Culture, Organization and Management

Check whether you meet the admission requirements and apply

• I have a Dutch university level (WO) Bachelor’s degree

  To successfully follow the Master’s programme in Culture, Organization and Management (COM), you need to have sufficient knowledge of qualitative research methods and insight into the field of organization sciences at the level and load of an academic Social Science Bachelor’s programme.

  Direct admission

  You are directly admissible to the Master’s programme in Culture, Organization and Management (COM) with one of the following Bachelor’s degrees:

  • Business Administration
  • Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology
  • Management and Organisation Science
  • Organisation Studies
  • Political Science
  • Psychology track Social- or Work and Organisational Psychology*
    *please add proof of the track you follow(ed) to your VU Dashboard
  • Sociology

  Furthermore you are admissible to the Master’s programme in COM with any Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree including a minor programme in organization sciences, such as the VU FSS Minor Bestuurswetenschap (30 EC) or the Minor Organisatiewetenschap (30 EC).

  Conditional admission

  You are admissible to the Master’s programme in Culture, Organization and Management (COM) with other academic Bachelor's or Master's programmes after finishing a bridging programme of max. 30 EC.
  Depending on the degree you are finishing, this bridging programme consists of academic courses in the field of (quantitative and/or qualitative) methods and techniques of social scientific research (minimum 12 EC) and/or academic courses in the field of organisation science  (minimum of 6 EC).

  The Admissions Committee of the Master's programme in COM will determine which additional courses you will have to take. These courses can be taken at any Dutch university, but you can also choose to take them at FSS-VU.

  At FSS-VU the following relevant courses are offered in the field of methods and techniques of social scientific research:

  • Social Research Methodology (S_SRM): introduction to the process of social scientific research, including its key methods (qualitative and quantitative) and approaches (interpretative vs positivist).
  • Ethnographic Research Methodology (S_ERM)
  • Methoden en technieken van kwalitatief onderzoek (S_PMMTKOZ): to acquire knowledge and skills in the field of qualitative methodology.
  • Pre-Master Fieldwork (S_PMF): to acquire qualitative research skills.

  FSS-VU offers the following relevant subjects in the field of organisation science:

  • Kernthema’s bestuurs- & organisatiewetenschap (S_KBO)
  • Sociaal Kapitaal en Netwerken (S_SKN)
  • Organizational Culture and Change (S_OCC)

  In some cases the Admissions Committee might refer you to the pre-master’s programme in Culture, Organization and Management or a certain selection of the courses.
  

  Reading list To prepare for the Master’s programme the Admissions Committee advices all students to read the following titles: Ailon, G. (2008). Mirror, mirror on the wall: Culture's consequences in a value test of its own design. Academy of Management Review, 33(4), 885-904. Calvey, D. (2021). Sensory ethnography: A creative turn. Journal of Organizational Ethnography, 10(3): 346-357. Grey, C. (2008). A very short, fairly interesting and reasonably cheap book about studying organizations. Sage. Bleijenbergh, I. (2015) Kwalitatief onderzoek in organisaties. Amsterdam: Boom.  It is to your advantage to read these titles before starting the Master’s programme, but it's not a binding condition and therefore will not be tested.

  English language requirements

  To be admitted to the English-taught Master’s programme, all students must meet the following results in the English language test (no older than 2 years):

  • IELTS score with a minimum of 6.5
  • TOEFL score internet based test: 92
  • VU TOEFL-ITP: 580 (only valid for VU Amsterdam)
  • CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE in Advanced English (CAE): A or B
  • CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE of Proficiency in English (CPE): A, B or C

  Exemptions from the language test requirements are granted in the following cases:

  • Your Bachelor’s or Master’s diploma was obtained in an English-language university programme in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, UK or USA.
  • Your Bachelor’s or Master’s diploma was obtained in an English-taught programme at a Dutch university.
  • Your Bachelor’s or Master’s diploma was obtained in an English-taught programme in a different EU-country.
  • You have a Dutch vwo-diploma (level 6 vwo-nieuw)
  • You are a pre-master's student and have passed the VU pre-master's assessment or equivalent before entering the programme.
    

  Make sure to register on time at Taalloket for the VU TOEFL-ITP, as the possibilities are limited, especially during the busy summer period. If you have a Dutch Bachelor's degree obtained at a Dutch university, the first take of the VU TOEFL-ITP is free of charge when registering via this page. Please make sure to apply for the master via Studielink before registering for the TOEFL-ITP. 

  Please upload a scan of the result of your test to your VU Dashboard before 31 August at the latest.

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

  The following information is in Dutch, since the pre-master's programme is partly taught in Dutch and therefore not accessible for students who don't speak Dutch.

  Als hbo'er kun je starten met de Master Culture, Organization and Management nadat je het bijbehorende pre-masterprogramma met succes hebt afgerond. Ieder hbo-bachelordiploma geeft toegang tot de pre-master, mits aan de eisen van het pre-masterassessment is voldaan.

  Aanmeldprocedure
  1. Meld je uiterlijk 30 juni in Studielink aan voor het pre-masterprogramma. Let op: De aanmelddeadline voor het pre-masterassessment is 30 juni. Zonder succesvolle afronding van dit pre-masterassessment is het niet mogelijk om te starten met de premaster.*
    Na aanmelding ontvang je inloggegevens voor je VU Dashboard.
  2. Rond je aanmelding in je VU Dashboard af, incl. aanmelding voor het pre-masterassessment.
  3. Pre-masterassessment en hbo-bachelordiploma moeten uiterlijk 31 augustus behaald zijn.
  4. Regel de betaling van het pre-mastertarief en rond je inschrijving af uiterlijk 31 augustus.

  * Indien je een minor of pre-master hebt gevolgd waarmee je rechtstreeks toelaatbaar bent (zie informatie over de toelatingseisen eerder genoemd op deze pagina), voeg hiervan dan een bewijsstuk toe aan je VU Dashboard en meld je rechtstreeks aan voor de master.

  Voor aanvang van het pre-masterprogramma ontvang je praktische informatie over de start van de studie.

  Doorstroomminor SWO van de Hogeschool van Amsterdam (HvA)

  Beschik je over een afgeronde hbo-opleiding inclusief de doorstroomminor Sociaalwetenschappelijk Onderzoek van de HvA, dan word je toegelaten na het behalen van één van de volgende bachelorvakken van de VU:

  • Kernthema’s bestuurs- en organisatiewetenschap (S_KBO)
  • Organizational Culture and Change (S_OCC)
  • Organisaties in de 21e eeuw (S_O21)

  Om dit vak te kunnen volgen moet je je aanmelden als bijvakstudent.
  Je hoeft geen pre-master te volgen en dus ook geen assessment te maken.
  
  Voor aanvang van de Master moet je hebben voldaan aan de taaleis Engels, zoals hieronder vermeld.
  

  English language requirements

  To be admitted to the English-taught Master’s programme, all students must meet the following results in the English language test (no older than 2 years):

  • IELTS score with a minimum of 6.5
  • TOEFL score internet based test: 92
  • VU TOEFL-ITP: 580 (only valid for VU Amsterdam)
  • CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE in Advanced English (CAE): A or B
  • CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE of Proficiency in English (CPE): A, B or C

  Exemptions from the language test requirements are granted in the following cases:

  • Your Bachelor’s or Master’s diploma was obtained in an English-language university programme in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, UK or USA.
  • Your Bachelor’s or Master’s diploma was obtained in an English-taught programme at a Dutch university.
  • Your Bachelor’s or Master’s diploma was obtained in an English-taught programme in a different EU-country.
  • You have a Dutch vwo-diploma (level 6 vwo-nieuw)
  • You are a pre-master's student and have passed the pre-master's assessment before entering the programme.

  Make sure to register on time at Taalloket for the VU TOEFL-ITP, as the possibilities are limited, especially during the busy summer period. If you have a Dutch Bachelor's degree obtained at a Dutch university, the first take of the VU TOEFL-ITP is free of charge.

  Please upload a scan of the result of your test to your VU Dashboard before 31 August at the latest.

• Application procedure with a Dutch degree

  How to apply

  Direct admission

  1. Registration for the Master’s programme in Studielink is open until 1 July at the latest.
     After registering in Studielink you’ll receive login data for your VU Dashboard.
  2. Finish your VU Dashboard. As your admissibility doesn’t have to be assessed, you don’t need to add any documents (just tick the box “I upload this later”).
  3. Arrange payment of the tuition fee and complete your registration before 31 August at the latest.
  4. Please upload, if applicable, a scan of the result of your English language test to your VU Dashboard before 31 August at the latest.

  Before the beginning of the programme you’ll receive practical information about starting your studies.

  An application is not the same as enrolment. If you register for a programme in Studielink (before 1 July), you will not immediately be enrolled. You will only be enrolled once you have been notified by Studielink. To this end, you must have submitted all the required documents a.s.a.p. after registering (preferably before 1 June) and have arranged for payment of the tuition fees before 31 August.
  An application does not commit you to anything and can be cancelled free of charge until 31 August.

  More information about the registration procedure.

  Conditional admission

  To apply for the programme, you need to register in Studielink before 1 July at the latest. After completing your registration in Studielink, you will receive log in details for your VU Dashboard. Please complete your application a.s.a.p. by uploading the following required documents (in English):

  • a curriculum vitae (résumé), listing your previous education and relevant work experience.
  • a certified transcript of the grades you obtained in your Bachelor’s programme in English or translated into English by your university or a sworn translator. If you have followed or are following a master’s programme and/or more than one bachelor’s programme, please include transcripts of all these programmes.
  • a description of the relevant courses/modules followed and literature used during your previous higher education, that were part of your Bachelor's (and Master's, if applicable) programme, with a short description of the contents of these courses and the literature used (bibliography) to assess the theoretical background of the programme. You can either copy this from a study guide or type a 5-10 line description for each relevant course, if a study guide is not readily available. For the literature please mention the most relevant academic textbooks or articles used during your previous education.

  In order to determine whether your choice for the Master’s programme is a good match, please also add the following documents (in English):

  • a (short) letter motivating your choice and explaining how you meet the entry requirements;
  • a proof of academic writing, such as (parts of) a thesis, paper or essay, that includes a clear research question, an explicit research methodology, a theoretical framework and academic literature references.

  The Admissions Committee will determine whether you are directly admissible to the Master’s programme or whether you first have to follow a bridging programme and if so, which courses you should take.

  The Committee might contact you for additional information and/or explain content and level of the Master’s in Culture, Organization and Management.

  Please upload a scan with the result of your English language test to your VU Dashboard before 31 August at the latest.

  Registration procedure

  1. Registration for the Master’s programme in Studielink is open until 1 July at the latest.
     After registering in Studielink you’ll receive login data for your VU Dashboard.
  2. Finish your VU Dashboard a.s.a.p. by adding the required documents.
  3. After your application has been processed and assessed you’ll receive notice about your admissibility.
  4. Arrange payment of the tuition fee and complete your registration before 31 August at the latest.
  5. Upload a scan of the result of your English language test to your VU Dashboard before 31 August at the latest.

  Before the beginning of the programme you’ll receive practical information about starting your studies.

  An application is not the same as enrolment. If you register for a programme in Studielink (before 1 July), you will not immediately be enrolled. You will only be enrolled once you have been notified by Studielink. To this end, you must have submitted all the required documents a.s.a.p. after registering (preferably before 1 July) and have arranged for payment of the tuition fees before 31 August.
  An application does not commit you to anything and can be cancelled free of charge until 31 August.

  More information about the registration procedure.

• I have an international degree

  Admission requirements

  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 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.

  2. Programme specific requirements

  The Admission Board needs to establish that you meet all of the following admission requirements:

  • A sufficient background in the field of quantitative and/or qualitative methods and techniques of social science research
  • A sufficient background in the field of organization science

  This can be demonstrated by having one of the following Bachelor’s degrees:

  • Business Administration
  • Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology
  • Management and Organization Science
  • Organization Studies
  • Political Science
  • Psychology track Social- or Work and Organizational Psychology (please add proof of the track you follow(ed) in your application form)
  • Sociology

  Furthermore, you are admissible to the Master’s programme in Culture, Organization and Management with any Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree including a minor programme in organisation sciences, such as the VU Amsterdam Faculty of Social Sciences Minor Bestuurswetenschap (30 ECTS, taught in Dutch) or the Minor Organisatiewetenschap (30 ECTS, taught in Dutch).

  In all cases, your bachelor must be equivalent to a Dutch academic (WO) bachelor and therefore must be completed at a research university.

  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. The Admission Board decides based on your complete application whether you meet the admission requirements or not.

  Premaster:

  VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Social Sciences offers a premaster/bridging programme to students who do not meet the admission requirements for the MSc Culture, Organization and Management. However, international students cannot apply to this premaster directly. International students must apply to the master programme. The Admission Board may award the premaster as part of their decision on an applicant’s eligibility for the master. The premaster is only a relevant option if it would be sufficient to cover the gap between an applicant’s academic background and the admission requirements. In addition, it is very important to be aware that this premaster is not typically awarded to international students, because the premaster is partially taught in Dutch. This means that starting and completing the premaster is only a viable option if you speak Dutch at a very high level.

  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. 

  You can already submit your application form without having met the English language requirements, but if you are conditionally admitted, you still have to meet the English language requirements.

  Reading list The Admission Board of this master programme advices all admitted students to read the following articles and book in order to prepare well:  Ailon, G. (2008). Mirror, mirror on the wall: Culture's consequences in a value test of its own design. Academy of Management Review, 33(4), 885-904. Calvey, D. (2021). Sensory ethnography: A creative turn. Journal of Organizational Ethnography, 10(3): 346-357. Grey, C. (2008). A very short, fairly interesting and reasonably cheap book about studying organizations. Sage. The reading list is not an official condition and will therefore not be tested, but it is strongly recommended to read these texts.

• Application procedure 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. 

  Important information: there is an extended deadline for this programme. The extended deadline is 1 July 2024 for international applicants who do not need visa. This means your application needs to be complete before that date.

  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.