Application

Interview & Selection for Dutch Programmes

Most Dutch programmes don't interview at all. When they do, here's exactly what happens: 15–30 minutes on video, questions about motivation and career plans, and occasionally a full selection day.

ScholarshipUnion Editorial 7 min read Updated Oct 5, 2026

Does Your Programme Interview?

Whether to expect a selection interview depends on your programme type.

Programme type	Interview?	What to expect
Numerus fixus	Very likely yes	Medicine, dentistry, psychology and other capped programmes use decentralised selection that often includes interviews, group assignments or a full selection day. Check your programme page for the procedure.
Selective / honours track	Yes, most do	Honours programmes and selective tracks interview to gauge motivation and fit. Expect a 15–20 minute video call or a short in-person conversation at a selection event.
MBA / executive	Yes, always	Business programmes at RSM Erasmus, Amsterdam Business School and similar always interview: motivation questions, leadership scenarios and career-goal alignment. Often 30 minutes.
Creative / arts	Usually yes, with portfolio	Architecture, fine arts, design and performing arts combine a portfolio review with an interview to see your creative thinking and how you discuss your work.
Standard master’s / bachelor’s	Almost never	Most one-year taught master’s and non-competitive bachelor’s admit on documents alone: transcripts, motivation letter and CV.

Matching ≠ selection

Some universities run a “studiekeuzecheck” (study choice check). It is non-binding and cannot be used to reject you. If the programme page says “matching” rather than “selection,” it is a different process.

Common Interview Questions

Dutch interviews verify that the person on screen matches the application. Here are the typical questions by category, with answer tips.

Motivation

“Why did you choose this programme?” Name specific courses, teaching methods (e.g. PBL at Maastricht) or faculty research. Generic praise of the university won’t work.

“Why the Netherlands and not another country?” Mention the international classroom, English-taught programmes or sector strengths (water management, agri-tech, design). Be concrete.

“What are your career goals after graduation?” Be specific: “water-resource policy in Southeast Asia” beats “work in sustainability.” Show how the programme connects to that goal.

“What will you contribute to the programme?” Highlight the unique perspective from your background, relevant work experience, or a skill gap you fill in the cohort.

Academic

“Walk us through your academic background.” Keep it to 2 minutes: degree, focus area, what sparked your interest. Expand on your motivation letter, don’t recite it.

“How have you prepared for this field?” Mention relevant courses, research projects and internships. If there are gaps, acknowledge them and explain how you’ll bridge them.

“Describe a research project or paper you’re proud of.” Pick one example. Explain the problem, your approach and what you learned. Show analytical thinking, not just results.

Personal

“How do you handle working in multicultural teams?” Dutch education is highly collaborative. Give a real example of cross-cultural teamwork and what you learned from it.

“What’s a challenge you’ve overcome?” Choose something genuine. Dutch interviewers value honesty over polish. Describe what happened and how you adapted.

“How will you adapt to life in the Netherlands?” Show you’ve researched the practical realities: the housing market, biking culture, directness in communication and the weather.

Practical

“How will you finance your studies?” Be straightforward. Mention savings, family support, the NL Scholarship or other funding. They want to know you have a realistic plan.

“Do you have questions for us?” Always say yes. Ask about thesis supervision, internship partnerships or recent curriculum changes. Never ask things answered on the website.

“When can you start / are you available for the full programme?” Confirm your availability for the full duration. If you need to sort out visa timing, mention it honestly with your plan.

Practice Questions with Answer Guidance

Try answering each question aloud before reading the guidance.

“Why this programme and not a similar one elsewhere?”

Reference specific elements: a specialisation track, a faculty member’s research, the teaching method (e.g. PBL) or an industry partnership. Show you compared alternatives and chose deliberately.

“What are your career plans after graduating?”

Be specific and link back to the programme. “I plan to work in delta water management in Vietnam” beats “I want to help the environment.” Honesty about uncertainty is fine if you name the options you’re considering.

“Tell us about a topic you don’t know much about yet.”

Dutch interviewers respect honesty over bluffing. Identify the gap, explain why it interests you and say how the programme will help you fill it. This shows self-awareness and intellectual curiosity.

“How do you work in multicultural teams?”

Give a real example. Dutch programmes are highly collaborative with international classrooms. Describe a specific situation, what was difficult and what you learned about communication or compromise.

“Do you have any questions for us?”

Always say yes. Prepare 2–3 questions: the thesis supervision process, internship partners, recent curriculum changes, career services for non-EU graduates. Never ask things already on the website.

“How will you finance your studies?”

Be straightforward. Mention savings, family support, the NL Scholarship or other grants. They aren’t judging your wealth — they want to know you have a realistic financial plan and won’t drop out mid-year.

Interview Formats Explained

Dutch programmes use three main interview formats.

Selection day (matching day)

A half-day event with group tasks, written assignments and a short interview.

Group discussion

4–6 candidates discuss a topic. Assessors watch communication and collaboration, not dominance.

Written assignment

Analyse a case study or article in 30–60 minutes. Shows analytical thinking under time pressure.

Short interview

10–15 minutes within the day. A quick motivation check: why this programme, and what are your goals.

Aptitude test

Common for numerus fixus in science and medicine. Tests baseline knowledge, not expert mastery.

International students usually attend online versions with the same assessment areas adapted for a virtual format.

Selection interview (video call)

A 15–30 minute one-on-one video call — the most common format for international students.

1
Platform
Microsoft Teams, Zoom or the university’s own system. You’ll get a scheduling link (Calendly/Doodle) with time slots.
2
Panel
Usually 1–2 people — a programme coordinator or faculty member. Conversational, not interrogative.
3
Timing
February–April, after initial screening, with at least one week’s notice. You can request a different slot if time zones clash.
4
Tone
Dutch directness — clear questions, clear answers expected. Less small talk than UK/US interviews. Substance over performance.

Video / portfolio review call

Architecture, fine arts, design and performing arts programmes combine a portfolio review with a motivation interview, typically 20–30 minutes. Have your portfolio ready to screen-share. They’ll ask you to walk through 2–3 pieces — your concept, process and what you learned — and follow up on your creative influences and how you’d develop within the programme.

Some programmes ask for a pre-recorded video introduction (2–3 minutes) in addition to or instead of a live call. Check the programme page for exact requirements.

Preparation Checklist

Tick each item as you complete it. The goal is to be genuinely ready, not rehearsed.

0/8 ready · tap an item to tick it off

Re-read your motivation letter and CV — The interviewer has your application. Inconsistencies between what you wrote and what you say will be noticed.
Study the programme page in detail — Know the curriculum, specialisations, thesis requirements, teaching methods and any recent changes.
Research 1–2 faculty members or research groups — Mentioning specific faculty or projects shows genuine engagement and helps answer “why this programme?”
Test camera, microphone and internet — Use a quiet, well-lit space. If home is unreliable, find a library or coworking space.
Prepare 2–3 questions to ask them — Thesis supervision, internship partners, career services for non-EU students. Never ask things on the website.
Practise answers aloud (don’t memorise) — Explain your motivation to a friend or in the mirror. Fluent and natural beats polished and rehearsed.
Confirm the time zone and calendar slot — Double-check the time difference and set a reminder. If the slot doesn’t work, politely ask for an alternative.
Dress business-casual — A clean, professional top. Dutch academic culture is informal — no suit needed, but no hoodie either.

After the Interview

Results timeline

2–6 wk

The outcome arrives by email from the admissions office. Some programmes respond within a week; others wait until all interviews are done.

Thank-you email

Optional

Not expected in Dutch culture and won’t influence the outcome. A brief note is fine but not necessary.

Feedback if rejected

Ask

Some programmes give brief feedback on request. Take it if available — it is useful for reapplying or applying elsewhere.

No interview?

Focus your energy on a strong motivation letter, complete documents and the right programme choice. Those determine the outcome for most Dutch applications.

Motivation Letter

The letter your interviewer will reference. Make sure it’s strong.

References

Who to ask and what Dutch admissions committees value in recommendations.

After Selection

What happens after you receive your offer: visa, housing, enrolment.