Step 1: Entry requirements
Before you apply to one of our Master's degree programmes, please check below the entry requirements and other possibilities.
Click on the drop-down menu which applies to you.
I have a...
Bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Science and Engineering/ University of Groningen
Please check the admission and/or entry requirements in the Teaching and Examination Regulations to see whether your Bachelor's degree grants admission to the Master's degree programme. If you have unconditional access to a non-selective Master's degree programme, you do not have to follow a special application procedure: you may simply register in Studielink for your Master's degree programme.
List of connecting Bachelor's - Master's degree programmes
The following connecting FSE Bachelor's - Master's degree programmes do not require you to file an admission request to the Admission Board of the Master's degree programme: your admission will be processed automatically after registration in Studielink.
FSE MSc. degree programme |
FSE BSc. degree programme
|
---|---|
MSc. Applied Mathematics
|
BSc. Mathematics, BSc. Applied Mathematics
|
MSc. Applied Physics
|
BSc. Applied Physics
|
MSc. Astronomy
|
BSc. Astronomy
|
MSc. Biology
|
BSc. Biology
|
MSc. Biomedical Engineering
|
BSc. Biomedical Engineering
|
MSc. Chemical Engineering
|
BSc. Chemical Engineering
|
MSc. Computing Science
|
BSc. Computing Science
|
MSc. Energy & Environmental Sciences
|
All FSE BSc. degree programmes
|
MSc. Computational Cognitive Science
|
BSc. Artificial Intelligence
|
MSc. Industrial Engineering & Management
|
BSc. Industrial Engineering & Management
|
MSc. Mathematics
|
BSc. Mathematics, BSc. Applied Mathematics
|
MSc. Medical Pharmaceutical Sciences
|
BSc. Pharmacy
|
MSc. Pharmacy
|
BSc. Pharmacy, major Pharmacy
|
MSc. Physics
|
BSc. Physics, BSc. Applied Physics
|
MSc. Science Education & Communication (C-track only)
|
All FSE BSc. degree programmes
|
MSc. Systems & Control
|
BSc. Applied Mathematics, BSc. Astronomy (track: Informatics and Instrumentation), BSc. Chemical Engineering, BSc. Industrial Engineering and Management, BSc. Mathematics
|
Bachelor's degree from another university
The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) of the University of Groningen (UG) offers a wide range of Master’s degree programmes for students who have a relevant Bachelor’s degree.
Please check the Master's programme page of your choice for the entry requirements. f you then come to the conclusion that your Bachelor's degree does not provide direct admission, please go to the section below.
Bachelor's degree from UG or another university that does not offer direct entry
If you would like to follow a FSE Master’s degree programme that dovetails insufficiently with your Bachelor’s degree programme, the Admissions Board may decide that you will first have to complete a Pre-master’s programme. A Pre-master's programme (max. 60 ECTS) usually comprises a set of Bachelor’s course units. If you are going to follow a Pre-master’s programme, please note that:
-
All the course units followed in a Pre-master’s programme must be completed within one academic year. In practice this will mean, for example, that for each course unit that is concluded with an exam, there will be no more than two scheduled exam opportunities; the regular examination and one resit. You will not be able to start the Master’s degree programme if you fail these exams.
-
Statutory tuition fees do not apply to Pre-master’s programmes. Instead, you will have to pay a special Pre-master’s fee that is calculated per ECTS rather than per month of registration. More information about this can be found on this website.
The table below provides an overview of all FSE Master’s degree programmes. A 'No' in the Pre-master column means that the Master's degree programme does not offer Pre-master possibilities.
Master degree programme |
Pre-master
|
---|---|
MSc. Applied Mathematics
|
Yes
|
MSc. Applied Physics
|
Yes
|
MSc. Artificial Intelligence
| |
MSc. Astronomy
|
No
|
MSc. Behavioural & Cognitive Neurosciences
|
No
|
MSc. Biology
|
No
|
MSc. Biomedical Engineering
| |
MSc. Biomedical Sciences
|
Yes
|
Msc. Biomolecular Sciences
|
No
|
MSc. Chemical Engineering
|
Yes
|
MSc. Chemistry
|
Yes
|
MSc. Computational Cognitive Science
| |
MSc. Computing Science
| |
MSc. Ecology & Evolution
|
No
|
MSc. Energy & Environmental Sciences
| |
MSc. Farmacie
|
Yes
|
MSc. Industrial Engineering & Management
|
Yes
|
MSc. Marine Biology
|
No
|
MSc. Mathematics
|
Yes
|
MSc. Mechanical Engineering
|
Yes
|
MSc. Medical Pharmaceutical Sciences
|
Yes
|
MSc. Nanoscience
|
No
|
MSc. Physics
|
Yes
|
MSc. Science Education & Communication
|
Yes
|
MSc. Systems and Control
|
Yes
|
Dutch HBO-diploma
Introduction
The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) of the University of Groningen (UG) offers a wide range of Master’s degree programmes, some of which are accessible to students with a Bachelor’s degree from a related University of Applied Sciences (‘HBO’) degree programme. In almost all cases, however, you will have to follow a Pre-master’s programme or Fast-track programme in order to gain admission to the Master’s degree programme.
Pre-master's programme
A Pre-master’s programme is a teaching programme with a student workload of no more than 60 ECTS, which can be followed after completion of a University of Applied Sciences degree programme and before the start of a Master’s degree programme. A Pre-master’s programme primarily aims to remedy the most serious deficiencies before starting the Master’s degree programme and to help students find their feet in the academic environment and its teaching and learning styles, which differ strongly from those at a University of Applied Sciences.
It is important to realize that you will have to successfully complete all the course units in the Pre-master’s programme within one academic year. In practice this will mean, for example, that for each course unit that is concluded with an exam, there will be no more than two scheduled exam opportunities; the regular examination and one resit. You will not be able to start the Master’s degree programme if you fail these exams.
If you are going to follow a Pre-master’s programme, please note that:
-
Statutory tuition fees do not apply to Pre-master’s programmes. Instead, you will have to pay a special Pre-master’s fee that is calculated per ECTS rather than per month of registration. More information about this can be found on this website.
Please note: To be considered for a Pre-master's programme, you must submit an admission request.
Fast-track programme
A fast-track programme ('Doorstroomprogramma' in Dutch) is a study programme at the University of Groningen, that can be followed by an HBO-student as part of their HBO study programme. The programme is formally part of the HBO study programme, for example as elective course units or in the form of a minor programme. The goal of such a fast-track programme is to create a better connection between the bachelor and the master programme.
Please note: To be considered for a Fast-track programme, you must submit an admission request.
The table below provides an overview of all FSE Master’s degree programmes. A 'No' in the Pre-master or Fast-track column means that the Master's degree programme does not offer Pre-master or Fast-track possibilities.
Master degree programme |
Pre-master
|
Fast-track
|
---|---|---|
MSc. Applied Mathematics
|
No
|
|
MSc. Applied Physics
| ||
MSc. Artificial Intelligence
|
No
|
|
MSc. Astronomy
|
No
|
No
|
MSc. Behavioural & Cognitive Neurosciences
|
No
|
No
|
MSc. Biology
|
No
|
|
MSc. Biomedical Engineering
|
No
|
|
MSc. Biomedical Sciences
| ||
Msc. Biomolecular Sciences
|
No
|
|
MSc. Chemical Engineering
| ||
MSc. Chemistry
|
No
|
|
MSc. Computational Cognitive Sciences
|
No
|
No
|
MSc. Computing Science
| ||
MSc. Ecology & Evolution
|
No
|
|
MSc. Energy & Environmental Sciences
| ||
MSc. Farmacie
|
No
|
No
|
MSc. Industrial Engineering & Management
|
No
|
|
MSc. Marine Biology
|
No
|
|
MSc. Mathematics
|
No
|
No
|
MSc. Mechanical Engineering
|
No
|
|
MSc. Medical Pharmaceutical Sciences
| ||
MSc. Nanoscience
|
No
|
No
|
MSc. Physics
| ||
MSc. Science Education & Communication
|
No
|
|
MSc. Systems and Control
|
No
|
English language requirements
Our (Pre)-master’s are taught in English and depending on your diploma, you will need to show proof of your command of the English language.
Previous diploma |
Required level of English language |
HBO BSc diploma |
Exempted |
Dutch University BSc diploma |
Exempted |
Pre-master/Fast Track |
Exempted |
International diploma |
https://www.rug.nl/fse/programme/admissions/msc/language-requirements?lang=en |
Selective and non-selective Master's degree programmes
FSE offers both selective and non-selective Master’s degree programmes. The Admissions Boards for non-selective Master’s degree programmes will mainly assess your request for admission in terms of the knowledge you acquired during your prior degree: does this dovetail sufficiently with the Master’s degree programme? The Admissions Boards for selective Master’s degree programmes will also focus on other aspects, such as your list of marks, motivation letter and letters of recommendation that you include with your request for admission. The exact criteria vary for each selective degree programme.
Non-selective Master's degree programmes
To follow a non-selective Master’s degree programme, you simply need to satisfy the standard admission requirement, i.e. have a relevant Bachelor’s degree certificate. Most Master’s degree programmes follow on logically from a Bachelor’s degree programme – for example, the Bachelor’s degree programme in Biology dovetails with the Master’s degree programme in Biology.
Selective Master's degree programmes
FSE will be offering eight selective Master's degree programmes in the academic year 2025/2026: Artificial Intelligence, Behavioural and Cognitive Neurosciences, Biomedical Sciences, Biomolecular Sciences, Chemistry, Ecology & Evolution, Marine Biology and Nanoscience.
Last modified: | 06 February 2025 11.14 a.m. |