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Check if you meet the programme requirements and sign up

• I have a Dutch university-level (WO) bachelor’s degree.

  If you have a School of Business and Economics degree from VU Amsterdam

  We welcome motivated students interested in economics applied to real estate, housing, regional development, urban issues, environmental policy, transport, and public economics. You will need a solid academic foundation in economics, or strong technical expertise such as engineering or finance. Students from other fields need at least a minor in economics.

  With a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Economics, Econometrics and Operations Research, Philosophy, Politics and Economics, or Earth, Economics and Sustainability from VU Amsterdam you are admissible to all specialisations, provided you meet the specific requirements outlined here.

  Contact the Central Admission’s Support Team if you are an international SBE student and need advice about extending your residence permit.

  If you have a WO bachelor’s degree from another Dutch university (or a different VU faculty)

  You must have:

  • Sufficient knowledge of microeconomics
  • A solid background in mathematics and statistics for economics

  You are expected to have studied material equivalent to:

  • Microeconomics – Snyder & Nicholson, Microeconomic Theory: Basic Principles and Extensions (Ch. 2–5, 9–13)
  • Mathematics – Sydsaeter & Hammond, Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis
  • Econometrics – Stock & Watson, Introduction to Econometrics (Ch. 2–9)

  Students from (International) Business Administration; Engineering, Environmental Science; (Economic) Geography; Science, Business & Innovation; Transport Science; University College; Urban Planning; or any other BSc with some quantitative focus can gain access to the master by completing two 3EC Online Courses in Micro-Economics and Econometrics. Tailored advice will be provided by the admission committee upon application.

  Other applicants may be required to complete preparatory courses before admission.

  Application steps

  1. Apply via by 1 June.
  2. Complete your application in your VU Dashboard (upload transcript incl. GPA).
  3. The Admission Board will review your application and notify you by email.

  Can I be admitted into an SBE Master with my Dutch university degree?

  The admission board can make a decision regarding your admissibility based on several documents. Apply for the Master via Studielink and complete your application on your VU Dashboard by uploading the required documents. Some Master programmes require additional documents such as an English CV and motivation letter, as well as your transcript of records. You will receive an admission decision within a couple of weeks after completing your application. Registration for the Master via Studielink is without obligation and does not commit you to anything yet.

  I do not want to start with a master in the next academic year, but the year after. How do I know if I am eligible?

  You can still apply for the Master that starts in the next academic year via Studielink. Registration for the Master is without obligation and does not commit you to anything yet. If you need to complete additional courses in order to be admissible, you can do so during the next academic year. Because the admission decisions are valid for one year, make sure to check in advance if the admission requirements have not changed.

  I am already completing a Master at a Dutch university. Can I be directly admitted into one of the SBE Masters?

  You cannot be automatically admitted into one of the SBE Masters. First, your application needs to be reviewed by the admission board of the Master in the same way as all Bachelor students. Please apply for the Master via Studielink and upload all required documents. You can use an online PDF merger to upload both your Bachelor grades and (preliminary) Master grades.

• I have a Dutch higher vocational education (HBO) bachelor’s degree

  If you have an HBO bachelor’s degree, you must first complete a transfer programme to bridge the gap to WO level. This programme consists of:

  1. minimum GRE score (VR 151, QR 154, AW 3.5)
  2. Quantitative Research Methods II (E_EBE2_QRM2) period
  3. Microeconomics I (E_EBE1_MICEC) period 2
  4. Quantitative Research Methods III – Economics and Finance (E_EBE3_QRMEF, 6 EC) period 4
  5. Microeconomics II (E_EBE2_MICEC) period 4

  Application steps

  1. Apply for the MSc Spatial and Applied Economics via by 1 June.
  2. Complete your application in your VU Dashboard:
     • Select your track
     • Upload your official HBO transcript ( your application cannot be processed without it)
  3. The Admission Board will review your file and inform you of the decision by email.

  I have a higher vocational (HBO) degree. Do I need to complete the pre-master before I can start with an SBE Master?

  Yes, we require all students with an HBO higher vocational Bachelor degree to complete the corresponding pre-master before they can start with the Master. More information on the pre-master can be found here.

  I have a higher vocational (HBO) degree and wish to start with an SBE Master that does not have a specific pre-master (MSc Econometrics & Operations Research, MSc Economics, MSc Spatial and Applied Economics). How do I apply?

  Please send your transcript of records directly to admissions.sbe@vu.nl/ toelating.sbe@vu.nl. Make sure the name of your education and institution are visible.

  I do not want to start with a master in the next academic year, but the year after. How do I know if I am eligible?

  You can still apply for the Master that starts in the next academic year via Studielink. Registration for the Master is without obligation and does not commit you to anything yet. If you need to complete additional courses in order to be admissible, you can do so during the next academic year. Because the admission decisions are valid for one year, make sure to check in advance if the admission requirements have not changed.

  I am already completing a Master at a Dutch university. Can I be directly admitted into one of the SBE Masters?

  You cannot be automatically admitted into one of the SBE Masters. First, your application needs to be reviewed by the admission board of the Master in the same way as all Bachelor students. Please apply for the Master via Studielink and upload all required documents. You can use an online PDF merger to upload both your Bachelor grades and (preliminary) Master grades.

• I have an international degree

  Academic requirements

  Your degree must be equivalent to at least a Dutch WO bachelor’s degree (3 years, research university).

  You are expected to have completed courses covering:

  • Mathematics – Sydsaeter & Hammond, Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis (3 ECTS)
  • Microeconomics – Snyder & Nicholson, Microeconomic Theory: Basic Principles and Extensions (Ch. 2–5, 9–13) (8 ECTS)
  • Econometrics – Stock & Watson, Introduction to Econometrics (Ch. 2–9) (8 ECTS)

  If you do not fully meet these, you may be required to complete online courses in microeconomics (3EC), and econometrics (3EC). Tailored advice will be provided by the admission committee upon application.

  English language requirements

  You must demonstrate sufficient English proficiency. See the language requirements page for accepted tests and minimum scores.

  Application documents

  • Scan of passport or national ID (EEA students only)
  • Completed Master Application File
  • Proof of English proficiency (if applicable)

  Application fee & deadlines

  • €100 non-refundable application fee (valid for two years, only payable once even if applying for multiple programmes)
  • See the deadlines and procedure

  Scholarships

  See VU Scholarships for funding opportunities.

• Piet Rietveld Scholarship

  The Piet Rietveld Scholarship was established by the School of Business and Economics and the Department of Spatial Economics in memory of the late Professor Piet Rietveld (1952-2013), Head of the Department of Spatial Economics in the years 2002-2013. The master's programme offers a yearly single scholarship for an excellent student in the programme originating from Indonesia. 

  • Value 

  The scholarship covers the yearly tuition fee, and provides an allowance of € 3000 towards living costs. 

  • Deadline 

  1 April (each year) 

  • Fields of study 

  Eligible candidates should be admitted to the Spatial and Applied Economics master’s degree programme at VU Amsterdam. 

  Note that successful applicants for the scholarship must have a minimum level of English in order to obtain a visa. 

  • How to apply 

  Send a CV, a Grade List, and a Letter of Motivation to the following e-mail address: h.koster@vu.nl.

  Please apply simultaneously for admittance to the master's programme, insofar as you have not done so already.