Information Sciences (pre-master's programme)

Admission and application

• Admission requirements

  This pre-master’s programme is for students with a Bachelor’s degree other than Information Sciences or a related subject obtained at a University of Applied Sciences (Dutch HBO).

  International students
  The pre-master's programme is open to all international students who meet the admissions requirements, however, students with a non-Dutch bachelor's degree always need to apply for the master's programme first. 

  Language requirements
  VU Amsterdam requires all students with a non-Dutch previous degree applicants to take an English test. Exceptions are made for students who have completed their education in Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia.

  The minimum English language proficiency requirements for admission to this Master's programme are:

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall
  • TOEFL Internet-based test: 92 overall
  • Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE): A, B, C
  • Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): A, B, C

  Please note that students who need a study visa must submit their English test results before 1 June. All other students have to submit the test certificate before 31 August (preferably sooner).

  TOEFL and IELTS tests must have been completed no more than two years before 1 September of the year in which your course starts. Note that TOEFL MyBestScore is not accepted. Our institution code is 7947.

  Your English test results can be included in your application file or sent to the following email address (for non-Dutch degree holders): masters.fs@vu.nl. The general requirements regarding language proficiency are found here.

• Application

  You can find all general information about applying for a pre-master's programme here for international degree holders and here for Dutch degree holders. 

  The application deadlines are:

  • 1 February for international students applying for one of the VU scholarships
  • 1 April for non-EU/EEA students*
  • 1 June for non-Dutch EU/EEA students
  • 1 June for holders of a Dutch bachelor’s degree (with a Dutch or EU/EEA nationality)

  *non-EU/EEA students who do not need a study visa and/or a residence permit can still apply until 1 June.

  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.

• Contact

  If you have any questions about the pre-master's programme or the admission requirements, you can contact the pre-master's Study Advisors via academicadvice.cs.beta@vu.nl. Do not forget to enclose your grade list and CV. If you have general questions about the admission procedure, you can contact the admissions committee of the Faculty of Science: toelating.beta@vu.nl.