How to apply for a master's programme?

The following master's programmes start in February 2020:

• Biosystems Engineering
• Biotechnology
• Biology
• Environmental Sciences
• Forest and Nature Conservation
• Plant Biotechnology
• Plant Sciences

Please note that there are different application deadlines if you wish to be eligible for a scholarship, please check the website.

All master's and online master's programmes start in September 2020.

You can submit a request for enrolment in Studielink.

Application deadlines campus programmes

Please note that there are different application deadlines if you wish to be eligible for a scholarship, please check the website.

Application deadlines online programmes

The following master's programmes start in February 2021:

• Biosystems Engineering
• Biotechnology
• Biology
• Environmental Sciences
• Forest and Nature Conservation
• Plant Biotechnology
• Plant Sciences

Please note that there are different application deadlines if you wish to be eligible for a scholarship, please check the website.

We admit students who can demonstrate that their knowledge and skills are at such a level that they can successfully complete the master's programme within two years. Applicants can provide evidence of this in two ways:

1. A bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a field of science relevant to your selected programme

The individual programmes provide information to indicate whether your bachelor's is relevant. In the admission process students are asked to upload their bachelor's certificate and information about their BSc programme. With this information the admission committee can determine whether the bachelor's programme is relevant to the selected MSc programme, in other words whether students have sufficient relevant knowledge and skills to be admitted to the master's programme.

2. A bachelor's degree in a field of science less relevant to your selected programme

When students have a bachelor's degree in a field of science that is less relevant for the MSc programme of their choice, they need to demonstrate whether they are qualified for a master's degree by giving evidence of a high academic level. Such a high academic level is needed for these students to be able to catch up on some of the discipline-specific knowledge and should enable them to put in extra work to have the same starting position as students with a relevant bachelor's degree.

When there are deficiencies in your knowledge and skills - which means you would not be able to complete the MSc programme in two years -, and the gap can be solved within 30EC, the admission committee can decide that you should first do a pre-master's programme to eliminate these deficiencies.

In accordance with the Dutch and EU legislation, no distinction is made between students with a similar bachelor's programme from a Dutch university or a European university. Because of the differences between educational systems worldwide and the differences in the content of the programmes, many bachelor degrees from non-EU universities are considered not similar, less relevant or not relevant.

When is your bachelor's degree sufficient?
For students with a relevant bachelor's degree from a Dutch or European university.

When do you need an average mark or GPA of at least a 7?
Sufficient level of the bachelor's degree as shown by an average unweighted mark of at least 7 (Dutch system) or the international equivalent of the required quality as determined in the International credentials evaluation guideline.

• Students with a less relevant bachelor's degree from a Dutch or European university
• Students with a relevant or less relevant bachelor's degree from a non-European university
• Students with a relevant bachelor's from a University of Applied Sciences

When your average mark or GPA is lower than a 7, the admission committee can allow compensation when they found enough evidence of a sufficient level of the bachelor’s degree. The following information can be requested for compensation:

• Thesis result;
• Scores for the courses that are of particular relevance to the MSc programme applied for;
• Indisputable upward trend of course grades;
• A declaration of the educational institute of the applicant on a deviating GPA policy;
• Achievements in postgraduate education;
• Multiple studies;
• Scores for WU courses (by exchange students or students taking a minor);
• Quality of the degree awarding institution thesis result.

Documentation to give proof of relevant knowledge and skills

The following documents need to be uploaded to determine whether you meet the requirements of the programme: bachelor’s degree, transcript of academic records and proof of sufficient English language proficiency (read more further down this page).

Since master's programmes at Wageningen University are taught in English, master's students need to understand and speak English, and read and write in English. For successful completion of the master's programme it is therefore essential that students start with a sufficient level of English language proficiency.

The required level of the English language proficiency to be able to be admitted to a master's differs per programme; some programmes require level 1, others require level 2. There are various methods to give evidence of sufficient English proficiency. In some cases you can be exempted from submitting an English proficiency test

Students with a bachelor's from a Dutch university

Universities in the Netherlands agreed to ensure their bachelor's students meet the English language requirements of the master's programmes in the Netherlands. Students from a Dutch university automatically meet the required level and do not need to provide additional evidence of their English proficiency level. Such agreement have not been made with non-Dutch universities.

Students with a bachelor's degree from a non-Dutch university

All applicants must provide recent evidence of their spoken and written command of English. The required level for the master's programme and the acceptable qualifications (methods and scores) are listed below, including a link to the list of exemptions.

Students with a bachelor's from a Dutch university of applied sciences (HBO)

All applicants must provide recent evidence of their spoken and written command of English. The required level for the master's programme and the acceptable qualifications (methods and scores) are listed below.

Applicants who have completed a fully English taught bachelor's at a Dutch university of applied sciences are exempted from submitting an English Proficiency test. They are required to upload a signed statement from their institution that the medium of instruction during the complete bachelor’s programme they followed was English.

Exemption

In the attachment we explain when you are exempted: Exemption English language proficiency.pdf.

Students who do not meet the specific requirements of the programme because of deficiencies in their previous completed bachelor's education, may eliminate these deficiencies by following a pre-master's programme. You can't apply for a pre-master's programme. This is part of the apply process of the master's or your choice.

A pre-master’s programme is only meant to eliminate deficiencies in previous education, it is not meant to compensate for a too low GPA. This applies to all master's programmes at Wageningen University.

A Wageningen University pre-master's programme consists of a maximum of 30 credits and is determined individually. It has to be obtained within one academic year. Students lacking skills and knowledge that cannot be obtained within 30 ECTS cannot be admitted.

A Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Dutch or English (or a certified English translation).

Students in the final year of their bachelor's programme may also apply for admission prior to graduation. The Academic Committee on Admissions can tentatively admit students based on a transcript of their academic records and the expected date of graduation.

Please also upload your master's degree if obtained.

Make sure this document is uploaded and accepted before the application deadline. This is not applicable if you have not graduated yet.

An official transcript of records of your bachelor's in Dutch or English with your name, logo and official stamp of your university. Please upload an official transcript of records with your marks obtained so far if you have not graduated yet.

Please also upload a transcript of records of your master's if obtained.

Make sure this document is uploaded and accepted before the application deadline.

Every student needs to prove their English language level by submitting a sufficient result of an English proficiency test as per our requirements.

Note that you require a sufficient test result before the application deadline. Tests therefore need to be taken well in advance of the application deadline for your application to be considered (uploading a test result after the deadline is not an option).

In some cases you can be exempted from submitting an English proficiency test. Please see below if you are exempted:

For more information which are accpeted by Wageningen University & Research:

• Dutch nationals
• EU nationals
• Nationals outside EU/EFTA

Be aware that there are two different levels. Please check which level is applicable for the programme(s) you apply for.

In this document you explain why you wish to enroll in the chosen programme(s) and, if applicable, you give an indication of the programme’s practical value to your profession (one page maximum and in English). Although part of the admission process, this statement is not an admission criterion. When relevant, this information will be used to advise you in case your expectations of the programme do not match the actual content and goals of the master's programme. Students may be advised to choose another programme at WU.

Make sure this document is uploaded and accepted before the application deadline.

You are required to provide a typed Curriculum Vitae or brief personal history (in English). The Curriculum Vitae or brief personal history is not an admission criteria. When relevant, this information will be used to advise you about your choice of master's programme.

Make sure this document is uploaded and accepted before the application deadline.