Admission requirements

If you possess one of the diplomas stated below then, in principle, you qualify for admission.

• A new-style VWO diploma with the profile Natuur en Gezondheid (Science and Health) with profile subject Physics and Mathematics.
• A new-style VWO diploma with the profile Natuur en Techniek (Science and Engineering) with profile subject Biology
• An OU (Open University) propaedeutic diploma, HBO propaedeutic diploma, HBO degree diploma, university propaedeutic diploma or university degree diploma. Sufficient knowledge at VWO level of the subjects Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics A or B is required.

An old-style VWO diploma no longer gives the right to admission.

If you have a non-Dutch diploma that is equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma, you qualify - in principle - for admission to this programme. Check if this applies to your diploma.

List of diplomas equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma 2025-2026

Please note: if your diploma is not on this list, UM must first assess your diploma on an individual basis to see if you qualify for admission.

Your previous education must not only be equivalent to the Dutch VWO level but must also contain specific subjects. The subjects Mathematics A or B, Physics, Chemistry and Biology need to have been included at VWO exam level in your previous education.
 

To qualify for admission to the bachelor’s programme in Biomedical Sciences, you need to have the following subjects in your previous education with a duration and depth equivalent to the Dutch VWO: Mathematics A or B, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. The following diplomas satisfy those requirements:

• German ‘Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife’: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry: as ‘Grundkurs’ up to and including the final year. Biology as ‘Leistungsfach’
• Belgian Diploma of Secondary Education of one of the following tracks:
  - Greek-Sciences
  - Latin-Sciences
  - Modern Languages-Sciences
  - Sciences-Mathematics
• Diploma International Baccalaureate with
  - Mathematics Analysis and Approaches HL or SL, or
    Mathematics Applications and Interpretations HL, or
    Mathematics SL or HL (exam before 2021).
  - Physics SL or HL
  - Chemistry SL or HL
  - Biology HL
• Diploma European Baccalaureate with
  - Mathematics: written or oral exams, at least 3 hours/week in the last 2 years;
  - Physics: written or oral exams
  - Chemistry: written or oral exams;
  - Biology: written or oral exams, at least 4 hours/week in the last 2 years.
• British A/AS levels, (I) GCSEs:
  - Mathematics: GCE A or AS level
  - Physics: GCE A or AS level
  - Chemistry: GCE A level
  - Biology: GCE A level
• US High School Diploma:
  - Mathematics: AP exam Statistics or Calculus
  - Physics: AP exam Physics 1+2 or AP exam Physics 1 + C: Mechanics or AP exam Physics 2 + C: Mechanics
  - Chemistry: AP exam Chemistry
  - Biology: AP exam Biology

• Diplôme du Baccalauréat Général:
  - Mathematics: Spécialité Mathématique (Première) + Mathématique Complémentaires (Terminale) or Spécialité Mathématique (Première and Terminale) or Spécialité Mathématique (Première and Terminale) + Mathématiques Expertes
  - Physics: Spécialité Physique-Chimie (Première and Terminale)
  - Chemistry: Spécialité Physique-Chimie (Première and Terminale)
  - Biology: Spécialité Sciences de la Vie et de la Terre (Première and Terminale)

Additional subject requirement pertaining to non-Dutch entry qualifications 2025-2026

If your diploma or degree differs from those listed above, UM will assess whether you can demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the four compulsory subjects (Mathematics A or B, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology) and therefore qualify for an exemption (sufficiëntieverklaring) for these subjects on an individual basis. This assessment is based on the attainment aims for final examination in Dutch secondary education (VWO) in the relevant subject and the national agreements made within the Central Commissions Pre-examination (in Dutch: CCVX) and Boswell-Bèta. The assessment takes extra time, so be sure to register as early as possible.

Please note: taking an exam in a particular subject certainly does not automatically mean that you meet the further previous education requirements. There are strict requirements regarding the number of hours, the content and depth of the material covered and the exams taken.

If you already have or will be awarded a Dutch secondary education (VWO new style) or equivalent diploma, but you do not (completely) satisfy the additional requirements (meaning that these subjects were not included in your curriculum and therefore you did not take part in a final examination for these subjects, resulting in (one or more) deficiencies), you must take (an) additional examination(s) to qualify for admission to the bachelor's programme in Biomedical Sciences. These examinations can be conducted both in Dutch and English at Centrale Commissies Voortentamen (CCVX) or Boswell-Bèta.

Please note: you have to arrange these examinations yourself. In specific cases, Boswell-Bèta offers the possibility for foreign students to take these examinations online. You have to contact Boswell-Bèta personally to request an online examination.

German students can also opt to complete the so-called Vorsemester at the Rheinische Bildungszentrum in Cologne for deficiencies in Biology, Physics or Chemistry.

Bear in mind that institutes such as CCVX and Boswell-Bèta have a maximum of 20 working days to make the result known. 

Please note: proof of an extra examination in a certain subject at a different institute than the ones mentioned above (CCVX/Boswell-Bèta/Rheinische Bildungszentrum) does not automatically mean that you satisfy the requirements for that subject. The level of the extra examination will need to be assessed on an individual basis. Strict requirements concerning number of study hours, content, difficulty of the material dealt with, and examinations completed apply here. In case of doubt, we will require you to demonstrate sufficient knowledge and skills through an additional satisfactory examination at CCVX or Boswell-Bèta (or Rheinisches Bildungszentrum for German applicants). 

Once you have successfully completed your additional examinations, you need to upload the certificates in the MyApplication portal. 

Respect the deadline (see table Important deadlines for application)

To find out whether you meet the English language requirements, check out 'Additional requirements' further down this page.

In the evaluation of your diploma / grades transcript, it is possible that it is not clear whether you meet the subject requirements in a specific subject. Because education programmes can vary widely, we then need detailed information about the curriculum of the specific subject you have taken in order to assess your knowledge level. The knowledge requirements are based on the attainment levels for the final examination in Dutch pre-university education (VWO) and the national agreements made within the Dutch Central Committees for Entrance Exams (CCVX).
If this is applicable to you, we offer you the possibility to fill in a syllabus to have your knowledge of the specific subject assessed by the Colloquium Doctum committee. Guidelines and requirements of the syllabus can then be found in the MyApplication portal.

Respect the deadline (see table Important deadlines for application)