If you want to apply for this Master’s programme, you need to hold an academic Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Economics, Econometrics, or have completed a Master’s programme with Economics as a major subject. 

You are expected to have taken all courses at intermediate level in:

• Microeconomics
• Macroeconomics
• Econometrics and/or quantitative research methods

Additionally, you are expected to have a solid background in mathematics and statistics. Relevant course work will be evaluated after your online application has been submitted.

You are also eligible to apply if you have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a quantitative field, such as Mathematics, Statistics and Physics but only if courses in microeconomics and macroeconomics at the intermediate level are included in the programme. 

Educational systems differ around the world. International degrees are evaluated based on the guidelines provided by the NUFFIC.  Are you unsure whether your academic background is considered equivalent to a Dutch Bachelor's degree? Find a list of equivalent degrees here.

If your previous education does not fulfil this programme’s requirements:

• Students with previous EU academic education and an EU/EEA nationality might be eligible to apply for a pre-Master’s programme.
• Students with previous non-EU education and a non-EU nationality may wish to consider applying for a Master’s-qualifying programme at the Cambridge Education Group.

Our Master’s programmes are in English. Good English skills are essential for successful class participation and understanding. To ensure this, we will assess your English skills through specific proficiency tests listed below.

Tests and required scores 

• TOEFL iBT Test: minimum total score of 92 with a minimum of 22 per subscore. You can use the institution code 9011 to have your score report sent to us. 
• IELTS Academic: overall band score of 6.5. Minimum score per subscore: Speaking and Writing a 6.5 and Listening and Reading a 6.0. Please note that the IELTS Indicator test is not allowed. 
• Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: overall score of 180 and a minimum of 180 per skill. 

Other test versions or modules are not accepted. Examples of this include but are not limited to: IELTS Indicator, IELTS One Skill Retake, TOEFL Home Edition, TOEFL MyBest Scores, etc.

Validity of scores 

• Test scores may not be older than two years, counting back from the start of the programme. For example, if you are applying for the September 2025 intake, we do not accept English proficiency tests taken before September 2023.
• Scores older than 2 years are only valid in combination with certain study programmes (check the exemptions). 
• Sufficient test scores received after the application deadline are accepted, as long as your English proficiency test was taken before the application deadline. 

Exemptions  

Did you obtain your previous education in the Netherlands, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America? Or did you participate in an exchange programme in one of these countries, while your English proficienct test results are older than 2 years?

We are looking for students who have shown potential to keep up with the high level and workload of the programme. Therefore, one of the criteria on which your application will be assessed is the Grade Point Average (GPA).  

We do not require a specific minimum GPA for this programme, but we will compare and assess the performance on all selection criteria to make an informed decision regarding placement into the programme.  

Good analytical writing and quantitative reasoning skills are crucial for starting in this Master’s programme. To ensure this, you need to provide a sufficient Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test result. And in some cases, a Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score is accepted. 

Tests and required scores 

GRE: Minimum score: 155 and preferably 158 in the Quantitative Reasoning section

• Please note that completion of all sections of the exam is required. 
• You can use the institution code 7878 U Amsterdam School of Economics to have your score report sent to us. 
• The GRE at home test is allowed for the September 2025 intake. 

Instead of a GRE, a GMAT test score may be accepted if you have already obtained a GMAT score, or it is difficult to take the GRE test on short notice in your country. 

GMAT Focus Edition: Minimum score: 585 with 79 points in the Quantitative Reasoning section and preferably 595 with 82 points in the Quantitative Reasoning section 

GMAT test (old edition): Minimum score: 620 with 45 points in the Quantitative Reasoning section and preferably 640 with 48 points in the Quantitative Reasoning section 

• Please note that completion of all sections of the exam is required. 
• You can use the institution code 0500 to have your score report sent to us. 
• The GMAT (Focus) Online Exam is allowed for the September 2025 intake. 

Deadline of handing in test scores 

Your test scores should be submitted before your application deadline. Please keep in mind that receiving these results can take up to two weeks. 

Exemptions 

Based on mutual agreements with certain universities, students might be exempted from the GRE requirement. Check the list of universities to see whether this applies to you.

The motivation letter (max. one A4)  allows you to explain why you would be a good fit for the Master’s programme and which experiences have led you to this decision.