English language proficiency (NL)

All Master programmes at Wageningen University & Research are given in the English language and all applicants must provide recent evidence of their spoken and written command of English. This page is written specifically for Dutch prospective Master students.

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

	Level 1	Level 2
Havo	7	8
VWO	6	7
RATEr	Listening pass, Reading pass, Writing borderline, Speaking borderline.	Listening pass, Reading pass, Writing pass, Speaking pass.
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)
Cambridge FCE/B2 First	score between 169-190 or Grade B	score between 176-190 or Grade A
Cambridge CAE/C1 Advanced	score between 169-210 or Grade C	score between 176-210 or Grade C
Cambridge CPE/C2 Proficiency	score between 180-230 or Grade C	score between 180-230 or Grade C
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

Master programmes - English Level 1	Master programmes - English Level 2
Animal Sciences	Aquaculture and Marine Resource Management
Biobased Sciences	Biology
Bioinformatics	Communication, Health and Life Sciences
Biosystems Engineering	Development and Rural Innovation
Biotechnology	Food Quality Management
Climate Studies	Food Safety
Earth and Environment	International Development Studies
Environmental Sciences	Landscape Architecture and Planning
Food Technology	Management Economics and Consumer Studies
Food Technology (online master specialisation)	Metropolitan Analysis Design and Engineering
Forest and Nature Conservation	Organic Agriculture
Geo-information Science	Plant Biotechnology
International Land and Water Management	Plant Breeding (online master specialisation)
Tourism, Society and Environment	Plant Sciences
Molecular Life Sciences
Nutritional Epidemiology and Public Health (online master specialisation)
Nutrition and Health
Urban Environmental Management
Water Technology

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

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

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 several times a month. In the Netherlands the test centers are in Amsterdam, Arnhem, Lelystad and Velp. More information and registration.

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. The test center for the Netherlands is in Amsterdam. More information available the IELTS website.

Cambridge exams (CAE, FCE and CPE)

For information and registration see the Cambridge website.

RATEr

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

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 (WO) are exempted from submitting an English Proficiency test.

3. Applicants who have completed a fully English taught Bachelor at a Dutch university of applied sciences (HBO) 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.

4. Nationals who are on the country list (see below) who have completed their Bachelor or Master degree in their home country are 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.

Exemption English Language Proficiency

Exemption English Language Proficiency

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.