Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 30 October 2026
HZ English requirement by programme
From HZ's application pages for bachelor's programmes and the master's programme. Scores for tests other than IELTS are in a table on the same pages.
| Programme | IELTS | Other entry subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | Equivalent to 6.0 | Chemistry and mathematics |
| Civil Engineering | Equivalent to 6.0 | Physics and mathematics |
| Engineering, Logistics Engineering, Industrial Engineering & Management | Equivalent to 6.0 | Mathematics |
| International Business, ICT, Global Project and Change Management | Equivalent to 6.0 | None |
| Tourism Management, Water Management | Equivalent to 6.0 | Water Management: biology, chemistry, maths or economics |
| Master River Delta Development | Equivalent to 6.0 | Motivation letter, intake interview, elevator pitch |
Accepted tests and exemptions
HZ accepts IELTS Academic, TOEFL, TOEIC (both modules), PTE Academic, LanguageCert Academic and Cambridge. It does not accept IELTS Online, PTE Academic at-home or LanguageCert Home Edition, and takes TOEFL Home Edition only when test centres in your country are closed or unsafe. Duolingo is not listed.
You are exempt with the IB (English A HL or SL, or English B HL), a diploma from an accredited international school or UK GCSE/GCE certificates, a European Baccalaureate with at least half the subjects in English, a French international baccalaureate (BFI), or if you graduated in the Netherlands, UK, Ireland, US, Canada (not Quebec), Malta, Australia or New Zealand.
Free test: are you at HZ University of Applied Sciences's score yet?
Take a free AI-scored IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill, so you know how far you are from the requirement before you book the real test. Free account, no card.
Take a free mock →Practise before you book: free IELTS mock test, IELTS reading practice, IELTS listening practice and IELTS speaking predictions.
Deadlines and how to check
For a September start HZ advises applying before 1 May; the official deadline is 1 June for non-EU students, whose files must be complete by then, and 1 August for EU students. Master's applicants who pass the motivation letter and interview receive a conditional letter of acceptance.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your HZ programme page and in your offer, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where HZ University of Applied Sciences publishes an IELTS score, it is the minimum: the floor an application has to meet to be considered, not a score that guarantees an offer.
Competitive programmes, and courses with far more applicants than places, may expect more than the minimum, and some departments set their own overall or per-skill scores, often for writing or speaking. The course page has the final word, so check it before you book a test.
If you are close to the line, aim for a margin above it: one weak skill can miss the requirement even when the overall band clears it. Not sure where you stand? Take a free IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS does HZ University of Applied Sciences need?+
English equivalent to IELTS Academic 6.0 for all English-taught bachelor's programmes and the Master River Delta Development.
Does HZ accept IELTS Online?+
No. HZ says it cannot accept IELTS online edition tests.
Does HZ accept PTE?+
Yes, PTE Academic, but not the at-home edition.
What is the HZ deadline for non-EU students?+
1 June for a September start, with a complete file. HZ advises applying before 1 May.
Keep reading
Related
- Universities in the Netherlands accepting IELTS 6.0
- IELTS for the Netherlands
- NHL Stenden IELTS requirement
- Saxion University IELTS requirement
- Free IELTS mock test with AI band score
- All 3112 guides
Guide updated on 30 October 2026. Individual prices and policies may have earlier observation dates. Confirm current details on the linked official pages before you book or apply.
© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy