Environment and Resource Management

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)

  Admission is based on a strict selection procedure. The Faculty’s Admission Board will decide upon your admission after having evaluated your complete online application.
  
  In order to gain admission to the Master’s programme Environment and Resource Management (ERM), you will need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited research university including at least three full years of academic study amounting to a minimum of 180 ECTS or equivalent. Students from all disciplinary backgrounds will be considered, but the following subjects provide a particularly relevant basis for participating in the ERM programme: Environmental studies, Economics, Political Science, Social Science, Law, Natural Sciences.
  
  Specific admission requirements for the MSc Environment and Resource Management

  • Average grade for the bachelor should be at least a 7.0 or equivalent (A bachelor thesis or writing sample can be requested if necessary to confirm quality);
  • Affinity with environmental sciences or sustainability, proven by previous study program, courses, thesis or relevant (volunteer) work experience, expressed in a motivation statement or curriculum vitae;
  • ERM requirements for English language proficiency, including sufficient scores for each test component;
  • Strong motivation statement addressing:
          - Interest for environmental and sustainability issues
          - Specific interest for ERM
          - Future ambitions after graduation

  Students with an university bachelor but with GPA between 6 and 7 can be admitted to the ERM pre-master's programme if they also meet the other admission requirements of the ERM pre-master's programme.

  Language requirements

  Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam requires international students and students with a HBO degree to pass an English language proficiency test. This requirement can be met if no longer than two years before the start of the programme the applicant has successfully completed one of the following examinations with the minimum scores indicated:

  • IELTS (Academic): 6.5 (due to Covid-19 the IELTS Indicator will also be accepted for admissions in 2020)
    Minimum Sub-scores  6.0
  • TOEFL paper based test: 580
  • TOEFL internet based test: 92
       - Minimum Sub-score Reading: 18
       - Minimum Sub-score Listening: 19
       - Minimum Sub-score Speaking: 19
       - Minimum Sub-score Writing: 23
  • VU TOEFL ITP: 580
  • Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE): A, B, C
  • Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): A, B, C

  Exceptions are made for students who:

  • have obtained a Dutch vwo-diploma including English, or an International Baccalaureate or European Baccalaureate diploma
  • have obtained a bachelor’s degree from a Dutch university,
  • have completed previous education in Canada, Ireland, UK, USA, Australia or New Zealand.

  Visit the Language Requirements webpage for the general requirements regarding language proficiency.

  Your English test results can be uploaded in the application portal or sent to the following address: toelating.beta@vu.nl.

• I have a Dutch higher vocational education (HBO) Bachelor’s degree (pre-master's)

  Admission is based on a strict selection procedure. The Faculty’s Admission Board will decide upon your admission after having evaluated your complete online application.
  
  In order to gain admission to the Master’s programme Environment and Resource Management (ERM), students with a bachelor degree from a University of Applied Sciences (HBO) need to follow the pre-master's programme. Students from all disciplinary backgrounds will be considered. The deadline for applications is May 31.
  
  Specific admission requirements for the pre-master's Environment and Resource Management

  • For HBO bachelor degree holders, the average grade for the bachelor should be at least a 7 or equivalent (A bachelor thesis or writing sample can be requested if necessary to confirm quality); Or, for WO-bachelor degree holders, average grade for the bachelor is equal to or higher than 6 but lower than 7;
  • Affinity with environmental sciences or sustainability, proven by previous study program, courses, thesis or relevant (volunteer) work experience, expressed in a motivation statement or curriculum vitae;
  • ERM requirements for English language proficiency, including sufficient scores for each test component;
  • Strong motivation statement addressing:
        - Interest for environmental and sustainability issues
        - Specific interest for ERM
        - Future ambitions after graduation

  Language requirements 
  Students with a HBO degree (in Dutch) must take an English Language Test. Check the 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.

  The pre-master's programme
  You have to complete the pre-master's programme (30 EC) within 1 year. After you have finished the pre-master's programme you can be admitted to the master of Environment and Resource Management. Visit the pre-master's programme page for more information about the programme, admission requirements and the application procedure. 

• Application with a Dutch degree

  The Environment and Resource Management 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.

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

  • Letter of Motivation (addressing: interest for environmental and sustainability issues, specific interest for ERM, future ambitions after graduation).
  • Curriculum Vitae.
  • Bachelor's transcript, including your GPA.

  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 (check the 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 31^st. Please send a scan of your test result to toelating.beta@vu.nl.

• I have an international degree

  The Environment and Resource Management 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.
  
  In order to gain admission to the Environment and Resource Management Master’s programme, you will need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited research university including at least three full years of academic study amounting to a minimum of 180 ECTS or equivalent. We do not require a GRE or GMAT test score. A Bachelor degree obtained at an applied university or higher vocational education (HBO in Dutch) in most cases does not grant direct access to the programme (only exceptionally high ranking students stand a chance of admission).
  
  Students from all disciplinary backgrounds will be considered, but the following subjects provide a particularly relevant basis for participating in the ERM programme: Environmental studies, Economics, Political Science, Social Science, Law, Natural Sciences.

  Specific requirements for the Environment and Resource Management Master's programme

  • Average grade for the Bachelor's should be at least a 7 or equivalent;
  • Affinity with environmental sciences or sustainability, proven by previous study program, courses, thesis or relevant (volunteer) work experience, expressed in a motivation statement or curriculum vitae;
  • ERM requirements for English language proficiency, including sufficient scores for each test component;
  • Strong motivation statement addressing:     
        - Interest for environmental and sustainability issues
        - Specific interest for ERM     
        - Future ambitions after graduation 

  English language requirements

  If you are applying for one of our English-taught Master's degree programmes you will have to demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency by submitting English test results. 

  Although complete applications are preferred, you can begin your application before you have completed the test and then submit your passing score once you have been conditionally admitted.

  You can find an overview of all accepted tests and scores that can be used to demonstrate your English language proficiency on the language requirement page.

  Self Check Tool

  Are you curious whether you meet the admission requirements for the programme? Then you can fill out the online Student Self Check tool to find out more about your chances to be admitted to the Master’s programme Environment and Resource Management.
  In the tool you will be asked some questions about your previous education and background. Based on your answers you will receive a personal preliminary advice on your eligibility for admission and the next steps you can take to continue your application. Please note: no rights can be derived from the Self Check tool results. For a definite admission decision you will have to complete the official application procedure for this programme.

• 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.