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 2026-2027.

Enrolment September 2026

Application deadlines all nationalities (non-EEA, EEA, Dutch, with or without scholarship)

• Apply for DigiD (Dutch students only): recommended before Friday 9 January 2026, 17:00 hrs (CET)
• Register in Studielink: Friday 23 January 2026, 17.00 hrs (CET)
• Submit your application in SIS: Monday 2 February 2026, 17.00 hrs (CET)
• Notification period: Monday 27 April 2026 – Monday 4 May 2026

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

Limited capacity and selection

The number of available places is limited to 30 students per year (the programme starts in September only). If more qualified students apply than there are places available, candidates with the most convincing academic merit are selected. This is based on careful consideration of the following criteria:

• The relevance of previous studies in preparing the student for our programme;
• Previous training in and knowledge of social sciences research methodology;
• Previous work, life or volunteering experience, of relevance to the field of medical anthropology or sociology;
• The quality of the submitted sample of academic writing – which should be on a topic of clear relevance to medical anthropology or sociology;
• The students motivations to follow the programme, as explained in their letter;
• Previous study results.

Being from an underrepresented or structurally disadvantaged background (including e.g. chronic illness, being first generation academic, having care responsibilities, belonging to a historically marginalized group) will be taken into consideration.

If there is anything related to your CV or educational profile which you would like to elaborate on for us to consider when reviewing your application, please do so in your motivation letter.

Please note that this programme attracts many applications each year.

Eligible applicants are notified whether they are selected directly into the programme or placed on the reserve list. Applicants on the reserve list are notified if they are selected on or before the latest notification deadline (30 May 2026).

Educational background

Bachelor's degree

Students with a Bachelor’s degree in anthropology, sociology or in another closely related discipline (such as political science, medical sciences, health sciences, or psychology). 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 university education.

Social Sciences

All applicants are expected to have sufficient knowledge of social sciences evidenced by the completion of (the equivalent of) at least 18 ECTS credits during previous study. Relevant work experience in the field of Medical Anthropology and Sociology may partially substitute following academic courses in Social Sciences.

Research methodology

Applicants should have a solid basis in research methods and techniques in the social sciences, including qualitative methods and techniques, reflected by the completion of at least (an equivalent of) 12 ECTS during previous study. Experience with the following research methods skills is expected:

• Constructing a robust research design.
• Carrying out qualitative research, using methods such as participant observation, interviewing, focus groups.
• Analyzing qualitative data.
• Understanding advantages and disadvantages of different social science research methods and designs.
• Reporting the results of empirical qualitative research.

Grade average

Study results obtained in previous education should demonstrate that a student is able to attain and maintain a good to excellent standard, especially in the field of medical anthropology and sociology. 

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, also 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 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 to Studielink':

• 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 specialization/track?

If you wish to apply for a specialization/track, please choose the study programme name first. After confirming the study programme and starting date you will be asked to indicate the specialization/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 specialization/track of the same programme, please register in Studielink for one specialization/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 GSSS 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.

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 *). 

Paying the application fee at the Graduate School of Social Sciences

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 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 2026-2027 academic year. 
• If you are an exchange student. 
• If your tuition fees for the 2026 - 2027 academic year are paid by the  Foundation for Refugee Students (UAF). If so, your application fee will be refunded.
• If you have deferred your conditional admission last year**) and wish to start for the same programme in 2026-2027. 

*) 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

**) Deferring is only possible for M Sociology (all tracks), M Human Geography (all tracks), M Urban & Regional Planning (all tracks), M Cultural & Social Anthropology (all tracks except for Visual Anthropology).

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.  

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:

For more elaborate guidance:

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). 

Confirm your participation

This master's programme has a limited number of places. For this reason, we ask you to confirm within two weeks in My Applications that you really want to enroll in this master's programme. This step is necessary to initiate the administrative steps, such as course registration and a possible visa application.

What if you do nothing?

If you do not confirm your place within two weeks, we will give your place to the next student on the waiting list. This means that you will definitely not be admitted to the master's programme and your enrolment request will be cancelled. The confirmation is not binding – you can cancel your enrolment at a later date.

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 advisor 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.