Skip to ContentSkip to Navigation
University of Groningenfounded in 1614  -  top 100 university
About us Faculty of Science and Engineering Education Admission and application Application route - Master Apply for a Master

Apply for a MSc Programme

Medical Pharmaceutical Sciences

Welcome to the application page for the Master's programme Medical Pharmaceutical Sciences. This page outlines the step-by-step process for completing your application to the Master's programme Medical Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Questions about the admission procedure? Contact us via admissionsupport.fse@rug.nl.

1. Admission

Am I admissible?

If you hold one of the following Bachelor’s degrees from research universities in the Netherlands, you are considered to have sufficient knowledge and skills and will be admitted to the Master’s programme in Medical Pharmaceutical Sciences.

  • Pharmacy (croho-code 56157)

  • Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences from Leiden University (croho-code 50207)

Please check the admission and/or entry requirements in the Teaching and Examination Regulations (Appendix VI, art. 2.1A.1 + 2.1B.1) to see whether your Bachelor's degree grants admission to the Master's programme. If you have unconditional access to the Master's programme, you do not have submit an admisson request, you may simply register in Studielink for the Master's programme.

Students with a background in Medical Pharmaceutical Sciences or related Bachelor’s programme from a Dutch university that are interested in pursuing a master’s degree programme in Medical Pharmaceutical Sciences are encouraged to apply by submitting an admission request. The Board of Admissions will then assess the application and decides whether the applicant has sufficient background to register for the programme, possibly after following a Pre-master’s programme.

Pre-master

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 Pre-master’s programme.

We offer predetermined  Pre-master’s programmes of 30 ECTS for access to the Master’s programme Medical Pharmaceutical Sciences. This applies to students with one of these HBO Bachelor’s programmes:

  • Biology and Medical Laboratory Research  (RIO 34397)

  • Biotechnology (RIO 34331)

  • Chemistry (RIO 34396)

  • Forensic Laboratory Research (RIO 39305)

The predetermined Pre-master’s programmes are listed in our online course catalogue Ocasys. Please know that up-to-date programmes are published as of 1 June. 

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.

After successful completion of the Pre-master's programme, you are admissible to the Master's programme. 

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

Fast-track

A Fast-track programme ('Doorstroomprogramma' in Dutch) is a study programme at the University of Groningen, that can be followed by an HBO-student as part of their HBO study programme. The programme is formally part of the HBO study programme, for example as elective course units or in the form of a minor programme. The goal of such a fast-track programme is to create a better connection between the bachelor and the master programme.

Students taking the programmes listed below are eligible for the Fast-track programme.

  • Biology and Medical Laboratory Research or Biotechnology at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences/Van Hall Larenstein (VHL University of Applied Sciences (Leeuwarden)

or

  • Chemistry and Biology and Medical Laboratory Research at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen (Hanze).

After completing the Fast-track programme, the student is automatically admitted to the Master's programme.

To be considered for a Fast-track programme, you must submit an admission request.

2. Application Procedure

To apply for one of the FSE Master's programmes, please consider the start dates and the application deadlines in the table below. These deadlines are strict!
Start date (block)
Application deadline
September 1 (1a)
May 1
February 1 (2a)*
December 1

*This option applies only for a few Master's programmes. Please see 'Start dates' for more information.

The selective Master's programme Marine Biology has a different application deadline:

Start date (block)
Application deadline
September 1 (1a)
March 15

The application deadline for the Pre-master's programmes and/or Fast-track programmes is:

Start date (block)
Application deadline
September 1 (1a)
May 1
February 1 (2a)*
December 1

*This option applies only for the Pre-master's/Fast-track programme of Biomedical Sciences and for the Pre-master's programme of Medical Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Your steps to take:

2A. Submit your application in Studielink

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.

Pre-master’s Programme

Apply in Studielink for:

Medical Pharmaceutical Sciences

BSc. Pharmacy (Pre-master)

Please note: For the Fast-track, you will receive further instructions on registering in Studielink once you have been admitted.

2B. Submit your admission request

To file an application for admission to the (Pre-)Master's programme or Fast-track programme, you need to upload the following documents in the application process which is described below.

Please note; the documents should be subitted as PDF-files and in English. Other formats and languages will not be taken into consideration!
The maximum file-size is 5 MB. If it is not possible to crop your PDF file to < 5 MB, please contact us.

1. Educational history.
2. Overview completed courses.
3. Copy of Bachelor’s degree or official statement of graduation, or if you have not obtained one yet, a document containing a description + planning of the remaining course units in your Bachelor's programme.
4. The completely filled-in checklist for the Master’s programme Medical Pharmaceutical Sciences.

3. What to expect next?

You will recieve the decision letter by email within 6 weeks after application.

(Conditional) Admission

After the Board of Admissions has assessed your admission request you will receive an (conditional) admission letter within six weeks.

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

Rejection

After you have submitted your admission request the Board of Admissions 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 programme is insufficient you wil receive a rejection letter.

Pre-master & Fast-Track

After the Board of Admissions 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.

Please note: If you are admitted to a Fast-track programme, you will receive further instructions via the admission letter regarding enrolment in Studielink and the remaining steps.

Appeal

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).

Last modified:26 March 2026 3.34 p.m.