Pre-master's programme

Get in touch with a student of this Master's

WISH TO FOLLOW THE MASTER'S IN Public administration? FIND OUT IF YOU NEED TO FOLLOW A PRE-MASTER'S FIRST
 

After you have sent in your application for the Master's in Public Administration (PA), a committee will check your eligibility. An outcome of this assessment may be that you first have to complete a pre-master's before being admitted.

What is a pre-master programme?

The pre-master's is a bridging programme which will give you the knowledge and skills you need to embark on your master’s studies successfully. Following completion of the pre-master's you will be admitted to the Master’s in Public Administration. HBO students can take the pre-master's following completion of their Bachelor’s Degree or incorporate the pre-master's into their bachelor’s studies. Read more general information about what a pre-master is or check your HBO-university transfer opportunities.

Start date

You can start the (pre-)master’s in September or February. For students that are admitted with a background at a University of Applied Sciences.

Admission

Eligibility for admission to the pre-master's depends on your previous education. Check out more information on admission.

Language

This pre-master’s is taught in English. 

Rules of the Pre-Master

The pre-master’s programme is designed not only to address any deficiencies in your prior knowledge, but it is also an efficient way to find out whether studying at a research university in the field of Public Administration is right for you. To this end, two rules apply:

  1. To remain eligible for the master's programme, candidates must fulfil the requirements of the pre-master’s programme within the maximum registration period of one year. Since 30 credits is equivalent to half a year of full-time study, this should not pose a problem. (Also part-time students, who study in the pre-master for a full year, must complete the pre-master's programme within this one year).
  2. You must also earn sufficient marks with a maximum of one re-sit per course. This means you need to take the pre-master’s seriously. You cannot expect to be successful in the pre-master’s if you approach it half-heartedly: it is meant as a half-year, full-time programme of study. That said, in practice most motivated and dedicated students complete the programme within max. two attempt per exam and the allotted time.

Pre-master application route

The application process for the pre-master's programme depends on your personal situation (application during or after your bachelor's programme) and your background (e.g. university of applied sciences, university background, Dutch, European or Non-EU (visa)). 

For direct application to the (pre-) master's programme after completion of your bachelor's programme, keep an eye on the application deadlines that apply for your background, and check them prior to your application.

For students who want to do the pre-master's programme during their Dutch hbo bachelor's programme – the so-called transfer minor – the application deadline in Kies Op Maat is earlier. 

For more information about the application route check.

Contact 

For questions about your admission to this Pre-Master's, contact the programme coordinator mentioned below. For general information about the Master's in Public Administration, you can contact our Study Information Centre.

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