Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Unfortunately, we cannot provide you with preliminary advice regarding your admission eligibility. Please ensure that you have thoroughly checked our admission requirements (see answers below) before you submit your application.

The entry requirements vary per bachelor programme and educational background.

• Bachelor’s entry requirements for applicants with a foreign diploma

• Bachelor’s entry requirements for applicants with a Dutch VWO diploma

• Bachelor’s entry requirements for applicants with a Dutch HBO- propedeusediploma

You will need to prove qualifications that are considered equivalent to the Dutch pre-university diploma. Please have a look at the country-specific pre-education requirements. 

Should you miss courses that are required for the study of your choice, you have the option to obtain additional qualifications.

The Master's entry requirements vary per programme. Some of our Master’s are selective and thus have further and stricter requirements.

If you do not meet the Master’s requirements, as stated on the programme page of your chosen programme, you could be eligible to follow a Pre-Master’s or a Fast-Track Programme, if one is offered.

To study at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, you must meet our English language requirements. Sometimes, it is possible to be exempted from proving your English proficiency. You can check what the requirements are and if you are eligible for an exemption by visiting our Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD Language Requirements webpages. 

For the Bachelor’s and Master’s in Pharmacy, you must be fluent in both Dutch and English. The Education track of the Master's programme in Science Education and Communication also requires fluency in Dutch. Visit the links above for more information.

It is rarely possible to transfer credits from a programme taught at a different university. For this to happen, the contents of the courses taught at the other institution must be (almost) identical to the courses taught at the University of Groningen.

You, as a student, are responsible for comparing the course contents. We cannot do this for you. You can find detailed descriptions about the courses taught at the University of Groningen on Ocasys.

Should you be convinced that you can get exemptions for courses that you completed at a different university, please apply by following these steps.

For more information about doing a PhD at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, please visit our Graduate School of Science and Engineering website, where you will find information about the whole process of obtaining a PhD position.

The applications open on October 1. For an overview of the deadlines, please visit the Bachelor’s application deadlines or the Master’s application deadlines.

The application process at the Faculty of Science and Engineering varies based on your educational background and chosen degree programme.

I am applying for a Bachelor’s with a:

• Foreign diploma
• Dutch diploma
  

I am applying for a (Pre-)Master’s with a:

• Foreign diploma
• Dutch diploma
  

For an overview of the necessary application documents, please visit our Bachelor's application documents webpage or our Master’s application documents webpage.

If you have not yet obtained your high school diploma, you can apply with a Statement of enrolment.

Important note: submitting your documents via email is not processed as an application. You will have to go through the steps linked above.

Unfortunately, we cannot provide you with an update on the status of your application. Please make sure you have completed all necessary steps, as outlined here. 

Should any documents be incomplete or missing, you will be notified by the Admissions Office through the portal and by email.

If something has gone wrong with your application procedure (e.g. you uploaded the wrong document), please immediately get in touch with our Admissions Support.

Almost all students applying with a non-Dutch diploma need to pay an application fee. The application fee will not be waived except for very specific cases. 

Important note: We can only start reviewing your application after this fee has been received on time.

The total amount depends on your citizenship and degree programme (Bachelor’s, Pre-Master’s, or Master’s). Sometimes, you may be eligible for a reimbursement.

The tuition fee is paid annually. There are several payment options. EU/EEA nationals have the option to pay in instalments. Non-EU/EEA citizens have to pay the annual tuition fee in full to be enrolled in a degree programme.

There is a limited number of scholarships available for Master’s students at our Faculty of Science and Engineering. These are the Eric Bleumink Fellowship, the NL Scholarship, and the ASML Scholarship.

Please visit the respective webpages for more information about eligibility, selection criteria, and the application procedure. 

If you are enrolled as a student in a university in the Netherlands, you can apply for student finance. You must be a Dutch national or have the same rights as a Dutch national. This means non-Dutch students (EU/EER) can also apply for student finance. The body that handles student financing is called DUO.

Apart from a few specific exceptions, non-EU/EEA students are not eligible for student finance.

Groningen, as a student city, offers relatively affordable living costs, especially when compared to larger cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Utrecht.

Expenses can vary depending on your lifestyle, housing choices and personal spending habits, but experience shows that our students spend on average €1000- €1,100 per month, excluding tuition fees.

Depending on your citizenship, there are different things you must consider before you move to the Netherlands. Upon your arrival, there are several matters you must attend to immediately.

No, the University of Groningen does not provide accommodation, so you are responsible for arranging your own place to stay.

In Groningen, there are many opportunities to work as an international student. It is not essential to speak Dutch to get a job (though it is certainly helpful). In many positions you will be able to communicate in English with both colleagues and customers.

There is an extra benefit for working EU/EEA nationals: you can get Dutch student finance and free public transport if you meet the criterea.

Important note: If you do wish to look for a student job in the Netherlands, there are a number of things you should know. Students from non-EU countries will need a work permit before they can work legally.

At the University of Groningen, the academic year starts on the first Monday of September. The academic calendar is divided into two semester consisting of four blocks: 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b.

You can find an overview of the courses taught at our Faculty on the Ocasys course catalogue.

You will receive an email on your University of Groningen email account with instructions when it is time to enrol in courses, groups, or exams.

Yes, we do organise introduction events for our first-year students! Take a look at your programme’s Welcome Page.

Yes, there are a variety of general introduction events for first-year students at the University of Groningen. They usually take place in August and September.

At the Faculty of Science and Engineering, students are expected to bring their own laptops to class. Make sure that your laptop meets the FSE minimum requirements.

Yes, we organise Bachelor’s Open Days and Master’s Open Days.

Yes, that is certainly possible. You can either attend a Student for a Day event, where you will get to attend classes and do assignments in our facilities,.

Alternatively, you can try out a study programme from the comfort of your own home via our Webclasses.

Please note: both events are only meant for prospective bachelor students.

Yes, you can chat with our students online via the Unibuddy platform.

You can also speak to students from the programme you are interested in during a Student for a Day or e-mail with them during the Webclasses!

It is unfortunately not possible to personally meet with academic staff. However, during our Bachelor’s Open Days or Master’s Open Days and Student for a Day events, you can speak with our students and professors.

In addition, you can contact our FSE Academic Advisors to learn more about our Bachelor's and Master's programmes.

Yes, you can get a personal tour around the Zernike campus and speak to students from the programme you are interested in!

Het Bètasteunpunt van de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen kan je op verschillende manieren helpen met je profielwerkstuk of praktische opdracht.