Enrolment

When you are not registered in the Personal Records Base (in Dutch: Basisregistratie Personen / BRP) you must submit a copy of your passport (front) or your identity card (both sides)* before August 15; the passport must be valid until at least October 1 of the year of enrolment.

Example: if you enroll at Codarts for the 2027-2028 academic year, your passport must be valid at least until October 1, 2027.

* this applies exclusively to students from countries in the EU/EEA.

To be enrolled in a bachelor's programme at Codarts, the prospective student must hold at least a diploma at mbo level 4, havo, or vwo (NLQF-4 / EQF-4) or an equivalent foreign certificate at this level.

Insufficient prior education for admission to Bachelor

If the prospective student cannot provide a diploma for enrolment in a bachelor's programme, they can participate in an entrance examination (NOA-test). The cost of this examination is €75,- which must be paid by the prospective student prior to the examination. 

• Access to the entrance examination is only granted after placement in the programme. 
• The entrance examination must be passed before the start of the academic year. 
• A positive result from the entrance examination only grants access to a programme at Codarts and is valid for one year.

Click here for an example

For the Master of Music programme, prospective students must hold a certificate from a relevant Dutch bachelor's programme or an equivalent certificate from a programme abroad (NLQF-6 / EQF-6).

For the Master of Arts Therapies programme, prospective students must hold a certificate from a Dutch bachelor's programme or an equivalent certificate from a programme abroad (NLQF-6 / EQF-6).

Insufficient prior education for admission to Master

If the prospective student does not hold a bachelor's degree, they can still be enrolled in a master's programme in exceptional cases, provided they have sufficient knowledge, understanding, and skills at the level of a bachelor's degree. In such cases, the programme management will request permission from the Executive Board, which will be advised by the Exam Board.

The prospective student can demonstrate that the prior education requirement has been met by:

• In the case of a diploma issued in the Netherlands: a certified copy of an admissible diploma, including a certified copy of the accompanying grade list, if verification of the prior education and diploma via DUO is not possible;
• In the case of a diploma issued outside the Netherlands, the original diploma, including the accompanying grade list, must be shown to the Administrative Service Center.

If the institution where the prospective student obtained their diploma is closed, a certified copy of the diploma can also be requested from another official body in the country where the diploma was issued, such as a notary or a municipal (government) agency.

To attend a study programme, you have to pay tuition fees. Every year, the Ministry of Education, Culture & Science sets the fees for the study programmes subsidised by the Dutch government. In addition, Codarts sets the level of the institutional tuition fees every year.

If you meet the requirements set by the Ministry of Education, Culture & Science, you pay the statutory tuition fee. If you do not meet the requirements, you pay the institutional tuition fees. By law, the academic year of all programmes starts on 1 September.

You can find the requirements of the Ministery of Education, Culture and Science here (in Dutch).

The method of payment can be made in 3 ways:

1. Payment of tuition fees by bank transfer.
2. Via a SEPA standing order (in 1 term) for the entire duration of enrolment (only possible if you have an IBAN account of a country from the SEPA area).
3. Via a SEPA standing order (in 8 instalments) for the entire duration of your registration (only possible if you have an IBAN account for a country in the SEPA region).

You will receive the payment forms together with your enrolment package.

If you have a previous non-Dutch education and are planning to enrol for a Dutch-language programme, you will be required to pass the NT2-II state examination and send in your proof before 15 August, before the start of your studies. Registering for the exam is arranged via DUO. You need to arrange this yourself on time.

If you are applying for an English-taught programme at Codarts, you must be able to demonstrate that your English language skills are sufficient.

For a bachelor’s programme

You need one of the following certificates*:

For a master’s programme

You need one of the following certificates*:

Please note: Master's programmes require a higher level of English proficiency than bachelor’s programmes at Codarts.

* The table is not meant to mutually compare language tests or scores. It is only intended to formulate the accepted language tests and minimum scores for the admission requirements of international students.

** Scores obtained through TOEFL MyBest Scores are not accepted.

*** The threshold values must be achieved for both elements.

No certificate?

If you do not qualify for an exemption and do not have a valid English language certificate, you must take the Codarts English language test. This test is administered at the beginning of the academic year. You will automatically receive an invitation to participate. The test is free of charge.

In some cases, you do not need to submit a language certificate.

You may qualify for an exemption if you:

Hold an international diploma

• have obtained a European Baccalaureate taught in English and achieved a passing grade in English; or
• have obtained an International Baccalaureate (IB) taught in English and achieved a passing grade in English.

Completed an English-taught education

You have obtained a diploma from a secondary or tertiary institution in a country where English is both the official language and the language of instruction:

• Australia
• Canada (English-speaking)
• Ireland
• Malta (English-speaking)
• New Zealand
• the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• the United States of America
• South Africa (English-speaking)

Hold a diploma from one of the following European countries

You have obtained a diploma that provides access to higher education and achieved a passing grade in English:

• Belgium (Flanders only)
• Denmark
• Germany
• Estonia
• Finland
• Hungary
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Norway
• Austria
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Sweden

Hold a Dutch secondary education diploma

You have obtained one of the following diplomas in the Netherlands:

• MBO level 4
• HAVO
• VWO

In accordance with Article 5.6 of the Code of Conduct for International Students in Higher Education, online language tests may only be accepted in exceptional circumstances.

This exception applies if you are unable to take one of the approved language tests listed in the Code of Conduct because the official test centre in your country or region is closed or cannot be safely reached. In such cases, an approved online language test may be accepted as an alternative.

If you believe this situation applies to you, please contact the Administrative Service Center for guidance before registering for an online language test.

The Admissions Service Center (ASC) of Codarts will always assess whether your diploma or certificate meets the admission requirements or qualifies you for an exemption from the English language requirement.

At a glance

• Bachelor's programmes: IELTS Academic 5.5 (or equivalent level).
• Master's programmes: IELTS Academic 6.0 (or equivalent level).
• If you qualify for an exemption, you do not need to submit a language certificate.
• If you do not have a certificate and do not qualify for an exemption, you must take the Codarts English language test.

Are you considering studying in the Netherlands but do not hold EU/EEA or Swiss nationality, nor a residence permit that allows you to legally stay in the Netherlands?
 

You may then require a residence permit (Verblijfsvergunning - VVR) for study purposes and, depending on your nationality, an entry visa (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf – MVV).

We therefore advise you to start your preparations well in advance, so that Codarts can advise and support you where necessary. 

To assist you with this, we have prepared a step-by-step plan. 

You can find more information about this here. 

Codarts will apply for the VVR (and MVV) once the enrolment conditions have been met.