This programme is intended for students who have a degree from a University of Applied Sciences (such as HBO) or an academic Bachelor’s degree that does not grant direct access to the Master's in Spirituality and Religion.
If you have obtained an academic Bachelor’s degree, you do not need to take the two Academic Skills courses (2 x 6 ECTS), which means that the programme will comprise 30 ECTS instead of 42 ECTS. Below you see the programme of the current academic year; the courses in the coming academic year may differ slightly. The Course Catalogue for the new academic year will be published in May.
NB: The three subjects in Dutch in the programme below will be replaced by English subjects, for students who do not meet the Dutch language requirements. More information will follow later.
Please check the deadlines below very carefully, because they are strict. Missing one of the deadlines means that your application cannot be processed.
Register in Studielink (see step 1 of the application process)
8 May 2025, 23:59 CET
Submit complete application (see step 2)
15 May 2025, 23:59 CET
Register in Studielink (see step 1 of the application process)
23 February 2025, 23:59 CET
Submit complete application (see step 2)
1 March 2025, 23:59 CET
Register in Studielink (see step 1 of the application process)
8 May 2025, 23:59 CET
Submit complete application (see step 2)
15 May 2025, 23:59 CET
All students applying for a (pre-)Master’s programme with a non-Dutch degree must pay a non-refundable application fee of €100. The UvA cannot start processing your application until this fee has been paid. You can pay the application fee by credit card (Master or Visacard) or iDEAL.
You do not have to pay the application fee:
Register in Studielink (see step 1 of the application process)
23 February 2025, 23:59 CET
Submit complete application (see step 2)
1 March 2025, 23:59 CET
If you need a visa for your stay in the Netherlands, please note that the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) only issues visas to pre-Master's students for the duration of one year. If you do not complete the programme in one year, you cannot continue your studies anywhere in the Netherlands.
Your application to the Graduate School of Humanities always starts by submitting an enrolment request in Studielink and MyInfo application for the Master's programme you wish to pursue, even if you think you are eligible for the pre-Master’s programme.
An enrolment request in Studielink for the pre-Master’s programme alone is not sufficient and will not be taken into consideration.
All students applying will need to start their application by submitting an enrolment request in Studielink, the Dutch online system for students applying for a degree programme at a Dutch university. Students wishing to enrol for the Spirituality and Religion bridging programme should first submit a request for enrolment for the Master's in Theology and Religious Studies or Theology and Religious Studies in Studielink.
It is important that you submit your request for enrolment at least 48 hours before the application deadline. This is to ensure that you receive the login details (UvAnetID) you need in time to send in the UvA application form before the deadline.
Complete all of the steps of the application process for the Master's programme, including the application in MyInfo and the submission of all required application documents. This includes proof of English/Dutch language proficiency that meets our requirements.
The Admissions Board will assess your prior education and determine whether you are directly admissible to the Master’s programme, admissible to the Master’s programme after first completing the pre-Master’s programme, or not admissible to the (pre)Master’s programme.
If you are admissible to the pre-Master’s programme, you will receive a letter of conditional admission with the steps you need to take to become fully enrolled.
Please be aware that all pre-Master’s programmes offered by the Graduate School of Humanities must be completed within one academic year. Extensions are not possible.
The tuition fee rate for a pre-Master’s programme in the academic year 2025-2026 is €43.35 per ECTS, with a maximum of €2,601. This means that for a 42 ECTS pre-Master’s programme, the fee is €1,820.70; for a 30 ECTS programme, the fee is €1,300.50.