To apply for this Master's programme, you will need to register in Studielink and subsequently apply through the application system SIS before the mentioned dates, even if you have not yet completed your Bachelor's programme.

Start your application procedure in time

We strongly advise you to apply as early as possible, a week before the deadline at the latest, as registration in Studielink and SIS, paying the required application fee and arranging for all documents will take several days.

Please note, applications received after the deadline will not be considered for admission.

Deadlines

Applying is possible from 1 October on.

* Are you a current Bachelor's or Master's student at a Dutch higher education institution? Then the deadline mentioned under “EU/EEA students” applies, i.e. 30 April 23.59 CET.

Deadline with a UvA Scholarship

Please note that if you want to apply for a UvA Scholarship, other deadlines for application to the Master's programme apply.

• Applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree in life sciences, exact sciences, natural sciences, computer sciences, engineering or other beta related fields (see overview below for examples).
• Admissibility depends on the composition of the programmes and the type of courses, academic level, motivation and grade point average.
• Statistics and preferably probability theory must be part of your Bachelor’s programme.
• The Master’s programme Forensic Science does not offer a Pre-Master’s programme as the programme is suitable to follow for all bèta science backgrounds.
• Please note that admission is not automatically granted to all candidates fulfilling the above criteria. In former years, about 40% of the candidates have finally been admitted to the Master’s programme.

Any degree in life sciences, exact sciences, natural sciences, computer sciences, engineering or other beta related field is in principal eligible, such as:

Examples of non-eligible bachelor degrees:

• Medicine
• Psychology
• Criminology
• Law related studies like Human Rights
• Business Administration relates studies like Accountancy

Grade point average

In addition to the admission requirements referred to above, the student has to comply with the following requirements.

You have an overall grade point average (GPA) equivalent to at least:

• 3.0 (American system)
• 2.1 (a second class upper/division one degree in the British system)
• C (ECTS-system)
• 7.0 (Dutch BSc)
• 7.0 (Dutch Bachelor of Higher professional education)

The GPA is the average of the Bachelor’s course grades weighed by course/study load.

Admission will not be granted based on a sufficient grade point average alone. Applicants are also assessed on the basis of their motivation and the content of their prior coursework.

Additional remarks

The second year of the Master's programme involves a professional internship in an organisation in which forensics plays a role. A Certificate of Good Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent Gedrag) is required for the majority of these internships, in particular for projects with the Dutch police force or the Netherlands Forensic Institute.

English language proficiency

All information regarding the English language proficiency obligations can be found here: English language proficiency.

Deadlines for English test results

The deadline for submitting a sufficient English proficiency test result is the same as the application deadline for the selected Master's programme. Applications submitted without a sufficient English proficiency test result will be kept on hold.

Before you can apply to the UvA, you will need to submit an enrollment application through Studielink. Studielink is the national online system for students who aim to enroll in a degree programme at a Dutch institute of higher education.

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.

Important: While selecting the Master's programme of your interest in Studielink, make sure to select the regular programme (option 1). Do not select option 2 (after a temporary termination of enrolment) or option 3 (elective) if you are a degree seeking student. You will select the track of your interest later on in SIS.

After submitting your enrolment application in Studielink, you will receive an email with your UvAnetID. This can take up to 48 hours. Follow the instructions in the email to activate your UvAnetID as you will need it to complete your UvA application.

After submitting an enrolment request in Studielink, you will receive an email within 48 hours with a link to submit your application in SIS. To log in to SIS, you will need your activated UvAnetID. Please fill out the application form, upload the required documents, pay the application fee (if applicable), and submit your application before the application 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.

Documents should be uploaded in PDF format. A complete application consists of the following documents:

1. A self-written motivation letter in English (max. 500 words). Strong advise: do not use AI tools to write your letter for you.
2. Your curriculum vitae in the English language. Please ensure that all previous education, including high school, is included.
3. A copy of your Bachelor's transcript in Dutch, English, German or French and in the original language.
4. A copy of your Bachelor's diploma/certificate or an official graduation statement in Dutch, English, German or French and in the original language. Please include a (self-made) list of courses in your final year, if you have not yet completed your current academic programme.
5. A summary of your Bachelor's thesis/project in English (if applicable). 
6. One email address of a referee. Please make sure they are notified and available for contact via email. We need to receive the reference letter within two weeks after submitting your application. Important: no reference letter will be accepted or dealt with after the application deadline.
7. Proof of English proficiency. 

In case any of the above-mentioned documents are missing, your application will be considered incomplete, and we cannot continue with your application.  

Motivation

Motivation is assessed on the basis of a written letter of intent. In this letter, please describe in max. 500 words your motivation for studying the Master's Forensic science. Please go into the following questions:

• What is your motivation to apply for the master Forensic science?
• What kind of forensic topics are you interested in?
• Please describe your interest in interdisciplinary thinking and give some examples to proof that.
• Which of your personal strengths makes you suitable to follow our master?

Reference letter

​Applicants must submit one email address of a referee from an academic staff member at their degree institution testifying to the applicant's ability to perform in a multidisciplinary environment. During the online application procedure, students have to provide the contact information of the referee. The referee will then receive a link where he/she can fill in the reference letter online.

All students applying for a Master’s programme with an international Bachelor’s diploma are required to pay a non-refundable €100 application fee. Paying the application fee is the last step in submitting your application.

You can pay the €100 application fee by credit card (Mastercard, Visacard), PayPal, Bancontact or iDEAL/Wero. Only after payment of this fee, you will be able to submit your application.

You don't have to pay the application fee: 

• If you have of 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 same academic year. 

• If your tuition fee will be paid by the Foundation for Refugee Students (UAF). If so, your application fee will be refunded.

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.  

As soon as you have submitted the (sufficiently) complete online application in SIS, it will be evaluated by our Admissions Board. We strive to process each application within 6 weeks. You can track the status of your admission using the checklist in SIS.

Based on the contents of your application file you hear whether you are:

1. Directly eligible: you receive an admission letter with instructions for further processing of your admission.
2. Invited for an assessment interview: you receive a letter with the date and time of the assessment interview.
3. Not eligible: you receive a letter with a reason for the rejection.

Please note that in former years, about 40% of the applicants have been admitted to the Master’s programme.

Assessment interview

Applicants may be invited to an assessment interview with the programme manager. This interview is used to determine students' motivation, academic potential and progress and ambition. Applicants can be assessed on behavioural characteristics required for working in the forensic field, such as: analytical skills, communication skills, entrepreneurship, organisational sensitivity and ability to perform under pressure.

Accept 

If you meet all the entry requirements and the Admissions Board has approved your application, we will send you a letter of conditional acceptance by email. Please accept your offer in SIS within 2 weeks. If you do not respond to your offer within 2 weeks, we cannot continue with your admission process (and visa request if applicable). Please note that accepting the offer does not oblige you to start the programme. You will still be able to withdraw your enrolment request in Studielink until August 31^st.

Decline 

Please remember to cancel your Studielink enrolment request if you reject the offer in SIS.

Defer 

It is not possible to defer your admission to the next academic year. A new enrolment is required for each academic year as entry requirements may change.

If you are (conditionally) admitted to a Master's programme, we must verify your previous education. Please click on the link below for more information on how to do this:

You will need to arrange a variety of practical matters before starting your Master's programme. This includes your visa or residence permit, insurance and housing.

After your application you will receive information by means of email on how to complete your registration and how to apply for a visa or residence permit, if needed. 

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.

In order to complete your enrolment for a degree programme at the UvA, you will need to pay the tuition fee.