Whether your foreign diploma gets you into a Dutch programme is decided by the institution, with advice from Nuffic. This post explains who does what, and what you can do on your own.

Who checks what

Per Study in NL, to find out whether your diploma qualifies you, the higher education institution consults Nuffic, the Dutch national academic recognition information centre (NARIC). If the institution asks Nuffic, it is free for you.

  • You can get an idea of the Dutch equivalent of your level from the list of common diplomas from your country on the Nuffic website.
  • You can also order a written evaluation yourself, but it is not free (Study in NL points to IDW at idw.nl).
  • The institution can add its own admission requirements, and it takes the final decision. That decision may not match Nuffic's first evaluation. If you disagree, contact the admissions office.

Reading your own grades

The Netherlands uses a ten-point grading system. According to Study in NL’s grading page, 10 is the highest and 6 is the minimum pass grade. Grades 1 to 3 are hardly ever awarded and 9 and 10 are very rare. It warns against comparing a 90-100 grade in a 1-100 system with a 10, or 80-90 with a 9. This matters for scholarships: the VU Fellowship talks about a GPA equivalent to a Dutch 8, and Maastricht asks for a 7.5 out of 10. Those are high marks in the Dutch system.

Legalised documents

For your visa, permit or registration with the municipality you may need legalised documents, such as a birth certificate. Study in NL that you need to arrange this before you leave for the Netherlands. Legalisation takes place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country that issued the document and at the Dutch embassy or consulate there. If your country has signed the Apostille Convention, an apostille is enough and no legalisation at the Dutch embassy is needed.

Is the programme itself recognised?

That is a separate question about the Dutch side. NVAO is the independent accreditation body set up by the Dutch and Flemish governments. It runs initial accreditation for new programmes and programme accreditation for existing ones, and says institutions must be officially recognised before they can offer higher education programmes and award recognised degrees. The programmes in our catalogue come from the DUO register of recognised programmes, but accreditation is a related and separate status, so check it if it matters for your plans (for example for a residence permit or a regulated profession).

Order of work

  1. Pick the programme and read its admission page.
  2. Collect your transcripts and diploma, with certified translations where needed.
  3. Let the institution ask Nuffic. Do not pay for your own evaluation unless the institution tells you to.
  4. Start legalisation or apostille early; it has to be done before you leave.

Sources

Opened and checked on 5 October 2026. Figures that change from year to year are marked "as of October 2026"; check the source before you rely on them.