Environment and Resource Management
Application deadlines
Deadlines for applications are as follows:
- Current students at VU University Amsterdam: 1 July
- Students with a Bachelor's, Master's, drs, mr or ir degree obtained at a Dutch University: 1 July
- Students with a Bachelor's or Master's degree obtained at a University in Germany, Belgium, France, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland or the United Kingdom: 1 April
- Students who need an admission letter for a fellowship (e.g. NFP) on 15 February latest: 15 December
- All other students (including students from higher vocational education): 1 April
Application procedure
The Master’s coordinator receives and evaluates the applications and advises the Examination Board on conditions for admission. The board reviews the application and the advice and decides if the applicant can be admitted and under which conditions. The applicant will then receive an e-mail of admission, which allows the applicant to start his or her study in September.
Required documentation for MSc ERM application
- Cv and motivation letter
- Transcripts of grades
- Diploma(s)
- Two letters of recommendation
- Sample of academic writing, including a bibliography/works cited, in English (this could be a chapter of your Bachelor/Master thesis or a senior year term paper)
- Description of courses relevant to the ERM, if they are not explained on your transcript or in your motivation letter
- Copy of passport or id
Visa/ residence permit/ Nuffic certificate for Chinese students
All information about visa and residence permits is available under the section:
Visa/ residence permit
Here you can learn more about:
- The visa deadlines and procedure
- The Nuffic certificate for Chinese students (which was known as a NESO Certificate until 1 June 2010)
- Legalisation
- Residence permit
International Office
For additional information please contact: international@falw.vu.nl.
Admission requirements
New applicants must at least hold a Bachelor's degree from a university or an institute of higher vocational education (with a minimum of three years of full-time study). All applications will be assessed by the Examination Board. Students from all disciplinary backgrounds will be considered, but the following subjects provide a particularly relevant basis for starting the ERM programme:
- Economics, Social Sciences (especially Political Science and Policy Studies)
- Natural Sciences
- Engineering
- Environmental Studies and Environmental Sciences
- Environmental Law
Criteria for considering students include:
- Quality of former study programmes;
- Results obtained in former studies;
- Writing/speaking skills in English;
- Disciplinary knowledge and skills;
- Academic motivation;
- Basic knowledge of environmental issues;
- Pre-Master assessment outcomes (see below);
- Publications;
- Working experience (including voluntary).
Language proficiency requirements
VU University Amsterdam requires all applicants to take an English test and to submit their score as a part of the application. Exceptions are made for students who have completed their education in Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia or who have obtained an international Baccalaureate or European Baccalaureate diploma.
Further information on the minimum English language proficiency requirements (TOEFL, IELTS, CAE, CPE) is available under the section:
Deadlines
The deadline for application depends on your nationality and educational background. The deadline for:
* Current students at VU University Amsterdam is July 1, 2011;
* Students with a Bachelor's, Master's, drs, mr or ir degree obtained at a Dutch University is July 1, 2011;
* Foreign students (EU and non-EU) is April 1 2011
NB If you want to apply for a HSP scholarship, make sure you apply on time, because the application period for this scholarship is November 1st 2010 until February 1st 2011.
Preparing for the programme
We highly recommend that students admitted to the programme prepare for the courses by reading an introductory textbook in environmental sciences. The following title is particularly useful:
William P. Cunningham, Mary Ann Cunningham and Barbara Woodworth Saigo (2004). Environmental science: a global concern. 600 pp. McGraw Hill, New York, ISBN 0-07-290932-3 (6th edition), 0-07-243956-4 (8th edition).
Other useful books include:
D.B. Botkin and E.A. Keller - Environmental science, Earth as a living planet, Wiley
B.J. Nebel and R.T. Wright - Environmental science, Prentice Hall
T. O'Riordan - Environmental science for environmental management, Prentice Hall
