Mathematics

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)

  Direct admission to the Master's programme in Mathematics is possible with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics or Technical Mathematics from a university in the Netherlands. 

  If you have a Bachelor's degree in another subject from a university or institute of higher education in The Netherlands or elsewhere, you require the approval of the Examination Board. The main admission criteria are:

  • A Bachelor of Science
  • 90 EC or equivalent of Mathematics courses at the BSc level including some advanced courses

  Students with a Bachelor's degree from an institution of academic higher education in a field that does not sufficiently correspond with the subject area covered by the Master's programme can request admission to the pre-master’s programme. Admission to this programme is only possible if the deficiency amounts to at most 30 EC Mathematics courses. Please contact the master’s coordinator Joost Hulshof: j.hulshof@vu.nl

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

  Entrants with a Dutch higher vocational education (HBO) who hold a teacher's degree in Mathematics (“tweedegraads bevoegdheid wiskunde”) can only enter the Teacher’s track of the Master’s programme after having completed a premaster’s programme (or show they have equivalent background of this premaster’s). They will obtain a Master’s in Mathematics with a first degree teaching qualification. Other premasters, tracks or specialisations within the Master’s programme are not accessible with a (Dutch) HBO degree.

• Application with a Dutch degree

  The Mathematics programme is open to both Dutch and International Students. The Faculty’s Admission Board will decide upon your admission after having evaluated your complete online application. You find all information about the general application procedure with a Dutch degree on the application page.

  Use this form to apply for the Master’s: Application form Master's Mathematics.
  Use this form to apply for the pre-Master’s: Application form pre-Master's Mathematics.

  The application deadlines are:

  To start in September:

  1 June for holders of a Dutch bachelor’s degree (with a Dutch or EU/EEA nationality).

  To start in February:

  1 December for holders of a Dutch bachelor’s degree (with a Dutch or EU/EEA nationality).

  Your application will be rejected in case you didn’t upload the required documents in ‘your dashboard’ within 6 weeks after your enrolment in Studielink, OR in case you’ve uploaded (one or more) of the required documents after June 1^st or December 1^st. Applications and documents submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

  Required documents (deadline June 1^st or December 1^st)

  This (pre)master’s programme requires students with a Dutch bachelor's degree to upload the following documents as soon as possible and in any case 6 weeks after your enrolment and before 1 June or December 1.

  • Bachelor's transcript, including your GPA (HBO: including propedeuse).
  • Curriculum Vitae.
  • Course descriptions of the mathematics courses you took.
  • Statement of Intent (motivation letter), containing your motivation for the chosen track. Max. 1 page.

  Your online dashboard gives you an overview of the submitted and eventual missing documents. Check your dashboard regularly.

• I have an international degree

  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. We do not require a GRE or GMAT test score.

  2. Programme-specific requirements

  • A Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Mathematics, Engineering Mathematics or another closely related Bachelor’s degree;
  • A  minimum of 90 ECTS in Mathematics, including courses comparable to the courses of the VU Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics.

  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.

  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.