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English proficiency requirements

How to meet the English requirements

English is the language of interaction and instruction at AUC. You will be expected to study, write, and express yourself at an advanced academic level. You must meet our proficiency requirements before starting your studies, though you may apply while your test results or final grades are still pending. Conditional offers will require you to fulfil these requirements before your start date.

How to meet our English requirements

You will meet our English requirements if you fulfil the conditions of one of the following categories.

  • Dutch VWO diploma

    You have completed, or are in the process of completing, the Dutch VWO diploma with a final (rounded) grade of 7 or higher in English.

  • Educated in English in an English-speaking country

    You have been educated entirely in English in a country where English is considered the first language and language of instruction. For example, you are from the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand and have been educated in one of these countries).

  • Secondary school taught entirely in English

    The secondary school diploma that qualifies you to enter higher education is taught completely in English.

    Please note that this does not include the European Baccalaureate or the French OIB (British or American version).

  • TOEFL

    The TOEFL reporting number is 9011 - University of Amsterdam. You will need to enter this code on your answer sheets when sitting the examination.

    • TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted. The subscore requirements must be met on one single test session. 
    • TOEFL home edition is not accepted. The test must be taken on location. 

    TOEFL iBT 0 - 120

    You must meet the minimum scores as follows:

    Total Reading Listening Writing Speaking
    100 24 22 24 25

    TOEFL iBT 1 - 6

    You must meet the minimum scores as follows:

    Total Reading Listening Writing Speaking
    5 5 5 5 5
  • IELTS

    To meet the English requirement via IELTS, you must achieve an overall score of at least 7.0, with a minimum score of 6.5 in each of the four components (Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking).

    Please note: Only standard, in-person IELTS Academic exams are accepted. IELTS Online and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted.

  • Cambridge English Scale 

    You must achieve a score of 190 or higher on the Cambridge English Scale. We accept scores earned through either the C1 Advanced (formerly Certificate of Advanced English) or C2 Proficiency (Certificate for Proficiency in English) exams.

Alternative proofs

AUC may accept other proofs of proficiency. For example:

  • Grade 13 (sehr gut) in English on a German Abitur when taken as an achievement/main/intensive course
  • English Language GCSE, IGCSE or O-level at grade B (6 or higher in the new grading scheme)
  • International Baccalaureate Standard level English at grade 5
  • European Baccalaureate English at grade 70%

If you plan to submit an alternative proof of proficiency, please indicate this in your application. The Admissions Committee will review your request, but you may still be required to submit an official IELTS or TOEFL score if it is not accepted.

Please note that if your proof of proficiency in English is more than two years old, the Admissions Committee will require you to provide new, more up to date proof.

Submit proofs before 1 July

For a September start at AUC, you need to send us proof that you meet the requirements by 1 July at the latest.

Tests to show English proficiency

If you need to take an English test (such as TOEFL or IELTS), you are responsible for making your own arrangements and covering the required fees. Official test results take time to process, so please schedule your exam well in advance of your intended start date at AUC. Make sure to allow sufficient time for your scores to reach us, as well as time for a potential retake and new score submission before the deadline.

Important test policies

  • In-person only: All tests must be taken on-site at an official test centre. Home-taken tests (such as TOEFL Home Edition or IELTS Online) are not accepted.
  • Single session: Minimum score requirements must be achived in a single test sitting. One Skill Retakes and TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted.
TOEFL website IELTS website

Offered a place?

You may still have to take the test

If you are offered a place at AUC, please pay close attention to the conditions specified in your offer letter. You may still have to take a test or achieve a certain grade to prove you meet our English proficiency requirements.