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.
This is a selective Master's programme. You will be considered for admission to the Master's programme Biology of Disease if you hold a University Bachelor's degree and can demonstrate:
- A relevant Bachelor’s degree
- Bachelor’s programmes that most likely meet the requirements are:
- Biomedical Sciences or other Life sciences
- Biology
- Medicine
- (College of) Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Health Sciences
- Veterinary Medicine with relevant science education
- University College or Liberal Arts & Sciences with relevant and sufficient science major
- Bachelor’s programmes that most likely meet the requirements are:
- Relevant knowledge, insight and skills
- Basic knowledge of cell biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and statistics.
- In depth knowledge and insight in the field of cardiovascular health and disease.
- Academic Performance: overall score (average grade, grading tables), and high grades for relevant courses*.
- High level of academic competences, specifically:
- Time to degree in previous education*
- Study progress (grade development over the years)*
- The ability to design, carry out and report on research projects
- Personal competences
- A clear motivation for participation in this Master’s programme.
- Genuine and broad research interest in cardiovascular health and/or diseases.
- Relevant extracurricular activities.
- Oral and written proficiency in English at an advanced level (view below).
*If you fail to meet some of the requirements 3-4, please indicate why you feel you are still eligible for admission in your motivation letter.
Selection procedure
The Admissions Committee reviews all requests for admission and selects students that meet the entry requirements. The Admissions Committee also assesses whether you will be able to successfully complete the Master’s programme within the set time frame. This means the decision on your application is based on a thorough analysis.
The programme admits a maximum of 40 students each year. If the number of selected candidates exceeds the number of available places, the Admissions Committee will select only the most eligible candidates. As a consequence, students who are eligible may not be admitted. Ranking takes place based on the entry requirements and an intake interview in English in case of an irregular or deviant curriculum in the pre-education.
You will receive a written notification of the decision of the Admissions Committee. You will also be notified when you are placed on a waiting list and/or if you still have to fulfill certain conditions. Applicants are notified in a timely manner; however, applicants are not notified at exactly the same time. Please note that a placement on the waiting list can conflict with the deadline for entry visa or residence permit application.
English language requirements
- IELTS, Academic Module. 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 (not available to students from China)
- 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.
Questions?
You can contact the Programme Coordinator with questions about your eligibility.
Early admission for scholarships (deadline December 1)
If you would like to be considered for an Utrecht Excellence Scholarship or Holland Scholarship, or need an early admissions decision in order to apply for other scholarships, you should submit your full and complete application (including application fee payment) before December 1. (After that, you can apply for the Utrecht Excellence or Holland scholarship until February 1.)
| 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 April |
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
Course information. Please provide a detailed description of coursework in the relevant field of science.
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 30 working days after the application deadline.
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.