Admission requirements
On this page you will find important details of the application process (such as deadlines, admission requirements, required documents, selection procedure and assessment) for the bachelor’s programme in Medicine for academic year 2024-2025.
The information on this page is for students who would like to start in academic year 2024-2025.
Please click here to look into the admission requirements for academic year 2023-2024.
The bachelor’s in Medicine is a programme with (additional) admission requirements. Sitting an examination in a certain subject does not mean that you automatically satisfy the statutory prior education and/or additional subject requirements. There are strict requirements concerning number of study hours, content, difficulty of the material dealt with, and examinations completed.
Questions about the selection procedure?
Send your questions regarding the bachelor's in Medicine selection procedure to decsel-ba-gen@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Selection
The bachelor’s programme in Medicine – English track (BA MED) is an educational fixus programme with selection; not everybody who qualifies for admission will also be offered a place in the study programme. The selection procedure consists of 2 rounds. Please read all the information on this page carefully.
The total intake capacity at Maastricht is determined each year; in 2024-2025 it is 366 students. Of the available training places, 50 are reserved for the Physician-Clinical Investigator Master's programme (A-KO taught in Dutch) and a maximum of 60 places are available for the bachelor’s programme in Medicine – English track (BA MED). The remaining places are intended for the Dutch bachelor’s programme in Medicine.
Important deadlines for this study programme
The bachelor’s programme in Medicine – English track starts in September.
The deadlines below are applicable for applying for a start in September 2024.
When you want to apply or are applying for this study programme, it is important that you inform yourself of the deadlines that you need to meet. The important deadlines when applying for this study programme are provided in the table below.
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 2023 | Studielink is open for applications for the academic year 2024-2025
In Studielink, choose 'B Geneeskunde', also if you are applying for the bachelor’s in Medicine – English track (BA MED) |
| Up to and including 15 January 2024, 23:59 CET |
Deadline for completing the entire application process for all applicants
Non-EU/EEA applicants require a visa or residence permit |
| Before 22 January 2024, 16:00 CET | Submit the online portfolio and addendum and the homework assignment belonging to the portfolio (round 1 selection procedure)
- Submit via the link to the online portfolio that you receive per email. |
| 16 February 2024 | You will receive an email about whether or not you can move on to the second round |
| 2 March 2024 | Selection day in Maastricht (round 2 selection procedure)
During the selection day, you need to complete a number of assignments that test various cognitive and (inter)personal features and skills. |
| Before 22 March 2024, 16:00 CET | Upload a completed ‘Deficiency elimination schedule’
- Candidates who still have remaining subject deficiencies (= do not meet the requirements of all necessary subjects) on 15 January 2024 must upload a completed ‘Definitive time plan’, including supporting documentation. In this document, candidates indicate how and when they will eliminate their deficiencies. |
| 15 April 2024 | You will receive your ranking position via email and Studielink will start issuing proofs of placement
- The ranking is based on the candidates’ performances during the selection day. |
| Before 16 July 2024, 16:00 CET |
Submit proof that you meet the statutory previous education (additional) subject requirements - Send a certified copy of the passed exam by postal mail to: |
| Before 31 August 2024, 16:00 CET | Submit proof that you meet the language requirement (for Dutch or English, if applicable)
Submit via the MyApplication Portal |
In Studielink, choose 'B Geneeskunde', also if you are applying for the bachelor’s in Medicine – English track (BA MED)
General requirements: previous education
The admission requirements for academic year 2024-2025 for the bachelor's programme in Medicine-English track depend among other things on your previous education. Please check below which requirements apply to you.
Applicants with a Dutch diploma
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
- 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 is required.
An old-style VWO diploma no longer gives the right to admission.
Applicants with a non-Dutch diploma
If you have a non-Dutch diploma that is equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma (Dutch secondary education), in principle you qualify for admission to this programme. Check the list of diplomas equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma to see if this applies to your diploma.
List of diplomas equivalent to the Dutch vwo diploma 2024-2025
If your diploma is not included in this list, Maastricht University (UM) will first determine whether you qualify for admission.
Please note: this step will take extra time so it is important to apply early, preferably before 1 November 2023.
Please be aware that if you register after 1 November 2023, you are taking the risk that UM can’t assess on time whether you meet the admission requirements and/or you will not be able to complete eliminating one (or more) of your deficiencies on time. As a result, you may not be able to start the programme in the academic year 2024-2025
Additional requirements subject package applicants with a non-Dutch diploma
- German ‘Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife’: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry: As ‘Grundkurs’ up until and including the final year. Biology as “Leistungsfach”
- Belgian Diploma of Secondary Education: One of the tracks: Greek-Sciences, Latin-Sciences, Modern Languages-Sciences, Sciences-Mathematics
- International Baccalaureate from Geneva: Mathematics Analysis and Approaches HL or SL or Mathematics Applications and Interpretation HL; Physics and Chemistry SL or HL; Biology HL
- European Baccalaureate: Mathematics: written or oral exams, at least 3 hours/week in the last 2 years; Physics and Chemistry: written or oral exams; Biology: Written or oral exams, at least 4 hours/week the last 2 years
- British A/AS levels, (I) GCSEs and/or AICE: Mathematics and Physics: GCE A or AS level; Chemistry and Biology: GCE A-level
Additional subject requirement pertaining to non-Dutch entry qualifications 2024-2025
If your diploma or degree differs from those listed above, the UM will assess whether you can demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the four compulsory subjects (Mathematics, 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). The assessment takes extra time, so be sure to register for it at the earliest possible date, preferably before 1 November 2023.
Bear in mind that if you register after 1 November 2023, you are at risk that UM can’t asses on time whether you meet the admission requirements and/or you will not be able to complete the definitive schedule for eliminating one (or more) of your deficiencies on time. As a result, you may not be able to begin the programme in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Note! Sitting an examination in a certain subject does not mean that you automatically satisfy the previous and/or additional education requirements. There are strict requirements concerning number of study hours, content, difficulty of the material dealt with, and examinations completed.
Applicants who do not meet the previous and/or additional education requirements
If you already have or will be awarded a Dutch secondary education (VWO) or equivalent diploma but do not satisfy the additional requirements for the subjects Biology, Physics, Chemistry and/or Mathematics, you must sit an additional examination. If you must sit an additional examination in Mathematics you can choose Mathematics A or B. These additional examinations are organised by CCVX (Central Commissions Pre-examination, in Dutch: Centrale Commissies Voortentamens) and/or Boswell/Bèta. You can sit the examinations in either English or Dutch.
Note! If you wish to begin your programme in the 2024-2025 academic year, you must have submitted a certificate for all compulsory subjects by 15 January 2024, 16:00 CET OR include a complete and detailed plan stating how you will obtain the relevant certificate/certificates on time in your portfolio (deadline 22 January 2024, 16:00 CET) as well as in the definitive schedule for satisfying the (additional) statutory admission requirements (deadline 22 March 2024, 16:00 CET).
Secondary school students who will receive mid-2024 their first Dutch secondary education (VWO) or one of the explicitly above mentioned equivalent diplomas with required examination courses, are not considered deficient. In case of a diploma that will be assessed on individual basis by the UM, one or more subject deficiencies may exist. Please have your diploma and subject combination/profile checked in time.
Applying for sufficiency check
For every subject for which a sufficiency check is required, you must compile a dossier for assessment of admissibility by the Colloquium Doctum committee. If this is applicable to you, you will receive information about this within the MyApplication portal.
Applicants without the appropriate diploma and 21 years of age or older
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: English, biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics.
You must arrange obtaining the certificates yourself.
- You can take courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics at Boswell-Bèta
- For the biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics exams, you can go to Boswell-Bèta or Central Committees for Entrance Exams (CCVX) – entrance exam
- For the English subject, you can go to Babel or the UM Language Centre
Once you pass the exams, you must upload the certificates in the MyApplication portal.
Let the UM Admissions Office know via email (study@maastrichtuniversity.nl) that you have uploaded the certificates in the MyApplication portal. In the subject of your email, place: for the attention of UM Admissions.
Additional 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.
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 passport picture
The passport picture must satisfy certain requirements
- 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 a copy of your diploma if you have obtained it
- The online portfolio (round 1 selection procedure)
The portfolio that you fill in online consists of a pre-structured CV and a number of questions in answer to which you explain your decision to apply for a place in the Dutch bachelor’s programme in Medicine / bachelor’s in Medicine – English Track (BA MED) at the UM. The online portfolio is available from 4 December 2023 on via a link in your email, and must be completed in full and correctly before 22 January 2024, 16:00 CET (Central European Time).
Candidates who have registered in Studielink before 1 December 2023 and have a notice issued by UM Admissions at their disposal, indicating whether or not they fulfill the statutory (additional) previous education requirements for admission to the bachelor’s programme in Medicine will receive an email containing the link to the online portfolio on 4 December 2023.
Candidates who register in Studielink after 1 December 2023 and then receive a notice issued by UM Admissions at their disposal, indicating whether or not they fulfil the statutory (additional) previous education requirements for admission to the bachelor’s programme in Medicine, will receive an email with the link to the online portfolio in two to three working days after the notice issued by the UM Admissions.
Please also check your SPAM inbox! If you have not yet received an email after five working days, please contact decsel-ba-gen@maastrichtuniversity.nl
- The addendum to the online portfolio
Information about the addendum to the online portfolio will be available within the online portfolio itself. The addendum must be submitted within the online portfolio itself before 22 January 2024, 16:00 CET.
- The homework assignment
Information about the homework assignment will be available within the online portfolio itself. The homework assignment must be submitted within the online portfolio itself before 22 January 2024, 16:00 CET.
Documents that might be required depending on your (academic) background
- Document(s) that demonstrate your proficiency in English
Answer the questions concerning language requirements under ‘Language requirements for bachelor’s in Medicine – English track (BA MED)’ 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. - Documents proving proficiency in the required subjects (Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
If you are found to be deficient for one of the required subjects, you must demonstrate by means of a certificate that you have sufficient knowledge to remedy this deficiency.
If you qualify for a sufficiency check, then you must, for every subject for which a sufficiency check is required, compile a dossier for assessment of admissibility by the Colloquium Doctum committee. This dossier must be uploaded in the MyApplication portal.
-
The Deficiency elimination schedule for timely satisfying the statutory previous education and/or additional subject requirements 2024
- If you do not (yet) satisfy the previous education subject requirements, you have one or more deficiencies. If you have one or more deficiencies on 15 January 2024 at 16:00 CET, you must produce a detailed schedule showing that you will be able to satisfy all the admission requirements on time. See the document ‘Definite elimination schedule’; in the MyApplication portal.
- The entire definitive schedule must submitted in the MyApplication portal before 22 March 2024, 16:00 CET.
You must submit evidence that you satisfy all the statutory previous education and/or additional subject requirements 2024-2025 by 16 July 2024, 16:00 CET at the latest. If you are unable to demonstrate that you have rectified any deficiencies by 16 July 2024, 16:00 CET at the latest, for example because your exam results will only be issued after 16 July 2024, then you must send an email to decsel-ba-gen@maastrichtuniversity.nl Bear in mind that the organising institutes of the additional examinations (CCVX and Boswell/Bèta) have a maximum of 20 working days to make the result known. Therefore make sure you take your exam on time.
Disclaimer
- Maastricht University will keep your personal information confidential.
- The information provided is stored in a secure environment using encrypted web technology and treated confidentially, according to European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and is solely used for the purpose of processing your application.
- You have the right to change, supplement or remove the provided information. This can be done by sending an email to decsel-ba-gen@maastrichtuniversity.nl
- Maastricht University will not share your information with third parties without your prior explicit permission.
How do we assess your application?
When you want to apply or are applying for this study programme, it is useful to know how we assess your application. You can find more information about this in this section.
First, UM will assess whether your previous education makes that you qualify for admission. Therefore, it is very important that you check beforehand whether you satisfy the requirements.
Selection process
If you qualify for admission, you can continue the selection and enrolment process.
It is important that you check regularly your messages and to do list in Studielink and in the MyApplication portal and that you follow the instructions carefully and timely.
Candidates who participate in the selection procedure will be assessed according to predetermined selection criteria. See the document below for more information about the selection criteria.
Selection criteria bachelor in Medicine – academic year 2024-2025
The selection process consists of two rounds:
Round 1
The selection committee assesses the submitted portfolio, the addendum to the portfolio and the homework assignment. For more information regarding the procedure of round 1 see the document below. On 16 February 2024, you will be informed by email whether you are invited for the selection day.
Procedure round 1 selection bachelor in Medicine - academic year 2024-2025
Round 2
You will come to Maastricht on 2 March 2024 for a selection day. You will be asked to complete several assignments that test your cognitive and (inter)personal skills
If applicable, the selection committee will assess your uploaded document ‘Definite elimination schedule’. For more information regarding the procedure of round 2 see the document below.
Procedure round 2 selection bachelor in Medicine - academic year 2024-2025
Assessment
Based on the selection procedure, the selection committee will produce a ranking. This ranking is submitted to Studielink. On 15 April 2024, you will be informed about your ranking number. Studielink will begin to issue proofs of placements.
Please note: depending on the COVID-19 infections and measures, decisions can be taken to adjust the selection procedure. In case of changes, candidates will be informed appropriately.
Please note: receipt of a proof of placement cannot be considered as official Proof of Admission for the bachelor’s in Medicine at Maastricht University (UM). UM will first check whether you satisfy all (additional) admission and registration requirements on time.
You must redeem your proof of placement in Studielink within two weeks. If you do not do so by the deadline, you will forfeit the place you have been offered.
End of bachelor year 1
At the end of year 1 of the study programme, the bachelor competence assessment committee determines the result for the competency exam year 1. The admission to the second year is determined in the competency exam year 1. The details are described in the Education and Examination Regulations (EER) of the programme.
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