Admission requirements

On this page you will find important details of the application process (such as deadlines, admission requirements, required documents and application assessment) for the bachelor’s programme in Health Sciences for the academic year 2025-2026.

Please note: this study programme is taught in Dutch

The information on this page is for students who would like to start in academic year 2025-2026.

Please click here to look into the admission requirements for academic year 2024-2025.

Important deadlines for application

The bachelor’s programme in Health Sciences starts in September.
The deadlines below are applicable for applicants who want to start their studies in September 2025

Note: if you are viewing this webpage on your phone, we recommend that you use landscape mode.

Date	What you need to know about this date
1 October 2024	Studielink is open for applications for the academic year 2025-2026
1 April 2025, 23:59 CET	Deadline for completing the entire application process for non-EU/EEA applicants (these applicants require a visa or residence permit)
1 May 2025, 23:59 CET	Deadline for completing the entire application process for applicants from the EU/EEA or Switzerland

Are you a non-EU citizen requiring a visa/residence permit for study?

Please note that Maastricht University can only formally apply for your visa/residence permit if you have met all admission and enrolment requirements.

This means you have to have completed all admission and enrolment tasks in the MyApplication portal (except the ‘visa/residence permit’-task and the ‘send certified copy of diploma’-task) before we can send your application to the IND (Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service).

We have to send the application to the IND before 1 July when you’re starting in September (or before 1 December when you’re starting in February, if applicable for your study programme).

Therefore, we strongly recommend that you reconsider applying for this study programme if you are not sure that you will meet the following requirements before 1 July/1 December:

Having remedied all subject and/or language deficiencies (if applicable)
Having qualified for admission to your study programme, including being selected (if applicable to your study programme) AND
Having paid the tuition fee for your study programme

General requirements: previous education

The admission requirements for academic year 2025-2026 for the bachelor’s programme in Health Sciences depend on your previous education. Please check below which requirements apply to you.

Applicants with a Dutch diploma

You qualify for admission if you have one of the following diplomas:

Dutch VWO diploma, new style, all profiles
Dutch VWO diploma, old style, preferably with mathematics
HBO propedeuse, or bachelor’s degree, preferably with mathematics
OU propedeuse, preferably with mathematics

Applicants with a non-Dutch diploma

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

If your diploma is not included in this list, it must be evaluated by Maastricht University (UM) first.

Applicants without the appropriate diploma or with missing courses

If you do not have the necessary diplomas, you may still be eligible for admission with an entrance exam (the Colloquium Doctum exam). For this, you must be 21 years of age or older.

The Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML) of the UM does not organise a Colloquium Doctum exam. You must demonstrate with certificates that you have mastered the required subjects at Dutch VWO-level new style. These are: Dutch, English, biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics A or B. You must arrange obtaining the certificates yourself.

Click here to find out if you meet the Dutch language requirements for this study programme
Click here to find out if you meet the English language requirements for this study programme

You can take courses in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics at Boswell-Bèta or, for math only, at WisMon
For the biology, chemistry, physics and math exam, you can go to Boswell-Bèta or Central Committees for Entrance Exams (CCVX)
For the English subject, you can go to Babel (check for the IELTS or Toefl exam training) or the UM Language Centre
For a certification in Dutch (Nt2), you can go to the CNaVT (in Dutch) > Educative Startbekwaam (STRT) and Educative Professional (EDUP) (higher education admission).

Once you pass the exams, you must send the certificates to UM by postal mail or to a designated email address. You will find more information in the MyApplication portal under ‘Certified copy diploma’.

Additional requirements

Language requirements for Dutch-language bachelor's and master's programmes

As Dutch is the language of instruction in this study programme, it is essential that your Dutch language skills are good enough for you to undertake intensive and challenging academic courses that are taught and examined in Dutch.

Answer the questions below to find out if you meet the language requirements.

Applicants who received their previous education in a non-EU/EEA country (handling fee)

Applicants for this study programme who received their previous education in a non-EU/EEA country will have to pay a handling fee. More information on this handling fee and how to arrange this payment can be found on the Handling fee page.

Exemptions

Students who are of the opinion that they have already obtained comparable subjects earlier can request exemptions. The subjects must be equivalent in terms of content, study hours and level.

A request for exemption can only be considered if you have already enrolled.

For more information about exemptions, you can send a message to the Board of Examiners of FHML via askFHML.

Documents required for application process

During the application process for this study programme, you will need to complete a number of tasks for which you will often have to upload documents. The list below gives you an insight into what documents you will (and might) need to prepare.

Required documents for all applicants to this study programme

A recent portrait picture
This picture must satisfy certain requirements. You can find these requirements in the task description 'Upload portrait picture' in the MyApplication portal.

A copy of your valid passport or your EU/EEA identity card
Make a copy of the page with your personal details. Save this copy as ‘passport copy’ and not as ‘passport picture’

A copy of your most recent grades transcript AND/OR a copy of your diploma if you have obtained it already.

Documents that might be required depending on your (academic) background

Document(s) that demonstrate your proficiency in Dutch
Answer the questions concerning language requirements under ‘Language requirements for Dutch-language bachelor’s and master’s programmes’ on this webpage to find out if you need to provide additional documentation. The outcome of your answers will indicate which document(s) you can use to prove your proficiency.

A Colloquium Doctum certificate English
For those applicants who want to qualify for a Colloquium Doctum statement and do not meet the requirement of command of the English language on Dutch VWO level.

A Colloquium Doctum certificate Dutch
For those applicants who want to qualify for a Colloquium Doctum statement and do not meet the requirement of command of the Dutch language on Dutch VWO level.

A Colloquium Doctum certificate mathematics
For those applicants who want to qualify for a colloquium Doctum statement and do not meet the requirement of command of mathematics on Dutch VWO level.

A questionnaire Matching Procedure Health Sciences
For those applicants who chose themselves to take part in the Matching Procedure. You are not required to complete the Matching procedure to qualify for admission.

How do we assess your application?

When you want to apply or are applying to this study programme, it is useful to know how we assess your application. You can find more information about this in this section.

Maastricht University (UM) will assess whether your previous education makes that you qualify for admission.

Additional documents may be required to assess your previous education. If so, you will receive a request by email, so please keep an eye on your inbox.

If you do not qualify for admission based on your previous education or missing subjects, you will be informed about further actions that are required of you.

You will receive a message once UM has made the decision.

Matching Procedure

Maastricht University finds it important that you choose a study programme and learning environment which suits you well and in which you can be successful. This is why we offer you several opportunities to explore whether the programme matches your background and interest (for example Open Days and Experience Days). In addition, you may pose questions to evaluate your match with the programme and/or arrange a meeting with one of our study advisers by sending an email to: studiekeuzecheck@maastrichtuniversity.nl.

Privacy statement Matching Procedure
Read more about the privacy statement for the Matching Procedure

Study advice at end of bachelor year 1

At the end of year 1 of the study programme, every student receives advice on whether or not to continue his/her study. This advice is not binding. However, students must meet predetermined requirements documented in the Education and Examination Regulations (EER) of the study programme.