Application process

Students are required to have successfully obtained a secondary school diploma which allows entry to an academic university. Therefore, students need to obtain a Dutch VWO diploma or international equivalent before gaining entry to the programme. The table below shows the most common secondary school diplomas that are considered equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma:

Since English is the official language at University College Groningen, applicants are required to demonstrate proof of their English language proficiency. The following exemptions apply from demonstrating English language proficiency:

If you do not meet the requirements listed above, one of the tests indicated below will provide proof of English proficiency. These tests will always be accepted by UCG as proof of English proficiency (provided that the minimum score was obtained). Minimum required scores for these tests are:

*Indication for the required scores communicated to applicants. The minimum scores in the TOEFL range will not lead to a sufficient overall score.

Please keep in mind that:

• The TOEFL and IELTS test scores cannot be older than two years;
• You may already apply for our BA/BSc in Liberal Arts and Sciences, even though you have not yet taken an English language test or while your test score is still insufficient. In that case, you might be conditionally admitted with one of the conditions for final admission being that you take and pass a (new) test. Please inform the Admissions Office of the date on which you are planning to take such a test;
• If you need to take one of the above-mentioned tests, you are responsible for making your own arrangements and pay any fee required. As it will take some time for the results to become available, make sure you sign up for an English language proficiency test well in advance before the start of the academic year. Make sure that there is enough time for the results to reach UCG, to make sure that you have the possibility to retake the test if the results are disappointing.

Submission of test results:

• IELTS: a scan of the score report can be uploaded in Progress. We can verify the score online;
• TOEFL: initially, a scan of the score report can be uploaded in Progress. If you are admitted, we need to receive the original score report. Please ask the Educational Testing Service to send it to us, using institution code 7191;
• Cambridge Certificate: initially, a scan of the score report can be uploaded in Progress. If you are admitted, we need to receive a certified copy of the certificate.

All applications to Higher Education institutes in the Netherlands start in Studielink. Both the University and the Dutch government obtain their information from Studielink, so it is vital that your personal information is accurate and always up to date.

How to use Studielink

Studielink asks for your background information, your previous education, the subjects that you've taken, your grades, and the programmes you want to enrol in. Studielink provides you with a to-do-list with actions you need to complete to finish your application. Regularly check Studielink for new or unfinished items on your to-do list and make to read all incoming messages.

Please note

• UCG is not a draw programme, therefore you are able to enrol in other programmes as a back up option as well (up to 4);
• Select the starting date: 1 September, 2024

How to login

Depending on your nationality there are different procedures to go through:

In case you experience any trouble with your Studielink application, please contact the Student Information and Administration desk.

After applying for our programme via Studielink, you have to pay the application fee and you will receive an invitation (link & password) to Progress. Progress is the University of Groningen's enrolment software where we collect all your data, documents and motivation for applying to the programme. We will not be able to review your application without a complete application in Progress and without the application fee payment.

Please note that you can already submit your application before finishing your final exams, so there is no need to wait until you have officially graduated!

Required application documents

If you have not graduated yet:

• All transcripts of your upper secondary education thus far (we can not accept predicted grades, determination will be made on the grades obtained thus far)

• Proof of enrolment mentioning your expected date of graduation and the full native name of the qualification that you are to obtain

• English translations of your diploma and transcripts (only if the documents are not written in Dutch, English, French or German)

• Proof of your English proficiency (if needed)

• Motivation video
  

• Up to date CV
  

• Copy of ID ( EU/EEA students) or valid passport  (Non-EU students)
  

If you have already graduated:

• Copy of your diploma + corresponding transcript(s)

• English translations of your diploma and transcripts (only if the documents are not written in Dutch, English, French or German)

• Proof of your English proficiency (if needed)

• Motivation video
  

• Up to date CV
  

• Copy of ID (EU/EEA students ) or valid passport (Non-EU students)

• If you have already started your higher education please also provide your higher education diploma (or a statement of enrollment confirming the graduation date should you have not graduated yet) and your (most recent/final) transcripts.
  

Motivation video

Video instructions

You are requested to submit a video of a minimum three (3) and maximum of five (5) minutes where you respond to the mandatory questions and to one out of the three additional questions (see below for the questions). You are free to use editing/animation as you wish but we must be able to see you for at least part of your video and we must hear your voice in the video.

Your videos will be evaluated using the following criteria:

1. Mandatory questions: the applicant clearly outlines their academic interests and/or aspirations and explains how the LAS programme in UCG is a good match for them (for catering for their interests/ aspirations)
2. Additional questions: the applicant should give a good impression of who they are (e.g., which values they stand for and/or what their passions are) and how they would contribute to the UCG (learning) community (e.g. how their interdisciplinary inclination or past involvement with their community - think of civic engagement etc- would render them valuable members of UCG’s learning community)
3. Style: the applicant should present themselves in a way that is unique to them but also appealing to the viewer. We encourage students to develop a coherent and clear narrative which they present in a way that is creative and engaging.

Mandatory questions

What motivates you to study Liberal Arts and Sciences at UCG? (be specific, use examples. To answer this well you need to show what you know specifically about our programme)

What are your academic interests? (For example, are there any particular UCG courses you are interested in or topics you would like to explore further?)

Additional questions - choose 1 of the following questions:

1. What are important values to you? (How do you address/use these values in your daily life? How do you actively see yourself contributing to the community as a whole in light of these values?)
2. Tell us about something you are proud of but never (or rarely) get to talk about. (be specific and use examples)
3. How will studying Liberal Arts and Sciences at UCG help you achieve the future you have planned for yourself? (be specific and use examples)

After applying for our programme via Studielink, you have to submit an Admission Request. This Admission Request will be reviewed by our Board of Admissions and will be used to determine if you are meeting the entry requirements of the bachelor in Liberal Arts and Sciences. We will not be able to review your application without a complete Admission Request.

Please note that you can already submit your application before finishing your final exams, so there is no need to wait until you have officially graduated!

Required application documents

If you have not graduated yet:

• All transcripts of VWO 5 and VWO 6 (thus far) OR transcripts of your HBO degree (thus far)
• Proof of your English proficiency (if needed)
• Motivation video
• Up to date CV

If you have already graduated:

• Copy of your VWO diploma + corresponding transcript(s) OR copy of your HBO-P certificate + corresponding transcript
• Proof of your English proficiency (if needed)
• Motivation video
• Up to date CV

Motivation video

Video instructions

You are requested to submit a video of a minimum three (3) and maximum of five (5) minutes where you respond to the mandatory question and to two out of the four additional questions (see below for the questions). You are free to use editing/animation as you wish but we must be able to see you for at least part of your video and we must hear your voice in the video.

Your videos will be evaluated using the following criteria:

1. Mandatory questions: the applicant clearly outlines their academic interests and/or aspirations and explains how the LAS programme in UCG is a good match for them (for catering for their interests/ aspirations)
2. Additional questions: the applicant should give a good impression of who they are (e.g., which values they stand for and/or what their passions are) and how they would contribute to the UCG (learning) community (e.g. how their interdisciplinary inclination or past involvement with their community - think of civic engagement etc- would render them valuable members of UCG’s learning community)
3. Style: the applicant should present themselves in a way that is unique to them but also appealing to the viewer. We encourage students to develop a coherent and clear narrative which they present in a way that is creative and engaging.

Mandatory questions

What motivates you to study Liberal Arts and Sciences at UCG? (be specific, use examples and identify your academic interests and aspirations. To answer this well you need to show what you know specifically about our programme)

What are your academic interests? (For example, are there any particular UCG courses you are interested in or topics you would like to explore further?)

Additional questions - choose 1 of the following questions:

1. What are important values to you? (How do you address/use these values in your daily life? How do you actively see yourself contributing to the community as a whole in light of these values?)
2. Tell us about something you are proud of but never (or rarely) get to talk about. (be specific and use examples)
3. How will studying Liberal Arts and Sciences at UCG help you achieve the future you have planned for yourself? (be specific and use examples)

After receiving your offer, you have to accept it as soon as possible. Please note that we work on a first come, first served basis and full = full.

For the academic year 2024-2025 we have 150 available places. These places are reserved for the first 150 applicants who send us their signed Confirmation of Participation (CoP) statement; a document that applicants receive after they pass the selection procedure. Applicants will hear if they are among the first 150 (and are therefore given a guaranteed spot) after sending the signed CoP. Offers will be made as qualified students apply for the programme. Once the 150 spots are filled, UCG will maintain a waitlist and distribute spots once they become available.

After accepting you offer (and receiving a guaranteed spot), you have to meet the conditions linked to your offer. You are required to send certified copies of your diploma, transcript and English proficiency to the Admissions Office. Please note that these requirements are different for every applicant, make sure to pay close attention to the conditions, deadlines and requirements as stated in your Decision Letter.

Dutch law requires that your file contains certified copies of the qualifications on the basis of which you have been admitted. A certified copy is a duplicate of the original diploma and transcript, which bears an original stamp, signature, and date placed by an authorized institution/individual (e.g. notary or school official). By certifying a copy like this, the authorized institution/individual declares that the information on the document is correct and/or corresponds to the information on the original document (e.g. when you send a certified copy of your diploma). Therefore, regular copies as well as scans via e-mail are not sufficient.

Please send the required certified copies to the following address:

University of Groningen
Admissions Office
Broerstraat 5
9712 CP Groningen
The Netherlands

Need a hand? Contact the UCG admissions office via: newstudents.ucg@rug.nl

After accepting your offer you are officially an Offer Holder at University College Groningen! This means that you can already look forward to visiting us during the Offer Holder Day. This also means that you have to register for your first Core Electives before the yar starts in order to retain your spot.

More information on how to complete these step will be shared with prospective students later on.

Offer Holder Day

• Online Offer Holder Event: 7 March 2024 from 19:00 - 21:00 CET
• Offer Holder Day: 17 June 2024 - all afternoon

What is the Offer Holder Day?

To give you a taste of what it is like to be a student at UCG, you will be invited to our Offer Holder Day. During the Offer Holder Day, you will tour the UCG campus, our student housing and you will participate in an activity to get to know the city of Groningen.

You will attend a lecture from one of our academics and you will be introduced to our project work in an interactive workshop. You will also have lunch with our academic staff, UCG students and UCG's study Association Caerus.

During the Online Offer Holder Day, you will meet your future classmates and other members of the UCG community in a fun online event!

These days are perfect to experience what it is like to study at University College Groningen and meet your future classmates! You will receive more specific event details later on.

Fee for multiple applications

In case you apply for more than one programme in one academic year, know that you only need to pay the fee once.

Exemptions

The application fee will be waived for:

• students who are applying on the basis of a Dutch diploma
• students who have refugee status in the Netherlands
• students who are applying for an Erasmus Mundus programme
• students who are applying for a Double Degree programme and whose prior university has already evaluated their diploma. These students will be informed of this in their application instructions

If any of these exemption conditions apply to you, you will receive instructions on how to register your exemption in the email containing the payment link for other students, which you will receive within a few working days after you have applied in Studielink.

How to pay the application fee

After you have submitted your application via Studielink, you will receive an email with a payment link.

After paying the application fee, you will still need to complete your application in Progress before the deadline.

Please note: we can only start reviewing your file after this fee has been received on time.

Deadline complete application

As soon as we have received your payment of the application fee, we will confirm its receipt by email to you and start processing your application. The deadline for completing your payment is 1 May. After this date we will no longer process incomplete or unpaid applications.