This pre-Master's programme offers access to: Corporate Communication, Entertainment Communication, Persuasive Communication, Political Communication and the Research Master's in Communication Science.

First apply to the (Research) Master's

You have to submit a full application for the (Research) Master’s programme in Communication Science first, and subsequently, the admissions board will decide whether you are directly admissible or whether you might qualify for a pre-Master’s programme. You can check the entry requirements of the Master's programme on above mentioned websites to get an indication of the possible outcome. 

It is not possible to apply for the pre-Master’s programme or online courses independently.

Conditionally admitted: the possibilities

If your Bachelor’s degree does not fully meet the admission requirements for the (Research) Master’s programme in Communication Science and you have only minor deficiencies, the Admissions Board will assess whether you be able to address these deficiences through the pre-Master's programme in Communication Science or an online course.

The pre-Master’s programme lasts one semester and can only address a limited deficiency. You must therefore already have a substantial theory-oriented foundation in the social and behavioural sciences, but also academic skills in scientific research. If the differences between your previous education and the admission requirements are too substantial, you cannot be admitted to the pre-Master’s programme.

The Admissions Board assesses whether your prior coursework and research experience meet these requirements. They look at the content, scope, level, and learning outcomes of your prior education. The Admissions Board makes the final decision on whether you can be admitted.

There are multiple options to address the identified deficiencies. They are outlined below.

Information for University of Applied Sciences students (hbo students)

Hbo graduates are welcome to apply to the (Research) Master's in Communication Science. However, we know from experience that applicants holding a Bachelor’s degree from a University of Applied Sciences (hbo) or equivalent generally do not meet the entry requirements for the (Research) Master’s programme in Communication Science or the pre-Master’s in Communication Science. In most cases, the abbreviated Bachelor's programme in Communication Science (Dutch-taught programme) is the appropriate pathway to meet the admission requirements. If you have an hbo background, you are therefore strongly advised to apply simultaneously to the abbreviated Bachelor's programme and the (Research) Master's programme. The abbreviated programme offers a pathway through which some hbo Bachelor’s graduates can address gaps in their academic background and subsequently meet the entry requirements. 

Option 1. Pre-Master's study programme

The pre-Master's programme includes a maximum of 30 EC and takes one semester to complete. An academic year at University of Amsterdam is divided in two semesters: semester 1 (September-January) and semester 2 (February-August). After completion of your pre-Master's programme, the earliest official start of the Master’s programme is the next semester. The 1-year Master's programmes start in September and January. The 2-year Research Master's programme only starts in September.

Entry requirements pre-Master’s in Communication Science

• ≥52 EC in theory-oriented courses grounded in the social and behavioural sciences
  The pre‑Master’s in Communication Science is a one‑semester programme designed to address deficiencies. Therefore you are expected to have a substantial theory-oriented foundation in the social and behavioural sciences, but also academic skills in scientific research. At least 52 EC of your Bachelor’s curriculum must consist of courses within this domain. This requirement ensures that you have a sufficient knowledge foundation in the social and behavioural sciences. The Admissions Board will assess this on the basis of your official course list and course descriptions. Please note that coursework in fields such as Cultural Studies, Language Studies, and Information Studies does not satisfy this requirement.
• <30 EC in internships, practice-based learning, and practically oriented courses
  The pre‑Master’s in Communication Science is a one‑semester programme designed to address deficiencies. Therefore you are expected to have completed a Bachelor’s curriculum with a strong focus on theoretical and research‑oriented coursework, rather than internships, other forms of practice-based learning, or practical skills-oriented courses (e.g. consultancy projects, media production, event management, programming skills, foreign language courses). Less than 30 EC of the curriculum may consist of such practice‑focused components. The Admissions Board will assess this on the basis of your official course list and descriptions. If 30 or more EC is devoted to these components, the pre‑Master’s is considered insufficient to address the insufficient substantial theory-oriented foundation in the social and behavioural sciences.

Depending on your Bachelor’s background you may be required to complete one, two or all three of the following courses of the pre-Master's programme:

Option 2. Online course: Foundations of Communication Science

You may be given the option to complete the Online Foundations of Communication Science if you:

• have completed at least 52 EC in theory-oriented courses grounded in the social and behavioural sciences;
• have completed fewer than 30 EC in internships, practice-based learning, and practically-oriented courses;
• meet the research methods and statistics requirements (see the (Research) Master’s entry requirements);
• and, therefore, only lack sufficient theory-oriented coursework in Communication Science.

This online course is an intensive 2-week introduction course in the area of Communication Science and can be followed at home via online videos. The online course takes place in the month before the intended start of the Master’s programme (August or January).

Tuition fee

For pre-Master’s programmes, you will pay tuition fees per course (each course consists of several EC credits). The tuition fees will be calculated after we receive certified copies of your previous degree and final transcript. Read more about the fees for pre-Master's programmes.

No retake possible

It is not possible to retake courses in the pre-Master’s programme. This means that you must successfully complete the pre-Master’s programme within one semester. If you do not complete your pre-Master’s programme within one semester, you are not admissible for the (Research) Master’s in Communication Science and will be rejected.

Changing your Master's track

It is possible to change tracks during the pre-Master's programme. All 1-year tracks have the same entry requirements, so after completing the pre-Master's, you can choose a track again in Studielink.

However, this does not apply to the Research Master's. If you have doubts about taking the Research Master's, please contact the study adviser as soon as possible (not only after the pre-Master's).