The IB Diploma and Dutch university entry
Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for international credential recognition, compares the full International Baccalaureate Diploma with a Dutch VWO diploma.
That is an important starting point for students considering Dutch higher education. It does not, however, mean that every IB student automatically qualifies for every bachelor's programme.
Universities and universities of applied sciences set their own admission requirements and make the final admission decision.
Your subject choices can make a difference
For some programmes, having the IB Diploma is not enough on its own. Universities may require particular subjects, subject levels or grades.
Mathematics is a common example: the level and type of IB Mathematics accepted can differ between programmes. Science-based programmes may also have requirements for subjects such as Physics, Chemistry or Biology.
This is why it is worth checking requirements before finalising your university shortlist — and, ideally, while you still have choices about your IB programme.
The same IB profile can lead to different answers
Admission requirements are programme-specific.
A student considering Engineering may face very different subject requirements from a student considering Psychology, Economics or another bachelor's programme.
Even programmes that sound similar can have different entry requirements.
“Is an IB Diploma accepted in the Netherlands?”
That is useful to know, but the more important question is:
“Does my IB profile meet the requirements for the programmes I want to apply to?”
That is the question International Student Desk is designed to help you answer.
Always check the official programme requirements
Dutch higher education institutions make their own admission decisions. Requirements can therefore differ between universities as well as between programmes.
Use the university's official programme page as the final authority for current admission requirements.
International Student Desk helps you organise and compare those requirements, but it does not replace the university's official admissions decision.