You need to submit your enrolment request via Studielink, activate your UvAnetID, pay the application fee (if applicable) AND submit your complete application request via SIS before the deadline stated below. It may take several days to complete all these steps. We recommend you register in Studielink at least one week before the deadline of your programme.

Please see below for the most important deadlines you must consider when applying to one of our Master’s programmes for the academic year 2027-2028.

Enrolment September 2027

Deadlines when applying with a non-EEA nationality (with/without scholarship)

• Register in Studielink: Friday 5 February 2027, 17:00 hrs (CET)
• Submit your application in SIS: Monday 15 February 2027, 17:00 hrs (CET)
• Notification period: Monday 26 April 2027 – Monday 3 May 2027

Deadlines when applying with an EEA nationality without Dutch WO Bachelor’s degree

• Register in Studielink: Friday 5 March 2027, 17:00 hrs (CET)
• Submit your application in SIS: Monday 15 March 2027, 17:00 hrs (CET)
• Notification period: Monday 7 May 2027 – Friday 31 May 2027 (if possible)

Deadlines when applying with an EEA (incl. Dutch) nationality with Dutch WO Bachelor’s degree

• Apply for Digid: Recommended before Monday 15 March 2027, 17:00 hrs (CET)
• Register in Studielink: Monday 22 March 2027, 17:00 hrs (CET)
• Submit your application in SIS: Friday 2 April 2027, 17:00 hrs (CET)
• Notification period: Monday 7 May 2027 – Friday 31 May 2027

Applications will be carefully evaluated by the Admissions Board. The Board determines whether all entry requirements as specified below are met and assesses the quality of each application in comparison with the other applications received.

Educational Background

Bachelor’s degree

Students with a serious interest in cities and the urban environment, and a Bachelors’ in a social sciences related discipline (such as human geography, sociology, urban and regional planning, political science and anthropology), are invited to apply to the Research Masters in Urban Studies, providing they meet all other entry requirements. Students with a Bachelors’ in a related area (such as architecture and design) with demonstrable commitment to, or experience of,  urban research, may also be considered (but will also need to demonstrate an understanding of social research methods)  

International degrees are evaluated on the basis of advice from professional diploma evaluators. The minimum level of the degree should be equivalent to three years of Dutch academic education.

Urban Studies

Applicants are expected to have some experience of either study in the field of urban studies, or work in a related area. Applicants with no formal background in urban studies should be able to otherwise demonstrate a familiarity with contemporary urban theories and issues  

Research Methodology

Applicants should have a solid basis in both qualitative and quantitative social science research methodology as demonstrated by the completion of (the equivalent of) at least 20 ECTS during previous study. Students entering the Masters programme, students should be able to:

• Make a solid research design
• Understand advantages and disadvantages of different research methods and a mixed methods approach
• Develop and carry out (simple) surveys
• Interpret the results of surveys
• Carry out statistical analysis, preferably with SPSS or similar software
• Conduct interviews
• Analyse the results of interview
• Possibly use historical research methods for the purpose of triangulation.

Grade average

Study results obtained in previous education should demonstrate that a student is able to attain and maintain an excellent standard, especially in the fields of social sciences / urban studies and research methodology. Applicants must show an overall grade average at the time of applying of at least a B+/A-/3.5 (American system), second class, upper division Honours degree (British system), B (ECTS system), 7.5 (Dutch system) or equivalent.

English language proficiency

Our Master's programmes are highly demanding and fully taught in English. To ensure the quality of education and to safeguard students from failing their studies or slowing down class interactions, a high level of English language proficiency is expected of all applicants.

For more information on the test requirements and possible exemptions, please see:

Pre-Master's programme

Please see here for more information on our pre-Master possibilities:

All students who would like to apply to a programme at the University of Amsterdam must start their application process by registering in Studielink. Studielink is the national online system for students who would like to pursue a degree programme at a Dutch university. 

Check your DigiD (before starting in Studielink)

A DigiD (Digital Identification) is an online ID that provides access to government administration websites.

• Students who do not live in the Netherlands can use Studielink without a DigiD.
• Students who currently live in the Netherlands will need their DigiD to use Studielink. We strongly recommend you to apply for your DigiD at least three weeks before registering in Studielink.

Useful information

Before starting your registration in Studielink, read the Q&A guide Studielink.

Please note that the programme names in Studielink may differ from the ones used on our website. Please check the overview (in Things You Need to Know Before Applying) in programmes and Studielink names.

Select the main Programme name in Studielink. Do not select the programme name with option Free curriculum or Optional course. If these are selected, your application will not be processed.

Applying for a specialisation/track?

If you wish to apply for a specialisation/track, please choose the study programme name first. After confirming the study programme and starting date you will be asked to indicate the specialisation/track.

Applying for more programmes?

• If you wish to apply for more programmes, please add another Enrolment application/Verzoek tot inschrijving, using the same Studielink account.
• If you wish to apply for a second specialisation/track of the same programme, please register in Studielink for one specialisation/track only. You can select your second track when you submit your application in our online application system SIS.
• Please be informed that you can sign up for a maximum of 4 programmes the UvA offers.
   

Registration in Studielink

After registering in Studielink you will receive several e-mails:

• Confirmation of your Studielink registration: 
  The first e-mail you will receive will confirm your registration in Studielink.
• UvA student number: 
  The UvA receives the registration details from Studielink on a daily basis on working days. After these details have been imported in the UvA administration, you will receive an e-mail with your UvAnetID. You will need this ID for your application in SIS. Whilst awaiting the ID, you can already start working on your SIS application.

Other messages you may expect to receive:

• Verification of personal details 
  Studielink will try to verify your personal details. If your personal details cannot be automatically verified, Studielink will ask you to send  a copy of your passport to the UvA administration.
  Please note that, for this step, you can await the admissions decision first. If and when you are admitted, you will need to send a copy of your passport, valid for the duration of your studies, to the UvA administration.
• Verification and evaluation of diplomas
  Studielink will try to verify your educational background. Your diploma cannot be automatically verified if you obtained or will obtain a non-Dutch diploma. Studielink will then send you an e-mail indicating that your diploma needs to be verified and evaluated.
  After you submitted your application in SIS, the verification and evaluation of your diploma will be taken care of by the Admissions Office of the Graduate School of Social Sciences. Please make sure you submit your application with all required documents in SIS on time.
  If and when you are admitted unconditionally, the Admissions Office will inform the UvA administration of your acceptance and that your diploma is verified and evaluated.
• Status updates
  From both the UvA and Studielink you will receive e-mails on a regular basis as long as your enrolment is not completed.

After submitting your enrolment application in Studielink, you will receive an email with your UvAnetID. Follow the instructions in the email to activate your ID as you will need it to complete your UvA application.

Pay your non-refundable application fee

All students applying for a Master’s degree programme with an international Bachelor’s diploma are required to pay a non-refundable €100 application fee*). The UvA can only start processing your application after you have paid this fee.

You will be asked to pay the fee when submitting your filled out application form in SIS. Submitting your form without paying the application fee is not possible. You can pay your €100 application fee by credit card (Mastercard, Visacard), PayPal, Bancontact or iDEAL.

You don't have to pay the application fee:

• If you have or will obtain a bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university or university of applied sciences (HBO).
• If you have already applied and have paid the application fee for another Master’s programme at the UvA for the 2027-2028 academic year.
• If your tuition fees for the 2027 - 2028 academic year are paid by the Foundation for Refugee Students (UAF). If so, your application fee will be refunded.
• If you have already applied and have paid the application fee for one of our Master’s programme for the academic year 2026-2027 but did not enrol and would like to apply again for 2027-2028.

*) The application fee is non-refundable. You are not entitled to a refund even if you do not submit your application form, or if you submit an application form after the deadline (which will not be taken into consideration) or if you submit an incomplete application.

Following the submission of your enrolment request in Studielink, you will receive an email from us within 48 hours. This message contains a link to SIS, our online application system, where you can complete your application for the Master’s programme. As part of this process, you must upload all mandatory documents. Please ensure that your application is submitted in full before the stated deadline.  

Please note: Completing all the steps may take a few days. You might also need to look for or request certain documents. We therefore strongly recommend that you start well in advance. 

The application form will give you all needed instructions. For additional guidance, please refer to the quick reference overviews and more elaborate information here below:

• Programmes and deadlines
• Required documents
• Things you need to know before applying
• Documents explained

If and after we have decided that you can be admitted to the programme, we will send you a letter of (conditional) acceptance by e-mail (through SIS) together with more information on how to complete your registration at the UvA and how to apply for a visa or residence permit (if applicable to you). 

If you are admitted to this Master’s programme, please confirm your participation within two weeks via My Applications. This step is required to complete your enrolment and to initiate the next administrative steps, such as course registration and if applicable your visa application. Please note that this confirmation is non-binding – you can still cancel your enrolment at a later stage.

Decline offer

If you decide to decline your participation, make sure you also withdraw your enrolment request in Studielink. By doing so, you will no longer receive any emails about completing your enrolment.

Please see here for more information on how to submit certified documents.

If you are an international student, you will need to arrange a variety of practical matters before starting your studies. This includes your visa or residence permit, insurance and housing. You will receive an email with more information about this after you have been admitted.

Get more information about practical matters for international students.

Student orientation/introduction events are planned in the last 2 weeks of August. At these events you will receive all relevant programme information to make a good start. Your study adviser will send you more detailed information about the Introduction Day in July.

A student ID card is a personal card which serves as proof of identity for examinations or borrowing library books. You will receive instructions on how to request your student ID card.

You will need to pay the tuition fee in order to complete your enrolment for a degree programme at the UvA. Find out more about how to pay the tuition fees.