Studielink and the Dutch University Application Process for ASEAN Students
By Muntasir • Published Sep 18, 2026 • Updated Sep 27, 2026 • Study Abroad
Studielink is the single national portal every applicant uses to register for a degree at a Dutch university, whether the program has open admission or a capped numerus fixus selection. Register between October 1 and either January 15 (numerus fixus programs) or May 1 (regular programs) for a September intake, then get your foreign diploma checked separately through the university or Nuffic.
📩 Studielink registration opens October 1 for the following September intake
⏱️ Numerus fixus deadline: January 15. Regular program deadline: May 1
🎓 Studielink allows only one numerus fixus registration per academic year
Selection for numerus fixus places runs on grades, motivation and sometimes a test, not a lottery, since 2017
What Studielink Does
Studielink is the Dutch government's central registration system for higher education. Every applicant to a Dutch bachelor's or master's program, Dutch or international, registers through Studielink before the university itself starts processing an application. Studielink does not decide whether you get a place. It routes your basic registration to the university, which then runs its own admission or selection process alongside it.
Two Kinds of Programs, Two Deadlines
Dutch bachelor's programs fall into two categories, and which one your target program is in sets your deadline.
| Program Type | Studielink Deadline | How Places Are Decided |
|---|---|---|
| Regular (open admission) | 1 May | Meet the entry requirements and you get a place |
| Numerus fixus (capped) | 15 January | Selection based on grades, motivation, and sometimes a test or interview |
Both deadlines apply to registration for a September start. Numerus fixus applies to high-demand programs, commonly medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, and some psychology and business programs, where the university caps first-year places. Studielink allows only one numerus fixus registration per academic year, so decide on your top choice before the January deadline instead of treating it as a shortlist.
How Selection Replaced the Lottery
Until 2017, capped Dutch programs used a weighted lottery, where better grades raised your odds but did not guarantee a place. Since 2017, universities select directly using their own criteria, commonly a combination of your secondary school or prior degree results, a motivation statement, and for some programs a subject test or interview. Each university sets its own selection process for the same numerus fixus subject, so check the specific program's admission page instead of assuming the process is identical across universities.
Diploma Evaluation Runs Separately
Registering in Studielink does not check whether your ASEAN school-leaving certificate or bachelor's degree meets Dutch entry requirements. That evaluation happens through the university's own admissions office or, for a general comparison, through Nuffic , the Dutch organization for internationalization in education. If you completed secondary school in Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam or elsewhere in ASEAN, expect the university to ask for your school-leaving certificate, transcripts, and in many cases proof of one year of recognized higher education or a foundation program, since 12-year secondary systems commonly do not meet direct Dutch bachelor's entry on their own.
Step by Step for International Applicants
Pick your program and confirm whether it is numerus fixus or regular admission on the university's website.
Register in Studielink from 1 October, using the international registration option Studielink provides for applicants without a Dutch DigiD.
Complete the university's own application requirements: certified transcripts, English test scores (IELTS or TOEFL are standard), a motivation letter for numerus fixus or selective programs, and any program-specific documents.
Submit by 15 January for numerus fixus programs or 1 May for regular programs. Non-EU applicants should finish well before these dates to leave time for visa and housing arrangements.
Apply for your entry visa (MVV) and residence permit once you have an admission decision, a process most universities coordinate with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) on your behalf as a recognized sponsor.
Regional Support
Nuffic Neso offices in Indonesia and Vietnam run local information sessions and answer questions about diploma recognition and Studielink before you apply, useful if your school does not issue transcripts in a format Dutch admissions offices see often.