in the world and second in the Netherlands, after TU Delft. It’s known for communication and media, psychology, economics, law, the humanities and the sciences, and most of its buildings are spread across central Amsterdam.
The UvA offers many English-taught bachelor’s programmes, but some of its most popular ones now have a limited number of places, and non-EU applicants have earlier deadlines. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on the UvA’s own guidance and official Dutch government information.
1. Choose your programme
The UvA’s English-taught bachelor’s programmes include Econometrics and Data Science, Economics and Business Economics, Psychology (English track), Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (PPLE), and Amsterdam University College offers a liberal arts and sciences degree. Check whether your programme is taught in English and whether it has a numerus fixus (limited places), because this decides your deadline.
2. Apply through Studielink and the UvA
You first register for your programme in Studielink, the national application system, from 1 October 2026 for 2027 entry. The UvA then emails you, usually within 48 hours, with an invitation to its own online application system, where you submit your documents. Register at least a week before your deadline, and submit your application soon after you receive the invitation. UvA application steps for international students.
3. Know your deadline
For most bachelor’s programmes starting in 2027, the deadline for non-EU/EEA students with an international diploma is 1 April 2027 if you need a visa or want UvA Housing, and 1 March 2027 if you’re applying for a scholarship. For programmes with a numerus fixus, you must register in Studielink by 15 January 2027.
4. Prepare for selection if your programme has limited places
Some UvA programmes, such as Psychology, have a numerus fixus and choose their students through a selection procedure. For 2027-28, Psychology has 270 places in its English track. You can register for up to two numerus fixus programmes in Studielink, but you can only accept one offer. Your application deadline in the UvA system may be earlier than the general deadline, so check your invitation email.
5. Meet the English and mathematics requirements
For many UvA bachelor’s programmes, including Psychology, the English requirement is IELTS Academic of 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each section, or an equivalent TOEFL iBT or Cambridge score. Your test must have been taken less than two years before you start, and IELTS Online and TOEFL Home Edition aren’t accepted. PPLE and Amsterdam University College set their own requirements. Many programmes also require mathematics at a certain level, which you may be able to meet with an online test such as OMPT. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests.
6. Understand the fees
Students from the EU/EEA, Switzerland and Suriname pay the statutory fee, which is €2,771 for 2027-28. Other students pay an institutional fee set by each faculty. For 2027-28, non-EEA bachelor’s fees are €15,730 for Economics and Business, €16,670 for the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, which includes Psychology, €17,600 for Humanities and Law, €19,200 for PPLE and €21,900 for most Science programmes. UvA tuition fees.
7. Apply for scholarships early
The UvA’s Amsterdam Merit Scholarships are for excellent non-EU/EEA students, and each faculty decides whether it offers them and sets its own amounts and deadlines. If you want to be considered for a scholarship, apply to your bachelor’s programme by 1 March 2027. You can also look for scholarships in your home country, which often have earlier deadlines.
8. Arrange housing early
Housing in Amsterdam is scarce and expensive. The UvA has a limited number of rooms for international students through UvA Housing, but you must apply to your programme by 1 April 2027 to request one, so don’t wait to apply.
9. Let the UvA apply for your residence permit
If you’re not from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you’ll need a residence permit for study, and many nationalities also need an entry visa (MVV). You don’t apply to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) yourself: once you’ve been admitted, the UvA applies for you as a recognised sponsor, and you pay the fee to the university. You must show that you can cover your living costs, which the IND sets at €1,130.77 a month for university students in 2026 (about €13,570 a year), on top of your tuition. This is why the deadline for non-EU applicants is usually earlier than for EU students. The permit lasts for the length of your programme plus three months, and to keep it you must earn at least 50% of your credits each year. IND required amounts.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
With a student residence permit you can work up to 16 hours a week during the academic year, or full time in June, July and August, but your employer needs a work permit (TWV) for you from the UWV. After you graduate, you can apply for the orientation year (zoekjaar) residence permit, which lets you stay for 12 months to look for a job or start a business, and during it you can work without a work permit. You can apply for it up to three years after you graduate. IND: international students.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at the UvA?
Most UvA master’s programmes are taught in English, and each has its own entry requirements and deadlines. For 2027-28, non-EEA fees for one-year master’s programmes are €24,500 at the Amsterdam School of Economics and €25,900 in Humanities. For a PhD, you usually apply for an advertised position, which is a paid job. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Popular UvA programmes are competitive, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to TU Delft, Utrecht University, Leiden University and Erasmus University Rotterdam. Our guide to studying in the Netherlands explains how the Dutch system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from the University of Amsterdam’s official admissions and tuition fee pages, official Dutch government sources and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on the UvA’s website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with the University of Amsterdam.