Biodiversity and Sustainability (MSc)

Admission requirements

To be eligible for Biodiversity and Sustainability at Leiden University, you must meet the following admission requirements.

Diploma requirements

You are eligible to apply if you have

a bachelor’s degree in Biology (Biologie) from any research university in the Netherlands
OR
a bachelor’s degree in a Biology-related programme from a research university in the Netherlands, under the condition that you have in depth knowledge and skills obtained through undergraduate courses of Biology including:
- molecular and cell biology,
- evolutionary biology and ecology,
- developmental biology,
- biodiversity
- mathematics and statistics.

Biology-related programmes include e.g. natural sciences, life science, biomedical sciences, bio-pharmaceutical sciences, biotechnology and bioinformatics, environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, etc., all at the discretion of the Board of Admissions.

The Board of Admissions will assess whether your degree and background are sufficiently related to the BSc degree in Biology.

If you have a bachelor’s degree that does not meet the requirements specified above, you may be eligible for an individual bridging programme tailored to your individual background. If you have successfully met the requirements of the imposed bridging programme, you will be admitted to the master’s programme.

For more information, please contact the Biology study advisor.

If you have a degree in Dutch higher vocational education (hbo) in a Biology-related field of science, you are eligible to apply under the condition that you have

obtained the diploma within a maximum of five years and
an average final grade of at least 7.5 and with a research project grade of 8 or higher.

Biology-related programmes include e.g. natural sciences, life science, biomedical sciences, bio-pharmaceutical sciences, biotechnology and bioinformatics, environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, etc..

The Board of Admissions will assess whether your degree and background are sufficiently related to the level and content of the Dutch BSc degree in Biology and whether you meet the additional requirements.

If you have a bachelor’s degree that does not meet the requirements specified above, you may be eligible for an individual bridging programme tailored to your individual background. If you have successfully met the requirements of the imposed bridging programme, you will be admitted to the master’s programme.

For more information, please contact the Biology study advisor.

You are eligible to apply, if you have a bachelor’s degree in Biology or in a Biology-related programme from a foreign research university, under the condition that you have in depth knowledge and skills obtained through undergraduate courses of Biology including:
- molecular and cell biology,
- evolutionary biology and ecology,
- developmental biology,
- biodiversity
- mathematics and statistics.

The Board of Admissions will assess whether your degree and background are sufficiently related to the level and content of the Dutch BSc degree in Biology.

Language requirements

In order to successfully participate in this programme, you must be proficient in English. The following requirements apply*:

IELTS: minimum 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 for each of the components Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking
TOEFL: internet based 90, with a minimum of 20 for each of the components Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking

The test result may not be older than two years at the time of enrolment for the programme.

*Please note: You do not have to submit proof of proficiency if you have

An International Baccalaureate diploma from a programme taught in English (or an IB diploma with “English A”);
A diploma of secondary or higher education completed in Australia, Canada (with the exception of French-language programmes in Canada), Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States or South Africa;
A diploma of an English-taught university degree programme completed at a Dutch research university;
A Dutch pre-university education (vwo) diploma.

For detailed information about which English qualifications are accepted, as well as the relevant exemption criteria, refer to English language proficiency.

The following requirements apply:

IELTS Academic modules only, on paper or on computer: 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0 for each separate component score.
- We do not accept IELTS Academic online.
- We do not accept IELTS General Training or IELTS Indicator.
TOEFL internet based: 90 overall, with at least 20 for each separate component.
- We are not able to accept The TOEFL IBT Home Edition™, except in the following situations only:
  You took the test before 1 Sept 2022 (and it is not more than 2 years old), or you are unable to take an in-person test on location because test centres are inaccessible or closed due to unsafe conditions in a country.
- We do not accept the following types of test: TOEFL My Best™ scores (multiple test scores combined), TOEFL Essentials™ or institutional tests such as ITP.

Cambridge English Exam C2 Proficiency, or C1 Advanced (180), with a minimum score of 169 for each separate component.

Note that English test results may not be more than two years old.

You do not have to submit an English proficiency test if you have completed your education in the USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (except French-taught programmes in Canada) Singapore, South-Africa or Malta; or if you have obtained an English-taught International Baccalaureate™; or if you have completed a Dutch VWO diploma or an English-taught bachelor at a Dutch research university.

For detailed information, including exemption criteria and methods of submission, refer to English language proficiency.

>> Go to the next step: Check the application deadlines