Pre-Master’s programmes and Transfer programmes SBE
If direct admission to a Master’s programme is not possible, you might have to complete a pre-Master’s programme or Transfer programme first. During the pre-Master’s or Transfer programme, you will complete core courses to gain additional knowledge and courses to improve your academic skills and research methods. The programmes are specifically designed to prepare you for a Master’s at the School of Business and Economics at VU Amsterdam.
A pre‑Master’s programme at the School of Business and Economics is taught in English, consists of 5 courses (a total of 30 EC), and takes half a year to complete (February to July). After finishing the pre‑Master’s, you can start the corresponding Master’s programme in September.
As a pre-Master’s student, you could be eligible for a study loan and/or public transport card from the Dutch government for the duration of the pre-Master’s programme.
Pre-Master’s programmes:
Part-time pre-Master’s programme Accounting and Control (Dutch):
This pre‑Master’s differs from the other pre‑Master’s programmes in terms of language, duration, start dates, and admission requirements. For detailed information, please consult the part‑time pre‑Master’s in Accounting and Control.
Not every master of the School of Business and Economics has a pre-Master’s programme. For these Master’s programmes are Transfer programmes available (taught in English). Which programme would be suitable for you is (mostly) tailor made and depends on the level of background knowledge you have obtained.
Please note; since the Dutch government does not regard contract education students as regular (Studielink) students, you are not eligible for a study loan and/or public transport card from the Dutch government for the duration of the Transfer programme. Be aware that the Transfer programme is considered contract education and is thus not available for non-EU/non-EEA students or students that require a study visa.
Please check the admission requirements of the Master's programme to see which route is available to you.
Transfer programmes:
You can apply until January 15 at the latest. Your application must be fully complete by January 31. This means that you must have uploaded all required documents (keep the criteria of these documents in mind!), arranged the pre-Master’s fee, and met all other (administrative) conditions. To make sure everything is processed in time, we recommend submitting your request well before the deadline. Applications received after the deadlines will not be taken into consideration.
Please note! If you have obtained a wo-bachelor, you cannot apply for a pre-Master’s programme directly, but must first apply for a master (see ‘How do I apply for a Master’s programme?’).
Applying for the pre-Master’s programme directly is not possible. All students with a non-Dutch degree are required to apply for the Master's programme of their choice first. If you do not meet the admission requirements for the Master’s directly, the Admission Board might refer you to the pre-Master’s programme. The programme starts around the first of February. To make sure everything is processed in time, we recommend submitting your application well before the deadline. Applications received after the deadlines will not be taken into consideration.
You can apply until November 1 at the latest. Once you are conditionally admitted you have until December 1 to hand in proof of English language proficiency and the required GMAT score (if applicable).
You can apply until January 15 at the latest. Your application must be completed by January 31.
Note: if the timeline is tight, please send us an email to request priority (no guarantees). Prepare the required documents in advance and keep in mind that a GMAT can be requested, which also requires preparation and planning.
There is no fixed deadline for Transfer programmes. In most Transfer programmes, courses start in the first period of the academic year (September), so applying before June 1 is recommended.
As a pre-Master's student, the Dutch government considers you a regular (Studielink) student. This means you pay the statutory tuition fee. You may also be eligible for a study loan and/or a public transport card from the Dutch government for the duration of the pre-Master's programme. Please find more information about your eligibility here.
As a VU student or a student who is registered at another Dutch university, there are no additional costs. Please refer to ‘Application for Transfer programmes’ for more information.
If you do not study at a Dutch university now, you can follow the Transfer programme via contract education. The number of courses of a Transfer programme depends on your background education and the specific requirements of the Master’s programme of your choice. In general, contract education costs €100 per ECTS (one course is 6 ECTS). Once you have received an admission decision and are referred to a Transfer programme you are granted a substantial reduction of this price per ECTS (about 50%). The exact amount will be mentioned in your admission decision.
Please note since the Dutch government does not regard contract students as regular (Studielink) students, you are not eligible for a study loan and/or public transport card from the Dutch government for the duration of the transfer programme.
Student immigration services (study visa application)
Only available for pre-Master’s programmes. Please find more information about the application procedure and required documents here.
Student Accommodation services
Please note that you will only be able to make use of our Student Accommodation services once (provided that you meet the other general eligibility criteria), so either during your pre-Master’s programme or during your Master’s programme . If you would like to apply for housing after you have completed the pre-Master’s programme, then please let our Student Accommodation team know so we can manually create the option to apply in your personal VU Dashboard. Please find more information here.
Scholarships
We do not offer any scholarships for pre-Master’s programmes. Please be aware that if you continue with a Master after your pre-Master’s at VU Amsterdam, you will not be eligible for our international Master scholarships, as you will be considered a Dutch degree student. More relevant information for international students can be found here.
Are you applying based on a Dutch degree? Find the most frequently asked questions here. Can’t you find the answer to your question? Please contact the SBE admission office.
Are you applying based on a non-Dutch degree? Find the most frequently asked questions here. Can’t you find the answer to your question? Please contact our International Student Advisors.
Our pre-Master’s programmes are designed for students who are currently enrolled in a university of applied sciences (hbo) programme or who have already obtained an hbo degree. Students from a research university (wo) must first apply for the Master’s programme.
Do you have an hbo degree? To be directly admitted to the pre-Master’s, you must meet the following requirements:
Would you like to know whether your prior education meets the business/economics requirement? Here you can find an overview of programmes that meet this criterion. If your programme is not listed but you believe it contains sufficient business/economics content, apply for the pre-Master’s of your choice and send us an email with a well‑reasoned motivation and the corresponding course descriptions (in PDF).
The pre-Master’s programme and Master programme are taught in English. To successfully finish these programmes, you must have a sufficient level of English language skills. This is your own responsibility. Our urgent recommendation is to make sure you are at C1 level, comparable to 6 vwo in Dutch education.
Please note! Make sure your GPA is stated on your transcript or upload a graduation statement that includes your GPA. The Admission Board does not calculate or accept self‑calculated GPAs. Applications without a GPA will not be processed.
I do not meet the requirements for direct admission
If you do not meet one or more of the direct admission requirements, there is one alternative route to gain access to our pre-Master’s programmes. You are welcome to apply with a completed bachelor’s degree (in any field) and a GMAT score of 525 or higher. Please find more information about GMAT here. Admission based on motivation, work experience, and/or references is not possible.
Applying for the pre-Master’s programme directly is not possible. All students with a non-Dutch degree are required to apply for the Master's programme of their choice first. If you do not meet the admission requirements for the Master’s directly, the Admission Board might refer you to the pre-Master’s programme. After completing this programme, you are directly eligible for the Master's programme.
To be admitted to the pre-Master’s programme you must have:
Not every Master’s programme of the School of Business and Economics has a pre-Master’s programme. To bridge the gap in previous knowledge for these programmes there are Transfer programmes available. Which programme would be suitable for you, depends on the level of required background knowledge you have obtained.
Admission based on a Dutch or non-Dutch degree
The first step is to apply for the Master’s programme of your choice. Your admission request will be assessed by the Admission Board. If there is a lack of required knowledge, your admission decision will include a tailor-made Transfer programme, consisting out of one or multiple courses. It is possible that the Admission Board requests a recent GRE-score. Please make sure that the documents meet all requirements and are submitted through the right channels. An incomplete file will not be assessed.
Please note; since the Dutch government does not regard contract students as regular (Studielink) students, you are not eligible for a study loan and/or public transport card from the Dutch government for the duration of the Transfer programme.
Our pre-Master’s programmes are designed for students who are currently enrolled in a university of applied sciences (hbo) programme or who have already obtained an hbo degree. Students from a research university (wo) must first apply for the Master’s programme.
Step 1: Apply in Studielink
Go to Studielink and sign in (DigiD is required). Go to ‘Study programmes’, choose ‘add new enrolment application’, select ‘Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam’ and then ‘WO bachelor’ to find our pre-Master’s programmes. The pre-Master’s will be recognizable from the word ‘premaster’ as last part of the name. Apply for the pre-Master’s programme of your choice. After you have applied in Studielink, you will receive login details for your personal dashboard at VU.nl by email within 48 hours (two working days). If you already are (or have been) a VU Amsterdam student, or applied before, use your existing login details to log in to your personal dashboard at VU.nl.
Step 2: Complete your application in your personal dashboard at VU.nl
Log in to your personal dashboard at VU.nl. Click on the profile-icon in the upper right corner and select the option ‘Student’. After you have logged in, you can continue with your application via the app Complete application. Answer all questions, upload any requested documents and confirm your application. Make sure your GPA is stated on your transcript of records or upload a statement of graduation including GPA. Applications without GPA will not be accepted!
Did you not receive the login details? Please check your spam folder. If you don't find your login details there, contact our IT Servicedesk via servicedesk.it@vu.nl or +31 (0)20 - 59 80000.
Step 3: Pay the pre-Master’s fee
Make sure you pay the fee for the pre-Master’s January 31 at the latest. If the payment is not received before the deadline, you cannot enrol and you cannot start the pre-Master’s. For more information about the payment of the pre-Master’s fee, you can check this page.
Step 4: Check if you are fully admitted
As soon as you receive notice from Studielink and VU that you are registered for the pre-Master’s you are fully admitted. Until then, the admission is conditional and you are not yet fully enrolled. If you have not received any notification 20 days after completing the first three steps of the process, please contact our Student Desk.
Step 5: Register for your courses
You can register for your courses 24 hours after you have been fully admitted. Your study programme will be available from 1 July in our study guide. You can register for your courses via your personal dashboard on VU.nl. Please pay close attention to the course registration deadlines, which you can find here. Is the registration deadline already closed? Go to the relevant course in the registration module and click the “Request for late placement” button.
Applying for the pre-Master’s programme directly is not possible. All students with a non-Dutch degree are required to apply for the Master's programme of their choice first. If you do not meet the admission requirements for the Master’s directly, the Admission Board might refer you to the pre-Master’s programme. Once you have received an invitation to apply for the pre-Master’s programme, please follow the instructions below.:
Step 1: Apply in Studielink
Go to Studielink and login to the account you used for your Master’s application.
If you are signed in at Studielink, select for ‘Programme type’ for ‘bachelor- or other non-master programme’. The pre-Master’s programmes will be recognizable by the word (pre-Master’s ’s) as last part of the name. Select the pre-Master’s to which you have been referred by the Admission Board.
Step 2: Complete your application in your personal dashboard at VU.nl
Log in to your personal dashboard at VU.nl. Click on the profile-icon in the upper right corner and select the option ‘Student’. Answer all questions, upload any requested documents and confirm your application. You will receive a notification from Studielink as soon as your application is processed.
Step 3: Apply for international services such as housing and visa (if applicable)
You can find more information on www.vu.nl/accommodation and www.vu.nl/visa. Please note that you will only be able to make use of our Student Accommodation services once, either during your pre-Master’s programme or during your Master’s programme. If you would like to apply for housing after you have completed the pre-Master’s programme, then please let our student accommodation team know so we can manually create the option to apply in your Personal Dashboard.
Step 4: Pay the pre-Master’s fee
Make sure you pay the fee for the pre-Master’s no later than January 31. If the payment is not received, you cannot enroll, and you cannot start the pre-Master’s 's programme. For more information about the payment of the pre-Master’s 's fee, you can check the tuition fees.
Step 5: Check if you are fully enrolled
You will receive a notice from Studielink when your student registration is complete. Only after having received this notice, will you know that you are fully enrolled. Your status in Studielink will also change to 'enrolled'.
Step 6: Register for courses
You can register for your courses 24 hours after you have been fully enrolled. Your study programme will be available from mid-July in our study guide. You can register for your courses via your personal dashboard on VU.nl. Please pay close attention to the course registration deadlines, which you can find here. Is the registration deadline already closed? Go to the relevant course in the registration module and click the “Request for late placement” button.
You have received an admission decision with a transfer programme to eliminate deficiencies. VU students have the option to complete this as extracurricular courses. Visit this page for all information and registering. The Study Secretariat will process your request and sign you up for the courses. Please pay attention to the registration deadlines!
You have received an admission decision with a transfer programme to eliminate deficiencies. Students registered at a Dutch university can register at VU Amsterdam as a subsidiary student (bijvakstudent). Visit this page for all information and registering. Please pay attention to the registration deadlines because they will be maintained without exception.
You have received an admission decision with a transfer programme to eliminate deficiencies. If you have already graduated and are no longer registered at a Dutch university, you can only enrol for these courses via contract education. You can register as a contract student by filling out this online form.
Please note; since the Dutch government does not regard contract students as regular (Studielink) students, you are not eligible for a study loan and/or public transport card from the Dutch government for the duration of the transfer programme.
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