International Crimes, Conflict and Criminology

Check if you meet the admission requirements and apply.

• Merit based admission

  Admission to this interdisciplinary Master’s programme is based on a relevant degree, and on merit and your fit with the programme. 

  Merit is demonstrated by academic excellence, as evidenced by your overall grade average, admission essay and academic English proficiency. You should have a min. GPA of 7.3 according to the Dutch grading system. Please note that VU Amsterdam will convert international grades and decide on the international grade equivalents for the Dutch grade of a 7.3.

  Fit with this interdisciplinary programme is demonstrated by your motivation, CV, relevant experience (e.g. an internship or (voluntary) work) and substantiated interest in conflict-related crimes, political violence, international crimes and/or international criminal justice.

  These criteria are of equal importance. A somewhat lower score in one area may be compensated by a strong score in another.

• 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

  You can apply with a Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB), Criminology, Social Sciences, Political Science or Psychology or any other related subject.

  If you do not meet the abovementioned requirement, you may still apply. Your application will be assessed on:

  • talent and motivation
  • proficiency in research methods and techniques

  VU pre-master's

  The faculty does not offer a pre-master's for this master. Instead, students who require a pre-master's to qualify for this master can take a pre-master's in the field of their bachelor degree (Law, Criminology, Social or Political sciences, Psychology or other relevant field for the ICC master).

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

  Admission

  You can apply on the basis of one of the HBO degrees listed below in combination with a relevant pre-master's:

  • HBO-Rechten plus VU SchakelzoneRecht (in Dutch)
  • HBO-Rechten plus doorstroomprogramma HvA-VU (in Dutch) at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
  • HBO in Law, Criminology, Social or Political sciences or Psychology plus relevant pre-master's

  
  Your application will be assessed on:

  • talent and motivation
  • proficiency in research methods and techniques

• Application with a Dutch degree

  Application

  First check whether you meet the admission requirements.
  You can apply from 1 October. The application deadline is 31 March.

  Use this application procedure for Dutch degrees but please upload the documents as mentioned below and not the documents mentioned on the general application procedure webpage. The other website can be used for general information about the application procedure but mentions a different set of documents. 
  For this Master’s programme you must upload the following documents (PDF) on your VU Dashboard: 

  • letter of motivation, explaining why you wish to join the programme (maximum 1500 words)
  • short essay as proof of academic writing in English, answering the following question (maximum 1000 words including references): An armed group that fights government over political power hides in the jungle. It regularly kidnaps children and trains them as fighters. The group also sells cocaine to fund its activities. Would you qualify the crimes committed by this group as international crimes or (transnational) organized crime?
  • curriculum vitae
  • certified transcript of grades obtained so far

  Only complete dossiers will be considered. We may ask for additional information on your academic record if this is deemed necessary to come to a decision.

  Please note that the application deadline for this master programme is 31 March 2024.

  This applies to both VU-students as students with a bachelor from another university. You will receive the decision by 1 May.

• I have an international degree

  Admission

  Applicants with an academic Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB), Criminology, Social Sciences, Political Science or Psychology or any other related subject can apply.

  If you do not meet the abovementioned requirement you may still apply, your application will be assessed on:

  • talent and motivation
  • proficiency in research methods and techniques.

  If you have a degree from a University of Applied Sciences, you need a completed and relevant pre-master's to apply. The faculty does not offer a pre-master's for this master.

  We use the UK Naric comparison system and the Nuffic comparison and validation programmes to assess your application. Especially students from non-EEA countries should factor in the possibility that a relevant Bachelor’s degree may not be sufficient for acceptance to this Master of Science programme.

  Proof of sufficient proficiency in English

  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.

• 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 website. 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.  

  The application deadlines are:

  • 1 December (with complete dossier) for international students applying for one of the VU scholarships
  • 31 March (with complete dossier) for all other applicants

  Important: To get a decision in time, your application dossier must be complete by the mentioned deadlines. This includes the payment of the application fee. 

  Decision schedule

  For students applying for a VU Scholarship only: Application dossier complete by 1 December	decision by 15 January
  Application dossier complete by 31 March	decision by 1 May

  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 our Scholarships webpage 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.