Admission requirements
On this page, you will find important details of the application process (such as deadlines, admission requirements, required documents and application assessment) for the bachelor’s programme in Arts and Culture for the academic year 2026-2027. Questions about admission? Contact us via study@maastrichtuniversity.nl
The information on this page is for students who would like to start in the academic year 2026-2027. See the admission requirements for the academic year 2025-2026.
Important deadlines for study programme application
General requirements: previous education
Additional requirements
Documents required for application process
Matching survey
Application deadlines
The bachelor’s programme in Arts and Culture starts in September.
The deadlines below are applicable for applying for a start in September 2026.
Note: If you are viewing this webpage on your phone, we recommend using landscape mode.
| Date | What you need to know about this date |
|---|---|
| As soon as possible after 1 October 2025 | Apply via Studielink* (open for applications for the academic year 2026-2027 from 1 October). |
| 1 April 2026, 23:59 CET | Deadline for completing the entire application process if you have a non-EU/EEA nationality (in most cases, you will need a visa and/or residence permit). |
| 1 May 2026, 23:59 CET | Deadline for completing the entire application process if you have an EU/EEA or Swiss nationality. |
| 1 August 2026 | Strongly recommended deadline for paying the tuition fee. |
| 31 August 2026, 23:59 CET | Deadline for completing all tasks in the MyApplication portal** If you need a visa or residence permit, you must complete most tasks by an earlier date. |
*Studielink is the national registration system for higher education,
**The MyApplication portal is Maastricht University’s application and enrolment platform.
Please note: in Studielink you need to choose the starting moment. Please make sure to select September 2026 in the dropdown-menu, so that you will apply for the start of the next academic year.
Do you have a non-EU/EEA nationality and require a visa/residence permit?
Maastricht University can only formally apply for your visa/residence permit if you have met all admission and enrolment requirements.
This means you must have completed all admission and enrolment tasks in the MyApplication portal (except the tasks ‘Arrange visa / legal residence’ and ‘Send certified copy of diploma’) before we can send your application to the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
Deadlines for sending your application to the IND:
- 1 July: if you are applying to start in September
- 1 December: if you are applying to start in February (only available for some programmes)
If you are not sure you can complete the following before the deadline, we strongly recommend reconsidering your application:
- eliminated all subject and/or language deficiencies (if applicable)
- qualified for admission to the study programme, including being selected (for selective programmes) AND
- paid the tuition fee
General requirements: previous education
The admission requirements for academic year 2026/27 for the bachelor’s programme in Arts and Culture depend on your previous education. Check below which requirements apply to you.
Applicants with a Dutch diploma
If you have one of the diplomas stated below then, in principle, you qualify for admission:
- Dutch VWO diploma
- HBO or OU propaedeutic diploma
- HBO diploma
Applicants with a non-Dutch diploma
If you have a non-Dutch diploma that is equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma you, in principle, qualify for admission to this programme. Check if this applies for your diploma.
List of diplomas equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma 2026/27.
If your diploma is not included in this list, it must be evaluated by UM first.
Not the required diploma and not meeting the additional requirements
Entrance exam, Colloquium Doctum
If you do not have the required diploma, or do not meet the additional requirements, you can still qualify for admission by passing an entrance exam (the so-called Colloquium Doctum).
If you pass the Colloquium Doctum and submit the requested proof of language proficiency, you will qualify for admission to the bachelor’s programme.
Read more about the Colloquium Doctum
Additional requirements
Language requirements for English-language programmes
As English is the language of instruction in this study programme, it is essential that your English language skills are good enough for you to undertake intensive and challenging academic courses that are taught and examined in English.
Answer the questions below to find out if you meet the language requirements.
Applicants who received their previous education in a non-EU/EEA country (handling fee)
Applicants for this study programme who received their previous education in a non-EU/EEA country will have to pay a handling fee. More information on this handling fee and how to arrange this payment can be found on the handling fee page.
Credit transfer
If you have followed education at a research university or a university of applied sciences before, you may want to know if you can use some of the previously earned credits in the FASoS bachelor.
If you passed a course in your previous bachelor that is (almost) identical to the FASoS course, as regards content, level and study load, you might qualify for an exemption from the FASoS course. Please note that exemptions from our courses are rarely given, as the content of the modules of the bachelor programmes is quite specific and the education at our faculty is multi-disciplinary. This means that starting in the second year of our bachelor is not an option; if you decide to register for the programme you will have to start as a first-year student. Once registered, you can apply for an exemption from the course that you consider to be equivalent to subjects you passed in your previous education.
Another option to use previously earned credits is to get them accepted for the “free” fifth semester of the programme. Such credits could be accepted if a students would not have obtained enough credits for the fifth semester; this can therefore only be assessed at the end of the programme.
Documents required for application process
During the application process for this study programme, you will need to complete a number of tasks for which you will often have to upload documents. The lists below give you an insight into what documents you will (and might) need to prepare.
Please note:
- Only complete applications will be taken into consideration.
- All documents must be in Dutch, English, German or French.
Required documents for all applicants to this study programme
- A recent portrait picture
This picture must satisfy certain requirements. You can find these requirements in the task description 'Upload portrait photo' in the MyApplication portal.
- A copy of your valid passport or your EU/EEA identity card
Make a copy of the page with your personal details. Save this copy as ‘passport copy’ and not as ‘passport picture’.
- A copy of your most recent grades transcript AND/OR a copy of your diploma if you have obtained it
Documents that might be required depending on your (academic) background
- Outcome of your language test with sufficient result (if applicable)
Answer the questions concerning language requirements under ‘Language requirements for English-language programmes’ on this webpage to find out if you need to provide additional documentation. The outcome of your answers will indicate which documents you can use to prove your proficiency.
- Evidence of additional courses or tests in the required subjects (if applicable)
- A request for credit transfer (if applicable)
- Permission for document verification form
If your diploma is not verified by DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, the Dutch government agency responsible for education-related matters), you will need to upload the form ‘Permission for document verification’ in the MyApplication portal. This form allows Maastricht University to verify your diploma, grades transcript or other required documents directly with the issuing institution or relevant qualification registry.
How do we assess your application?
Matching Procedure
Part of your application procedure for Arts and Culture is a Matching Procedure (in the form of a questionnaire). The purpose of Matching is for you to gain a better understanding of the study programme you have chosen, and for you and us to see if it fits well with your needs and expectations.
You will receive the matching questionnaire, along with instructions, from FASoS Admissions at the email address you provided in Studielink. Once you have completed the questionnaire, you will receive an email with feedback, including the dates for information activities.