Schools / 2026 entry
University of GroningenSupplemental Essays
All 2 required prompts, taken apart one by one: what each is really asking, plus annotated example essays, so you can see how to do it well.
- Studielink (Dutch national system), not the Common App
- Application route
- None for most bachelors; motivation letter or video for selective programs
- Writing required
- Only for some numerus fixus programs (e.g. Psychology selection test)
- Admissions test
- Not standard; some programs use a video instead
- Interview
Deadlines Numerus fixus application deadline (Studielink) 15 January 2026 · Most non-selective bachelors 1 May 2026 (apply earlier; some faculties prefer earlier) · University College Groningen early bird 15 January 2026 (final 1 May 2026) · Psychology selection test 7 March 2026 · Numerus fixus ranking / lottery results 15 April 2026 Admit rate Most Groningen bachelors are open admission, so there is no headline acceptance rate. Selective numerus fixus programs are the exception and can be genuinely competitive: Psychology offers 250 English-track seats decided by a selection test, and IRIO offers 300 seats filled by unweighted lottery among qualified applicants. Prompts verified from Groningen’s official requirements ↗
The University of Groningen does not use the US Common App, and most of its bachelor's programs ask for no essay at all. You apply through Studielink, the Dutch national application system, and for the majority of English-taught bachelors admission is open: meet the diploma and English-language requirements, apply on time, and you are in. There is no personal essay, no "Why Groningen," no list of activities. If you are an American used to the Common App, this is the single biggest mental shift. Groningen is a public Dutch university, and Dutch undergraduate admission is built around qualifications, not storytelling.
The writing only appears in two places, and both are easy to miss. First, the popular numerus fixus (fixed-quota) programs run a selection procedure, and several of them ask for a motivation letter (others, like Psychology, use a test; IRIO uses a lottery). Second, University College Groningen, the honors-style Liberal Arts and Sciences college, asks for a motivation video with four set prompts instead of an essay. So the real question is not "what is Groningen's essay" but "does my specific program have a selection step, and is it a letter, a test, a lottery, or a video." This page tells you how to find out and how to write the two pieces that do exist.
Groningen selectors want to see that you understand what this exact degree teaches and that it matches you. A motivation letter that names real courses, methods, or themes from the program reads as someone who did their homework. Vague enthusiasm for "the Netherlands" or "studying abroad" does not.
This is not a US personal essay. The reward is for showing intellectual reason to study the subject: a question that interests you, a book or topic that pulled you in, a project you ran. Emotional backstory belongs only insofar as it explains an academic direction.
Saying you are "passionate, hardworking, and curious" earns nothing. Naming the statistics module you taught yourself, the model UN brief you wrote, or the experiment you designed earns everything. Concrete proof of capability is what a selection committee can actually rank.
Most readers are Dutch academics reading hundreds of letters in their second or third language. Short sentences, clear structure, and a logical argument beat ornate prose. Groningen rewards a letter that is easy to follow and obviously sincere.
Before you write a single word, find out whether your program even has a selection step, and what kind. Go to your program's page on rug.nl and look for "numerus fixus" or "selection procedure." If it says nothing, your program is open admission and you write no essay at all, so spend your energy on the diploma and English-test requirements instead. If it is numerus fixus, check the exact method: Psychology uses an online selection test (no letter), IRIO uses an unweighted lottery (no letter), and several others ask for a motivation letter. University College Groningen is its own case with a motivation video. Do not write a letter for a program that does not read one.
Where a letter or video is required, treat it as an academic argument, not a personal essay. The winning move is roughly 80% about the subject and your reasons for it, and only the remainder about you as a person. Name specific parts of the curriculum, connect them to something you have actually done or read, and explain what you want to do with the degree. Keep it tight and well under any stated limit. For the University College video, the same logic applies: answer the four prompts directly, sound like yourself, and prioritize academic substance over performance.
For selective (numerus fixus) bachelors that use a motivation letter, you submit a short letter explaining why you want this specific program and why you are a strong fit. The exact prompt and length vary by program, so check your program's selection page; many ask for roughly 500 to 800 words.
Why this exact program, why now, and what makes you a credible, motivated candidate the department should rank highly.
Selective programs have more qualified applicants than seats. The letter lets the committee separate students who genuinely understand and want the degree from those applying widely. They are ranking you against others, so specificity and academic reasoning are what move you up the list.
Name two or three concrete elements of the curriculum that drew you, and explain why each connects to something you have already done or read.
Tell the story of how your interest in the subject became real: a project, a class, a book, a job, or a question you could not stop thinking about.
Say clearly what you want to do during and after the degree, so the committee sees direction, not just enthusiasm.
“Ever since I was a child, I have been passionate about helping people and making the world a better place, which is why Groningen is my dream university.”
“When my school's debate team kept losing on questions of international law, I started reading the UN Charter on my own. That is the gap this program fills for me.”
- 1Opens with a concrete, verifiable experience instead of an adjective. This is evidence the committee can trust and rank.
- 2Turns the experience into an intellectual gap, which is exactly the academic motivation Groningen rewards over a personal story.
- 3Names specific curriculum content and ties it back to the lived problem, showing genuine fit rather than generic enthusiasm.
- 4Closes with proof of self-driven effort and a clear forward direction, so the reader sees a motivated candidate with a plan, not just interest.
- Which two or three specific courses, themes, or methods in this program do I actually want, and why?
- What have I already done (a project, job, book, competition) that proves my interest is real, not aspirational?
- What do I want to do during and after this degree, concretely enough to name?
- Is at least three quarters of the letter about the subject and the program rather than my personality?
- Have I named specific, real elements of this curriculum that a generic applicant could not?
- Is every claim about my qualities backed by a concrete example or piece of evidence?
University College Groningen asks for a 3 to 5 minute motivation video answering four mandatory prompts (verbatim): "Please introduce yourself." / "What are your academic interests and/or aspirations?" / "What motivates you to study Liberal Arts and Sciences and why are you drawn to UCG specifically?" / "What are you proud of and/or passionate about?"
Who you are, what you want to study, why a broad Liberal Arts and Sciences degree at UCG specifically suits you, and what genuinely drives you.
UCG is a small, interdisciplinary honors-style college, so it selects for fit with an open, self-directed, broad curriculum. The video lets the Board of Admissions hear your actual voice and judge whether you will thrive choosing your own path across disciplines rather than following a fixed track.
Take the four questions one at a time, clearly, so the board can follow you and sees you respected the instructions.
For the third prompt, point to its interdisciplinary structure, project-based learning, or small cohort, and connect that to how you like to learn.
Speak naturally to the camera rather than reading a polished script word for word. The board wants to hear a real voice.
“Hi, my name is Alex and I have always been a very curious and passionate person who loves learning about everything.”
“Hi, I'm Alex. I came to Liberal Arts because I could never pick between biology and philosophy, and at UCG I would not have to.”
- 1Answers prompt one fast and concretely, with two real activities that hint at the breadth UCG is looking for.
- 2Answers the interests prompt by framing a genuine interdisciplinary tension, which is exactly what a Liberal Arts college selects for.
- 3Directly answers the third prompt and names specific UCG features rather than praising it generically, showing real research into the college.
- 4Answers the fourth prompt with a concrete, verifiable accomplishment that loops back to the interdisciplinary theme, ending on evidence rather than a slogan.
- What two different fields am I genuinely torn between, and what does combining them let me do?
- Which specific features of UCG (interdisciplinary tracks, small cohort, project work) match how I actually like to learn?
- What is one real thing I have made or done that I am genuinely proud of and can describe in 20 seconds?
- Did I answer all four prompts, in order, within 3 to 5 minutes?
- For the UCG prompt, did I name specific things the college offers rather than generic praise?
- Do I sound like a real person talking, not someone reading a script?
Mistakes that sink Groningen essays
A Common App narrative about a formative childhood moment will feel off to a Dutch selection committee. They want academic motivation and fit with the program, not a coming-of-age story. Lead with the subject, not yourself.
Many Groningen bachelors are open admission and read nothing. Psychology decides by test; IRIO decides by lottery. Writing a heartfelt motivation letter for these changes nothing. Confirm your program's actual selection method first.
Lines about loving the Netherlands, wanting an international experience, or admiring Groningen's ranking are filler. Selectors have read them a thousand times. Replace them with specific program content and specific things you have done.
If the program gives a word or character count, a question set, or a 3 to 5 minute video range, follow it exactly. For the UCG video, answer all four prompts. Missing a required prompt or running long signals you did not read the instructions.
Groningen essay FAQ
Does the University of Groningen require an essay or personal statement?
For most bachelor's programs, no. The majority are open admission through Studielink, with no essay, no personal statement, and no activities list. Writing only appears for selective numerus fixus programs that use a motivation letter, and for University College Groningen, which asks for a motivation video.
What is Groningen's motivation letter and which programs need one?
Some numerus fixus (fixed-quota) bachelors ask for a short motivation letter as part of selection, explaining why you want that specific program and why you fit. Others decide differently: Psychology uses an online selection test and IRIO uses an unweighted lottery. Check your exact program's selection page to see which method applies.
What is the word limit for a Groningen motivation letter?
There is no single university-wide limit because it is set per program. Many programs that use a motivation letter ask for roughly 500 to 800 words, but you must follow the exact count and question set on your program's own selection page.
What are the Groningen application deadlines for 2026 entry?
Numerus fixus programs and the University College Groningen early-bird deadline close on 15 January 2026, with ranking or lottery results on 15 April 2026. Most non-selective bachelors accept applications until 1 May 2026, though applying earlier is wise. The Psychology selection test is on 7 March 2026.
Do American students apply to Groningen through the Common App?
No. There is no Common App or UCAS route. You apply through Studielink, the Dutch national system, and for non-Dutch diplomas you also complete document validation through the university's portal. The process is qualification-based, so a US-style personal essay is not part of standard admission.
Is University of Groningen hard to get into?
Most programs are open admission, so if you meet the diploma and English requirements and apply on time you are admitted. Only numerus fixus programs are competitive, where a fixed number of seats are filled by test score, motivation letter, or lottery.
Prompts and facts verified against Groningen: Bachelor's programmes with a selection procedure (numerus fixus), Groningen: BSc Psychology selection procedure 2026/2027, Groningen: IRIO admission, University College Groningen: application process and Groningen: Matching (University of Groningen, 2026 entry cycle). Supplements change yearly, re-verify each cycle.
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