It depends a lot on the programme. For bachelor's degrees without Numerus Fixus, admission is relatively accessible if you meet the academic (a solid school-leaving diploma) and language (IELTS 6.5) requirements. For Numerus Fixus programmes and for University College Utrecht there is a selection procedure (motivation letter, essays, academic record, sometimes an interview), so competition is higher. For international applicants, the recommendation is a strong grade average (a good final average, ideally near the top for competitive programmes) plus a clear motivation profile.

As an EU citizen, you pay the statutory EU fee: EUR 2,694 per year for the 2026-2027 academic year. A classic bachelor's degree lasts 3 years (180 ECTS), so total tuition is approximately EUR 8,082. University College Utrecht (liberal arts, residential campus) has a higher fee, around EUR 5,591 per year for EU students. Living costs in Utrecht: housing EUR 450-750 per month, food EUR 250-350 per month, transport and other EUR 100-150 per month. Estimated total per year: ~EUR 12,000-16,000, drastically lower than the UK or the USA.

Yes, Utrecht has a solid set of bachelor's degrees taught entirely in English: Liberal Arts and Sciences (at University College Utrecht), Economics and Business Economics, Molecular and Biophysical Life Sciences, Artificial Intelligence, History and Philosophy of Science and others. Many other programmes are taught in Dutch, so check the language on each programme's page at uu.nl. For English-taught programmes you need proof of language (typically IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 90). WIB note: the Dutch Wet internationalisering in balans law, currently being phased in, aims to rebalance internationalisation and may gradually reduce some English-taught programmes; check the exact language of your programme when you apply.

Numerus Fixus means a limited number of places on certain programmes, with a selection procedure. For these programmes the application deadline through Studielink is earlier (usually 15 January), and the university ranks you on the basis of certain criteria (academic record, motivation, sometimes tests or essays). If your programme does not have Numerus Fixus, you generally have a more relaxed deadline and a matching procedure (orientation), which confirms how well you fit the programme but is usually not eliminatory.

University College Utrecht (UCU) is the university's liberal arts and sciences college, with around 750 students on an international residential campus. Classes are small (on average 20 students), over 50 percent of students are international from more than 70 nationalities, and everything is taught in English. At UCU you build your own curriculum, combining sciences, social sciences and humanities. It suits curious students with a broad profile who want an intense, international and flexible experience. Admission is by selection.

Studielink is the Dutch national application portal. The steps: 1) choose your programme on uu.nl and check whether it has Numerus Fixus; 2) create an account on Studielink and submit your request for your chosen programme at Utrecht; 3) Studielink sends the data to the university, which opens your application in its internal system (OSIRIS), where you upload your documents (diploma or transcript of grades, proof of English, motivation letter where required); 4) you go through the selection or matching, as applicable; 5) upon admission you confirm your place and complete enrolment. Deadlines: 15 January for Numerus Fixus, later (usually May-June) for the rest, but apply early.

Yes, the Romanian Baccalaureate is recognised for admission to Utrecht's bachelor's degrees, as the equivalent of the Dutch VWO diploma. For certain programmes (especially sciences) specific subjects at an advanced level are required: for example mathematics for exact sciences, economics or AI, or mathematics, chemistry and biology for the life sciences. Check the exact requirements on each programme's page. The Baccalaureate does not replace the English test (IELTS or TOEFL), which remains mandatory for English-taught programmes.

Yes, as an EU citizen! Unlike the UK or the USA, as an EU citizen you have the automatic right to work in the Netherlands without a visa or work permit. The Netherlands has a strong economy and an English-speaking job market, especially in the Randstad area (Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, The Hague), with hubs in tech, life sciences, sustainability, logistics and finance. Many international companies work in English. With a degree from Utrecht (a university recognised across the EU) you can work anywhere in the European Union without a visa.