MA Academic requirements

ISS programmes are intensive and demanding. To ensure that participants will be able to complete the programme successfully, ISS has set strict admission criteria, in terms of academic background, English language proficiency, motivation and work experience.

Applicants  should have a degree from a recognized university as registered in this database.

SkillRequirements
Academic background

Bachelors degree in one of the social sciences or equivalent, comprising at least three years studies at a recognized university or institute of higher education.

Applicants must have obtained at least class 2.2 (Lower Second), B or equivalent, but preferably class 2.1 (Upper Second), B+ or equivalent.

Work experienceProfessional experience relevant to the programme is normally expected and is a preference for admission.
English language proficiency

ISS does not require a language certificate if one is a native speaker of English from the following countries:

Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America.

Following the strict Dutch policy rules & regulations, ISS is obliged to request an English language proficiency test from all other nationalities. Below you find an overview of the acceptable language tests, which should not be older than 2 years at the time of your application submission.

Please note that we do not accept TOEFL IBT or the TOEFL Home Edition.

Acceptable Language proficiency tests:

TOEFL score:

  • for the paper test (PBT) 580;
  • for the computer-based test (CBT) 237;
  • for the internet test (IBT) 92

Please note that we do not accept TOEFL ITP.

IELTS score:

  • Academic Test with an overall score of 6.5
OtherApplicants from India who studied at an A-rated University, as determined by NAAC, are admissible. Other Indian applicants, as well as applicants from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan are required to have an MA degree.

NB. TOEFL and IELTS can send your test information directly to ISS:

  • TOEFL: The ISS Institution Code is 9714 and the Department Code is 01.
  • IELTS: The ISS Scheme Code is 9714.

Chinese applicants are advised to take the IELTS test due to visa requirements for the Netherlands.

ISS reserves the right to reject other certificates of English proficiency that cannot be readily established as equivalent to IELTS or TOEFL.

Your application can be assessed without the results of your English test. If accepted, you will receive a conditional admission letter, which you can use to apply for a scholarship. Once your test results have been received, and are sufficient, you will receive a formal (unconditional) admission letter. Satisfactory test scores must be received before you start your programme at ISS.

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