Generally speaking, the previous education requirement is the Dutch pre-university education (VWO) diploma or the first-year (propaedeutic) diploma of an applied sciences degree (HBO-p). Some study programmes also require students to have followed a specific profile at high school (possibly with additional subjects); for example, one of the profiles Nature and Technology, Nature and Health, Economics and Society, or Culture and Society. These further previous education requirements are set down in the Regulation on Application and Admission to Higher Education (RATHO). 

Admission is also possible with a Colloquium Doctum (entrance examination) or another type of diploma. More information about the admission requirements for bachelor’s programmes can be found on the Admission requirements – Leiden University webpage.

For some bachelor’s programmes, Leiden University imposes a limit on the number of places (‘numerus fixus’). Students who wish to start the study programme must not only meet the admission requirements but must also participate in a selection procedure. This procedure may comprise non-central selection based on at least two qualitative selection criteria, or a process of weighted or unweighted drawing of lots; it may also comprise a combination of these. The selection procedure is set down per study programme in the Leiden University Selection and Placement Regulations for the relevant bachelor’s programme. 

Even if the bachelor’s programme is not related, there are often possibilities for being admitted to the desired master’s programme; for example, by following a pre-master’s programme (with a standard or individual curriculum) or by demonstrating competences and professional knowledge by means of completed courses or an admission test. The Higher Education and Research Act (WHW) stipulates how master’s programmes may admit students (article 7.30b). Master’s programmes in any case require that applicants have a bachelor’s diploma or comparable knowledge, understanding and skills at the same level (for example, a pre-master’s diploma). 

The purpose of the admission requirements is to establish the applicant’s suitability. They pertain to the knowledge and competences that the student may have acquired during the bachelor’s programme and are related to the content of the bachelor’s degree. 

Additionally, qualitative admission requirements (selection criteria) may be imposed for admission to a master’s programme. These qualitative admission requirements will be specified in the Course and Examination Regulations (OER). Qualitative admission requirements are skills or knowledge of students that lie beyond or above the learning outcomes of the bachelor’s degree. A student has to meet all the specified requirements in order to be admitted. 

If the master’s programme has a capacity restriction, there is an obligation to use at least two types of qualitative admission requirements (cognitive and/or non-cognitive). If there are more applicants than the number of available places, the Board of Admissions will rank them in order of suitability on the basis of the specified qualitative admission requirements (selection criteria).

For a more detailed explanation, see also the FAQs.

The Regulations for Admission to Master’s Programmes describe the procedural requirements for admission to a master’s programme, including the admission procedure if the number of applicants exceeds the specified maximum number of students (master’s programme with capacity restriction), and also state the various deadlines for application. The specific admission requirements of each study programme are set down in the Course and Examination Regulations (OER) of the relevant study programme. The Regulations for Admission to Master’s Programmes also include a ‘safety net’ provision, which guarantees that Leiden University bachelor’s graduates will have access to at least one master’s programme within their discipline at this university.

In 2021 a university-wide ‘Transparency on admission to master’s programmes’ working group produced a guide containing recommendations for how faculties should structure their admission process, together with tools, tips and instruments for making improvements. The guide can be found on this page. A list of FAQs and answers about admission to master’s programmes can be found below (also part of the guide).

Students who meet the following requirements are admissible to a master’s programme: 

1. A bachelor’s degree from a research university (WO)
2. A bachelor’s degree from a research university in a related programme (bachelor’s programme with overlap in terms of content) 
3. Knowledge, understanding and skills at the level of a bachelor’s degree from a research university (with overlap in terms of content) 
4. A pre-master’s diploma (to supplement the knowledge from an applied sciences bachelor’s degree (HBO) or related bachelor’s degree from a research university) 

If applicants with a foreign diploma wish to enrol for a master’s programme, it is not compulsory to grant them admission if there is demonstrably a substantial difference between the admission requirements in the country where the diploma was obtained and the admission requirements set down in the Higher Education and Research Act (WHW). The Admissions Office is responsible for assessing whether a diploma is equivalent. 

Qualitative admission requirements (selection criteria) are skills of the student that lie beyond or above the learning outcomes of the bachelor’s degree. They may be aspects related to the student’s personal qualities (skills, motivation) and/or to the ultimate results achieved in the student’s previous education (exceeding the level of that study programme’s minimum learning outcomes). In other words, they concern a specific aptitude or talent that surpasses the level of the bachelor’s diploma or needs to be demonstrated by other means than the diploma. 

If qualitative admission requirements (selection criteria) are imposed, two different types must be used. Qualitative admission requirements can be cognitive or non-cognitive. The former are usually grades or specific substantive knowledge related to the discipline, while the latter are requirements relating to specific skills or aptitudes. When qualitative admission requirements are imposed, it is not compulsory to distinguish between cognitive and non-cognitive requirements. This means that two different cognitive requirements or two different non-cognitive requirements are also permitted (i.e. not two average grades). 

If qualitative admission requirements (selection criteria) are imposed, a student can only be admitted after demonstrating that these requirements have been met. A student who does not meet one of the qualitative admission requirements can be refused admission to the master’s programme. 

If the Executive Board has established a capacity restriction for the master’s programme, a ranking has to be determined. It is not possible to admit more students than the maximum number of available places established for the programme; prospective students who meet the qualitative admission requirements (selection criteria) will be given a place on the basis of the ranking. The procedure to be used for admitting students according to this ranking is set down in regulations (usually in the Course and Examination Regulations (OER)) and announced well in advance. 

This only has added value if specific skills, such as social skills or empathy, are also included in the learning objectives and learning outcomes of the master’s programme.

Selection criteria are the skills of the student that lie beyond or above the learning outcomes of the bachelor’s degree. These criteria are related to the learning objectives and learning outcomes of the master’s programme and are not intended to create an unnecessary obstacle. To restrict the intake, for example due to limited needs of the labour market, the Executive Board may be asked to establish a capacity restriction for the programme. It is not permissible to admit more students than the maximum number of available places established for the programme. 

A student who wants to be admitted to an English-taught master’s programme must be proficient in English at the pre-university education (VWO) level. The language requirement is an admission requirement if it is used to determine whether the student will be able to successfully follow the master’s programme. Students with a foreign diploma must take a language test at a level that is comparable to VWO (for exceptions, see the model Course and Examination Regulations (OER) for master’s programmes). If a language requirement is imposed with a higher level than VWO, it is then a selection criterion. 

Admission requirements are applicable to all students, regardless of their previous education, and are therefore the same for all students. It is not permissible to make a distinction per target group or origin of the student. 

It is usually the case that qualitative admission requirements are set for a research master’s programme, due to its research-oriented character (learning objectives). The Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO) has also stated in its assessment framework for research master’s programmes that it will give attention during the external assessment to the admission requirements and the way in which students are selected for the programme. A post-initial master’s programme is usually intended to provide greater substantive depth, therefore imposing qualitative admission requirements can be legitimate on the basis of its learning objectives. 

A student will only be permitted to enrol for a pre-master’s programme after a check has been made, as far as possible, that the student will meet any additional admission requirements after completing it. The student receives a conditional admission decision (provided that the master’s programme does not have a capacity restriction), which means that if the pre-master’s programme is completed successfully, the student will be admitted to the master’s programme. The exception to this is admission to a master’s programme for which a capacity restriction has been established. 

In the case of a capacity restriction, conditional admission would result in unequal treatment. After completing the pre-master’s programme, students will therefore have to demonstrate, in exactly the same way as students who have not taken a pre-master’s programme, that they meet the selection criteria imposed. Students who wish to start a pre-master’s programme will be informed in advance that in this case they do not have an automatic ‘right to admission’. 

The tasks of the Board of Examiners are set down in article 7.12b of the Higher Education and Research Act (WHW) and include assuring the quality of examinations and final examinations, establishing the Rules and Regulations, and granting exemptions. The Board of Examiners does not have a role in formulating the admission requirements. Rather, the Executive Board has the power to formulate admission requirements, pursuant to article 7.30b WHW, but has mandated this power to the Faculty Boards, which in turn may request the advice of the Board of Admissions and, during the discussion of the Course and Examination Regulations (OER), of the faculty’s co-participation bodies. 

No. Students who have been admitted to the master’s programme will simply be required to re-register in the subsequent academic years. Re-registration gives students the right to participate in classes, to take examinations and the final examination, and to make use of educational facilities, such as study guidance. The Higher Education and Research Act (WHW) does not provide for a maximum registration period or ‘binding study advice’ for master’s students. Students who make insufficient progress with their studies may be offered active study guidance or study advice by the master’s programme.