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 University College Venlo (UCV) for academic year 2025-2026.

UCV is a selective programme. This means that you go through a selection process after applying. The UCV Board of Admissions decides whether you will be offered a place in this study programme. The selection process is designed to help the Board of Admissions assess whether there is a match between your academic interests and what UCV has to offer you.

The information on this page is for students who would like to start in the academic year 2025-2026.
Please click here to look into the admission requirements for the academic year 2024-2025

For questions about the admission requirements, please contact the Student Services Centre:
study@maastrichtuniversity.nl
+31(0)43 38 85 388

Contact the UCV Office of Admissions
ucv-admissions@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Important deadlines for study programme application

The bachelor’s programme University College Venlo starts in September.
The deadlines below are applicable for applying for a start in September 2025.

There is no longer a start in February

The bachelor’s programme University College Venlo 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 June 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 July 2025, 23.59 CET	Deadline for completing the entire application process for applicants from the EU/EEA or Switzerland

Please note:

UCV reviews all applications on a rolling basis. It is strongly recommended that you apply as soon as possible
For UCV, please select Liberal Arts & Sciences (UCV) as your study programme in Studielink and fill in 'Venlo' as location

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 the academic year 2025-2026 for the bachelor’s programme University College Venlo (UCV) depend on your previous education. Please check below which requirements apply to you.

Applicants with a Dutch diploma

If you have one of the diplomas stated below, you - in principle - qualify for admission for this programme:

Dutch VWO diploma
HBO or OU-propaedeutic diploma
HBO diploma

Applicants with a non-Dutch diploma

If you have a non-Dutch diploma that is equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma, you - in principle - qualify for admission to this programme. Check if this applies for your diploma. If your diploma is not included in this list, it must be evaluated by UM first.

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

Applicants who do not meet the requirements

Entrance assessment, Colloquium Doctum

If you don’t have the required diploma, or do not meet the additional requirements, you can still qualify by passing the entrance assessment (Colloquium Doctum). For this, you must be at least 21 years old at the moment the study programme starts.

If you pass the Colloquium Doctum and submit the requested proof of language proficiency, you will be presented with a certificate that qualifies you for admission to the relevant bachelor’s programme.

For more information about the Colloquium Doctum, please contact the UCV Office of Admissions

Additional requirements

Language requirements for this English-language bachelor's programme

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

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.

Credit transfer

In some cases, it is possible to transfer credits obtained in other institutions of higher education to your UCV curriculum. The Board of Examiners determines, upon your request, whether credits obtained are eligible for credit transfer. We strongly advise you to consider beforehand whether you would like to transfer previously obtained credits to University College Venlo. If this is the case, discuss this with your Academic Advisor (who will be appointed to you after starting UCV) immediately upon commencing your studies. In cooperation with your Academic Advisor you can than submit a request for transfer to the Board of Examiners. There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes down to credit transfer:

There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to credit transfer:

You can only transfer credits obtained at an (academic) university.
You cannot transfer credits that are part of a completed degree.
You cannot transfer credits that were part of your admission requirements.
You can transfer credits up to 60 ECTS.

The Board of Examiners will eventually determine whether the request for credit transfer is approved.

Transferring credits also has consequences for your curriculum. For instance:

The total amount of credits obtained at external institutions is 60 ECTS. Hence, a credit transfer can limit your freedom to follow courses at other faculties or to go abroad.
Because of graduation requirements, transferring credits does not automatically reduce your time at UCV.
Depending on the kind of courses you transfer, a credit transfer might determine your concentration or might limit your options in other ways.

To sum up, transferring credits is possible, but there are several factors that determine whether your request will be accepted by the UCV Board of Examiners and whether this is beneficial for your curriculum. Sometimes a simple pre-requisite waiver, using your external experience and foreknowledge to get access to more advance level courses, suffices.

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
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
A certified copy of your diploma if you have obtained it
You must graduate before 1 September 2025
A motivation letter
The format can be found in the MyApplication portal

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

Document(s) that demonstrate your proficiency in English (if applicable)
Answer the questions concerning language requirements under ‘Language requirements for this English-language bachelor's programme’ 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 credit transfer request (if applicable)

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 here.

The Board of Admissions will review and assess your application. You will be informed whether you are invited for an interview.

The admissions interview

The interview focuses on your academic plans and how you intend to accomplish these through an education at UCV. The starting point for the interview is your letter of motivation. The interview is conducted in English by one or two UCV staff members and lasts approximately 30-45 minutes.

Preparation

Inform yourself well about UCV (programme structure, curriculum and PBL) before the interview. Sources to do so are this website, the brochure, the UCV Course Catalogue and (if possible) a visit to an Open Day and/or Experience Day.

After the interview

The Board of Admissions decides to either offer you a place at UCV or not, within three weeks after the interview.

Binding Study Advice

UCV has a Binding Study Advice. This means that in your first year of the study programme, you must obtain a minimum of 45 out of 60 ECTS credits. As part of these 45 ECTS, you must successfully complete the academic core courses to be able to continue your studies.

Students who fail to meet these criteria will receive a negative Binding Study Advice that leads to exclusion from the all Maastricht School of Liberal Arts and Sciences programmes (UCV, MSP, UCM) for a period of six years. All students who are at risk of receiving a negative Binding Study Advice will receive a warning after the first semester.

Download the University College Venlo Education and Examination Regulations