Application

Required Documents for Dutch Universities

Diplomas, transcripts, credential evaluation, English proficiency scores, financial proof and the apostille requirements that vary by country. Here is the complete checklist.

ScholarshipUnion Editorial 3 min read Updated Oct 5, 2026

Interactive Document Checklist

Tick off each document as you prepare it. Start early — some take weeks to obtain. The first item depends on your level: for a master’s it is your bachelor diploma and transcripts; for a bachelor’s it is your secondary school certificate.

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Previous diploma + transcripts — Bachelor diploma for master’s applicants, secondary school certificate for bachelor’s. Certified translation if not in English, Dutch, German or French. Allow 1–3 weeks.
Nuffic credential evaluation — Not always required — check your university. Some do it themselves.
English proficiency (IELTS / TOEFL / Cambridge) — Valid for 2 years. Must be valid at enrolment, not just at application.
Motivation letter — 500–700 words. See our guide.
Curriculum vitae (CV) — 1–2 pages. No photo needed. No date of birth or marital status.
Passport copy (identity page) — Must be valid 6+ months beyond your graduation date.
Proof of sufficient funds — At least €13,569 for a year (the 2026 IND norm of €1,130.77 a month); budget €13,000–15,000+. Bank statement (last 3 months) or scholarship letter. Required for the visa.
Apostille or legalisation on diplomas — Hague Convention countries: 1–4 weeks. Non-Hague: 4–8 weeks.
All files uploaded as PDF and verified — Download after upload to confirm. 300 DPI minimum. Clear file names.

English Proficiency Scores

Test	Minimum	Competitive
IELTS Academic	6.0–6.5	7.0+
TOEFL iBT	80–92	100+
Cambridge	C1 (176+)	C2
Duolingo	105–115	120+ (not accepted everywhere)

Apostille vs Legalisation

Requirements vary by country.

Hague Convention countries (apostille)

Most European countries, the US, Australia, India, Brazil and South Africa. Get an apostille stamp from your Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a notary. Processing takes 1–4 weeks, and you may also need a certified translation separately.

Non-Hague countries (full legalisation)

Some Middle Eastern, African and Asian nations. It requires (1) notarisation, (2) authentication by your ministry and (3) legalisation by the Dutch embassy — 4–8 weeks in total. Start as early as possible.

Not sure? Ask your university

Not all Dutch universities require apostilles for all countries. Email: “Do I need an apostille on my documents from [country]?” This one email can save weeks of unnecessary work.

Preparation Timeline

For a 1 February deadline — the most common NL Scholarship date (1 February 2027 for the 2027–28 cycle at VU Amsterdam, for example):

1
October 2026
Apostille, credential evaluation and translations
Longest lead time. Start here.
2
November 2026
Take IELTS/TOEFL
Results in 2–3 weeks. A retake is possible in December.
3
December 2026
Motivation letter, CV and reference requests
Draft, revise and make programme-specific edits.
4
January 2027
Upload and verify all documents
Upload 1–2 weeks early and download to confirm.
5
1 February 2027
Deadline
Everything submitted and verified.