IB Pathways
Economics and Business Economics

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam · Netherlands

Economics and Business Economics

How consumers, firms and governments behave in economic systems, from single purchases to global decisions, with questions such as how to stop a bank collapsing.

Image: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Where
AmsterdamNetherlands
Degree
BSc
Length
3 years
Taught in
English
Starts
Autumn 2027
Apply by
1 May 2027
Admission
Open to all who qualify
EU/EEA fee
€2,7712027/28 statutory fee
More facts
Degree
BSc
Length
3 years
Taught in
English
Starts
Autumn 2027

Deadlines

  1. 6 November 2026

    VU Bachelor's Day on campus (6 and 7 November)
    DetailsSource

  2. 1 May 2027

    Application deadline for EU/EEA students
    Hard deadline
    DetailsSource

  3. 31 August 2027

    Enrolment: tuition fee paid (15 July for numerus fixus programmes)
    Hard deadline
    DetailsSource
All dates for this programme (2 more)

  1. 1 December 2026*

    Create your Studielink account
    Your own plan
    Details

    Not an official deadline. With a Dutch address you log in with DigiD, which the government says takes about five days. Without one you upload a scan or photo of your passport or EU identity card and Studielink verifies it automatically. Either way, do it well before 15 January.

    Source

  2. 6 July 2027*

    IB results released
    Details

    Both Dutch deadlines fall well before this. How a conditional place pending results is handled is set by each institution; ask yours.

    Source

* Last year’s date, not yet confirmed.

Every date in the Netherlands

What it is

Year one covers microeconomics, macroeconomics, accounting, finance, marketing, programming for economists and quantitative research methods, and ends with an essay and the choice between General Economics and Business Economics. In year two, business economists specialise in accounting, finance or marketing, with courses in research methods, ethics, law and a research paper, in smaller groups. In year three you design the first semester yourself: a minor, for instance in psychology or sociology, study abroad or an internship. The second semester is for the thesis and your specialisation, and all courses are taught in English.

What you need

  • Maths AA (SL or HL) or AI HLMaths AI SL at grade 5 is also accepted.
Requirements in full

Every IB applicant at VU Amsterdam

Full IB Diploma meets the entry rule. English: an English-taught or bilingual IB, or English A Lang & Lit SL 7/HL 6.

Where it says so

Its entry requirements

Check it on vu.nl

How places are decided

    • Everyone eligible is admitted
    No cap: meet the requirements and you are admitted. Apply in Studielink by 1 May and complete your VU application.
Sources (2)
  1. Economics and Business Economics at VU Amsterdam — checked 2026-09-30
  2. Entry requirements

Other degrees at VU Amsterdam