Oncology

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)

  This is a selective Master's programme. You will be considered for admission to the Master's programme Oncology if you hold 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.

  To be considered for admission to the Master’s programme in Oncology you must meet the requirements listed below.

  • Academic Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, Life Sciences, Medicine or comparable.
  • Well-developed academic skills including writing and presenting skills, the ability to evaluate and apply knowledge, and the ability to engage in critical thinking.
  • A clear motivation and talent for participation in the programme.
  • Basic knowledge of Molecular Biology, Oncology & Immunology.
  • Research Laboratory skills (a bachelor internship of > 12 EC).
  • Pass the admission assessment test of the programme (more information and test-dates are described under application).

  We will also take into account your grade point average, marks for relevant courses, study progress and extracurricular activities. The Admissions Board of the master Oncology will decide upon your admission after having evaluated your complete online application. Note that the initial application procedure is fully online and that scans of your relevant documents are required. In all cases, decisions will be made within 6 weeks after the application deadline. Only in exceptional circumstances may we deviate from the specific admission requirements. If you believe your case is subject to such exceptional circumstances, then please explain so in your letter of motivation.
  

  The Admissions Board of the master Oncology reviews all requests for admission and selects students that meet the entry requirements. The Admissions Board also assesses whether you will be able to successfully complete the Master’s programme within the set time frame. This means the decision on your application is based on a thorough analysis.
  

  You can contact the programme coordinator with questions about your eligibility. However, only with the “admission email” you will be officially notified about your conditional or unconditional admission.

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

  This is a selective Master's programme. You will be considered for admission to the Master's programme Oncology if you hold a Bachelor's degree from an institute of higher education (HBO/HLO) and obtained a minimum of 240EC (4 years of study). To be considered for admission to the Master’s programme in Oncology you must meet the requirements listed below.

  • Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, Life Sciences, Medicine or comparable.
  • Well-developed academic skills including writing and presenting skills, the ability to evaluate and apply knowledge, and the ability to engage in critical thinking.
  • A clear motivation and talent for participation in the programme.
  • Basic knowledge of Molecular Biology, Oncology & Immunology.
  • Research Laboratory skills (a bachelor internship of > 12 EC).
  • Pass the admission assessment test of the programme (more information and test-dates are described under application).

  We will also take into account your grade point average, marks for relevant courses, study progress and extracurricular activities. The Admissions Board of the master Oncology will decide upon your admission after having evaluated your complete online application. Note that the initial application procedure is fully online and that scans of your relevant documents are required. In all cases, decisions will be made within 6 weeks after the application deadline. Only in exceptional circumstances may we deviate from the specific admission requirements. If you believe your case is subject to such exceptional circumstances, then please explain so in your letter of motivation.
  
  The Admissions Board of the master Oncology reviews all requests for admission and selects students that meet the entry requirements. The Admissions Board also assesses whether you will be able to successfully complete the Master’s programme within the set time frame. This means the decision on your application is based on a thorough analysis.
  
  You can contact the programme coordinator with questions about your eligibility. However, only with the “admission email” you will be officially notified about your conditional or unconditional admission.

• Application with a Dutch Degree

  Online admission

  We will begin accepting applications from October 1. You should complete an admission request through Studielink. You will receive a confirmation of your request as well as login details for VUnet. Complete the application and upload all required documents relating to the admission requirements in the VUnet portal before the application deadline (June 1 for EU students).

  Complete your application in time!

  When applying online, you are asked to submit a number of forms and documents (all in English). Please submit your application with all required documents before the application deadline. If your file is incomplete at that time, we will be unable to consider your application. We will inform you of our decision within six weeks after the application deadline.

  Application procedure:
  Prepare the documents and apply online. Please note that all documents must be submitted in English.
  The following documents need to be uploaded in the VUnet portal:

  • Copy of your valid passport or ID (only for EU residents)
  • Application Form (use the Application Form Template), containing:
    • The email address we can use to contact you
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • Letter of Motivation - As a minimum, this letter should describe why you want to pursue a career in Oncology Research and why you choose to study this master programme at the Faculty of Medicine VU.
    • A Letter of Recommendation - Your recommendation letter must be written by a qualified person; for instance the supervisor of your Bachelor thesis or coordinator of major Bachelor courses.
    • Diploma - only if you have graduated already. 
    • Transcript of records (provide a certified translation if it is not in English).
    • A description of the relevant courses you have taken during your previous higher education.

  Save the completed Application Form as PDF. After having prepared the required documents, please follow the online application procedure. The Application Form needs to be uploaded in the VU application form field in your VUnet portal.

  English language proficiency

  You can apply without the English language test. Your English will be tested during the admission test (interview).

  You must have passed the English courses in your previous education. In case the admission board decides that the level of English proficiency is not clear based on the previous education and/or admission assessment test, students will be asked to provide a VU-test English-language proficiency: TOEFL ITP certificate with a minimum score of 580.

  Admission Assessment test

  An admission assessment test is part of the admission procedure. The test consists of two components, a multiple choice questions test held on the VU campus (the test takes one hour) and an online interview. Students are required to pass both components of assessment.

  The first part of the admission assessment test consists of multiple-choice questions on Oncology and Immunology. Suggested learning material for this test is: Molecular Biology of Cancer, 3rd edition by L. Pecorino (ISBN 9780199577170) and Janeway’s Immunobiology, 8th edition by K. Murphy (ISBN 9780815342434), but comparable basic Oncology and Immunology books are also sufficient.
  The test is graded by the Admission Board. The results will be announced within seven working days after the test date.
  
  After passing the first part of the admission assessment test, you will be invited for an online interview for the second part of the admission assessment test. You will receive a scientific article on Oncology approximately 24 hours before the interview, which you need to summarize and critically discuss.
  Admission Assessment Test dates:
  Part I_ Multiple-choice Test: TBA (June 2026) - Note that part I is held live at the VU campus!
  Part II_ Online Interview: TBA (June 2026)

  Registration

  After being admitted to the Master Oncology, students need to complete their registration and pay tuition fees. Information about tuition fees can be found on the central student administration website of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

• I have an international degree

  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). For a bachelor’s degree from an institute of higher education (HBO/HLO), you need 240EC (4 years of study). 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

  • Academic Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, Life Sciences, Medicine or comparable. 
  • Well-developed academic skills including writing and presenting skills, the ability to evaluate and apply knowledge, and the ability to engage in critical thinking. 
  • A clear motivation and talent for participation in the programme. 
  • Basic knowledge of Molecular Biology, Oncology & Immunology. 
  • Research Laboratory skills (a bachelor internship of > 12 EC). 
  • Pass the admission assessment test of the programme.
  • Your grade-point average, marks for relevant courses, study progress and extracurricular activities will also be taken into account. 

  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. 

  Assessment test 

  After we have received and evaluated your complete portfolio, we will invite you for an interview. You will receive a scientific article on Oncology shortly before the interview, which you need to summarize and critically discuss. We may also ask questions about your background and motivation, and questions testing your background knowledge on Molecular Biology, Immunology and Oncology.

  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.