Biomedical Sciences (MSc)

Admission requirements

The maximum number of students that can be enrolled in the first year of the programme of the master Biomedical Sciences at LUMC is 100.

Admission for 2023-2024 (September 2024): Students that meet the entry requirements can be admitted after a qualitative selection procedure. All candidates have to submit a request for admission.

To be eligible for Biomedical Sciences at Leiden University, you must meet the following admission requirements:

Entry requirements for students with a bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university

The Board of Admissions uses the following criteria:

A bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences [bachelor Biomedische Wetenschappen] of a NVAO accredited Biomedical Sciences programme or an equivalent thereof from a Dutch research university.

The (bachelor) degree was passed within the nominal duration of the study plus one year at the start of the master's programme;
Research experience for at least three months in a final project (internship) at the start of the master's programme.
During a final project (internship) and/or courses the applicant has acquired skills with respect to working in a laboratory for at least three weeks;
In depth knowledge, understanding and skills (demonstrated by grades and/or ECTS) in: Immunology (6 ECTS), Pathology (6 ECTS), Bio-Statistics (6 ECTS), Neuroscience (6 ECTS) and Molecular Biology (9 ECTS) at the start of the master's programme;
Grade Point Average of at least 6.5 (Dutch grading system; or international equivalent) at the submission deadline.

Entry requirements for students with a bachelor’s degree from a foreign research university

The Board of Admissions uses the following criteria:

A bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences or an equivalent thereof from a foreign research university.

The (bachelor) degree was passed within the nominal duration of the study plus one year at the start of the master's programme;
Research experience for at least three months in a final project (internship) at the start of the master's programme.
During a final project (internship) and/or courses the applicant has acquired skills with respect to working in a laboratory for at least three weeks;
In depth knowledge, understanding and skills (demonstrated by grades and/or ECTS) in: Immunology (6 ECTS), Pathology (6 ECTS), Bio-Statistics (6 ECTS), Neuroscience (6 ECTS) and Molecular Biology (9 ECTS) at the start of the master's programme;
Grade Point Average of at least 6.5 (Dutch grading system; or international equivalent) at the submission deadline.

Insufficient education?

Insufficient education in one or two of the aforementioned subjects may be compensated in the master’s programme, by taking (bachelor’s) courses offered by LUMC (in English if available).

Language requirements

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

IELTS, each test component must score a minimum of 6.0; with an average score of at least 6.5;
TOEFL, overall score 90 (internet based), each test component must score a minimum of 22 (internet based);
Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) or C1 Advanced (CAE) 180, Cambridge component score 176.

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

An International Baccalaureate 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 pre-university education (VWO) diploma;
Completed a bachelor’s degree at a Dutch University that you started with a HBO-P;
Completed a bachelor at a Dutch university of applied sciences (HBO) and have successfully completed our premaster’s programme.

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

English tests accepted
Note that English test results may not be more than two years old. The following types of English test are accepted:

IELTS: Academic
- We do not accept IELTS General Training or IELTS Indicator
- We are not yet able to accept the new IELTS online.
TOEFL: internet based
- 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.
- We can accept TOEFL IBT Special Home Edition™ or TOEFL IBT Paper Edition™ in the following situations only:
  - You are applying for a programme starting in Feb 2023, or
  - You took the test before 1 Sept 2022 (& it is not more than 2 years old), or
  - You are unable to take an in-person test on location because test centres in your region are closed due to COVID or inaccessible due to unsafe conditions.
Cambridge English Exam C2 Proficiency or C1 Advanced, depending on admission criteria

Please note: You do not have to submit proof of proficiency if you have completed your education in the USA, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (except French-taught programmes in Canada) Singapore, South-Africa or Malta, or when you hold an International Baccalaureate, or for Dutch students, if you have completed VWO level English or an English taught bachelor at a Dutch Research University.

Language requirements for the Education specialization

The education component 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 qualifications to be a high school teacher in the Netherlands.

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

Dutch HBO Bachelor’s in Biology and Medical Laboratory Research or equivalent: students can be admitted to the premaster’s programme, provided good results were obtained in previous education, relevant modules were taken, and academic research experience was gained. Admission to the master’s programme can be earned after approximately one year of study at the LUMC (premaster programme). Other HBO-bachelor certificates are less likely to warrant admission to the premaster’s programme.

The premaster only starts in September. A maximum of 10 candidates can be placed in the premaster's programme. When more than 10 candidates are admissible, candidates will be selected on basis of their results in their bachelor’s programme (Grade Point Average) and the time needed to successfully finish their bachelor’s programme.

All candidates are subject to a decision taken by the Board of Admissions.