Applicants must have completed an academic Bachelor’s programme:

• If you have a Dutch or European academic BSc and/or MSc degree including advanced quantitative research methods, but without business-related courses, you will follow the 4-month 15 EC study programme. This programme consists of the 3 business administration-related courses.
• If you have a Dutch or European academic BSc degree with at least 15 EC in Business Administration courses (preferably a minor) with less than 10 EC in quantitative research courses, you will follow the 10 EC study programme. This programme solely consists of the 2 management research methods courses.
• If you have a Dutch or European academic BSc degree with insufficient coursework in both quantitative research methods and Business-related coursework, you will follow the 25 EC study programme. This programme consists of the 2 management research methods courses and three Business courses.

Mathematics is a fundamental component of both the pre-Master’s and Master’s programme in Business Administration. An appropriate level of mathematics is therefore required prior to beginning the pre-Master’s programme.  

Applicants with an international secondary school diploma may already meet this requirement, check the shortlist below to see whether this applies to you. 

• International Baccalaureate: Math SL, HL, A&A SL or HL, A&I HL   
• European Baccalaureate: 5-period Mathematics  
• British A-levels: GCE A-level certificate in Mathematics with grade C or higher 
• German Abitur: Mathematik prüfungsfach as Grundkurs or Leistungskurs  
• French Baccalaureate: Mathematics as final exam  
• Belgian Algemeen Secundair Onderwijs (ASO): At least 4-hours mathematics in the final two years 

If your diploma is not listed and you would like to know whether you meet the mathematics requirement, please check the Diploma Calculator.

If you do not meet the mathematic requirement you can take an extra exam at VWO Wiskunde A or B Mathematics Certificate from one of the following institutions:

• CCVX (on-site) - Students must score at least a 6.0. 
• State Exam (on-site) - in Dutch (registration deadline 31 December) - Students must score at least a 6.0. 
• James Boswell Bèta - Students must score at least a 5.5.
• Korteweg de Vries - Students will only receive a certificate if they passed the Certificate Course. 
• OMPT-F Students must score at least 60%, and are permitted only one attempt for this programme. 

Note that the mathematics requirement must be fulfilled on or before the deadline. Applicants who do not meet the mathematics requirement are not eligible for admission. 

This Master’s programme is taught in English, so strong language skills are essential. To help you succeed in class, we ask you to show your English proficiency through one of the approved tests listed below: 

• TOEFL iBT Test: minimum total score of 92 with a minimum of 22 per subscore. You can use the institution code 9011 to have your score report sent to us. 
• IELTS Academic: overall band score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 per subscore. Please note that the IELTS Indicator test is not allowed. 
• Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: overall score of 180 and a minimum of 180 per skill. 

Other test versions or modules are not accepted. Examples of this include but are not limited to: IELTS Indicator, IELTS One Skill Retake, TOEFL Home Edition, TOEFL MyBest Scores, etc.

Test validity 

Test scores may not be older than 2 years, counting back from the start of the programme. So for the September 2026 intake, we only accept tests taken on or after 1 September 2024.  

Waiting for your score? 

We accept scores submitted after the application deadline, as long as you took the test before that deadline.

Exemptions   

• You obtained your previous education in one of the following countries: the Netherlands, Australia, Canada (except for Quebec), Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America. This only applies to these countries, no other exemptions are made.  
• You have an English proficiency test older than 2 years and you have attended an exchange programme of at least 6 months in one of the above mentioned countries. 
• You have an English proficiency test older than 2 years, and you have obtained an academic degree that was completely in English. You need submit a proof of the language of instruction of your academic degree. If the language of instruction is not mentioned on the transcript or diploma, submit a certified letter from your higher education institute, stating that the curriculum is completely taught in English.

Why does the UvA ask for English proficiency tests?

Strong analytical writing and quantitative reasoning skills are crucial for starting in this Master’s programme. To ensure this, you need to provide a sufficient Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score. 

GMAT tests and scores

GMAT Focus Edition: Minimum score: 535 and preferably 565 

GMAT test (old edition): Minimum score: 560 and preferably 600 

• Please note that completion of all sections of the exam is required. 
• You can use the institution code 0500 to have your score report sent to us. 
• The GMAT (Focus) Online Exam is allowed for the September 2026 intake. 

Exemptions 

Based on mutual agreements with certain universities, students might be exempted from the GMAT requirement. Check the list of universities to see whether this applies to you.  

Applicants with a WO Bachelor’s degree are required to have a GPA of at least 7.0 in years 1-3 of the Bachelor’s programme, including any electives. Having a GPA of 7.0 makes you eligible, but it does not guarantee admission. There are 50 places available for university-level students that will be given to the applicants with the highest GPA until all places are filled. 

You can upload your GPA calculation  until the 1 June application deadline. Transcripts submitted after this date will not be considered. There is no waiting list after selection.

The motivation letter (max. one A4)  allows you to explain why you would be a good fit for the pre-Master’s programme and which experiences have led you to this decision.