As of October 1, 2024, an updated Language Test Appendix to the Code of Conduct HO applies. This appendix is an elaboration of paragraph 5 of the Code of Conduct.

It follows from the Code of Conduct that international students applying for an English language study programme must have a sufficient level of English to be admitted to higher education. Prospective international students must demonstrate English proficiency by submitting a certificate of a language test with a score as listed in the Language Test Appendix to the Code of Conduct. An educational institution may request a higher score. The updated Language Test Appendix can be found here.  Below you can read more about the procedure followed.

Procedure
As of January 1, 2024, a revised version of the Code of Conduct came into effect, which also introduced a procedure for language test providers to join the language table as included in the Language Test Appendix to the Code of Conduct. Language test providers could apply to the office Code of Conduct from January 1, 2024 to April 1, 2024 to have their language test included in the language table. After the application, the language test providers had to commission a validating authority, namely Hobéon, to carry out a quality assessment and draw up an advisory report. This quality assessment took place on the basis of the Language Test Standard  Code of Conduct HE and the Process Description Assessment of Language Tests.

The advisory reports were submitted to an Assessment Committee. The representatives of the umbrella organizations participate in this Assessment Committee. In principle, the Assessment Committee follows the advice of the validating authority. It tests marginally for accuracy, completeness and reproducibility of the process followed. It can only deviate from the advice stating its reasons. The Assessment Committee has made a positive decision on three applications. It concerns a request from an already admitted language test provider Educational Testing Service (ETS) and language tests from Pearson and PeopleCert Group. The advisory reports underlying these decisions are publicly available and can be found on the website.

If you have any questions about the appendix, please contact the office at info@internationalstudy.nl.