If you are not a native speaker of English, you must prove your English proficiency. You may do this by sending to us your score from one of the internationally recognized English testing systems, IELTS being one of them, but not the only one. In exceptional cases you may avoid submitting to us English testing results, if you manage to convince us that your command of English is sufficient: for instance, you lived and/or worked several years in English-spoken environment, studied in university with English as the teaching language, etc. But we do not promise to accept every explanation of this kind.
Special language requirements per university:
Leiden University
You are formally obliged to demonstrate your proficiency in English. This requirement does not apply only if you have completed your education in Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia or if you have obtained an International Baccalaureate diploma. Please see the language requirements here.
Concordia University
Concordia requires official proof of Minimum English Proficiency. IELTS iBT score of minimum 6.5 with at least a score of 6.5 in each of the four components, or TOEFL iBT score of 90 or higher and no part under 20 in each of the four components, are accepted. Some other selected English tests are accepted too; please check https://www.concordia.ca/admissions/graduate/requirements/english-language-proficiency.html
Students from the mainland China going to Leiden must have a Dutch NESO-certificate in due time. This is very important, no matter if they come to Leiden in the first year or the second year. The strict deadline is 1 June. It takes about two months to receive the certificate, so the Chinese students must apply before 1 April, and they must have the IELTS score by this time.