Dutch students

• Students with a Dutch pre-university education (VWO) diploma with Mathematics B.

Other Dutch diplomas

If you have obtained a diploma other than VWO, or if you have a VWO diploma without Mathematics B, you have to submit an official admission request. To do this, first you register for the Bachelor programme in Studielink. You will receive a link to the online admission portal of Leiden University, where you can submit your admission request. Please note the deadlines for doing this. Additional requirements will be communicated to you.

In most cases you are required to show sufficient Mathematics skills by either:

• Having obtained at least 60% for the Online Mathematics Placement Test (OMPT-D), or,
• Having obtained the VWO mathematics B certificate of Boswell Beta at the Boswell-Bèta Institute

International students

An equivalent of a Dutch pre-university education (VWO) diploma with a comparable level of Mathematics. If you do not have this level, the equivalent of Dutch VWO Mathematics B can be acquired through:

• Having obtained at least 60% for the Online Mathematics Placement Test (OMPT-D), or, 
• Having obtained the VWO mathematics B certificate of Boswell Beta at the Boswell-Bèta Institute.

For the mathematics requirements for the most common diplomas, see the document 'Specific diploma requirements for science programmes'.

See also the page about the general admisson requirements.

As this study programme is taught in English and all study activities must be undertaken in English, it is essential that you have a good level of proficiency in written and spoken English.

You do not need to submit an English proficiency test if you:

• have obtained a Dutch VWO diploma
• have obtained a bachelor’s or master’s diploma from a Dutch university of applied sciences (HBO) or a Dutch university
• have completed your secondary or higher education in the USA, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (except French-taught programmes in Canada), Singapore, South Africa or Malta.
• have obtained an International Baccalaureate™ Diploma (IB DP) taught in English or with English A HL.
• have obtained a German Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife (Abitur) and English was included in your final year at least at Grundkurslevel.
• Exemptions can also be granted on the basis of certain other educational diplomas. Check our diploma requirements list to find out whether your diploma might entitle you to an exemption.

If none of the above apply to you, you must provide proof of proficiency by means of one of the following tests. You must arrange the test yourself.

Note that English test results may not be more than two years old and must be obtained in one single test. Leiden University accepts three kinds of official tests*:

• IELTS - Academic modules only, on paper or on computer. Minimum score of 6.0 overall and 6.0 for  each separate component
  • We do not accept IELTS Academic online
  • We do not accept IELTS General Training, IELTS Indicator, or IELTS One Skill Retake
• TOEFL Internet Based. Minimum score of 80 overall and 20 for each separate component
  • We do not accept the TOEFL IBT Home Edition™, except in the following situation only:
    You are unable to take an in-person test on location because test centres are inaccessible or closed due to unsafe conditions in a country.
  • We do not accept the following types of test: TOEFL My Best™ scores (multiple test scores combined), TOEFL Essentials™  or institutional tests such as ITP.
• Cambridge C2 Proficiency in English or Cambridge C1 Advanced English, with a minimum score of 169 for each separate component.

* New TOEFL grading scale 2026
In January 2026, TOEFL introduced a new grading scale. Test certificates issued in 2026 and 2027 will show overall scores in both the old grading scale (0-120) and the new grading scale (1-6). Component or band scores will only be shown in the new grading scale.
Leiden University’s 2026-2027 overall score requirements will continue to be based on the old grading scale. If you took your test on or after 21 January 2026, you must meet the overall score requirement shown on our website in the old grading scale (0-120), and the component score requirements shown on our website in the new grading scale (1-6).

Also see general language requirements for additional information.

We expect students to bring a regular laptop running Windows (or running Linux for certain study programmes). MacOS may in most cases also suffice (with Parallels for Windows installed), but not all specialized applications may be supported, and less support may be available. 

• Windows 11 compatible – 64-bits (or Linux for some study programmes) 
• Processor/CPU – modern, medium range 
• Memory/RAM – 8 GB, if possible 16 GB 
• Storage – 512 GB, if possible 1 TB
• A modern GPU (medium range, if possible CUDA-capable, definitely not high end)