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Amsterdam Center for Language and Communication ACLC
Master
Compare programme
Business Administration (MSc)

Dutch University Bachelor's degree (WO) students

Pre-Master's programme requirements September intake

Admission to the pre-Master's Business Administration programme is highly selective. Please check the admission requirements for University Bachelor's (WO) students before submitting your application.

About the programme

During the pre-Master's programme, you will complete coursework in either business or research related subjects, or in both. Which courses you will follow depends on the type of university degree you have completed. Consequently, there are 3 variations of the pre-Master's programme for WO students: 

  1. The 15 EC variant that consists of courses in Marketing Management, Strategy & Organisation and Leadership & Management
  2. The 10 EC variant that consists of research methodology courses
  3. The 25 EC variant that consists of both Business courses and quantitative research methodology courses
More about the pre-Master's courses in our course catalogue

Entry requirements

We will evaluate your eligibility based on your academic background and your mathematics skills.

  • 1. Dutch University Bachelor’s degree

    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 3 Business courses.
  • 2. Mathematics

    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 before beginning the pre-Master’s programme. Applicants can fulfill this requirement in one of 3 ways:

    1. HAVO diploma with Wiskunde B and a grade of 6 or higher (Mathematics B1 and B2 before 2008)
    2. VWO diploma with Wiskunde A or B and a grade of 6 or higher
    3. 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 application deadline. Applicants who do not meet the mathematics requirement are not eligible for admission.

    EU secondary school diploma

    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 finder.

    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 above institutions. 

Selection

For the September intake, we have 100 places for students from universities of applied sciences (HBO) and 50 places for students from research universities (WO). Because the number of places is limited, admission is competitive. This means that your application will be compared with those of other applicants. The selection is based on your GPA.

  • 1. Grade Point Average (GPA)

    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 an updated transcript until the 1 June application deadline. Transcripts submitted after this date will not be considered. There is no waiting list after selection.

  • 2. Motivation letter (optional)

    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.