Degree from a non-Dutch university
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.
Eligible are students with:
- A BSc of a research university in Economics or Economics and Business Economics.
The Admissions Office assesses all international credentials according to the credential evaluation criteria of the Nuffic (the Netherlands Organisation for international cooperation in Higher Education). If your degree is assessed as less than equivalent to a 3-year Dutch research University degree, or as a bachelor from a university of applied sciences, you are most likely not eligible for admission; - A good command of English. Check the specific English proficiency requirements below.
If you have another type of Bachelor's degree (e.g. Business Administration, Management, Social Sciences, Engineering, Political Sciences) you must have knowledge in the following fields:
The Admissions Committee assesses your application and decides whether it believes you have demonstrated enough skills and knowledge to successfully complete the Master’s programme within the nominal duration of 1 year.
The committee takes into account:
- The level of the required knowledge and academic skills*;
- Mastery of research methods and techniques*;
- Your motivation and talent;
- Your command of the English language.
*Including your academic research and reporting skills (as shown in an undergraduate thesis or significant research project). Our guidance during the Master’s programme is based on the assumption that you have acquired substantial research experience in your previous education. Applicants without this experience may be eligible, but possibly need to engage in extracurricular work on their own initiative during the Master's programme.
The admissions Committee bases its assessment and decision on the documents you submit. In some cases we might ask you for extra information such as course descriptions, or invite you to an (online) interview.
English language requirements
- IELTS, Academic Module (IELTS Online is not accepted). Minimum score 6.5 overall band, at least 6 for writing, speaking, listening and reading.
- TOEFL, iBT. Minimum score 93, at least 24 for reading, 22 for listening, 20 for speaking, 20 for writing. Institutional scores are not accepted. The TOEFL institution code for Utrecht University is 9062.
- Cambridge Certificate
- Cambridge English C1 Advanced (CAE). Minimum score: 176 total, 169 writing
- Cambridge English C2 Proficiency (CPE). Minimum score: 180 total, 169 writing
You are exempt from the English language requirement if:
- you obtained your previous degree from a Dutch Research University.
- you obtained your secondary school diploma or Bachelor's degree in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, UK, USA or South Africa
- you obtained an English-taught International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or European Baccalaureate (EB) Diploma.
You can already start your application without having your English test results. Make sure that you include your test date in Osiris Online Application.
A pre-Master's Programme is only available for graduated HBO (University of Applied Science) students with a relevant Dutch educational background who do not need housing, and who do not have or require a residence permit for study purposes. When in doubt about your residence permit, you can send an email to Utrecht University's Admissions Office, including a copy of both sides of the permit. Do not forget to state clearly that you are referring to a pre-Master’s programme.
Please note that we do not offer a pre-Master for WO students. If you are studying at a Dutch research university and you do not have the required courses to be admitted, we advise you to follow these courses (for example as a minor) during your Bachelor’s programme. For questions please contact the Graduate School of Economics by email.
Students who have completed a relevant ‘HBO’-programme in Economics can be considered for the pre-Master’s programme for ‘HBO’ students.
The pre-Master’s programme starts in the first week of September and must be concluded in one year. Please note that you cannot receive a refund of (a part of) the tuition fee if you decide to discontinue the pre-Master once you have started. If the Board of Studies however decides that you need to discontinue your studies due to insufficient progress you will be proportionally refunded.
Educational background
The pre-Master’s programme was developed for highly motivated students with a Dutch ‘HBO’ (college) degree in Economics or another relevant ‘HBO’-programme with a substantial link to Economics and Finance. Further, you have a clear interest in issues pertaining to corporate social responsibility, sustainability and social welfare creation. For most ‘HBO’ students this will be a new focus of study, meaning that it is not directly aligned with the courses you have already completed, in terms of either content or working methods. You will need to bridge some gaps in a number of different areas in terms of methodology, knowledge and academic orientation (research elective)
Entry requirements
1. A relevant ‘HBO’ programme
A relevant HBO programme includes sufficient quantitative methods courses (e.g., statistics, econometrics, market research), plus courses in economics (e.g., microeconomics, macroeconomics) and finance.
2. An average grade of at least 7.5 (non-rounded off)
Your average grade must be shown in your official transcript.
If your average grade is lower than 7.5 you may demonstrate your excellence by submitting one of the following standardized tests (at your own expense):
- GMAT total score of at least 600 (verbal + quantitative scores ), or;
- GRE score of at least 315 (verbal + quantitative reasoning). The GRE institution code for Utrecht University is 7946.
3. Demonstrable knowledge of Mathematics A or B at 6-VWO level
You can demonstrate your knowledge of Mathematics by submitting a certified copy of your VWO diploma or international equivalent (look over here ).
If you do not have a VWO diploma (or international equivalent) you may submit one of the following tests (at your own expense):
- Boswell-Bèta: http://www.boswell-beta.nl/vwo/math-a, or;
- CCVX (in Dutch only): http://www.ccvx.nl/, or;
- Online Mathematics Placement Test: https://www.omptest.org/ OMPT-A with a minimum score of 75% or;
- GMAT total score of at least 600 (verbal + quantitative scores ), or;
- GRE score of at least 315 (verbal + quantitative reasoning). The GRE institution code for Utrecht University is 7946.
4. A good command of English (level B2 or higher of the CEF)
You will be considered to be proficient in English if you:
- Have a VWO diploma, or international equivalent (look over here), or;
- Obtained your secondary school diploma in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, UK, USA or South Africa, or;
- Obtained an IB diploma or EB diploma (taught in English), or;
- Have a German Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife (Abitur) with English, or a Belgian Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs with English, or;
- Have followed at least 60 ECTS of your HBO programme in English.
You may also submit one of the following standardized tests (at your own expense):
- IELTS, Academic Module. Minimum score: 6.0 overall band, with at least a 5.5 for writing. IELTS is the test preferred by Utrecht University.
- TOEFL, Internet based. Minimum score: 83. Institutional scores are not accepted. The TOEFL institution code for Utrecht University is 9062.
- Cambridge Certificates:
- Cambridge English C1 Advanced (CAE). Minimum score: 176 total, 169 writing.
- Cambridge English C2 Proficiency (CPE). Minimum score: 185 total, 169 writing.
- GMAT total score of at least 600 (verbal + quantitative scores ), or;
- GRE score of at least 315 (verbal + quantitative reasoning). The GRE institution code for Utrecht University is 7946.
The final decision on all applications will be made by the Admissions Committee.
The content of the pre-Master's programme
The pre-Master's programme is a 45 ECTS programme spread over a year. It is English taught and includes the following courses.
Insufficient progress
Students who, even after retake, have not passed a course will be excluded from the programme.
Tuition Fees pre-Master’s programme
More information on the tuition fees for pre-Master students.
Application procedure
To enroll for the pre-Master’s programme you must first apply for the Master Business and Social Impact. The Admissions Committee will then decide whether you will be admitted to the Pre-Master’s programme.
The final deadline for application is 1 June. Please submit your application with all required documents well before the deadline. If your file is incomplete we will be unable to consider your application.
Required documents
- A scan of your certified transcript including your GPA or average grade;
- A scan of your certified diploma or graduation statement. If you have not yet graduated you can send this document later;
- Motivation letter;
- Resume / Curriculum Vitae;
- The name of two recommenders.
In addition to the documents mentioned above, you will need to demonstrate your proficiency in English and that you fulfill the Mathematics requirements. You must be able to show your original diploma and transcripts if requested.
More information
If you have questions about the pre-Master’s programme, please contact the Graduate School of Economics by e-mail.
| Applications open | 1 October |
|---|---|
| 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:
A scan of your diploma (if necessary with official translations) or Proof of anticipated degree
A scan of your transcript (if necessary with official translations)
A scan of your official English language test report or certificate.
Passport copy
Questions about the application procedure?
Please check our FAQ or contact the International Student Admissions.
You can submit your application before taking the English test. Please note that we will need to have received your official results by 15 June if you need a visa; or by 1 September if you do not need a visa.
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, enter contact details of your referee(s) and pay your application fee.
After you upload all documents in OSIRIS, International Student Admissions will verify them and send them to the Graduate School for evaluation. We strive to inform you of our decision within 20 working days.
Your admission letter will describe the next steps towards enrollment, and you will be asked to accept your offer. In most cases admission is conditional, which means you have to fulfill additional requirements such as sending certified digital copies or completing additional courses. These conditions, as well as the deadline, are clearly stated in your offer letter.
After accepting your offer, our Visa Office will guide you through the visa and/or residence permit process (if applicable).
When preparing your arrival prioritize the search for housing. Finding accommodation in Utrecht can be difficult and is often underestimated. Please note that if you have not found housing before the start of the academic year, we advise you to reconsider your enrolment.