What does a standby list mean?
The standby list is a waiting list used by VIA's programmes to offer study places if any becomes vacant - for example, if another applicant withdraws. The list is prioritised, which means that the vacant study places are offered to the applicants on the standby list according to prioritisation. If you are on the standby list and are not offered a vacant study place within a deadline set by the programme coordinators, your standby place will be converted into a pre-approval for the following year's study start.
How do I apply for a standby place?
You apply for a place on the standby list by ticking the "Standby" box on the online application form, when you apply for admssion. Make sure you understand the consequences of applying for a standby place, as it might affect your applications if you have applied for other programmes. You can find more information about this below.
When wil I receive an answer regarding standby?
You can expect to receive an answer regarding standby late September. Please note that you must be prepared to accept a vacant study place with short notice.
If there are no vacant study places, your place on the standby list will automatically be converted into a pre-approval the following year.
If you fail to respond to or decline a study place converted from a standby place, you will lose your standby place and you will consequently not receive a pre-approval for the following year.
What are the consequences of applying for a standby place?
Is starting your studies this year most important to you?
In this case, we recommend that you do not apply for standby, as this will make you in ineligible for admission to the programmes you have applied for with a lower priority.
Is enrolling in a specific study programme most important to you?
In this case, we recommend that you apply for a standby place.
If you are not offered a study place within late september, your standby place will be converted into a pre-approved admission for a study place at the same programme the following year. Please note that you must apply for admission to the programme again the following year and you must document that you fulfil the admission requirements again. And, you must upload a copy of the preapproved admission letter.
Which terms and conditions apply to the standby list?
You can always give up your place on the standby list. However, once you have been offered a place on the standby list, you cannot be admitted to another programme this year – even if you give up your place on the list!
A standby place will not be converted into a pre-approved admission until the standby deadline set by the coordinators of the study programme in question. This means that until this deadline has exceeded, we cannot inform you whether you will be offered a vacant study place this year, or get a pre-approval for the following year to the study programme you have applied for.
A pre-approval letter is your guarantee for a study place but please note that the guarantee is conditional:
- You must apply for the same programme the following year
- You must note on your application that you have a pre-approval letter
- You must attach the pre-approval letter to your online application
- You must fulfil the applicable admission requirements for the following year.
If you do not meet the above conditions, you are not guaranteed a study place at the programme the following year. A guarantee of admission is only applicable to programmes that are offering admission the following year.
Where do I get more information?
For more information about standby, please contact a student counsellor at the study programme that you wish to apply for.