Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Sciences

Check whether you meet the admission requirements

• I have a Dutch bachelor’s degree

  To gain admission to the programme we have 3 requirements: 

  First, to gain admission to the programme we require sufficient knowledge and insight on clinical reasoning. Applicants who have successfully completed one of the following Bachelor (of Science) programmes meet this requirement:

  • HBO Physiotherapy
  • HBO Occupational or exercise therapy (Cesar Mensendieck)
  • WO Medicine

  Please note that a Bachelor degree in Human Movement Sciences does not give access to the Master Muscoloskeletal Physiotherapy Sciences.
  
  Secondly, sufficient knowledge on basic mathematical and analytical skills is required to successfully complete our academic Master's programme. This requirement can be met in either of the following ways:

  • By successfully completing an academic (WO) Bachelor of Science programme
  • By successfully completing courses on mathematical and analytical skills at an academic level. The Admission Board will determine whether the courses taken are of a sufficient level. 
  • By completing a GMAT Focus Edition test (scroll down for more information). A minimum score of 355* is required to be eligible for admission. Note that successful students of the master’s programme Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Sciences will have a GMAT Focus Edition score of at least 455. If your score is between 355-455, we therefore advise you to follow an additional educational programme to meet the required mathematical and analytical standards. Please note that it takes time to take a GMAT test and to receive the results! On average the process will take you three months. The cost of this test is approximately 350 US Dollar.

  *  From 31st January 2024 The GMAT exam is replaced by the GMAT Focus Edition test. If you took a GMAT exam in the previous year the following minimum scores are required: a minimum of 300 is required, a score of 450 is expected. If your score is between 300-450, we  advise you to follow an additional educational programme to meet the required mathematical and analytical standards.

  
  Thirdly, VU Amsterdam requires all applicants for a Master’s programme, taught in English, to have a sufficient level of English. Therefore all applicants have to take an English language test and need to submit their score as part of their application. An exception is made for:
  

  • Dutch students who have obtained a VWO degree
  • Students who have obtained a diploma of a Bachelor or Bachelor of Science programme that was taught in entirely English

  
  The minimum English language proficiency requirements for admission are:

  • IELTS: 6.5 - please note that candidates must take the Academic test and not the General one! 
  • TOEFL paper-based test: 580
  • TOEFL Internet-based test: 92
  • Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE): A, B, C
  • Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): A, B, C
  • VU-test English-language proficiency: TOEFL ITP: 580

  GMAT Focus Edition test
  The GMAT Focus Edition test is a standardized test that measures the suitability of a candidate for a programme on university level. The GMAT Focus Edition test is used worldwide by well-known universities. In the GMAT Focus Edition test elementary mathematical and analytical skills are tested. A test will cost approximately 350 US Dollar. The GMAT Focus Edition test consists of three sections: Quantative, Verbal and Data Insights. More information on GMAT and the application for the test can be found on www.mba.com. Keep in mind that it will take the GMAT center about 20 days to publish your test results. For more information on getting more time to make the GMAT test (e.g.) in case of dyslexia) you can contact the test centers. Please note that this is a very strict and long procedure. You can take the GMAT Focus Edition test once every 16 calendar days and attempt the test for a maximum of 5 times a year. At the start of your test please indicate that ‘Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam’ has permission to receive your score. 

  A thorough preparation can help you to get a good score for the GMAT test. You can find several preparation courses online. 

• Application with a Dutch degree

  To apply for the Master programme Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Sciences, you need to submit the required documents mentioned below. See the VU website for the application procedure.

  Based on the information provided the Admission Board will determine whether you are eligible for admission. You will receive a letter from the Admission board with their decision regarding your admission within 4 weeks.

  Upload your application file as ‘diploma’ on your dashboard on VU.nl. The following documents are required for your application (and to be submitted in English):

  • Copy of your HBO/WO diploma(s)
  • Transcript of records from your HBO/WO Bachelor's programme
  • English language test results
  • Proof of sufficient mathematical and analytical skills (e.g. GMAT test score, successfully completed Master Preparation Minor)
  • Proof of English language proficiency (e.g. Dutch VWO diploma, English language test results, or proof of a completed bachelor’s programme taught entirely in English)

  The deadlines for application:

  • Deadline for submitting application in Studielink and on your dashboard on VU.nl: 31 May.
  • Deadline for completing your enrolment (including payment of tuition fees): 31 August.

• I have an international degree

  The Master’s programme in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Sciences 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.

  Admission requirements

  To gain admission to the programme we have 3 requirements:

  First, to gain admission to the programme we require sufficient knowledge and insight on clinical reasoning. Applicants have successfully completed one of the following Bachelor of Science programmes meet this requirement:

  • Physiotherapy
  • Occupational or exercise therapy (Cesar Mensendieck)
  • Medicine

  Secondly, sufficient knowledge on basic mathematical and analytical skills are required to successfully complete our academic Master programme. This requirement can be met in either of the following ways:

  • By successfully completing an academic Bachelor of Science programme, equivalent to the academic level in the Netherlands.
  • By successfully completing courses on mathematical and analytical skills at an academic level. The Admission Board will determine whether the courses taken are of a sufficient level.
  • By completing a GMAT Focus Edition test (scroll down for more information). A minimum score of 355* is required to be eligible for admission. Note that successful students of the master’s programme Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Sciences will have a GMAT Focus Edition score of at least 455. If your score is between 355-455, we therefore advise you to follow an additional educational programme to meet the required mathematical and analytical standards. Please note that it takes time to take a GMAT test and to receive the results! On average the process will take you three months. The cost of this test is approximately 350 US Dollar.

  *  From 31st January 2024 The GMAT exam is replaced by the GMAT Focus Edition test. If you took a GMAT exam in the previous year the following minimum scores are required: a minimum of 300 is required, a score of 450 is expected. If your score is between 300-450, we  advise you to follow an additional educational programme to meet the required mathematical and analytical standards.

  Thirdly, VU Amsterdam requires all applicants for a Master’s programme, taught in English, to have a sufficient level of English proficiency. Therefore all applicants have to take an English language test and need to submit their score as part of their application.

  GMAT Focus Edition test 

  
  The GMAT Focus Edition test is a standardized test that measures the suitability of a candidate for a programme on university level. The GMAT Focus Edition test is used worldwide by well-known universities. In the GMAT Focus Edition test elementary mathematical and analytical skills are tested. A test will cost approximately 350 US Dollar. The GMAT Focus Edition test consists of three sections: Quantative, Verbal and Data Insights. More information on GMAT and the application for the test can be found on www.mba.com. Keep in mind that it will take the GMAT center about 20 days to publish your test results. For more information on getting more time to make the GMAT test (e.g.) in case of dyslexia) you can contact the test centers. Please note that this is a very strict and long procedure. You can take the GMAT Focus Edition test once every 16 calendar days and attempt the test for a maximum of 5 times a year. At the start of your test please indicate that ‘Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam’ has permission to receive your score.

  A thorough preparation can help you to get a good score for the GMAT test. You can find several preparation courses online.

  English language proficiency

  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

  Please download your Master application file to check which documents are required for this programme.  

  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 form here. 
  • 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.