Language requirements

English and Dutch

For English taught programmes, you only have to meet the English Language requirements. For Dutch taught bachelor programmes, you have to meet both the Dutch and English Language requirements.

If you are applying for one of our bachelor’s programmes you will have to demonstrate sufficient language proficiency. You are therefore asked for a language test unless you qualify for one of the exemptions as specified below.

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English language requirements

Wageningen University accepts the following minimum test results and diplomas as proof of your English language proficiency.

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.

Exemptions: general

Applicants who have completed their secondary school education in Australia, Ireland, Canada (except for schools in Quebec), New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States of America are exempted from taking an English language proficiency test.

Exemptions: International Secondary Diploma

If you’ve taken English as an exam subject and obtained a good score in the English exam in one of these secondary school diplomas, you might not need to take one of the accepted English tests.

Country Name of diploma

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. Country

    Austria

    Name of diploma

    Reifezeugnis / Reifeprüfungszeugnis

  2. Country

    Belgium

    Name of diploma

    Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs, richting Algemeen Secundair Onderwijs

  3. Country

    Curaçao, Sint-Maarten and BES-Islands

    Name of diploma

    VWO Diploma

  4. Country

    Estonia

    Name of diploma

    Gümnaasiumi löputunnistus

  5. Country

    Finland

    Name of diploma

    Studenteksamenbevis / Ylioppilastutkintotodistus

  6. Country

    Germany

    Name of diploma

    Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife (Abitur)

  7. Country

    Hungary

    Name of diploma

    Gimnaziumi Érettségi Bizonyítvány

  8. Country

    Latvia

    Name of diploma

    Atestāts par vispārējo vidējo izglītību

  9. Country

    Lithuania

    Name of diploma

    Brandos Atestatas

  10. Country

    Luxembourg

    Name of diploma

    Diplôme de fin d'études secondaires

  11. Country

    Norway

    Name of diploma

    Vitnemal for Videregående Skole

  12. Country

    Romania

    Name of diploma

    Diploma de Bacalaureat (obtained after 2005)

  13. Country

    Slovakia

    Name of diploma

    Vysvedčenie o Maturitnej Skúške (obtained from a Gymnázium)

  14. Country

    Suriname

    Name of diploma

    VWO Diploma

  15. Country

    Sweden

    Name of diploma

    Slutbetyg fran Gymnasieskolan

International diploma:

OrganisationDiploma

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. Organisation

    European Baccalaureate

    Diploma

    English Language 1 or English Language 2

  2. Organisation

    International Baccalaureate

    Diploma

    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. Organisation
    Diploma

    - English A: literature SL/HL minimaal grade 5

  4. Organisation
    Diploma

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

  5. Organisation
    Diploma

    - English B HL at least grade 6

  6. Organisation
    Diploma

    - English B SL at least grade 7

Dutch requirements

The Dutch language requirements apply to all Dutch taught bachelor's programmes. Below you will find the accepted tests, diplomas and certificates.

Accepted Dutch language tests, diplomas and certificates

Wageningen University 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'

Exemptions: accepted secondary education

In most cases, you also meet the Dutch language requirements if your secondary school diploma is equivalent to the Dutch VWO level and if the subject 'Dutch' is part of your final exam. Examples of such diplomas are:

DiplomaSubject

Algemeen Secundair Onderwijs (Belgium)

Nederlands

VWO diploma (Suriname)

Nederlands

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

    Nederlands

  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:

  5. Diploma
    Subject

    - Dutch A: literature SL/HL minimaal grade 5

  6. Diploma
    Subject

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

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Do you have questions about admission, enrolment, tuition fees or housing? Feel free to contact the Student Service Centre — we’ll be happy to help you!

Contact the SSC

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