English language proficiency (EU)

The MSc programme at Wageningen University & Research is given in the English language and all applicants must provide recent evidence of their spoken and written command of English.

The following qualifications are acceptable as evidence of proficiency in English for entry to the MSc programmes (for EU nationals):

Master programmes - English Level 1 Master programmes - English Level 2
Animal Sciences, Biobased Science (start September 2018), Bioinformatics, Biosystems Engineering, Biotechnology, Climate Studies, Earth and Environment, Environmental Sciences, Food Technology, Food Technology (online master specialisation), Forest and Nature Conservation, Geo-information Science, International Land and Water Management, Landscape Architecture and Planning, Leisure Tourism and Environment, Molecular Life Sciences, Nutritional Epidemiology and Public Health (online master specialisation), Nutrition and Health, Urban Environmental Management, Water Technology. Aquaculture and Marine Resource Management, Biology, Communication, Health and Life Sciences, Development and Rural Innovation, Food Quality Management, Food Safety, International Development Studies, Management Economics and Consumer Studies, Metropolitan Analysis Design and Engineering, Plant Biotechnology, Plant Breeding (online master specialisation), Plant Sciences, Organic Agriculture.
Level 1 Level 2
IELTS overall grade 6.0 (with a minimum sub-score of 6.0 for speaking) Overall grade 6.5 (with a minimum sub-score of 6.0 for speaking)
TOEFL internet-based 80 (with a minimum sub-score of 20 for speaking) internet-based 92 (with a minimum sub-score of 23 for speaking)
RATEr Listening pass, Reading pass, Writing borderline, Speaking borderline. Listening pass, Reading pass, Writing pass, Speaking pass.
Cambridge FCE pass at grade B or above pass at grade A
Cambridge CAE pass at grade C or above pass at grade C or above
Cambridge CPE pass at grade C or above pass at grade C or above
International Baccalauréat diploma Language of instruction English or English A Language and Literature 3 Language of instruction English or English A Language and Literature 4
German Abitur (English should be taken as Prüfungsfach) 06 Punkte for English 09 Punkte for English
Belgium ASO 60 for English 70 for English

Applicants who do not meet the standard level requirement will not be admitted to the programme.

IELTS, TOEFL tests should have been taken no longer than two years prior to the application.

RATEr

The RATEr is a diagnostic test of academic English, the test can be taken at Wageningen in’to Languages.

TOEFL test

Test of English as a Foreign Language measures the ability of non-native speakers of English to use and understand English as it is spoken, written and heard in college and university settings. If you are planning to study at college and universities where instruction is in English you will often be asked to take a TOEFL test. The test is administered serveral times a month. Applicants taking a TOEFL test should note that Wageningen University has been assigned a TOEFL code (0542) and that the results are sent directly to us. For more information see the TOEFL website.

IELTS test

The purpose of the IELTS test is to quantify the English Language proficiency of non-native English speakers who intend to study through the medium of English. The test is administered several times per month. The Academic test is required. More information available on the IELTS website.

Cambridge exams (CAE, FCE and CPE)

For information and registration see the Cambridge website.

Exemptions

1. Applicants who have completed their Bachelor or Master degree in one of the following countries: Australia, Ireland, Canada (except those educated at universities in Quebec), New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America are exempted from submitting an English proficiency test.

2. Applicants who have completed a bachelor at a Dutch university may submit a signed statement from the university, stating that the medium of instruction during the complete bachelor’s programme was English. This does not apply to applicants who have obtained their bachelor at a Dutch university of applied sciences.

3. Nationals of one of the following countries, Botswana, Bhutan, Caribbean, Cameroon, Cyprus, Ghana, Guyana, India, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, The Gambia, The Philippines, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe who have completed their Bachelor or Master degree in their home country are strongly encouraged to submit a sufficient result of an English proficiency test. If this is not possible, a signed statement from the university that the medium of instruction during the complete Bachelor’s programme they followed was English is required.

All other applicants need to submit sufficient result of an English proficiency test as per the requirements.

Please note! The admission committee reserves the right to request any applicant to submit an English language proficiency test.