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 Urban Sustainability Studies (USS) for the academic year 2026-2027. Questions about admission? Contact us at study@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
This programme is part of the Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE) Alliance.
Application deadlines
The bachelor’s programme in Urban Sustainability Studies starts in September. The deadlines below are for applying to start in September 2026.
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| 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) |
| As soon as possible after 1 November 2025 | Apply via the YUFE Virtual Campus** (open for applications for the academic year 2026-2027 from 1 November) |
| 1 June 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 July 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 and/or residence permit, you must complete most tasks by an earlier date. |
*Studielink is the national registration system for higher education.
**The YUFE Virtual Campus is the application environment for the Young Universities for the Future of Europe alliance.
***The MyApplication portal is Maastricht University’s application and enrolment platform.
See the 'Admissions & enrolment' page for more on how to apply.
Are you a non-EU/EEA national requiring a visa/residence permit for study?
Please note that Maastricht University can only formally apply for your visa/residence permit if you have met all admission and enrolment requirements.
This means you have to have completed all admission and enrolment tasks in the MyApplication portal (except the ‘visa/residence permit’-task and the ‘send certified copy of diploma’-task) before we can send your application to the IND (Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service).
We have to send the application to the IND before 1 July if you are starting your studies in September. Please note: a few pre-master and master programmes offer a start in February. If your study programme offers a start in February and you want to start your studies in February, we have to send the application to the IND before 1 December. You can find out if your study programme offers a start in February on the admission requirements web page of that programme (pre-master’s, master’s).
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you reconsider applying for this study programme if you are not sure that you will meet the following requirements before 1 July/1 December (if applicable in your situation):
- Having remedied all subject and/or language deficiencies (if applicable) ·
- Having qualified for admission to your study programme, including being selected (if applicable to your study programme) AND
- Having paid the tuition fee for your study programme
General requirements: previous education
The admission requirements for the academic year 2026-2027 for the USS bachelor’s programme 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.
Additional requirements
English-language requirements for this bachelor’s programme
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.
There are several ways you can prove your English proficiency:
- With a diploma you obtained from an English-taught programme in Australia, an English-speaking part of Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States
- With a diploma you obtained from an English-taught programme elsewhere, provided the language of instruction is clearly stated on the education documents
- With evidence of English language competence at level B2 or higher according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), as documented in educational policy records from the relevant country or educational authority
- With a language test certificate (not older than two years at the time of application) that meets the following minimum scores:
- TOEFL iBT (test centre only): 80
- Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall, 6.0 per component
- Cambridge English: B2 First, score 176 or higher
- ITACE: B2
- PTE Academic: 59
Applicants whose diploma is based on a non-EU-EEA curriculum (handling fee)
Applicants for this study programme whose diploma is based on a non-EU/EEA curriculum are required to pay a handling fee. This applies even if the educational institution is located within the EU/EEA, as the fee is based on the curriculum, not the location of the institution. More information on this handling fee and how to arrange this payment can be found on the handling fee page.
Credit transfer
You can apply for a credit transfer if you have completed courses at an accredited research university or a university of applied sciences.
Requests for credit transfer will only be considered by the Examination Board after you are enrolled in the USS programme. The maximum number of credits that can be transferred is 30 ECTS, or one semester.
Documents required for application process
During the application process for this study programme, you will need to submit a number of 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 photo
This photo 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
- Document(s) that prove your English language proficiency (if applicable)
Check the section 'English language requirements for this bachelor's programme' on this webpage to see which document(s) can be used to prove your English proficiency.
How do we assess your application?
Matching Procedure
As part of the application process, you’ll take part in a Matching Procedure, which includes a short questionnaire and an interview. This is designed to help you get a better idea of what the study programme is like.
After the interview, we’ll give you a recommendation on whether we think the programme is a good fit for you. It’s entirely up to you whether you choose to follow this advice.