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Faculty of Science: Graduate Schools Faculty of Science: Graduate Schools

English language requirements

English language requirements for Master's programmes at the Faculty of Science  

English language proficiency is a formal requirement and can be demonstrated by one of the following tests with the corresponding minimum scores:  

 TOEFL Test  

Internet-based test (iBT):   

Artificial Intelligence, Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Complex Systems and Policy, Computational Science, Earth Sciences, Information Studies, Quantum Computer Science and Software Engineering: a minimum overall score of 100 with the following subscores:   

  • Listening: minimum 22   
  • Reading: minimum 24   
  • Writing: minimum 24   
  • Speaking: minimum 25  

 Chemistry, Forensic Sciences, Logic, Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy, Security and Network Engineering, Stochastics and Financial Mathematics: a minimum overall score of 92 with a minimum subscore of 22 on each individual subject (listening/ reading/writing/speaking).  
  
Other test versions or modules are not accepted. Examples of this include but are not limited to: TOEFL MyBest Scores. 
  

Academic IELTS Test  

Artificial Intelligence, Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Complex Systems and Policy, Computational Science, Earth Sciences, Information Studies, Quantum Computer Science and Software Engineering: a minimum overall score of 7.0/9.0 and all individual subscores at least 6.5/9.0.   

Chemistry, Forensic Sciences, Logic, Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy, Security and Network Engineering, Stochastics and Financial Mathematics: a minimum overall score of 6.5/9.0 and all individual subscores (listening/ reading/writing/speaking) at least 6.0/9.0.   

Other test versions or modules are not accepted. Examples of this include but are not limited to: IELTS Indicator, IELTS One Skill Retake and IELTS Online Academic.   

Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency  

Artificial Intelligence, Biomedical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Complex Systems and Policy, Computational Science, Earth Sciences, Information Studies, Quantum Computer Science and Software Engineering: a minimum score of C1 Advanced with a minimum of 190 or Cambridge C2.  

Chemistry, Forensic Sciences, Logic, Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy, Security and Network Engineering, Stochastics and Financial Mathematics: C1 Advanced (CAE) with a minimum of 180 or Cambridge C2 (CPE).  

LANGUAGECERT Academic 

Artificial Intelligence, Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Complex Systems and Policy, Computational Science, Earth Sciences, Information Studies, Quantum Computer Science and Software Engineering: a minimum overall score of 75 and all subscores at least 70. 

Chemistry, Forensic Sciences, Logic, Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy, Security and Network Engineering, Stochastics and Financial Mathematics: a minimum overall score of 70 and all subscores at least 65.  

Pearson PTE Academic 

Artificial Intelligence, Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Complex Systems and Policy, Computational Science, Earth Sciences, Information Studies, Quantum Computer Science and Software Engineering: a minimum overall score of 75 and all individual subscores at least 71. 

Chemistry, Forensic Sciences, Logic, Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy, Security and Network Engineering, Stochastics and Financial Mathematics: a minimum overall score of 71 and all individual subscores at least 65. 

Additional information  

  • English proficiency test results must be uploaded together with an application in DataNose.   
  • The deadline for submitting a sufficient English proficiency test result is the same as the application deadline for the Master’s programme of your choice.  
  • Applications submitted without a sufficient English proficiency test result will be kept on hold.  
  • Test scores may not be older than two years (from the day that applications are submitted).  
  • Sufficient Cambridge English test results older than two years will be accepted.   
  • English proficiency tests other than the ones mentioned above will not be accepted.   

Exemptions    
Applicants may only be exempt from the English language requirements if one of the following options apply:     

  • Applicants holding a Bachelor's degree from a Dutch university.    
  • Applicants who successfully finished a full academic programme at an esteemed institute in one of the following countries: Australia, Canada (except for French-taught programmes), Ireland, New Zealand, UK or USA.  

Applicants who completed a double degree programme at Bachelor’s level which was only partly completed in one of the above-mentioned countries cannot be exempt.