Admission / Application Process

The Admissions Department welcomes qualified students of all backgrounds, nationalities and religions and does not discriminate during the admission process. Applications are accepted from students around the world, aiming to create a highly culturally diverse student body.

Our Admissions Department applies a rolling admissions process and does not set specific deadlines to apply. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis because of the multiple starting dates available. We do advise students to apply no later than approximately 1 month before the intended starting date to allow sufficient time to plan your stay abroad. However, late applications are still accepted.

Students who require a student visa are strongly advised to apply 1-3 months prior to the intended starting date to avoid any delays with the student visa application. In case the student visa is delayed, students can postpone their studies until the next available starting date, or start Online. Refer to the student visa guidelines for further details. Students may choose to already start their studies via the Online campus prior to applying or receiving their student visa. In such case, students must realize that payments made for the credits and courses attempted Online are non-refundable should the student visa not be issued.

All students may start in Term A as well as in Term B of every quarter, subject to course availability. Refer to the academic calendar on the individual program information pages for the exact starting dates.

Application documents can be submitted together or separately through the online application system, or by registered mail to the address indicated on the application form. As soon as we have received your complete application, you should hear from our Admissions Department within two weeks. You may be requested to submit additional documents before receiving your final acceptance letter.

Step-by-step

 

Students with a national (EU, EEA, CH, JP where applicable) passport or residence permit

Students without a national (EU, EEA, CH) passport or residence permit who wish to study in Belgium, Italy, Spain or Switzerland Students without a national (EU, EEA, CH) passport or residence permit who wish to study in the Netherlands

Students without a national passport or residence permit who wish to study in Japan

Step 1

Send all required application documents to the Admissions Department.

Send all required application documents to the Admissions Department. Determine the possibilities to travel to and stay in the Netherlands without a student visa.

Determine the possibilities to travel to and stay in Japan without a student visa.

Step 2

After review and approval, you will receive your official acceptance documents.

After review and approval, you will receive your conditional acceptance documents. Send all required application documents to the Admissions Department.

Send all required application documents to the Admissions Department.

Step 3

Pay the requested program fees to confirm your acceptance.

Pay the requested program fees to confirm your acceptance. After review and approval, you will receive your official acceptance documents.

After review and approval, you will receive your official acceptance documents.

Step 4

Start your studies.

After confirmation, you will receive your official acceptance documents needed to apply for a student visa. Pay the requested program fees to confirm your acceptance.

Pay the requested program fees to confirm your acceptance.

Step 5

 

Comply with the student visa guidelines and apply for a student visa with the Belgian, Spanish or Swiss Embassy or Consulate closest to you. Start your studies.

Start your studies.

Step 6

 

Start your studies.  

 

Required application documents

  • Application form
  • Application fee, non-refundable (refer to the Fee Scheduledocument for details)
  • Curriculum Vitae stating your full academic background and professional experience
  • Copy of your valid passport, identity card and/or residence permit
  • Copy of all relevant degrees, diplomas, certificates and transcripts earned to date (English translation required except when issued in Dutch, French, German, Italian or Spanish)
  • Letter of motivation stating your career objectives and program expectations
  • Passport-size photograph
  • Proof of English proficiency

Apply Online

Our Admissions Department reserves the right to request additional documentation and information from applying students, including but not limited to certified/notarized copies of any document submitted, letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional sources, and a certificate of good conduct from your local city hall or police station.

Payments

Application fees can be paid online upon submitting your application. All other fees must be paid directly to the school upon invitation from our Admissions Department, Accounting Department, Bursar or Registrar only. Refer to the invitation for bank account details. Cash payments and checks are not accepted. Please mention your name on bank transfers when making payments. Program fees are due on a quarterly basis always before the start of each new quarter. All other fees are due payable immediately. The application fee payment is required to complete your application. Applications without a confirmed application fee are not considered. Please include a payment receipt with your application documents.

Program Fees

The total program fees are calculated pro-rata per campus where the student completed courses and earned credits. All fees are due payable on a quarterly basis and according to a fixed payment schedule, typically prior to the start of each new quarter. Program fees cover matriculation and tuition fees, but do not include the cost of living, housing, travel, transport, health insurance, study materials and other expenses. For more details, refer to the Program Fees annex. Additional fees that are applicable to all students include the Application Fee, the annual Library Fees and the Graduation Fee. Other fees that apply only under certain circumstances are also listed in the Program Fees annex. Program fees are subject to an annual review and consist of matriculation fees for matriculation services offered by the school’s main campus, and tuition fees for tuition services offered by the local campuses. Matriculation fees do not apply for students auditing courses only.

 

Scholarships

Scholarships are only limitedly available, in the form of reduced program fees, and for full-time students only. Scholarships are not available at satellite and extension campuses, nor for students who have confirmed or started their studies. To apply, students should submit a separate letter in which they explain why they should be considered eligible to receive a scholarship. Scholarship amounts are based on current financial needs and previous academic performance.
The school does not receive subsidies from regional or national governments to finance its operations. Students from certain countries may not be eligible for governmental financial support while studying abroad at the school. Students who would otherwise be eligible for such financial support should contact the Admissions Department for further information about the availability of scholarships offered by the school’s academic council and the availability of student loans offered by local banks.

Optional application documents

Certificate of good conduct from your local city hall or police station
(required only for EU citizens resident in an EU country)

  • 2 letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional sources
    (not required for transfer students or students applying for a customized program)
  • standardized test scores such as GMAT and GRE

Remarks

  • There is no minimum GPA required to be admitted into our study programs. Based on your previous academic performance we may however suggest completing fewer credits or courses per quarter to optimize the duration of your studies, and to improve the success rate for each course you attempt.
  • Students are highly recommended to apply for health insurance for the duration of their stay abroad. Non-resident students may need to provide a health insurance coverage certificate when applying for a student visa.
  • We reserve the right to subject students to a written English evaluation prior to entering the study program. In case of average test scores, students can enter the study program, but are recommended to complete the Advanced English course offered by the school on a quarterly basis. In case of inadequate test scores, students may be required to undergo intensive language lessons prior to entering the regular study programs. Intensive private language lessons can be organized by the school or can be completed with an external language school.

Institution codes

  • TOEFL code for UnitedSLS programs: C356
  • TOEFL code for UIBS programs: C354
  • GRE code for UnitedSLS programs: 4447
  • GRE code for UIBS programs: 3850
  • GMAT: 7054

Suggested

The one-minute animated introduction to UIBS
One-minute Introduction

Watch our animated one-minute introduction video to learn more!

UIBS Student Interviews
Student Interviews

Check out several interviews with students from our various campuses!

UIBS Professor Interviews
Professor Interviews

Check out several interviews with professors from our various campuses!

UIBS Graduation Ceremony in Barcelona, Spain
Graduation Ceremony

Watch the video of our most recent Graduation Ceremony in Barcelona!

  • "The school had an incredible nurturing environment that I felt comfortable growing in. It was very challenging as well; I felt very open talking to my professors and fellow students about pushing myself forward academically and as a person." Scarlett, Bachelor Student

  • "I’ve been able to create long-lasting friendships with international people from all over the world. UIBS has given me all the professional skills and tools I needed to develop in my career." Elvitz, Master Student

  • "The school is so diverse; you have the possibility to travel the world and change campuses. During the global study trip, so many campuses came together, and even if you don’t know the students, you have something in common and everybody is just one big family." Philip, Bachelor Student

International University in Europe
Global University in Europe
European University in Europe
American University in Europe
Swiss University in Europe
English University in Europe
British University in Europe
Private University in Europe
connect with us and learn more about our various programs and campuses
discover interdisciplinary liberal studies @ UnitedSLS