Admission and application
Admission period
Please select your nationality and previous education to view the admission periods.Admission period
Please select your previous education to view the admission periods.Admission period with Dutch degree and Dutch nationality
Students with a Dutch Degree can apply via Studielink until 1 July. Do you apply after 1 July? Then there is no guarantee that we can process your admission on time. The deadline for the completion of your registration is 31 August.
Admission period with non-Dutch degree and Dutch nationality
Note on the deadline: Formally speaking, the admission deadline for Dutch and EU/EEA students with non-Dutch previous education is 1 July, 2025. However, students with non-Dutch previous education who wish to obtain housing assistance need to apply by 1 May, 2025, which is why this deadline is mentioned here.
Admission period
Please select your previous education to view the admission periods.Admission period with Dutch degree and nationality EU/EEA country
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Students with a Dutch Degree can apply via Studielink until 1 July. Do you apply after 1 July? Then there is no guarantee that we can process your admission on time. The deadline for the completion of your registration is 31 August.
Admission period with non-Dutch degree and nationality EU/EEA country
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Note on the deadline: Formally speaking, the admission deadline for Dutch and EU/EEA students with non-Dutch previous education is 1 July, 2025. However, students with non-Dutch previous education who wish to obtain housing assistance need to apply by 1 May, 2025, which is why this deadline is mentioned here.
Admission period
Please select your previous education to view the admission periods.Admission period with Dutch degree and nationality non-EU/EEA country
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Students with a Dutch Degree can apply via Studielink until 1 July. Do you apply after 1 July? Then there is no guarantee that we can process your admission on time. The deadline for the completion of your registration is 31 August.
Admission period with non-Dutch degree and nationality non-EU/EEA country
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Please note: would you like to apply for a scholarship? Please note that the application deadline for scholarships is 31 January 2025 23:59 CET. Your application needs to be complete by 14 February 2025 23:59 CET.
Dutch degree
Admission requirements
Your admission into this programme depends on your previous education. You are admissible if you have a completed:
- Bachelor's degree in Political Science (in Dutch: 'Politicologie') from Radboud University
- Bachelor’s degree in a similar (or related) field from another Dutch or international university. Your degree must be equivalent to a Dutch research university diploma.
Do you not meet the admission requirements?
Did you complete a Bachelor’s Degree in a different field from a university or a university of applied sciences (hbo)? You may still be eligible for admission to a pre-Master’s programme. A completed pre-Master’s allows you to progress to the Master’s programme and related specialisations.
For Bachelor's degree students in Public Administration at Radboud University, there is a separate arrangement. If applicable, please reach out to the study advisor for further assistance.
Additional requirements
For the Master's specialisation in Global Political Economy, an additional admission requirement is that 18 EC of courses must be in the field of Economics.
Do you have a university of applied sciences (HBO) degree? Then you are not directly admissible to a Master's programme, but you may be eligible for the pre-Master's in Political Science. After completing this pre-Master's, you can be admitted to the Master's programme.
If you have a partly Dutch degree, you can register via Studielink. Do you have any further questions? Send an email to admissions [at] nsm.ru.nl (admissions[at]nsm[dot]ru[dot]nl).
Non-Dutch degree
Admission requirements
Your admission into this programme depends on your previous education. You are admissible if you have a completed:
- A Bachelor’s degree in a similar (or related) field from another research university with a fair number of courses in your preferred specialisation. Your degree must be equivalent to a Dutch Research University diploma. This will be evaluated once you complete your formal application.
Students must also be fluent in both written and spoken English. This requirement has been satisfied when the student meets one of the following conditions:
- A Bachelor's programme at a Dutch university.
- A Master's or Bachelor's programme at a Dutch university of applied sciences (hbo) and completed a corresponding pre-Master's.
- An English-taught Bachelor's programme in one of the following countries: EU/EEA countries, Australia, Canada (excluding Quebec), New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Alternatively, the English language proficiency requirement can be met via an approved English language certificate (validity 2 years). The approved English language certificates, and required scores are listed below.
TOEFL iBT
A TOEFL (iBT) certificate with an overall score of ≥ 90 and subscores ≥ 22
Note: we do not accept the TOEFL at Home Edition exam.
IELTS Academic
An IELTS Academic certificate with an overall score of ≥ 6,5. Subscores ≥ 6,0, writing subscore ≥ 6,5
Note: we do not accept the IELTS Online exam.
Cambridge C1 Advanced
Overall score ≥ 176, component score ≥ 169, writing component score ≥ 176
Cambridge C2 Proficiency
Overall score ≥ 180 component score ≥ 169, writing component score ≥ 176
Due to the strong academic nature of this programme, it is essential that students have the necessary basic research skills (both quantitative and qualitative).
Do you not meet the admission requirements?
Did you complete a Bachelor’s Degree in a different field from a university or a university of applied sciences (hbo)? You may still be eligible for admission to a pre-Master’s programme. A completed pre-Master’s allows you to progress to the Master’s programme and related specialisations.
Additional requirements
For the Master's specialisation in Global Political Economy, an additional admission requirement is that 18 EC of courses must be in the field of Economics.
If you have a partly Dutch degree, you can register via Studielink. Do you have any further questions? Send an email to admissions [at] nsm.ru.nl (admissions[at]nsm[dot]ru[dot]nl).
Application procedure
You must first make sure you meet the admission requirements of the Master's programme you would like to apply for. To apply for a programme, you need to submit an enrolment application in Studielink before the application deadline and then follow the steps below.
Steps
Step 1: Submit an enrolment application in Studielink
You can apply for a Master’s programme at Radboud University via Studielink. You can apply for a programme for the following academic year from 1 October onwards.
If you completed a Bachelor’s programme at Radboud University that grants you direct admission to your chosen Master’s programme, you can skip the steps below and enrol in the Master’s programme after you have applied in Studielink.
Step 2: Complete the digital questionnaire
If your previous education needs to be assessed by the Admissions Committee, you will receive login details for a digital questionnaire, OSIRIS Application, at the email address that you provided in Studielink. You will need to log in to the questionnaire, and once you have completed it you will need to upload the requested documents.
Please make sure that you complete the questionnaire and upload the documents before the application deadline. If you do this after the deadline, there is no guarantee that we will be able to process your application for admission in time. You can find the application deadline at the top of the Admission & Application page of the Master's programme.
Step 3: Keep an eye on your inbox
Your request for admission will then be processed. Within approximately three weeks after you have submitted the digital questionnaire, Student Admissions will inform you by email about the admission decision. There are three possible outcomes:
- You will be unconditionally admitted, which means you can enrol in the study programme.
- You will be conditionally admitted: your admission decision contains the conditions that you will need to fulfil before you will be able to enrol in the study programme.
- You will not be admitted: your application will then be withdrawn from Studielink. You will receive further details by email about why your application was rejected.
The details of this outcome will be sent to the email address that you provided in Studielink.
Have you been admitted ?
Go to the enrolment procedure and follow the steps to enrol.
Application procedure
You must first make sure you meet the admission requirements of the Master's programme you would like to apply for. The application procedure then consists of two steps: first, submitting an enrolment application in Studielink, then uploading documents in OSIRIS Application.
Steps
Step 1: Submit an enrolment application in Studielink
To apply for a Master’s programme, you have to create an account and an enrolment application in Studielink (the national online registration system for Dutch universities). First you will be asked to fill in your previous education, then select the programme you wish to apply for in the list that appears.
Step 2: Upload documents in OSIRIS Application
After you have submitted an enrolment request in Studielink, you will receive an email with personal login details for OSIRIS Application. You have 56 days to upload your documents and submit a complete application. If you have not submitted your application after this period, it will be automatically cancelled. Please note that if you apply close to the deadline, you will have fewer than 56 days.
You will be asked to upload the following documents:
- Scan of valid passport (personal details page only) or European ID card
- Bachelor’s diploma or equivalent
If you have graduated and received your diploma, you are required to upload it (signed and stamped) to your application. If you have graduated but have not received your diploma or if you have not yet graduated, you can indicate this in the application form. In OSIRIS Application, please list the full, official name of the diploma that you have or will receive. Please use the language and name in which the diploma is issued.
- An official transcript of your Bachelor's degree or equivalent
If you have not yet obtained your degree, upload your most recent signed and stamped transcript of records. If you have graduated, please upload your full and complete transcript of grades. Also, please upload the description of the grading scale that can usually be found at the end of your transcript (if applicable).
- Sworn translations of diploma and transcript of grades
Translations need to be made by a legally sworn translator. Certified translations are not required if your diploma and transcript are originally in Dutch, English or German. If your school provides English versions of your documents, please upload those along with versions of the documents in the original language.
- Course description for unfinished courses
If you have not yet completed your degree, please upload a list of the courses that you are currently taking or still need to take, including the course content, the number of hours, and the literature used per course; see the example below in downloads. Be sure to include information about research courses, practical work and your thesis/internship (if applicable).
- Course description for finished courses
Upload a list of all the courses you have taken during your degree, including the course content, the number of hours, and the literature used per course; see example below in downloads. Be sure to include information about research courses, practical work and your thesis/internship (if applicable).
- Personal statement/motivation letter (depending on programme)
Your personal statement should contain, at least, a brief description of why you have chosen this specific Master's programme and how it fits your previous education.
For the motivation letter please describe your future plans and what you would like to learn and research at Radboud University. What are the topics of the research you would like to do? Please be specific about your ambitions and explain how your previous education prepared you for this specific Master's programme. This will allow us to find out if your previous education is appropriate. Last but not least, include your interest in studying at Radboud University (specific disciplines, facilities or other considerations).
- Reference letter(s)
Reference letters are required if you are applying for a scholarship and/or a selective Master's programme and you will be asked to upload them to OSIRIS Application. Please note; these must be signed and stamped or signed and on official letterhead.
Reference letters are not required for non-selective programmes; however, it is still possible to upload one to your application if you wish.
- Overview of education/experience
Please upload an overview that contains, in chronological order, information about your education and knowledge/experience acquired during an internship, training, or work; for example, a resume.
- English language certificate
You are allowed to apply without a language certificate. However, if you are admitted to the programme and a language certificate is listed as a requirement in your admission email, you will be required to provide proof of proficiency before the enrolment deadline. If you can prove English proficiency through your previous education, a certificate is not required. Visit the language requirements page for full details.
- Handling fee
Non-EU/EEA applicants are required to pay a handling fee before their application can be processed. Visit the handling fee website for full details and how to pay.
Step 3: Admission decision
Your request for admission will then be processed. Within approximately 3 weeks after you have submitted the digital questionnaire, Student Admissions will inform you by email about the admission decision. There are three possible outcomes:
- You will be unconditionally admitted, which means that you can enrol in the study programme.
- You will be conditionally admitted: your admission decision contains the conditions that you will need to fulfil before you will be able to enrol in the study programme.
- You will not be admitted: your application will then be withdrawn from Studielink. You will receive further details by email about why your application was rejected.
The details of this outcome will be sent to the email address that you provided in Studielink.
Have you been admitted to the Master's?
Go to the enrolment procedure and follow the steps to enrol.
Questions?
Please contact us via admissions [at] ru.nl (admissions[at]ru[dot]nl).
Links
Questions or Concerns?
If you are unsure about your application, your enrolment request in Studielink can always be cancelled.
Do you have questions about the admissions procedure or are you unsure whether you meet all the requirements? All students with Dutch previous education, please get in touch with admissions [at] nsm.ru.nl (admissions[at]nsm[dot]ru[dot]nl). All students with international previous education, please get in touch with master [at] fm.ru.nl (master[at]fm[dot]ru[dot]nl).
Do you have a question about the application procedure, Osiris or tuition fees? Get in touch with the Central Student Desk:
- E-mail: centralstudentdesk [at] ru.nl (centralstudentdesk[at]ru[dot]nl)
- Phone: +31 24 – 361 23 45
- Click here for the opening hours