Education and Child Studies (research) (MSC)

Admission requirements

The master’s degree programme Education and Child Studies (Research) is an academic, not a vocational programme. It offers research based knowledge about education and child development.

General diploma requirements

Holders of one of the following degrees may be admitted to the programme:

A research (i.e. not a professional) Bachelor’s degree programme in the field of Education and Child Studies or a relevant degree:

this programme contains at least 20 ec in research methods and statistics of social and behavioral sciences and the use of data analysis software and in addition at least 30 ec in Education and Child subjects or Education and Child Studies relevant subjects
the candidate has demonstrable affinity with an area of research in the Research Master’s programme, as evidenced by a BA-thesis relating to that area (please, send a copy together with your application)
a high grade for the BA-thesis (7,5 or higher). Also required is a CV

Qualitative admission requirement

In addition to the general diploma requirements and the language requirements, the following qualitative admission requirement applies for the programme:

the candidate must obtain a positive evaluation on an admission interview with the Board of Admissions.

This qualitative admission requirement (selection requirement) will be assessed according to the following method:

The assessment of the interview is based on the following criteria: the candidate’s expressed academic potential with a focus on:

The candidate’s ability to explain and discuss their experience in quantative research in the field of education and child studies or a related field;
The candidate’s substantiation/explanation of their primary motivation for doing research;
The candidate’s level of (intellectual) curiosity, for example expressed in the type of questions asked during the interview;
The candidate’s ability to reflect on personal skills, and on how these match the challenging nature of the programme (think of the high level of courses, time pressure);
The candidate’s level of clarity of expression and thought.

To prepare for the interview, the Board of Admissions asks for a motivation letter (max 600 words).

Proof that the student meets the qualitative admission requirement (selection requirement) must be provided by 1 August 2024.

The following requirements apply*:

IELTS Academic modules only, on paper or on computer: 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0 for each separate component score.
- We do not accept IELTS Academic online.
- We do not accept IELTS General Training, IELTS Indicator, or IELTS One Skill Retake
TOEFL internet based: 90 overall, with at least 20 for each separate component.
- We are not able to accept The TOEFL IBT Home Edition™, except in the following situation only:
  You are unable to take an in-person test on location because test centres are inaccessible or closed due to unsafe conditions in a country.
- We do not accept the following types of test: TOEFL My Best™ scores (multiple test scores combined), TOEFL Essentials™ or institutional tests such as ITP.

Cambridge English Exam C2 Proficiency, or C1 Advanced (180), with a minimum score of 169 for each separate component.

Note that English test results may not be more than two years old and must be obtained in one single test.

*You do not have to submit an English proficiency test if you have completed your education in the USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (except French-taught programmes in Canada) Singapore, South-Africa or Malta; or if you have obtained an English-taught International Baccalaureate™; or if you have completed a Dutch VWO diploma or an English-taught bachelor at a Dutch research university or (for September intake) a diploma of an English-taught higher professional education (hbo) programme completed at a Dutch university of applied sciences.

For detailed information, including exemption criteria and methods of submission, refer to English language proficiency.