Do Dutch universities accept a Turkish Lise Diploma with AP Exams?

Some do. For September 2027 entry, the University of Amsterdam, Groningen, TU Eindhoven and Twente accept a Lise Diploması plus at least four AP Exams scored 3–5, and VU Amsterdam adds an 80% average in the final two years. Maastricht explicitly rejects Lise plus AP.

Can I enter a Dutch university with a Turkish Lise Diploma alone?

At some universities. Leiden accepts a Genel Lise diploma with a diploma grade of at least 80%, Erasmus accepts a Genel Lise diploma, Radboud accepts at least 80% in each of the four years, and Maastricht accepts a Fen Lisesi diploma with at least 80% in the final year.

Does TU Delft accept a Turkish high school diploma?

TU Delft does not consider the Lise Diploması equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma. It asks for a completed first year (60 ECTS) of a related bachelor programme with an average of at least 75%.

Dutch Universities with a Turkish Lise Diploma and AP Exams: University-by-University Rules (2027 Entry)

How is a Turkish Lise Diploma rated in the Netherlands?

Nuffic, the Dutch organisation that evaluates foreign diplomas, rates the Lise Diploması as comparable to "at least a HAVO diploma". Research universities expect a diploma at VWO level, and TU Delft and Utrecht state explicitly that the Lise Diploması is not considered equivalent to VWO.

There are three ways to close that gap, and each university chooses differently:

Lise Diploması plus AP Exams
A completed year at university (usually 60 ECTS)
Direct admission with high grades (only at some universities)

Note that these rules concern the Turkish national diploma. Rules for a US High School Diploma with AP Exams are different and are not covered here.

University by university: September 2027 entry

This table was compiled from the universities' official pages on 17 October 2026. AP scores are College Board exam scores on the 1–5 scale.

University	Lise Diploması alone	Lise Diploması + AP	Other route
Amsterdam (UvA)	Not sufficient	At least 4 AP Exams in different subjects, each 3–5	Lise + completed first university year
Groningen (RUG)	Not sufficient	At least 4 content-based AP Exams, each 3–5	None stated
TU Eindhoven (TU/e)	Not sufficient	At least 4 AP Exams, each at least 3; Calculus AB or BC required in every programme	Lise + 60 ECTS in a relevant programme at a YÖK-accredited technical university, GPA at least 3.0/4.0
Twente (UT)	Not directly admissible	At least 4 AP Exams, each 3–5; Calculus BC for technical programmes	Completed first university year
VU Amsterdam	Not sufficient	Cumulative 80% in the final two years + at least 4 AP Exams (3–5)	One year of university credits
Radboud (Nijmegen)	Sufficient with at least 80% in each of the four years	Below 80%: at least 4 AP Exams (minimum 3), assessed individually	First university year or a Dutch HBO propedeuse
Leiden	Sufficient: Genel Lise with a diploma grade of at least 80%	Not defined for Türkiye	—
Erasmus (Rotterdam)	Genel Lise diploma accepted (no minimum grade stated)	Not defined for Türkiye	Foundation years not accepted
Maastricht	Genel Lise: no · Fen Lisesi: yes, with at least 80% in the final year	Not accepted	Genel Lise + all first-year credits; Ön Lisans
TU Delft	Not equivalent to VWO	Not defined for Türkiye	Completed first year (60 ECTS) in a related programme, GPA at least 75%
Utrecht	Not equivalent to VWO; entry exams depending on programme	Not defined; contact admissions	—

Two notes:

Groningen's page states 4 AP Exams as the general rule, but footnotes for Medicine, Dentistry and Biology mention "at least 3". Four is the safe number.
VU Amsterdam's page is still being updated for 2027–2028 and currently reflects the 2026–2027 rules. Check again before applying.

Do you need the Turkish university entrance exam (YKS)?

For most universities, no. The exception is Radboud: if your average is below 80% in any of the four Lise years, it also asks for two entrance exam results (TYT and AYT, each at least 180), or assesses you individually with four AP Exams. Elsewhere, the gap is closed by AP Exams, a university year or a high Lise grade, not by YKS.

Four AP Exams, but which four?

The number is usually four; the difference is which subjects count:

UvA: Calculus AB and BC count as one subject; subscores do not count; AP Art and Design (2-D, 3-D, Drawing) and Music Theory are not accepted. Economics and business programmes want Calculus at 4 or above (or 3 plus an additional maths certificate).
TU Eindhoven: Calculus AB or BC is required in every programme, and some programmes also need Physics and/or Chemistry. Precalculus, Research, Capstone, Seminar, Art and Design, Business with Personal Finance, Cybersecurity and Networking are not accepted; subscores do not count.
Twente: technical programmes need Calculus BC; social-science programmes accept Precalculus, Calculus AB (subscore) or BC. A missing subject can be made up with an extra test (CCVX or Boswell) only if you already have at least four AP Exams.

So AP choices should follow the target university and programme. A student heading for computer science may value AP Cybersecurity, for example, but it will not count as one of the four AP Exams at TU Eindhoven.

Which route fits you?

Aiming for Leiden or Erasmus: a strong Genel Lise diploma (at least 80% for Leiden) can be enough on its own.
Aiming for UvA, Groningen, TU Eindhoven, Twente or VU: Lise Diploması plus at least four well-chosen AP Exams.
Aiming for Radboud: at least 80% every year; otherwise TYT/AYT results or four AP Exams.
Aiming for TU Delft or Maastricht: AP Exams do not close the gap; you need a completed university year in a related programme (Maastricht makes an exception for Fen Lisesi graduates with at least 80% in the final year).

Rules can change every year and programmes may add requirements, so always check the programme's own page before applying.

Why an early plan pays off

AP scores are released in July, and fitting four AP Exams into a single May is both hard and risky. If the target university and programme are clear by grade 9 or 10, the exams can be spread over two or three years, each one serving the goal. Let's work out which Dutch universities are open to you, by which route, and which four AP Exams will count, in a free pre-assessment. When your plan is ready, the AP for Europe plan and the Netherlands application package take you through the rest.