Social Sciences for a Digital Society

The Research Master in Social Sciences for a Digital Society is a selective programme. Selection is based on academic results, the relevance of your prior education, knowledge of (social science) research methodology, motivation, work experience, previously written academic work and contact information of 2 references.

To successfully follow the Research Master in Social Sciences for a Digital Society, you need to have sufficient knowledge of  research methods at the level and load of an academic Social Science Bachelor’s programme.

Admission requirements

To gain admission to the Master's programme, you must hold a Bachelor’s degree in social or behavioural sciences, completed with a GPA of at least 7.5 (Dutch grading system) or the international equivalent. You can also apply with a degree in other fields such as mathematics, informatics, econometrics, operations research, computational linguistics, digital humanities, geography, or psychology, if you have a clear interest in social issues, as demonstrated by relevant elective courses, minors, internships or other extra-curricular activities. The Board of Admission assesses whether you have sufficient knowledge and skills in research methods. With research methods courses of at least 12 EC in total you qualify for this criterion.  

English language requirements

To be admitted to the English-taught Master’s programme, all students must meet the following results in the English language test (no older than 2 years):

• IELTS score with a minimum of 7.0
• TOEFL score internet based test: 100
• VU TOEFL-ITP: 600 (only valid for VU Amsterdam)
• CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE in Advanced English (CAE): A or B
• CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE of Proficiency in English (CPE): A, B or C

Exemptions from the language test requirements are granted in the following cases:

• Your Bachelor’s or Master’s diploma was obtained in an English-language university programme in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, UK or USA.
• Your Bachelor’s or Master’s diploma was obtained in an English-taught programme at a Dutch university.
• Your Bachelor’s or Master’s diploma was obtained in an English-taught programme in a different EU-country.
• You have a Dutch vwo-diploma (level 6 vwo-nieuw).

Make sure to register on time at Taalloket for the VU TOEFL-ITP, as the possibilities are limited, especially during the busy summer period. 
If you have a Dutch Bachelor's degree obtained at a Dutch university, the first take of the VU TOEFL-ITP is free of charge.

Please upload a scan of the result of your test to your VU Dashboard before 31 August at the latest.

It is not possible to apply to the Research Master’s programme in Social Sciences for a Digital Society.

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.

2. Programme specific requirements

The Research Master in Social Sciences for a Digital Society is a selective programme. Selection is done by the Admission Board, based on the admission requirements and the documents in the application form. To successfully follow the Research Master in Social Sciences for a Digital Society, you need to have sufficient knowledge of research methods at the level and load of an academic Social Sciences bachelor’s programme.

The Admission Board needs to establish that you meet all of the following admission requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree in social or behavioural sciences*, equivalent to a Dutch academic (WO) bachelor and therefore must be completed at a research university
• At least 12 ECTS in social science research methods
• A GPA of at least 7.5 out of 10 (Dutch grading system) or the international equivalent. Please be aware that a 7.5 is very high in the Dutch higher education system

* You can also apply with a degree in other fields such as mathematics, informatics, econometrics, operations research, computational linguistics, digital humanities and geography. It is important that you can demonstrate that you have a clear interest and background in social issues, as demonstrated by relevant elective courses, minors, internships or other extra-curricular activities. The Admission Board will assess if your interest and background in social issues is strong enough.

In all cases, your bachelor must be equivalent to a Dutch academic (WO) bachelor and therefore must be completed at a research university.

How to demonstrate that you meet the above requirements:

You are required to indicate in the course description section of the Application Form how you meet the programme specific admission requirements. The Admission Board decides based on your complete application whether you meet the admission requirements or not.

Premaster:

VU Amsterdam does not offer a premaster/bridging programme to students who do not meet the admission requirements of the Research Master in Social Sciences for a Digital Society.

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. 

You can already submit your application form without having met the English language requirements, but if you are conditionally admitted, you still have to meet the English language requirements.

1. Registration for the Master’s programme in Studielink is open from 1 October until 1 July. 
   After registering in Studielink you’ll receive login data for your VU Dashboard.
2. Add the following documents (in English) to your VU Dashboard a.s.a.p. after registering:
   • Résumé.
   • Letter of motivation. This is a means to assess your interest in social issues both inside and outside the university. In the motivation letter you can elaborate on relevant activities mentioned in your résumé. Extracurricular activities like volunteer work are an advantage.
   • Scan of authenticated (provisional) grade list.
   • Relevant course descriptions of your Bachelor's programme.
   • Bachelor thesis or other substantial academic writing (e.g. a research proposal or essay): to assess the level of methodological skills, academic writing and critical thinking.
   • Literature list of course work: to assess the theoretical background of the programme.
   • Contact information of 2 references that could be asked to support your motivation, knowledge or skills. One of these references may be non-academic. You do not need to send letters of recommendation.
3. Finish your VU Dashboard.
4. After your application has been processed and assessed you will receive notice about your admissibility.
5. Arrange payment of the tuition fee and complete your registration before 31 August at the latest.
6. Upload a scan of the result of your English language test to your VU Dashboard before 31 August at the latest.

Before the beginning of the programme you’ll receive practical information about starting your studies.

An application is not the same as enrolment. If you register for a programme in Studielink (before 1 July), you will not immediately be enrolled. You will only be enrolled once you have been notified by Studielink. To this end, you must have submitted all the required documents a.s.a.p. after registering, preferably before 1 July, and have arranged payment of the tuition fees before 31 August.
An application does not commit you to anything and can be cancelled free of charge until 31 August.

More information about the registration procedure.

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.