Health 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)

  Note: Academic year 2025-2026 will be the final year this programme is offered in English. From academic year 2026-2027 onwards the programme will be taught in Dutch.

  In order to determine your eligibility to the programme the student must submit his/her application according to the formal application procedure. Check all general information on application to Master's programmes here. 

  Course prerequisites for entry to the Master in Health Sciences are met by students who have completed:

  • BSc in Health Sciences from VU Amsterdam
  • BSc in Gezondheid & Leven from VU Amsterdam, including the course Epi/stat III (AB_470228) or Epidemiology (AB_470180)
  • Pre-master Health Sciences from VU Amsterdam (Note: this current academic year 2024-2025 is the final year the Pre-master programme is named Health Sciences. From 2025-2026 onwards the Pre-master programme will be named Gezondheidswetenschappen.)

  For all other students, the admission committee of the master Health Sciences will make a decision based on transcripts and course descriptions. The admissions procedures are not different by specialisation, but students should check the study guide to ensure they meet the pre-requisites for the courses given by their chosen specialisation.

  Admission criteria for entry to the Masters in Health Sciences is as follows:

  • A Bachelor's degree from a Dutch University, which includes:
    • 30 ECTS human biology, physiology or biomedical (university bachelor's level)
    • 12 ECTS (bio)statistics courses (university bachelor's level)
    • 6 ECTS epidemiology (university bachelor's level).

  To be able to make a decision on whether or not you meet the admission criteria the Admission Board needs your bachelor's transcript and course descriptions with topics related to the admission criteria above and competences below (textbooks and literature is not necessary):

  Epidemiology

  Students should be competent in:

  • Drafting epidemiological studies using cohort, case control, cross-sectional and experimental designs;
  • Calculating, interpreting and choosing between descriptive epidemiological measures and effect sizes;
  • Calculating and interpreting diagnostic measures of validity and reliability;
  • Explaining validity and reliability in terms of measurement instruments as well as in terms of studies;
  • Discussing potential for bias and confounding in relation to the design and execution of a study and consequences in terms of the direction of these biases;
  • Explaining the meaning of effect modification in the context of an epidemiological study;
  • Recognition and detection of common methodological and statistical flaws;
  • Research integrity pertaining to methodology and statistics.

  Statistics

  Students should be competent in:

  • Basic statistics (describing sample characteristics, probability distributions i.e. Z-, t- and binomial distribution, calculating epidemiological effect sizes etc.);
  • Choosing between statistical techniques commonly used in epidemiology, conducting these analyses in statistical software and in interpreting the results of these techniques. These techniques should at least include: t-tests, chi-square tests, one-way ANOVA, uni- and multivariable regression models (linear, logistic and Cox regression);
  • Explaining the difference between association and prediction models;
  • Modelling confounding and effect modification in the above mentioned regression models;
  • Practical application of statistics in research.

  Course transcripts and descriptions are required except for students coming directly from the VU Health Sciences or the VU Health and Life Sciences Bachelor programmes.
  Course descriptions should provide a succinct but complete overview of courses related to human biology, statistics, epidemiology (course names, ECTS, topics covered and learning objectives). This format may be used.

  In the event that the content of the course is not self-evident the Admission Committee will determine whether a course qualifies based on the information provided in the course descriptions. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make the case explaining the content of the course in relation to the relevant content.

  Deficiency in epidemiology and/or biostatistics?

  If you suspect you do not (completely) meet the admission requirements stated above in regards to epidemiology and/or biostatistics, please make sure you apply before 1 May 2025 and submit both transcript and course descriptions, with regard to any possible options to eliminate this deficiency. The Health Science's Admission Board will inform you in case you are eligible.

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

  Note: Academic year 2025-2026 will be the final year this programme is offered in English. From academic year 2026-2027 onwards the programme will be taught in Dutch.

  For all other students, the admission committee of the (pre-)master's in Health Sciences will make a decision based on the transcripts and course descriptions. 

  Admission criteria for entry to the pre-master’s in Health Sciences is as follows: 

  • Bachelor's degree from a Dutch University of Applied Sciences or Dutch University
  • 30 ECTS human biology, physiology or bio-medical (bachelor's level)

  For more information on the admission requirements and relevant bachelor's degree, please see the pre-master's website.

  Language requirements
  
  Students with a HBO degree (in Dutch) must take an English Language Test. Check the requirements and exemptions on the webpage. Note: students who enter the premaster programme in the academic year 2025-2026 and will enter the master's programme in the following year 2026-2027, no longer have to fulfil the English language requirement. 

  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.

• Application with a Dutch degree

  The Health 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 Health 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 (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.

  • Bachelor's transcript, including your GPA .
  • Course descriptions focused on the topics mentioned above (biology/physiology, bio-statistics and epidemiology)* You can use this format.

  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). Note: students who enter the premaster programme in the academic year 2025-2026 and will enter the master's programme in the following year 2026-2027, no longer have to fulfil the English language requirement. 

  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

  Note: Academic year 2025-2026 will be the final year this programme is offered in English. From academic year 2026-2027 onwards the programme will be taught in Dutch.

  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. We do not require a GRE or GMAT test score.

  2. Programme specific requirements
  

  • Adequate knowledge in Health and/or Life Sciences; 
  • 30 ECTS in Human Biology, Physiology or Biomedical; 
  • 12 ECTS in Statistics, including:  
    • Basic Statistics: describing sample characteristics, probability distributions i.e. Z-, t- and binomial distribution, calculating epidemiological effect sizes etc.; 
    • Statistical techniques commonly used in Epidemiology: conducting these analyses in statistical software and in interpreting the results of these techniques. These techniques should at least include: t-tests, chi-square tests, one-way ANOVA, uni- and multivariable regression models (linear, logistic and Cox regression); 
    • Explanation of the difference between association and prediction models; 
    • Modelling Confounding and Effect Modification in the above mentioned regression models; 
    • Practical application of Statistics in research; 
  • 6 ECTS in Epidemiology, including: 
    • Drafting epidemiological studies using cohort, case control, cross-sectional and experimental designs; 
    • Calculating, interpreting and choosing between descriptive epidemiological measures and effect sizes; 
    • Calculating and interpreting diagnostic measures of validity and reliability; 
    • Explaining validity and reliability in terms of measurement instruments as well as in terms of studies; 
    • Discussing potential for bias and confounding in relation to the design and execution of a study and consequences in terms of the direction of these biases; 
    • Explaining the meaning of effect modification in the context of an epidemiological study; 
    • Recognition and detection of common methodological and statistical flaws; 
    • Research integrity pertaining to methodology and statistics. 

  How to demonstrate that you meet the above requirements

  You are required to indicate how you meet the programme specific admission requirements in your Application Form. The Admission Board will evaluate your Application Form and decide if your academic background is sufficient to gain admission to the programme.

  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.