Are you enrolled in or finished with a bachelor’s at a university of applied sciences (HBO) and are you not done with studying yet? Continuing with a master’s at a research university might be an interesting option.
The University of Twente (UT) offers a wide range of (pre-)master’s programmes, and lots of possibilities to specialise in various fields, ranging from engineering and natural and health sciences to behavioural and management sciences.
Why continuing with a master’s after HBO?
A research university-level master's allows you to deepen your professional knowledge and build expertise in a particular specialisation, but it also allows you to broaden your knowledge. You complement the practice-based knowledge you acquired at your HBO-bachelor’s with academic research skills and learn to connect ‘how’ with ‘why’. You get the best of both worlds! Moreover, you will increase your chances on the job market.
Master's at a research university
A master's can be a valuable addition to your HBO bachelor’s degree. Are you curious whether a master’s at a research university (WO) fits you? We have listed the main differences between HBO and WO for you.
HBO | WO |
|---|---|
'How does this work'? | 'Why does it work this way?' |
Creating practical solutions to solve a problem | Analysing a problem using theory and scientific research |
Learning how to apply theory | Studying theory and generating new knowledge |
Improving existing applications (in close contact with companies) | Designing new applications |
Education is more practical, mandatory internships are common | Education is more theoretical, doing an internship is voluntary |
Pre-master's after hbo
After your bachelor’s degree, you are faced with a choice. Will you go straight into the job market or would you rather continue studying? Following a university-level master's can be an attractive option. As a bachelor's student at a Dutch university of applied sciences (HBO), you can move on to a one- or two-year UT master's programme. Your journey at a research university starts with a pre-master’s: a transfer programme to bridge the gap between a HBO bachelor's and a university-level master's. It is an addition to your bachelor's, providing you (academic) knowledge and skills that are vital for the master's.
There is no such thing as a general pre-master's programme; the subject package is linked to the master of your choice and your previous education. For hbo students, this is usually a 30 ECTS course package, with subjects such as research methodology, mathematics and academic skills, tailored to the master's field of study. There are two ways to follow a pre-master's programme: after or during your bachelor's.
Am I eligible for admission?
The main admission requirement is to have a bachelor's degree from a Dutch university of applied sciences that sufficiently matches the master's of your choice. Depending on your choice, you may face additional requirements, for example in the field of mathematics or English. We strongly advise you to brush up your English and mathematical skills before starting the pre-master's programme, even though this is not an official requirement. The admission requirements for each (pre-)master’s are available through the programme pages.
Check the transfer tool below to see which transfer options are available to you. Is your programme or institution not listed? Check whether a comparable bachelor's degree is offered at one of the listed institutions. If it is admissible, you may also qualify. If in doubt, always contact us.