Pre-Master in Speech Technology

You are eligible if you meet one of the following conditions:

• You hold an HBO (applied sciences) degree in a related field such as Computer Science, Linguistics, or Communication Sciences;

• You have a university degree in an unrelated field and require foundational knowledge in programming or speech technology; or

• You are a professional seeking to transition into the field of speech technology and wish to strengthen your expertise.

The programme aims to level the playing field, ensuring all participants have the necessary background in speech processing, programming and research methodologies.

This self-paced Pre-Master is held entirely online and begins February 2026. This mean that you can move quickly or spread your workload. You can start your Master's in September 2026.

• For NL/EU students: € 294

• For NON-EU/EER students: € 1946

Students enrolled at a Dutch university of applied sciences (hbo) can take the Pre-Master’s alongside their hbo programme and only pay one tuition fee. This effectively saves you a full year of tuition.

You completed your studies at a university of applied sciences (HBO) in the Netherlands, follow these steps to apply:

1. Create an account in Studielink
   Start by creating a Studielink account and adding your previous education details.
   Note: Students with an official home address in the Netherlands log in with DigiD. Students living outside the Netherlands can create a Studielink account without DigiD.

2. Find the Speech Technology Master’s
   After filling in all the details about your previous education, you can go to the next step, ‘Choose a study programme’. Here, fill in the information in the image below and find the programme called SPEECH TECHNOLOGY (PRE-MASTER, ENGLISH TAUGHT). Select the programme, then choose the start date (September 1st, 2026) and follow the next steps.

3. Confirm the application
   After answering and confirming all questions, go to the Confirm tab to review the study details you entered. If everything is correct, confirm your enrolment application.

4. Wait to hear back from us
   You will receive an email with instructions on how to proceed with your application.

For more information or questions about your application, please contact our admissions officer Marijke Huisman-Wolters at cf-sf rug.nl 

You completed your studies at a Dutch research university (WO).

Are you unsure whether your educational background meets our entry requirements? No worries, we make it easy to verify your eligibility. Our Admissions Board will review your background and decide whether a pre-master’s is required or if you can start the Master's programme right away.

Follow these steps to apply:

1. Create an account in Studielink
   Start by creating a Studielink account and adding your previous education details.
   Note: Students with an official home address in the Netherlands log in with DigiD. Students living outside the Netherlands can create a Studielink account without DigiD.

2. Find the Speech Technology Master's
   Go to ‘Choose a study programme’. Use the search bar to find the programme SPEECH TECHNOLOGY MASTER easily.
   Select the master programme, choose the start date (September 1st, 2026), and follow the next steps.

3. Confirm the application
   After answering and confirming all questions, go to the Confirm tab to review your details. If they are correct, confirm your enrolment application.

4. Wait to hear back from us
   You will receive an email with instructions on how to proceed.

For more information or questions about your application, please contact our admissions officer Marijke Huisman-Wolters at cf-sf rug.nl 

You have a degree from outside the Netherlands and want to check whether you need to follow a pre-master programme. Our Admissions Board will review your background and decide whether a pre-master is required before you can enter the Master Programme.

Follow these steps to apply:

1. Create an account in Studielink
   Start by creating a Studielink account (the national admissions portal) and adding your previous education details.
   Note: Students with an official home address in the Netherlands log in with DigiD; students living outside the Netherlands can create a Studielink account without DigiD. You can find a step-by-step guide in the Studielink portal.

2. Find the Speech Technology Master’s
   Go to ‘Choose a study programme’. Use the search bar to find the programme SPEECH TECHNOLOGY MASTER easily.
   Select the master programme, choose the start date (September 1st, 2026), and follow the next steps.

3. Confirm the application
   After answering and confirming all questions, go to the Confirm tab to review your details. If they are correct, confirm your enrolment application.

4. Continue in the Progress Portal
   You will receive an email about activating your UG account. This email also includes login instructions for the Progress Portal.
   Complete your application by uploading the application documents. For guidance on completing your application in the Progress Portal, check this website.
   Finalise and submit your application as soon as possible.

5. Wait to hear back from us
   Our Admissions Board will review your application and decide whether you need a pre-master.
   You will receive an email from us with instructions on the next steps.

For more information or questions about your application, please contact our admissions officer, Marijke Huisman-Wolters at cf-sf rug.nl 

As part of the programme, you will complete a final project tailored to your expertise level, introducing you to practical applications and ethical considerations in speech technology. You will gain hands-on experience and explore research methods.

At the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Formulate relevant research questions in the field of speech technology based on current scholarly practices;

• Select and discuss appropriate theoretical frameworks from linguistics, signal processing, machine learning, and programming as they apply to speech technology research;

• Choose and justify suitable research methodologies for speech technology experiments;

• Develop a written research report in which you demonstrate a clear understanding of speech technology concepts and methodologies;

• Analyze and discuss ethical considerations in speech technology applications!

This Pre-Master consists of a self study project, which you can take in your own time. The workload is 7 ECTS, which equals almost 200 hours. This includes time spent reading, studying, reflecting, and writing.

This self-paced Pre-Master is held entirely online and begins February 2026. This mean that you can move quickly or spread your workload. You can start your Master's in September 2026.