Language requirements

To start a bachelor’s programme at Wageningen University & Research, you must meet our language proficiency requirements. In most cases, this is demonstrated through a language test, unless you qualify for an exemption.

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Language requirements

Dutch or English

Planning to start a Dutch-taught bachelor’s programme at Wageningen University & Research? You will need to demonstrate both Dutch and English language proficiency.

For English-taught bachelor’s programmes, only English proficiency is required. The table below lists the language tests and minimum scores accepted by WUR.

Please note:
Some language tests must have been taken less than 24 months before the date of application.

Accepted English tests

TestScore

IELTS Academic Test (IELTS online test and IELTS One Skill Retake results are not accepted)

overall grade 6.0, with a minimum sub-score of 6.0 for speaking

TOEFL iBT (TOEFL Home Edition and MyBest scores are not accepted)

total score 80, with a minimum sub-score of 20 for speaking

Pearson PTE Academic Test

overall score 61, with a minimum subscore of 56 for speaking

LanguageCert Academic Test (LanguageCert Academic Test online is not accepted)

overall score 65, with a minimum subscore of 70 for speaking

Cambridge FCE/B2 First

score between 169-190

Cambridge CAE/C1 Advanced

score between 169-210

Cambridge CPE/C2 Proficiency

score between 180-230

Dutch VWO diploma

Engelse taal en literatuur

Dutch havo diploma

Engelse taal en literatuur grade 7

Accepted English tests

  1. Test

    IELTS Academic Test (IELTS online test and IELTS One Skill Retake results are not accepted)

    Score

    overall grade 6.0, with a minimum sub-score of 6.0 for speaking

  2. Test

    TOEFL iBT (TOEFL Home Edition and MyBest scores are not accepted)

    Score

    total score 80, with a minimum sub-score of 20 for speaking

  3. Test

    Pearson PTE Academic Test

    Score

    overall score 61, with a minimum subscore of 56 for speaking

  4. Test

    LanguageCert Academic Test (LanguageCert Academic Test online is not accepted)

    Score

    overall score 65, with a minimum subscore of 70 for speaking

  5. Test

    Cambridge FCE/B2 First

    Score

    score between 169-190

  6. Test

    Cambridge CAE/C1 Advanced

    Score

    score between 169-210

  7. Test

    Cambridge CPE/C2 Proficiency

    Score

    score between 180-230

  8. Test

    Dutch VWO diploma

    Score

    Engelse taal en literatuur

  9. Test

    Dutch havo diploma

    Score

    Engelse taal en literatuur grade 7

IELTS, TOEFL and Pearson PTE tests should be taken no longer than 24 months prior to the day of your application. Information and registration for these different tests can be found on the website of IELTS, TOEFL, Pearson PTE, LanguageCert and Cambridge.

International Secondary Diploma

If you have taken English as an exam subject and achieved a good score in the English exam in one of the secondary school diplomas listed below, you may not need to take one of the accepted English language tests.

General exemptions

Applicants who obtained their secondary school diploma in one of the following countries usually do not need to submit an English language test:

  • Australia 
  • Ireland 
  • Canada (except for schools in Quebec) 
  • New Zealand 
  • the United Kingdom 
  • the United States
LandDiploma

Austria

Reifezeugnis / Reifeprüfungszeugnis

Belgium

Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs, richting Algemeen Secundair Onderwijs

Curaçao, Sint-Maarten and BES-Islands

VWO Diploma

Estonia

Gümnaasiumi löputunnistus

Finland

Studenteksamenbevis / Ylioppilastutkintotodistus

Germany

Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife (Abitur)

Hungary

Gimnaziumi Érettségi Bizonyítvány

Latvia

Atestāts par vispārējo vidējo izglītību

Lithuania

Brandos Atestatas

Luxembourg

Diplôme de fin d'études secondaires

Norway

Vitnemal for Videregående Skole

Romania

Diploma de Bacalaureat (obtained after 2005)

Slovakia

Vysvedčenie o Maturitnej Skúške (obtained from a Gymnázium)

Suriname

VWO diploma

Sweden

Slutbetyg fran Gymnasieskolan

  1. Land

    Austria

    Diploma

    Reifezeugnis / Reifeprüfungszeugnis

  2. Land

    Belgium

    Diploma

    Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs, richting Algemeen Secundair Onderwijs

  3. Land

    Curaçao, Sint-Maarten and BES-Islands

    Diploma

    VWO Diploma

  4. Land

    Estonia

    Diploma

    Gümnaasiumi löputunnistus

  5. Land

    Finland

    Diploma

    Studenteksamenbevis / Ylioppilastutkintotodistus

  6. Land

    Germany

    Diploma

    Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife (Abitur)

  7. Land

    Hungary

    Diploma

    Gimnaziumi Érettségi Bizonyítvány

  8. Land

    Latvia

    Diploma

    Atestāts par vispārējo vidējo izglītību

  9. Land

    Lithuania

    Diploma

    Brandos Atestatas

  10. Land

    Luxembourg

    Diploma

    Diplôme de fin d'études secondaires

  11. Land

    Norway

    Diploma

    Vitnemal for Videregående Skole

  12. Land

    Romania

    Diploma

    Diploma de Bacalaureat (obtained after 2005)

  13. Land

    Slovakia

    Diploma

    Vysvedčenie o Maturitnej Skúške (obtained from a Gymnázium)

  14. Land

    Suriname

    Diploma

    VWO diploma

  15. Land

    Sweden

    Diploma

    Slutbetyg fran Gymnasieskolan

International diploma:

DiplomaLevel

European Baccalaureate

English Language 1 or English Language 2

International Baccalaureate

A complete IB DP diploma with English as the sole language of instruction (except one other language course), or with one of the following IB exam subjects and corresponding scores:

- English A: literature SL/HL minimaal grade 5

- English A: language and literature SL/HL at least grade 5

- English B HL at least grade 6

- English B SL at least grade 7

International diploma:

  1. Diploma

    European Baccalaureate

    Level

    English Language 1 or English Language 2

  2. Diploma

    International Baccalaureate

    Level

    A complete IB DP diploma with English as the sole language of instruction (except one other language course), or with one of the following IB exam subjects and corresponding scores:

  3. Diploma
    Level

    - English A: literature SL/HL minimaal grade 5

  4. Diploma
    Level

    - English A: language and literature SL/HL at least grade 5

  5. Diploma
    Level

    - English B HL at least grade 6

  6. Diploma
    Level

    - English B SL at least grade 7

Dutch requirements

The Dutch language proficiency requirement only applies to Dutch-taught bachelor’s programmes. Below you will find the accepted tests, diplomas and certificates.

Accepted Dutch language tests, diplomas and certificates

Wageningen University & Research accepts the following test scores, Dutch diplomas and certificates as valid proof of your Dutch language proficiency:

  • MBO4 (Dutch Taught), HAVO or VWO diploma
  • NT2-II diploma
  • VWO certificate 'Nederlandse Taal en Literatuur' (for example via VAVO, adult education, Staatsexamen)
  • CNavT 'Educatief Startbekwaam' or 'Educatief Professioneel'

Accepted International Secondary School Diplomas

In most cases, you meet the Dutch language proficiency requirement if you obtained a secondary school diploma equivalent to the Dutch vwo diploma and took Dutch as an exam subject. The table below provides several examples.

DiplomaSubject

Algemeen Secundair Onderwijs (Belgium)

Nederlands

VWO diploma (Suriname)

VWO diploma

VWO diploma (Curaçao, Sint-Maarten and BES-Islands)

Nederlandse Taal en Literatuur

International Baccalaureate

A complete IB DP diploma with one of the following IB exam subjects and corresponding scores:

  • Dutch A: literature SL/HL minimaal grade 5
  • Dutch A: language and literature SL/HL at least grade 5
  1. Diploma

    Algemeen Secundair Onderwijs (Belgium)

    Subject

    Nederlands

  2. Diploma

    VWO diploma (Suriname)

    Subject

    VWO diploma

  3. Diploma

    VWO diploma (Curaçao, Sint-Maarten and BES-Islands)

    Subject

    Nederlandse Taal en Literatuur

  4. Diploma

    International Baccalaureate

    Subject

    A complete IB DP diploma with one of the following IB exam subjects and corresponding scores:

    • Dutch A: literature SL/HL minimaal grade 5
    • Dutch A: language and literature SL/HL at least grade 5
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