Biomedical Sciences

Check whether you meet the programme requirements and apply

• I have a Dutch university level (WO) Bachelor’s degree (VU Bachelor’s degree, VU pre-master's or Bachelor’s degree at another university)

  The Biomedical Sciences programme is open to both Dutch and international students. The Faculty’s Admission Board will decide upon your admission after having evaluated your complete online application.

  Specific requirements for the Biomedical Sciences Master’s programme:

  Knowledge and understanding:
  A minimum of 24EC in molecular biology and a minimum of 24EC in human biology, including at least one dedicated course in each of the topics mentioned below:

  • Cell biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics
  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Statistics

  Research laboratory skills:

  • Practical laboratory techniques gained in courses
  • A bachelor research internship/thesis of ≥12EC, working on an individual biomedical research question.  The internship should have been performed at a research group within a university, academic medical center or acknowledged research institute.

  
  In addition to the admission requirements above, the following selection criteria apply:

  • A high level of relevant knowledge and skills, demonstrated by an average mark of a rounded 7.0 for the university level Bachelor’s degree programme.
  • Motivation for the programme, demonstrated by a motivation letter (see ‘required documents’ below)
  • A high general academic level: Academic skills and critical thinking, demonstrated during an interview, including an assessment of a scientific article.
    • Any individual who has obtained a Bachelor of Science degree at a Dutch University and meets the admission requirements (courses/skills) and the average mark of a rounded 7.0, meets the ‘academic level’ criteria. Did you obtain a Bachelor of Science degree at a Dutch University and meet the admission requirements (courses/skills), but you have an average mark lower than a rounded 7.0? Then you are invited to do the interview with assessment to demonstrate your academic level.

  Interview with assessment procedure: 
  During the interview, the admissions board will discuss your motivation and experience and assess your ability to function at an academic MSc level, through an assessment based on an article chosen by the admissions board.

  Capacity restriction
  The capacity of the specialisation Neurobiology in 2025-2026 is very limited, due to the courses being shared with the Master Neurosciences. We cannot guarantee places for academic year 2026-2027 and beyond. Placement will be based on the following: motivation for the master’s programme Biomedical Sciences including Neurobiology, background/proven interest in Neurobiology and transcript/grades (grades will only be taken into account in case of equal scores). Based on these criteria, the Admission Committee assigns a priority number, with the lowest number giving first right of placement. If you cannot be placed in Neurobiology, you can still start the specialisation Immunology or Infectious Diseases within this programme.

  Required documents: 

  • Curriculum Vitae, including bachelor’s internship information (research question, methods, location)
  • Motivation letter: of one A4, including the specialisations you are interested in (year 1 ánd year 2) and why, how you think you meet our admission requirements (including short description bachelor’s thesis) and your ideas about future career/added value of the master.
  • Transcript, including your GPA

• I have a Dutch higher vocational education (HBO) Bachelor’s degree

  The master's programme of Biomedical Sciences programme is open to both Dutch and international students. The Faculty’s Admission Board will decide upon your admission after having evaluated your complete online application.  

  Only a Bachelor's degree “Biology and Medical Laboratory Research” obtained at higher vocational education (HBO) can grant admission, when you fit the requirements below and you have passed the assessment (no premaster offered).

  Other Bachelor's degrees obtained at higher vocational education (HBO) in most cases do not grant access to the programme (only exceptionally high ranking students with a biomedical internship stand a chance of admission).

  Specific requirements for the Biomedical Sciences master’s programme:

  Knowledge and understanding:
  A minimum of 24EC in molecular biology and a minimum of 24EC in human biology, including at least one dedicated course in each of the topics mentioned below:

  • Cell biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics
  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Statistics

  Research laboratory skills:

  • Practical laboratory techniques gained in courses
  • A bachelor research internship/thesis of ≥12EC, working on an individual biomedical research question.  The internship should have been performed at a research laboratory within a university, academic medical center or acknowledged research institute.

  
  In addition to the admission requirements above, the following selection criteria apply:

  • A high level of relevant knowledge and skills, demonstrated by an average mark of at least 7.0 for the Bachelor’s degree programme.
  • Motivation for the programme, demonstrated by a motivation letter (see ‘required documents’ below)
  • A high general academic level: Academic skills and critical thinking, demonstrated during an interview, including an assessment of a scientific article.

  Interview with assessment procedure: 
  During the interview, the admissions board will discuss your motivation and experience and assess your ability to function at an academic MSc level, through an assessment based on an article chosen by the admissions board.

  Capacity restriction
  The capacity of the specialisation Neurobiology in 2025-2026 is very limited, due to the courses being shared with the Master Neurosciences. We cannot guarantee places for academic year 2026-2027 and beyond. Placement will be based on the following: motivation for the master’s programme Biomedical Sciences including Neurobiology, background/proven interest in Neurobiology and transcript/grades (grades will only be taken into account in case of equal scores). Based on these criteria, the Admission Committee assigns a priority number, with the lowest number giving first right of placement. If you cannot be placed in Neurobiology, you can still start the specialisation Immunology or Infectious Diseases within this programme.

  Required documents: 

  • Curriculum Vitae, including bachelor’s internship information (research question, methods, location)
  • Motivation letter: of one A4, including the specialisations you are interested in (year 1 ánd year 2) and why, how you think you meet our admission requirements (including short description bachelor’s thesis) and your ideas about future career/added value of the master.
  • Transcript, including your GPA and propedeuse

  Language requirements:
  Students with a HBO degree (in Dutch) must take an English Language Test, unless you qualify for an exemption of this requirement or by proven proficiency during the interview. Check the further requirements and exemptions on the webpage.

  You can also submit the result of the English language test after you have been conditionally accepted, the deadline for submitting the test result is August 31st. Please send a scan of your test result to toelating.beta@vu.nl. For more information see under the heading ‘Application with a Dutch degree’ below.

• Application with a Dutch degree

  The Biomedical Sciences programme is open to both Dutch and International Students. The Faculty’s Admission Board will decide upon your admission after having evaluated your complete online application. You find all information about the general application procedure with a Dutch degree on the application page.

  Use this form to apply for the Master’s: Application form Master's Biomedical Sciences.

  The application deadline is:

  1 June for holders of a Dutch bachelor’s degree (with a Dutch or EU/EEA nationality).

  Your application will be rejected in case you didn’t upload the required documents in ‘your dashboard’ within 6 weeks after your enrolment in Studielink, OR in case you’ve uploaded (one or more) of the required documents after June 1^st. Applications and documents submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

  Required documents (deadline June 1^st)

  This Master’s programme requires students with a Dutch bachelor's degree to upload the following documents (in English) as soon as possible and in any case 6 weeks after your enrolment and before 1 June.

  • Motivation letter: of one A4, including the specialisations you are interested in (year 1 ánd year 2) and why, how you think you meet our admission requirements (including short description bachelor’s thesis) and your ideas about future career/added value of the master.Curriculum Vitae, including bachelor’s internship information (research question, methods, location).
  • Bachelor's transcript, including your GPA (HBO: including propedeuse).

  Your online dashboard gives you an overview of the submitted and missing documents. Check your dashboard regularly.

  Additional required document (only for HBO students, deadline August 31^st)

  • HBO students need to send in a sufficient English language test result if requested.

  You can also submit the result of the English language test after you have been conditionally accepted, the deadline for submitting the test result is August 31^st. Please send a scan of your test result to toelating.beta@vu.nl.

• I have an international degree

  Students must meet the following admission requirements:

  1.  Academic requirements

  Your previous education needs to be deemed equivalent to at least a Dutch academic Bachelor’s of Science degree (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO) obtained at a research university (nominal duration 3 years). Please find more information about your admissibility with a non-Dutch degree here. We do not require a GRE or GMAT test score.

  2. Programme-specific requirements

  Knowledge and understanding

  • A minimum of 24 ECTS in Molecular Biology, including at least one dedicated course in each of the topics mentioned below:
    • Cell Biology
    • Biochemistry
    • Genetics
  • A minimum of 24 ECTS in Human Biology, including at least one dedicated course in each of the topics mentioned below:
    • Immunology
    • Microbiology
  • At least one dedicated course in Statistics

  Research laboratory skills

  • Gained practical laboratory techniques in courses;
  • A minimum of 12 ECTS obtained during a bachelor research internship/thesis: working on an individual biomedical research question. The internship should have been performed at a research group within a university, academic medical center or acknowledged research institute.

  In addition to the admission requirements above, the following selection criteria apply:

  • A high level of relevant knowledge and skills, demonstrated by a minimum undergraduate GPA that is equivalent to a 7.0 in the Dutch grading system.  
  • Motivation for the programme, demonstrated by a motivation letter, which includes:
    • the specializations you are interested in for year 1 ánd year 2, and why;
    • how you think you will meet the admission requirements;
    • short description of your bachelor’s thesis (research question, methods, location);
    • your ideas about your future career/what you hope to learn in the programme;
  • A high general academic level: academic skills and critical thinking, demonstrated during an interview*, including an assessment of a scientific article.

  *During the interview, the Admissions Board will discuss your motivation and experience and assess your ability to function at an academic MSc level, through an assessment based on an article chosen by the Admissions Board.
  
  Capacity restriction

  The capacity of the specialisation Neurobiology in 2025-2026 is very limited, due to the courses being shared with the Master Neuroscience. We cannot guarantee places for academic year 2026-2027 and beyond. Placement will be based on the following: motivation for the master’s programme Biomedical Sciences including Neurobiology, background/proven interest in Neurobiology and transcript/grades (grades will only be taken into account in case of equal scores). Based on these criteria, the Admission Committee assigns a priority number, with the lowest number giving first right of placement. If you cannot be placed in Neurobiology, you can still start the specialisation Immunology or Infectious Diseases within this programme.

  How to demonstrate that you meet the above requirements

  You are required to indicate in the course description section of the Application Form how you meet the programme specific admission requirements.

  Whether you meet the admission requirements, is determined by the Admission Board based on your complete application.

  3. English-language proficiency requirements

  You will have to demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency. You can find an overview of relevant information to demonstrate your English language proficiency on the language requirement page. 

• Application with an international degree

  Application documents

  To apply you are required to provide the following documents:

  • Scan of your passport or national ID card (ID for EEA students only) valid at the start date of the programme
  • Master Application File please download the correct file from this page. In this file you can see which documents are required to apply for your programme.
  • Proof of English language proficiency (if already obtained): upload your proof of English language proficiency or English language test results. Please find the English language requirements here.

  After having prepared the required documents, please follow the online application procedure. 

  Application fee & deadlines

  All students seeking admission to an international Master’s programme with an international degree are required to pay a non-refundable €100 application fee. Only after you have paid this fee will we be able to start the evaluation of your application file. If you are applying for more than one programme, you will only need to pay the application fee once. Your application fee payment is valid for two years.
  
  Information on how to apply with an international university degree and deadlines can be found here. 

  Grants and scholarships

  As an international student planning to study at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, you can apply for a variety of grants and bursaries. Detailed information about scholarships and deadlines can be found on www.vu.nl/scholarships or www.grantfinder.nl.

  International Student and Alumni Ambassadors 

  Our International Student and Alumni Ambassadors are happy to tell you all about their experiences with studying at VU Amsterdam and living in Amsterdam.

  • Our Student Ambassadors are current students at VU Amsterdam that represent a wide variety of programmes and countries.
  • Our International Alumni Ambassadors are VU Amsterdam graduates who are currently either working in the Netherlands or abroad, or doing a PhD or (second) Master's.

  You will find the full overview of our Ambassadors here: vu.nl/ambassadors. There you can chat with them directly.