Erasmus University Rotterdam
Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
A Rotterdam university built on economics and business, where every international bachelor's programme selects its students.
- Tuition
- €13,500
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1913
- QS World Ranking
- #148
- 2027 edition
- THE World Ranking
- #107
- 2026 edition
About EUR
Erasmus University Rotterdam began on 8 November 1913 as the Netherlands School of Commerce (Nederlandsche Handels-Hoogeschool), founded privately with backing from Rotterdam's business community. It is now a public research university organised into the Erasmus School of Economics, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus School of Law, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication, Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus School of Philosophy, the Erasmus MC medical centre, the International Institute of Social Studies in The Hague and Erasmus University College.
Economics and business remain its centre of gravity. Nobel laureate Jan Tinbergen and Henri Theil founded its Econometric Institute, and the English-taught International Bachelor Economics and Business Economics (IBEB) and International Business Administration (IBA) are its best-known international degrees. Other English-taught options include International Bachelor Psychology, International Bachelor Communication and Media, and Liberal Arts and Sciences at Erasmus University College.
EUR states that all of its international bachelor's programmes are selective: meeting the requirements does not guarantee a place. IBEB, IBA and Psychology are numerus fixus programmes with a 15 January deadline. EUR suits ambitious students interested in economics, business, law or social science who want to study in a large, modern port city.
Why students choose EUR
IBEB at Erasmus School of Economics admits 500 students for 2027-28, with a transparent ranking system based on grades and an online curriculum-based activity.
Rotterdam School of Management's English-taught International Business Administration bachelor admits a maximum of 650 students a year.
Erasmus University College offers an English-taught liberal arts and sciences degree with a holistic, motivation-based admission and a 1 May final deadline.
The university reserves around 1,200 rooms with housing providers for incoming students in a tight rental market.
Admissions
2027-28 entry (applications open 1 October 2026)
Selectivity
EUR publishes no overall admission rate. All international (English-taught) bachelor's programmes are selective, and several are numerus fixus: IBEB has 500 places for 2027-28. RSM's IBA page states a maximum of 650 students a year. For 2025-26 EUR's numerus fixus page listed Psychology and International Bachelor in Psychology at 600 combined, Medicine at 400 and Criminology at 170. In IBEB, the applicants with the best grades who pass the ESE curriculum-based activity receive the first 250 ranking numbers; others are ranked by weighted lottery.
Typical entry requirements
| Dutch VWO (IBEB) | Any profile, with Mathematics A at least 7.0 or Mathematics B at least 6.0, and English at least 7.0 |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma (IBEB) | English A HL 4, English A SL 5 or English B HL 5; Mathematics Analysis & Approaches HL 4 or SL 5, or Applications & Interpretation HL 5 |
| A-levels (IBEB) | At least 3 (I)GCSEs and 3 (I)GCE A-levels in accepted subjects at grades A* to C, six different subjects in total, including A-level Mathematics at grade B or higher |
| English language | IELTS 6 IBEB accepts IELTS Academic 6.0 overall, TOEFL iBT 4.5 overall (new 1-6 scale), Cambridge B2 First or C1 Advanced 170, C2 Proficiency 180, or LanguageCert 65, if your diploma does not already meet its English requirement. Requirements are set per programme. |
Deadlines
- Numerus fixus programmes (IBEB, IBA, Psychology, Medicine and others) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months15 January 2027, 23:59 CET
IBEB: Studielink registration and full application in the EUR portal by this time; ranking numbers issued on 15 April 2027. IBA: Studielink by 15 January, RSM online application form (OLAF) by 31 January. Maximum two numerus fixus programmes per year; Medicine at one university only.
- Erasmus University College: regular deadline Non-binding In ~3 months15 January 2027
Applies to EEA and non-EEA applicants; after this date applications are evaluated as they come in.
- Erasmus University College: final deadline Non-binding In ~7 months1 May 2027
Only complete applications are considered.
Each programme sets its own deadlines on its own page. The IBEB page confirms 15 January 2027 and 500 places for 2027-28; EUR's general numerus fixus page still shows 2025-26 place numbers (including 700 for IBEB and 750 for IBA), while the IBA page now states a maximum of 650 a year. Non-EEA students should also allow time for the immigration procedure.
How to apply
Register for your programme in Studielink, then log into the EUR application portal (RSM uses its own online application form, OLAF), pay the non-refundable 100 euro fee if you hold an international diploma, answer the programme's questions and upload your documents. Selected applicants later post certified copies of their diploma and final transcript.
What admissions looks for
- A diploma equivalent to Dutch VWO that includes general (not vocational) subjects, with mathematics studied through the final year for economics programmes.
- Strong mathematics and English grades at the minimum levels set for your diploma.
- For IBEB, the best grades plus a pass in the ESE curriculum-based activity.
- At Erasmus University College, a holistic review of academic record and motivation, including a motivation letter.
Tips for applying to EUR
- 1 Treat 15 January as your real deadline for IBEB, IBA and Psychology: late applications and documents are not considered.
- 2 For IBEB, prepare for the ESE curriculum-based activity: passing it with top grades gets you one of the first 250 ranking numbers rather than a lottery number.
- 3 Check the diploma-specific maths and English minimums early; if you miss them, you must include a proficiency certificate with your application by the deadline.
- 4 Budget roughly 1,000 to 1,800 euros a month for living costs in Rotterdam and start your housing search as soon as you apply.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
EEA students may qualify for Dutch government student finance. EUR's own bachelor-level support is limited; its scholarship finder lists the Entrepreneurial Spirit Scholarship for IBA students with financial constraints, plus external schemes such as the G&D Europe Scholarship for Chinese students. EUR's 2027-28 fees were not yet published on its fee page; the 2026-27 fees are shown.
- 100 euros, non-refundable
- Application fee (international diploma)
- About 1,200 with partner housing providers
- Reserved rooms for incoming students
Academics
International Bachelor Economics and Business Economics (IBEB)
An English-taught numerus fixus programme with 500 places for 2027-28, ranked by grades and a curriculum-based activity.
International Business Administration (IBA)
Rotterdam School of Management's English-taught bachelor, a numerus fixus programme that admits a maximum of 650 students a year.
Liberal Arts and Sciences (Erasmus University College)
An English-taught BSc with holistic admission, a motivation letter and deadlines on 15 January and 1 May.
Double bachelor BSc2 in Econometrics and Economics
Builds on the Econometric Institute founded by Jan Tinbergen and Henri Theil.
International Bachelor Psychology
An English-taught numerus fixus programme sharing 600 places with the Dutch-taught Psychology track (2025-26).
Research
- Jan Tinbergen, Nobel laureate in Economics (1969), co-founded the Econometric Institute with Henri Theil.
- The Tinbergen Institute and the Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM) are its graduate research schools in economics and management.
- Erasmus MC combines medical research, teaching and patient care in Rotterdam.
Schools & faculties
- Erasmus School of Economics
- Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
- Erasmus School of Law
- Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences
- Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication
- Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management
- Erasmus School of Philosophy
- Erasmus MC
- International Institute of Social Studies
- Erasmus University College
Student life
Most EUR students study on Campus Woudestein, the main university location near Rotterdam-Kralingen; Erasmus MC, Erasmus University College and the International Institute of Social Studies in The Hague have their own sites. Rotterdam has a severe housing shortage, so the university reserves around 1,200 rooms with housing providers and urges students to secure accommodation before travelling. Student organisations range from study associations to cultural, international and sports clubs, and Eurekaweek, which EUR calls the biggest introduction week in the Netherlands, welcomes new students. The university also runs a Student Wellbeing Programme.
- Woudestein campus with the Erasmus Building tower as its landmark.
- Eurekaweek, billed by EUR as the biggest introduction week in the Netherlands.
- Study, cultural, international and sports associations.
- Student Wellbeing Programme supporting wellbeing, personal development and growth.
Housing. EUR has around 1,200 reserved rooms with housing providers but does not guarantee housing, and advises students to arrange accommodation before arriving because of Rotterdam's severe shortage.
Location
Rotterdam is one of the largest cities in the Netherlands, and the university describes it as a blend of rich history, modern architecture and innovation, with a no-nonsense, get-things-done culture. The main campus, Woudestein, is near the Kralingen district, while Erasmus MC and Erasmus University College have their own sites. Students typically spend 1,000 to 1,800 euros a month, depending mostly on rent.
Nearest airport: Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM)
Notable alumni
- MH Mohammad HattaFirst Vice President of Indonesia and a proclaimer of its independence; studied at the Rotterdam School of Commerce
- RL Ruud LubbersPrime Minister of the Netherlands and UN High Commissioner for Refugees; economics degrees from Rotterdam
- NK Neelie KroesEuropean Commissioner for Competition and for the Digital Agenda
- FS Frank SlootmanFormer CEO of Snowflake and ServiceNow
- FV Frans van HoutenFormer CEO of Philips; studied economics at Erasmus
- FM Fatima Moreira de MeloOlympic field hockey gold medallist (2008); LLM in criminal law from Erasmus
- JV Jeroen van der VeerFormer CEO of Royal Dutch Shell and chairman of Philips
Frequently asked questions
Is it hard to get into Erasmus University Rotterdam?
All of EUR's international bachelor's programmes are selective. IBEB has 500 places for 2027-28, and meeting the requirements does not guarantee a place; top places go to applicants with the best grades who pass the curriculum-based activity.
What is the application deadline for IBEB and IBA at Erasmus?
15 January 2027 at 23:59 CET for IBEB (Studielink and the EUR portal). For IBA, register in Studielink by 15 January and complete RSM's online application form by 31 January.
How much does Erasmus University cost for non-EU students?
For 2026-27, non-EEA bachelor fees are 13,500 euros for most schools including IBEB, 14,000 euros for IBA at RSM, 16,300 euros at Erasmus University College and 32,200 euros at Erasmus MC. EEA students pay the statutory fee of 2,694 euros (5,800 euros at EUC).
What IELTS score does Erasmus require?
For IBEB, IELTS Academic 6.0 overall (or TOEFL iBT 4.5, Cambridge C1 Advanced 170) if your diploma does not already meet the English requirement. Other programmes set their own requirements.
Does Erasmus University provide student housing?
EUR reserves around 1,200 rooms with housing providers but cannot guarantee accommodation, and strongly advises securing a room before you travel.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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