Good news! If you completed secondary school in one of the recognised European countries, you may not need to take IELTS or TOEFL when applying to selected Kastu partner universities in the Netherlands.
Your school diploma as English proof – how does it work?
Most universities require proof of English proficiency, usually through IELTS or TOEFL. However, there is an important exception for students applying to certain universities in the Netherlands.
If you completed secondary school in one of the countries listed below, many Kastu partner universities in the Netherlands accept a recognised Secondary School Leaving Certificate as proof of English instead of TOEFL or IELTS.
This exemption is based on an official Dutch document listing recognised secondary school diplomas that may be accepted as proof of English proficiency.
Is my country eligible?
First, check whether your country is included in the official exemption list. The following countries have secondary school diplomas that may be recognised as proof of English proficiency by Dutch universities:
- Austria
- Belgium (Flanders)
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- Germany
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Norway
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Sweden
Important: Your country must be included in the official exemption list, and your Secondary School Leaving Certificate must meet the requirements specified in the official document. Always check the admission requirements of your chosen university.
Does my chosen university accept it?
Being from one of the countries listed above does not automatically mean every Dutch university will accept your diploma as proof of English. Each university sets its own English language requirements.
Among Kastu partner universities in the Netherlands:
- Most partner universities accept the Secondary School Leaving Certificate as English proof – so the majority of applicants from the listed countries do not need TOEFL or IELTS.
- Radboud University requires an English test (TOEFL or IELTS) from all applicants, regardless of country.
- University of Groningen accepts the exemption for most programs, but some programs have additional English requirements – always check the specific program page.
For the full overview of which universities accept which English proof, see the Required English tests page.
What if my country is NOT on the list?
If your country is not included in the exemption list, you will need to submit an English language test result. The most commonly accepted tests are:
- TOEFL iBT (recommended – Kastu students get a 5% discount)
- IELTS Academic
- Cambridge English CAE (C1 Advanced) – accepted by selected universities
- Duolingo English Test – accepted by a limited number of universities only
Check which test your chosen university accepts on the Required English tests page, or visit the English requirements page for full details.
Frequently asked questions
Check the official document
You can verify whether your specific diploma is on the official exemption list by downloading the Nuffic document:
Download: Official list of diplomas exempted from English language test (PDF)
This document is issued by Nuffic – the Dutch organisation responsible for internationalisation in higher education. It lists all secondary school diplomas from recognised countries that are accepted as English proof by Dutch universities.
Still have questions?
Check the Required English tests page for a full overview by university, or visit the English requirements page for more information about TOEFL, IELTS, and other accepted tests.
Not sure whether your diploma is accepted? Ask KastuGPT – our AI assistant is available 24/7 to answer your questions about English requirements, applications, and studying abroad.
