Master's

Pre-master for the Amsterdam MBA

For MBA applicants with a degree from a university of applied sciences (in Dutch: HBO)

On this page:

Pre-master programme at a glance

  • starts once a year on 1 February and runs from February to July
  • English-taught part-time programme
  • not a degree programme but a bridge programme 
  • 18 ECs total: Management Research Methods 1 (5 ECs), Management Research Methods 2 (5 ECs), Introduction to Business Research (4 ECs), Fundamentals of Corporate Finance (4 ECs)
  • classes take place on Fridays in the afternoon
  • tuition fee: €3.500,-
  • application deadline for the pre-master commencing on 1 February 2016: 15 December 2015 

 

About the pre-master programme 

If you are interested in the Amsterdam MBA programme but do not yet meet the admission requirements because you have a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a university of applied sciences, we offer an accelerated pre-master programme to prepare you for the Amsterdam MBA at the Amsterdam Business School.

Our accelerated pre-master programme is a part-time programme taught in English. It is a bridge programme (not a degree programme) that aims to provide academic training in research methodologies and statistics, as well as in corporate finance for students with a degree from a university of applied sciences. It is a selective programme with limited capacity that is only to be taken by students who have conditionally been admitted to the Amsterdam MBA programme (the condition being the successful completion of the accelerated pre-master programme).

Please be aware that successful completion of the pre-master programme does not result in a diploma or other certificate but only in becoming eligible for the Amsterdam MBA programme.

Please note that the pre-master programme has not exclusively been designed for students with a degree from a university of applied sciences interested in pursuing the Amsterdam MBA programme, but also for students interested in pursuing one of the following executive master programmes: Master in International Finance (MIF), Master in Management Studies, MBA in Big Data & Business Analytics, MBA in Healthcare Management. 

 

Admission requirements for Dutch applicants

For entry in February 2016

Pre-university education:

VWO or HAVO diploma with a “pass” mark for maths (A or B; A1 is not sufficient)

Higher education:

HBO bachelor’s or master’s degree (preferably related to Business Administration and preferably an English language degree programme) earned at an NVAO accredited university of applied sciences in the Netherlands (in Dutch: Hogeschool). You must have completed a bachelor’s degree worth 240 ECs containing a sufficient number of relevant courses in the functional domains of business administration: Finance & Accounting, Marketing, HRM, Strategic Management, Supply Chain Management/Logistics, Business Information Management, (Business) Economics.

Relevant work experience:

a minimum of three years post-graduate full-time work experience at the start of the MBA programme 

Application deadline:

15 December 2015 (for both Dutch and non-Dutch applicants) 

 

 

Admission requirements for non-Dutch applicants

For entry in February 2016

Non-Dutch applicants are required to have a valid visa or permanent residency. The Amsterdam Business School cannot provide assistance in acquiring visas or housing for international students of the part-time pre-master programme (or the part-time MBA programme). Dutch universities can only support student visa applications for full-time studies.

 

Higher education:

Bachelor’s or master’s degree related to Business Administration (preferably an English language degree programme) from an accredited university of applied sciences. You must have covered a sufficient number of relevant courses in the functional domains of business administration: Finance & Accounting, Marketing, HRM, Strategic Management, Supply Chain Management/Logistics, Business Information Management, (Business) Economics.

Relevant work experience:

a minimum of three years post-graduate full-time work experience at the start of the MBA programme

Application deadline:

15 December 2015 (for both Dutch and non-Dutch applicants) 

 

How to apply for the pre-master: Dutch applicants

For entry in February 2016

The idea of the accelerated pre-master is to close the gap between candidates with an educational background from a research university and candidates from a university of applied sciences. Consequently, candidates who successfully complete the accelerated pre-master are directly admissible for the Amsterdam MBA programme. They do not have to take the GMAT or GRE.

Dutch applicants need to submit the following documents to admissions-mba@uva.nl by 15 December 2015:

  • Your completed application form for the accelerated pre-master
  • A copy or scan of your passport
  • Your curriculum vitae
  • A letter of motivation
  • A copy or scan of your official transcripts and diplomas from your high school and university of applied sciences
  • Proof of payment for the non-refundable application fee of €50 

After an initial selection process, candidates with strong credentials are invited for an admissions interview conducted by the Sales & Recruitment Manager for the MBA programme for further evaluation. Applicants will receive a final decision from the Admissions Committee within four weeks of their interview for admission to the accelerated pre-master and consequently conditional admission to the Amsterdam MBA programme.

How to apply for the pre-master: Non-Dutch applicants

For entry in February 2016 

The idea of the accelerated pre-master is to close the gap between candidates with an educational background from a research university and candidates from a university of applied sciences. Consequently, candidates who successfully complete the accelerated pre-master are directly admissible for the Amsterdam MBA programme. They do not have to take the GMAT or GRE. 

Non-Dutch applicants need to submit the following documents to admissions-mba@uva.nl by 15 December 2015:  

  • A copy or scan of your visa or residence permit
  • Your completed application form for the accelerated pre-master
  • A copy or scan of your passport
  • Your curriculum vitae
  • A letter of motivation
  • A copy or scan of your official transcripts and diplomas from your high school and university of applied sciences. If your diplomas and grade transcripts are not in English, Dutch or German, you need a sworn translation of your diplomas and grade transcripts into English.
  • If you obtained your bachelor’s or master’s degree from a university of applied sciences outside of the Netherlands, the MBA Admissions Committee can request you to do an English proficiency test. In this case a copy or scan of your IELTS or TOEFL test results is a required element in your application package.
  • Proof of payment for the non-refundable application fee of €50
    After an initial selection process, candidates with strong credentials are invited for an admissions interview conducted by the Sales & Recruitment Manager for the MBA programme for further evaluation. Applicants will receive a final decision from the Admissions Committee within four weeks of their interview for admission to the accelerated pre-master and consequently conditional admission to the Amsterdam MBA programme. 

 

 

Admission to the Amsterdam MBA upon completion of the pre-master

You need to have passed every single course of the accelerated pre-master before the start of the MBA programme on 1 September. You have two attempts at passing every course: one regular exam and one re-take. There are no extra re-take opportunities and there are no exceptions to this rule. Pre-master students who do not pass all pre-master courses in two attempts are not admissible for the Amsterdam MBA. Also, it is not possible to re-do the accelerated pre-master programme the following year. 

Tuition fee

The tuition fee for the pre-master programme is €3,500.

If you are admitted to the Amsterdam MBA upon completion of the pre-master, you will automatically benefit from the pre-master discount of €3,000 (instead of the early bird discount). 

Published by  ABS

The Amsterdam MBA

20 April 2015