Degree from a Dutch university of applied sciences (HBO)
This page outlines the step-by-step process for completing your application to a Master's programme at Utrecht University. Please read this information thoroughly before starting your application.
To be admitted to the Master's programme in Applied Ethics with a degree of a University of Applied Sciences, you almost always have to complete a Pre-Master's programme first. Below you will find the required competences to be admitted to the Master's programme and the selection procedure for the Master's programme. Information about the Pre-Master's programme you will find under step 2.
Competencies
This is a selective Master's. You will be considered for admission to the Master’s programme in Applied Ethics if you have a Bachelor’s degree from a Dutch university can demonstrate the following knowledge, insight, and skills:
- You have a strong interest in applied ethics as a discipline that takes its starting point on moral problems, practices, and policies and aims to make an effective contribution to pressing contemporary ethical issues by drawing from moral and political philosophy as well as empirical research. Its interdisciplinary nature and focus on the interplay between theory and practice is what appeals to you. Your motivation can be demonstrated by the selection of undergraduate courses, the topic of your Bachelor’s thesis, extracurricular activities, and/or volunteer work.
- You have adequate knowledge of the most important and currently debated theories in the field of philosophical and applied ethics, and you have the related philosophical skills (esp. writing skills), as demonstrated by a relevant Bachelor in Applied Sciences combined with a suitable Pre-Master in Ethics and Political Philosophy. The standard Pre-Master being offered at Utrecht University is the Minor in Ethics in Modern Society.
- You are able to meet academic standards consistently and on time, as demonstrated by completing the undergraduate programme on time and with good grades (at least 7 (not rounded off), please explain any delays in your motivation letter).
- You have a strong motivation to follow your Master at our Ethics Institute. Your motivation letter should make clear why you think the Ethics Institute and the Philosophy Department of Utrecht University is in line with your interests. For example, you may be particularly interested in one of the branches of Applied Ethics (such as sustainability/environmental ethics, ethics of economics, or bioethics) or in Political Ethics.
- Inasmuch as the Master of Applied Ethics students have different disciplinary and national backgrounds and individual as well as group assignments are part of the programme, you must possess cooperative skills and be interested in working closely in an interdisciplinary team.
- Finally, because all your coursework – and your Master’s thesis – will be in English, it is crucial that you have a high level of reading, listening, speaking, and writing proficiency in English, as demonstrated by your writing sample and letter of motivation.
Selection procedure
The Admissions Committee will decide on your application. The committee will make an assesment as to whether you will be able to successfully complete the Master’s programme within the nominal duration. The committee takes into account:
- Motivation and talent.
- Level of required knowledge and the mastery of methods and techniques used in the subject area.
- General high level of professional and intellectual ability.
- Command of the English language.
An interview may be part of the selection procedure. Alternatively, if you live outside the Netherlands, the Admissions Committee may ask for additional written material or for an interview via Skype.
Not sure if you are eligible
You can contact the Programme Coordinator with questions about your eligibility.
If you do not meet the entry requirements of the Master's programme (see step 1) you might be considered for a Pre-Master's programme. This is for the Admissions Committee to decide. Upon successful completion of the programme within the set term, you will be admitted to the Master's programme.
Previous education
We offer a Pre-Master's for students who have a Bachelor's degree from a University of Applied Sciences which relates to our Master's programme, for example Journalism or a lerarenopleiding. Whether or not you are eligible for the Pre-Master’s programme depends on the nature of your education and your grade point average. If you are an above-average University of Applied Sciences student, with a study programme that is relevant to the Master’s programme, then register for the Master’s programme and write a letter of motivation.
You'll need to complete the Pre-Master's programme with an average grade of at least 7 (not rounded off).
Courses
The schedule below provides a general idea of what your programme may look like. The teaching season consists of one semester, which comprises 2 study periods of approximately 10 weeks.
Study period 3
Study period 4
Costs
Have a look at the costs of a Pre-Master’s programme (in Dutch).
Application procedure Pre-Master's programme
If you want to be considered for a Pre-Master's programme, you simply go through the application procedure for the Master's programme, just like students who meet all entry requirements. The Admissions Committee will decide whether you can follow a Pre-Master's programme and what form it should take. Once you have been notified, you can register for the Pre-Master's programme.
If you apply before 1 December and you are admitted to the Pre-Master's programme, you can start on 1 February with the Pre-Master's programme and on 1 September thereafter with the Master's program itself. If you register after 1 December, you can start the Pre-Master's programme on 1 September.
Have you completed an HBO programme and are you about to embark on a Pre-Master's programme? Then you might need some support. On the Premaster support page you will find information about the Premaster kick-start, which consists of workshops and useful tips. Utrecht University also offers numerous training courses, such as Academic Learning, Academic English, Research Design and Scientific Writing.
Applications open | 1 October |
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Application deadline for scholarship candidates | 1 February |
Application deadline for Non-EU passport holders | 1 April |
Application deadline for EU passport holders | 1 June |
All deadlines expire at 23:59 [CET/CEST] on the specified date. You must complete the application process (including submitting your application documents in OSIRIS Online Application and paying the application fee) by this time.
The following documents must be uploaded before the application deadline:
- Contact details of two referees Please ensure your referees fill in the required form prior to the application deadline.
Diploma or graduation statement
A scan of your transcript (including courses, grades and GPA)
Please make sure the document has a stamp and signature of the institute.
Visit Studielink and complete the registration process. You can find all information on how to use Studielink here. After completing your Studielink application, you will receive login details for OSIRIS Online Application within 2 working days.
Apply via StudielinkAfter submitting your application to Studielink, you will receive an email with login details for OSIRIS Online Application. Here you can upload all required documents, check the status of your application and enter contact details of your referee(s).
After you upload all documents in OSIRIS, the Graduate School will evaluate them. We strive to inform you of our decision within 20 working days.