Degree from a Dutch university of applied sciences (HBO)

To be admitted to the Master's programme in Intercultural Communication 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'll find under step 2.

Ambitions

Depending on what your ambitions are, you pick a track: 

• Multilingual
• German
• English
• French
• Italian
• Dutch
• Spanish

Competences: General

This is a selective Master's. You can be admitted to the Master's programme in Intercultural Communication if you have a Bachelor's degree and have the following competences:

• Knowledge of and insight into the field of language, culture and communication. This is demonstrated by at least 15 EC language and communication science courses at an advanced Bachelor's level and 15 EC in culture studies courses at an advanced Bachelor's level (for example courses in the earmarked specialisations for Intercultural Communication in your Bachelor’s programme).
• Basic knowledge of and insight into the field of administration, management and organisation. This is shown by 7.5 EC in this field (for example the course Public Administration and Organisations, USG5520).
• Knowledge of and insight into the field of methods and techniques used in interdisciplinary research on intercultural communication. This is shown by 7.5 EC in this field (for example the course Methods of research on intercultural communication, TL3V14001).
• Research skills in the field of intercultural communication. You are - under supervision - able to design, execute, analyse and report on a small intercultural survey. Elaborate this point in your letter of motivation. Your eligibility for this programme increase if you’ve written your Bachelor’s thesis on a topic within the field of international communication.
• Communication skills. You can communicate in a clear and effective manner, tuned to your conversation partner(s) and the specific setting/situation and you are able to reflect on your own communicative actions in multilingual and/or intercultural settings. You are able to give or draw up adequate reports. This is evident from relevant components in your finished Bachelor's programme.

Competences: Language

All students have to take non-language specific courses, regardless of what track you choose. For these courses we have the following requirements:

• The lectures are in English. Therefore the required language proficiency in English is B2-C1.
• The seminars of these courses are either in English or in Dutch. For English the requirement is C1. For the tutorials in Dutch the requirement is also C1.

In order to show your capacity in one of these languages, you need write the first part of your motivation letter either in Dutch or English.

All students take language specific courses. Depending on the track you are following different admission requirements apply:

Selection procedure

The Admissions Committee decides on your application. On the basis of the documents submitted by you, the committee will assess whether you will be able to successfully complete the Master’s programme within the nominal duration. The committee also takes into account:

• Motivation and talent.
• Level of relevant knowledge and command of the methods and techniques used in the discipline.
• General academic professional and intellectual ability.
• Command of the language(s) relevant to the programme.
• International education and work experience.

The programme is open for a maximum of 60 students per year. If the applications exceed the places available, the Admissions Committee will select the most suitable candidates. In doing so the committee will take motivation and study results into account and aims for an equal distribution of students between the different tracks within the programme.
 

If you do not meet the admission requirements for the Master (see step 1), you might be eligible for a Pre-Master’s programme. This is for the Admissions Committee to decide. The Pre-Master's programme comprises 45 EC. After you successfully finish this project you will be admitted to the Master’s.

Previous education

We offer a Pre-Master's for students who have a Bachelor's degree from a University of Applied Sciences (HBO) in a language or International Management/Communication (or similar). 

If you are an above average HBO student with a degree in a study well suited to the Master's programme, please apply to this Master and include your motivation letter.

Courses

The following Pre-Master's programmes prepare you for one of the language tracks in German, English, Dutch, French, Italian, and Spanish. You will take classes with Bachelor's students. The courses below were part of last year's programme and give a good impression, but your programme might differ in some components. 

Note: There is also a possibility to follow the Pre-Master's programme for the multilingual track. In that case, it will be decided upon for each individual what the programme will look like.

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.

Please note: the application deadline for scholarship candidates is 1 February, not 1 December.