Bachelor's English requirement (2027-2028)
VU's bachelor's language requirements apply from 1 October 2026 for the 2027-2028 year. Liberal Arts and Sciences (Amsterdam University College), Archaeology, Ancient Studies, Mechanical Engineering and Creative Technology have their own pages. The two selective programmes, Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) and Law in Society, add section minimums:
| Test | Most bachelor's | PPE | Law in Society |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | 6.5, all sections 6.0 | 6.5, reading 7.0 |
| TOEFL iBT, new scale | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5, reading 5 |
| TOEFL iBT, old scale | 92 | 92 | 92, reading 24 |
| PTE Academic | 68 | 68 | 68 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency | 180 | 180 | 180 |
| Duolingo English Test | Not accepted | Not accepted | Not accepted |
Master's English requirement
VU's master's language page links to a score overview per programme for 2027-2028. Most master's, including Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, ask IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in each section, TOEFL 4.5 (4 per section) or 92, and PTE 68 (Artificial Intelligence lists 65). Several science, health and psychology master's ask IELTS 6.5 with no section minimum.
Marketing and the humanities master's (Archaeology, Arts and Culture, History, Linguistics, Literary Studies, Philosophy and others) need IELTS 7.0 with 6.5 in each section, TOEFL 5.0 or 100, and PTE 76. Communication Science, Criminology, Political Science, Public Administration, Security and Social Sciences for a Digital Society list IELTS 7.0 overall.
The pre-master's has the same requirement as the master's it leads to. PTE Core, PTE Home and PTE Express are not accepted, and the School of Humanities and School of Theology do not accept VU's own TOEFL ITP.
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VU verifies IELTS through your TRF number. Send TOEFL scores to institution code 7947 and PTE scores through your myPTE account to VU Amsterdam. TOEFL, IELTS, LanguageCert and PTE results must be no more than two years old on 1 September of your start year (1 February for a February intake). TOEFL Essentials, Home Edition and MyBest scores are not accepted.
Master's applicants are exempt with secondary or higher education taught fully in English in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA, an English-taught degree from Singapore, South Africa or the EU/EEA, or the IB Diploma. India and Pakistan are not on the list. After conditional admission you can request a formal exemption, for example if you narrowly missed a score.
Results are due by 1 June if you need a study visa or residence permit, and by 31 August otherwise; the master's page recommends 1 May for visa applicants. VU Amsterdam's English pages we read do not set a separate English score for the Dutch student residence permit. For how the permit and English proof work in general, see IELTS for the Netherlands.
Frequently asked questions
Does VU Amsterdam accept PTE?+
Yes. PTE Academic 68 for bachelor's programmes and most master's, 76 for Marketing and the humanities master's. PTE Core, Home and Express are not accepted.
Does VU Amsterdam accept IELTS One Skill Retake?+
No. VU does not accept IELTS One Skill Retake, IELTS Online Academic or the IELTS Indicator.
Does VU Amsterdam accept Duolingo?+
No. Duolingo is not among VU's accepted tests: IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1/C2, LanguageCert Academic, PTE Academic and VU's own TOEFL ITP.
What is the VU Amsterdam TOEFL code?+
7947. Add it before sending your TOEFL report so VU can verify the score.
Is IELTS 6.5 enough for a VU master's?+
For most programmes, yes, often with 6.0 in each section. Humanities master's and Marketing need 7.0 with 6.5 in each, and several social science master's need 7.0 overall.
Keep reading
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Verified against the linked official sources on 9 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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