Apply for a MSc Programme

Holders of the following Bachelor’s degrees are considered to have sufficient knowledge and skills to be admitted to the ranking list of the Master’s degree programme in Marine Biology on that basis:

• Holders of a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Groningen, with the major Ecology and Evolution;

• For holders of another relevant academic Bachelor’s degree with a specialization in biology, ecology, evolution, theoretical biology, behaviour, marine biology, molecular biology, genetics there is an individual admission procedure based on the content of the bachelor’s programme and language skills. You can still apply, we will always consider your application.

The Master's programme Marine Biology has a selection procedure. This means that an applicant must both meet the admission requirements and successfully complete a selection procedure in order to be admitted to the programme.

The Marine Biology research master is selective. Selection will be based on academic performance and motivation to determine if you will be selected for the master's programme.

More detailed information on the selection critera can be found in the Teaching and Examination Regulations (Appendix VI. Admission to the degree programme (art. 2.1A.1 + 2.1B.1).

Are you currently enrolled in a Dutch (HBO) Bachelor’s programme and interested in one of our Master’s programmes? A Pre-master’s programme may be offered to students with a Dutch Bachelor’s degree who have covered some but not all key subjects in their own degree. Also, students with a relevant HBO degree are not directly admissible but will be offered a premaster programme.

The admission & selection procedure for Pre-master’s students is exactly the same as for all other students. Please follow the steps indicated below.

The Board of Admissions can decide to offer a Pre-master's programme to:

·         Students with a Dutch University Bachelor’s degree which covers some, but not all, key subjects needed for admission.

·         Students with a relevant Dutch HBO degree.

We offer predetermined Pre-master’s programmes, which are listed in in our online course catalogue Ocasys, and individually determined Pre-master’s programmes for the Master’s programme Marine Biology. Please know that up-to-date programmes are published as of 1 June. 

The selection procedure takes place before starting the premaster: after successfully finishing the Pre-master’s programme, you will be automatically admissible into the Master's programme.

The starting date for a Pre-master's programme is 1 September. After successful completion of the Pre-master's programme, the Master's programme can be started in September in the following academic year.

Pre-master's programme
The following types of HBO qualification qualifies for participation in the admission and selection procedure:

·         Coastal and Marine Management (major Marine Biology) (CROHO 39204)

·         (Applied) Biology (CROHO 330009)

For HBO programmes not listed above, the Board of Admissions determines whether you can be admitted. In such cases, the content of the Pre-master’s programme is individually tailored by the Board of Admissions and depends on the knowledge acquired during the HBO Bachelor’s programme. 

If you are admitted, you will receive an admission letter outlining the content of your Pre-master’s programme.

A Pre-master’s programme consists of course units, each carrying a credit value of 5 ECTS.

Please know that for selective Master’s programmes, Pre-master’s students are selected on the basis of the following selection criteria and selection procedure:

a.      The Pre-master’s programme is intended for students at a University of Applied Sciences who are performing above average: the Board of Admissions assesses students on the strength of the knowledge/major and skills they have already acquired and motivation. As part of the selection procedure, the Board of Admissions therefore requests a nomination letter from the HBO programme.

b.     As the Master’s programme Marine Biology is a selective Master’s programme with a cap, a maximum of 5 pre-master students is selected after the deadline based on above listed criteria.

 You can apply for a Pre-master’s programme by submitting an admission request.

Please register in Studielink for the (Pre-) Master’s programme (including the master track if available). Please make sure you meet the payment obligations before the starting date (single payment or in instalments).

Please note; In case you would like to start with a Pre-master's programme, please make sure you register for the Pre-master's programme instead of the Master's degree programme in Studielink. If you have questions on how to register in Studielink, please contact us.

Some Pre-master’s do not have their own programme in Studielink.
Please see the table below to find out how to apply for these Pre-master’s programmes.

All candidates with Dutch qualifications have to file an admission request via the FSE Application form, and upload the following documents before 1 May (start 1 September):

• ID card or passport

• Diploma of relevant Bachelor’s degree programme (if possible); or if the diploma is not yet obtained, a document containing a description + planning of the remaining course units in the programme

• Official transcript of records

• Proof of English language proficiency

• Curriculum Vitae

• The completely filled-in Checklist for AI including appendices:, motivation, relevant content Bachelor’s degree programme, written report in English

After candidates have filed their admission request, applications will be processed in the following way:

For holders of a Dutch BSc diploma:

1. Admission Support FSE compiles the individual selection file

2.Admission Support FSE submits the individual selection file to the Admission Board of the individual programme

For holders of a non-Dutch BSc diploma:

1. You upload documents in de Progress Portal

2. Admissions Office compiles the individual selection file

3. Admissions Office validates individual Bachelor’s degree diploma

4. Admissions Office submits the individual selection file to Admission Support FSE

5. Admission Support FSE submits the individual selection file to the Admission Board of the individual programme

After the admissions board has assessed your admission request you will receive an (conditional) admission letter within six weeks.

Admission is conditional because in most cases students have not obtained their bachelor’s degree yet.

Because this Master’s degree programme has a selection procedure in place, admission is also determined on a ranking list on the basis of the candidates' total scores. This ranking list is used to allocate places on the programme.

After you have submitted your admission request the admissions board will assess your file. You will receive an admission decision letter within six weeks. When the board has determined that your educational background or allignment with the Master's degree programme is insufficient you wil receive a rejection letter.

After the admissions board has assessed your admission request you will receive an (conditional) admission letter by email within six weeks.

When you have not yet obtained your bachelor's degree you will receive a conditional admission letter.

Because the Master's degree programme Marine Biology is selective, this means that once you have successfully completed the pre-Master's programme, you will also be automatically admitted to the Master's programme in AI. You do need to register in Studielink. After this Admission Support will process your application.

If you disagree with a decision, you can lodge a complaint, objection or appeal. Complaints, objections and appeals can be submitted to the Central Portal for the Legal Protection of Student Rights (CLRS).