Offers access to

• Comparative Politics (Political Science)
• European Politics and External Relations (Political Science)
• Gender and Sexuality (Political Science)
• International Relations (Political Science)
• Political Economy (Political Science)
• Political Theory (Political Science)
• Public Policy and Governance (Political Science)

Students with a completed Bachelor's degree from one of the following programmes are potentially admissible to our Master’s programmes in Political Science:

• BSc Political Science from the UvA, VU, Leiden, and Radboud University
• BSc from Amsterdam University College (AUC) with a focus on International Relations
• BSc Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (PPLE) from the UvA
• BSc International Studies from Leiden University
• BSc Internationale Betrekkingen en Internationale Organisaties (IBIO) from Groningen University
• BSc Philosophy, Political Science and Economics (PPE) from the VU
• BA European Studies from Maastricht University
• BSc Bestuurskunde / Public Administration from any Dutch university.    

Students from fields related to Political Science may be eligible for admission if they transition toward Political Science during their Bachelor studies and/or take part in a pre-Master’s programme.

Pre-Master VS transitioning

Students with a Bachelor’s degree in a field related to Political Science—such as Humanities, Law, Social Sciences, or Economics—may be eligible for our Master’s programmes in Political Science in one of two ways:

1. Take relevant electives during your Bachelor’s degree
   You can choose specific courses during your university Bachelor’s programme that prepare you for the Master’s programme and meet its admission requirements. You arrange this yourself through the usual minor registration process and/or by registering for elective courses.
2. Complete a pre-Master’s programme within one year
   A pre-Master’s programme is a tailored programme designed to fill any gaps in your previous education before you start the Master’s programme. It can include up to 30 ECTS credits for students with a university Bachelor’s degree (WO) or up to 54 ECTS credits for students with a university of applied sciences Bachelor’s degree (HBO).

You can only be admitted to a pre-Master’s programme by applying for the Master’s programme in Political Science. The Admissions Board will assess your previous education and decide whether you need to complete a pre-Master’s programme. This programme must be completed by students within one year. Please note that Dutch-language proficiency is required for the pre-Master’s programme.

Proficiency in Dutch required for pre-Master’s programme

Our Master’s programmes in Political Science offer a pre-Master’s programme that can only be followed if you are proficient in Dutch (NT2, find more information here). The pre-Master’s programme is offered to academic and Dutch HBO (University of Applied Sciences) students to make up for credit deficiencies to a maximum of 30 EC (academic students) or 54 EC (HBO students). The information about the pre-Master’s  programme is only available in Dutch.

Transitioning from the Humanities, Law, Economy, and related fields

If you are studying for a related Bachelor’s degree—such as History, Economics, Philosophy, European Studies, or Law—you may be able to meet the entry requirements for the Master’s programme in Political Science while you are still completing your Bachelor’s programme.

What you need to do

1. Book an appointment with the study adviser for the Master’s programme
   Make an appointment via Bookings. The study adviser can explain the current options, help you choose suitable courses, and discuss whether this route is right for you.
2. Complete a relevant minor (30 ECTS)
   During your Bachelor’s programme, take one of the following minors:
   • Political Psychology
   • European Politics and Global Change
   • Conflict Studies
   • International Relations
   • Political Theory
   • Politics
   • Public Policy and Governance

These minors provide the Political Science subject knowledge needed for potential admission to the Master’s programme.

1. Complete methodology courses (20 ECTS)
   You will also need 20 ECTS in social science research methods. Contact the study adviser about enrolment in the required methodology courses.

In short

If you are coming from a related Bachelor’s programme, you can prepare for our Master’s programme in Political Science by completing:

• a relevant Political Science minor (30 ECTS), and
• Social Science methodology courses (20 ECTS).

After completing your Bachelor’s degree and these requirements, you may be eligible for admission to the Master’s programme.

If You Are Studying Social Sciences

If you are completing a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, you may be able to prepare for our Master’s programme in Political Science by completing a relevant minor.

What you need to do

Complete one of the following minors during your Bachelor’s programme:

• Political Psychology
• European Politics and Global Change
• Conflict Studies
• International Relations
• Political Theory
• Politics
• Public Policy and Governance

Each minor is worth 30 ECTS and provides the Political Science subject knowledge needed for potential admission to the Master’s programme.

Do I need extra methodology courses?

Usually, you do not need to complete the additional 20 ECTS in methodology courses if your Social Sciences Bachelor’s programme already includes equivalent social science research methods courses. The study adviser can confirm whether your courses meet this requirement.

In short

If you are studying Social Sciences, you can prepare for the Master’s programme in Political Science by completing:

• your Bachelor’s degree, including the required research-methods courses; and
• a relevant Political Science minor (30 ECTS).

Completing these requirements will make you potentially eligible for admission to our Master’s programme in Political Science.

Summer course: Research Methodology Module

Are you applying for the Master’s programme Political Science but just short of the required 20 ECTS in social science research methods? You may be able to make up this gap by taking the intensive Comprehensive Introduction to Research Methodology and Design summer course.

The course takes place in July and August, before the Master’s programme starts.

Who may be eligible?

This option is intended for applicants who have already completed 14–16 ECTS in social science research methods and have only a small gap to make up.

The Admissions Committee decides whether you may take the summer course and whether completing it will meet the entry requirement for your Master’s programme.

When is the summer course not enough?

You may not be eligible for this option if:

• you have too few credits in social science research methodology and the gap cannot be made up through a MOOC (see below); or
• you have too few social science research methods credits and do not have sufficient relevant research experience from internships or work.

Will I receive ECTS credits?

If you are taking this course to prepare for a Master’s programme at the UvA Graduate School of Social Sciences, you will not receive ECTS credits for it.

Other participants can earn 6 ECTS after successfully completing the course.

MOOCs and reading assignments

If you almost meet the entry requirements for our Master’s programme Political Science, then the Admissions Board may ask you to complete some additional preparation before the programme starts.

This could include:

• a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course): an online course that helps you refresh or strengthen your knowledge of the social sciences or research methods; or
• a reading assignment: selected academic literature to help you prepare for the programme.

The Admissions Board will let you know whether you need to complete one of these assignments. Reading assignments are free of charge and do not involve additional tuition fees.

Tuition fee

For more information, see webpage on tuition fee and calculator.