Admission requirements

• Admission requirements for students with a Dutch degree
• Admission requirements for students with a non-Dutch degree

Students with a Dutch degree

Bachelor's degree in IRIO

A Bachelor’s degree International Organizations and International Relations from the University of Groningen gives automatic admission to the Master’s degree programme in IRIO.

Other Dutch Bachelor's degree

The IRIO master's degree programme offers a pre-Master's programme (30 EC) intended for students with an internationally oriented university Bachelor's degree in Political Sciences, International and European Law, (Modern) History, European studies, Development Studies, American Studies, Social Geography or Social Studies. More information about the pre-Master's programme.

In principle, a HBO diploma (higher vocational education) does not grant admission to the IRIO Master’s degree programme.

Students with a non-Dutch degree

At most 25 international students can de admitted to the Master's programme of International Relations and International Organization. Therefore the admission is highly selective.

Bachelor's degree

To be admitted to the English-taught Master's programme, students must have an internationally recognized BA in International Organizations and International Relations or a comparable degree in one of the following fields: International Politics and International Relations. A thorough background in the discipline and theoretical discourse of International Relations is an absolute necessity. A BA Thesis or a written essay is also one of the obligatory criteria for admission. Participation of students from foreign countries is encouraged.

Please note: A Bachelor’s degree International Organizations and International Relations from the University of Groningen gives automatic admission to the Master’s degree programme in IRIO.

What if you don't meet the entry requirements?

The IRIO master's degree programme offers a pre-Master's programme (30 EC) intended for students with an internationally oriented Bachelor's degree in Political Sciences, International and European Law, (Modern) History, European studies, Development Studies, American Studies, Social Geography or Social Studies. More information about the pre-Master's programme. 

Language Requirements

Since the programme is taught entirely in English, applicants should be proficient in English. All students, execpt native speakers, must have a minimum TOEFL score of 92-93 (internet-based), 580 (paper-based) or 237 (computer-based), or an overall IELTS score of 6.5. The only exeption could me made for the students with a BA/MA diploma from a University in an officially English speaking country.

Copy thesis or other sample of academic writing

The BA Thesis or other sample of academic writing (essay) is an obligatory requirement for admission to the Master IRIO. In case your BA Thesis or essay is written in another language than English, please send us a  5-10 pages summary of it in English, translated by yourself.

More information

Please contact the Admission Office of the Faculty of Arts for more information about the admission procedures of the Faculty of arts at the University of Groningen.