Application & admission

In order to be admitted to Fontys University of Applied Sciences, a prospective bachelor's student must have a diploma of higher secondary education that is equivalent to Dutch standards.

You can be admitted to this study programme with a Senior high school diploma, which generally grants access to a bachelor programme in the country of issue. If you are curious whether your secondary school diploma is equivalent to Dutch standards and offers access to higher education in the Netherlands, please check the website of the Dutch foreign credentials evaluation centre, Nuffic.

Examples of common diploma's which grant access to our study programme are:  

• General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) in 4 subjects with marks ranging from A to C. Plus a General Certificate of Education (GCE) with 2 subjects at advanced subsidiary level (marks ranging from A to C) ór 2 subjects at advanced level (marks D or E).
• International Baccalaureate Diploma.
• Baccalauréat Général.
• For German students specifically: Fachabitur or Abitur (Fachhochschulreife or Allgemeine Hochschulreife)

Additionaly, please check below (under ‘Additional requirements non-Dutch diploma’) whether there are any extra requirements such as mandatory subjects to take into account.

In order to be admitted to this programme, your secondary school certificate needs to show satisfactory grades in mathematics / economics.

Please make sure to check the extra information and recommendations below.

You wish to start a Fontys programme, but you don’t have the right diploma? If you are 21 years or older, you may take the Fontys 21+ admission test (colloquium doctum). Information is available in both Dutch and English.

For students with a Dutch diploma

Do you have a havo or vwo diploma, but are you missing a subject to meet the admission requirements? At Fontys, you may still be eligible by taking one or more admission tests. These tests are at havo-5 final exam level. If you pass the test successfully, you will still be eligible for the study programme of your choice.

For students with a non-Dutch diploma

Do you have the right diploma, but are you missing the required exam subjects? Unfortunately options to make up for a lacking mandatory subject are limited. We do accept some certificates (like Boswell or CCVX), but most of these can only be obtained after sitting an exam in The Netherlands.

There is an additional subject requirement of either Mathematics, Economics or Business Economics. Since every country has its own school system we will check your diploma once we have received it from you. In this way we can compare it to the required Dutch standards.

If you have obtained a VWO degree and you are applying for this programme in Eindhoven, a fast track is offered. Acces to this fast track can be granted if you have completed your diploma with economics and business economics (or management & organisation).The programme is shortened with one year. You are allowed to start in year 2"

When you have a Dutch mbo4-, havo-, or vwo-diploma you already meet the language requirements, and you are therefore exempted from taking a language test.

For all programmes conducted in English, Fontys has set minimum language requirements. Generally, in order to prove that you meet these requirements, you will be asked to send in one of the recognised English language certificates. Based on the country where you obtained your previous education, you might be exempted from providing a language certificate.

As a non-EU/EEA applicant, studying the Netherlands will require an Entry Visa* (MVV) and a Residence Permit. Fontys will apply on behalf of its students for these documents. We recommend you start the process early, i.e. approximately three months before you plan to enter the Netherlands.

Visit 'Get Prepared' to read more about the visa procedure.

*Except nationals from Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, United States of America, United Kingdom, Vatican City State and Switzerland.

The Code of Conduct for International Students in Dutch Higher Education is a document that sets out rules and regulations for higher education institutions that want to attract and enroll international students. This code of conduct is intended to safeguard the quality of education for international students and to guarantee transparency and clear communication of information.