Biology and Education (MSc)
Admission requirements
To be eligible for Biology and Education at Leiden University, you must meet the following admission requirements.
Diploma requirements
Entry requirements for students from a Dutch research university
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 Biology or a related programme from a (research) university in the Netherlands, provided that you have at least 120 EC (or equivalent) from the relevant field. This 120 EC must include at least 4 EC in each of the following domains: (i) genes, molecules, and cells; (ii) plant sciences; (iii) animal sciences; and (iv) ecology, evolution, and biodiversity. 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 BSc degree in Biology.
Deficiencies: Bridging Programme
The MSc Biology does not offer a pre-master programme.
If you have minor deficiencies (up to 15EC) in the abovementioned domains, you may be admitted with deficiencies. You will be required to pass an individual Bridging Programme within the first year of the Master Program. You will study the relevant material independently and take a test (Bridging Exam) to meet the requirements. These materials are studied in addition to and therefore do not count towards the regular 120EC of the MSc programme.
For more information, please contact the Biology study advisor.
Entry requirements for students from a Dutch university of applied sciences (hbo)
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 accumulated at least 120 EC (or the equivalence thereof) in courses/projects belonging to the domain of Biology, including at least 4EC of coursework in each of the following four domains: (i) genes, molecules, and cells; (ii) plant sciences; (iii) animal sciences; and (iv) ecology, evolution, and biodiversity.
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.
Deficiencies: Bridging Programme
The MSc Biology does not offer a pre-master programme.
If you have minor deficiencies (up to 15EC) in the abovementioned domains, you may be admitted with deficiencies. You will be required to pass an individual Bridging Programme within the first year of the Master Program. You will study the relevant material independently and take a test (Bridging Exam) to meet the requirements. These materials are studied in addition to and therefore do not count towards the regular 120EC of the MSc programme.
For more information, please contact the Biology study advisor.
Entry requirements for students from a foreign research university
You are eligible to apply, if you have a bachelor’s degree in Biology or a related programme from a foreign research university of similar level, provided you have at least 120 EC (or equivalent) from the relevant field. This 120 EC must include at least 4 EC in each of the following domains: (i) genes, molecules, and cells; (ii) plant sciences; (iii) animal sciences; and (iv) ecology, evolution, and biodiversity. 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.
Deficiencies: Bridging Programme
The MSc Biology does not offer a pre-master programme.
If you have minor deficiencies (up to 15EC) in the abovementioned domains, you may be admitted with deficiencies. You will be required to pass an individual Bridging Programme within the first year of the Master Program. You will study the relevant material independently and take a test (Bridging Exam) to meet the requirements. These materials are studied in addition to and therefore do not count towards the regular 120EC of the MSc programme
For more information, please contact the Biology study advisor.
Language requirements
English Language requirements
English language proficiency
The following requirements apply:
- IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0 for each separate component score.
For other accepted exams, including score equivalency tables and criteria for the accepted exams, refer to our English language proficiency requirements.
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, if you have obtained an English-taught International Baccalaureate™; if you have completed a Dutch VWO diploma or an English-taught degree at a Dutch research university or an English-taught bachelor’s degree from a Dutch university of applied sciences.
Dutch language requirements Education specialisation
The education component of the Education Specialization of this master’s programme is taught in Dutch. All applicants that have not achieved a Secondary Education qualification in the Netherlands, have to demonstrate their Dutch communication skills. The level of Dutch is assessed through an advanced Dutch language exam. For more information about the exam: Admission Exam TUL Advanced.
A Dutch as a Second Language Certificate (Certificaat Nederlands als Vreemde Taal) at Educatief Startbekwaam or Educatief Professioneel level is also sufficient to meet the language requirement.
Mind: after completion of the Education specialisation you obtain a first degree teaching qualification to be a teacher in the Netherlands.
Additional information
Laptop profile
We expect students to bring a regular laptop running Windows (or running Linux for certain study programmes). MacOS may in most cases also suffice (with Parallels for Windows installed), but not all specialized applications may be supported, and less support may be available.
• Windows 11 compatible – 64-bits (or Linux for some study programmes)
• Processor/CPU – modern, medium range
• Memory/RAM – 8 GB, if possible 16 GB
• Storage – 512 GB, if possible 1 TB