Instructions Application Form Master Programmes Utrecht University Starting in September 2002

Transcription

1 Instructions Application Form Master Programmes Utrecht University Starting in September 2002 In general To be admitted to the first year of a programme at Utrecht University, students must meet certain requirements. Requirements: Students must have completed an appropriate undergraduate university education. Students must be registered with the Admissions Office of Utrecht University s Studenten Service Centrum (foreign education) or the faculty of the master programme (Dutch education). Students must be acceptably proficient in the language the programme will be taught in (Dutch or English). General instructions: Write clearly or type your answers. Read these instructions carefully before filling out the application form. The questions (1) visa, (9) financial statement and (10) application for scholarship do not need to be answered for residents of the Netherlands. The letter of motivation (7) and letters of recommendation (8) can be written in Dutch as well. Incomplete, incorrect and/or illegible applications cannot be processed. Return the form with two photocopies and the enclosures in time. Although late applications may be considered, we cannot guarantee that applications received after May 15, 2002 will be processed so make sure your information reaches us in time. 1. Personal details Please include the country code of the telephone/fax number if you live outside the Netherlands. Write your name on the back of the passport photo. A birth certificate, or an officially authenticated copy of the personal data pages of your passport or id-card has to be enclosed as well together with a curriculum vitae (resume). See also checklist of enclosures. Information on visa (only for non-residents of the Netherlands): You do not need a visa if you are a citizen of one of the countries belonging to the European Union or of: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Iceland, Norway, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the U.S.A. Citizens of the above mentioned countries should however apply for a residence permit after arrival in the Netherlands. More information: Please note that it is your responsibility to obtain a visa. However, if you are accepted in one of Utrecht University s master programmes, we will assist you with your visa applications. With our assistance the procedure will take less time. 2. List of master programmes This form may only be used for the master programmes mentioned here (all programmes will be taught in English, except for those with (in Dutch only) put behind it:

2 Agents Computational Intelligence Algorithmic Systems Applied Mathematics Biogeology Biomolecular Sciences Business Informatics Cognitive Neuroscience Comparative History Computational Biomedical Sciences Content & Knowledge Engineering Developmental Biology & Genetics Drug Innovation Experimental & Clinical Neuroscience Fundamental Mathematics Genomics and Bioinformatics Geochemistry Geographic Information Management & Applications Geometry, Imaging & Virtual Environments Geology Geophysics Hydrology Immunity & Infection Philosophy, Cognition & Artificial Intelligence Research & Development in Science Education (in Dutch only) Science Communication (in Dutch only) Science Education (in Dutch only) Software Technology Sustainable Development Toxicology and Environmental Health You may fill out two programmes in order of preference, not more. Applicants for other master programmes of Utrecht University are advised to surf to for Veterinary Epidemiology, Animal Pathology or Veterinarian Anaesthesiology ; for Comparative studies of migration, ethnic relations and multiculturalism ; www1.phys.uu.nl/masters for Astrophysics, Chemistry and Physics, Experimental Physics, Meteorology, Physical Oceanography & Climate, Theoretical Physics or History & Philosophy of Science ; for General LL.M Programme, LL.M in International Law, LL.M in European Law, LL.M in International and European law, LL.M in Internationalisation of Crime and Criminal Justice, LL.M in European Private Law, LL.M in Law and Economics or LL.M in International and European Protection of Human Rights ; for International & European Legal Studies. 3. Academic qualifications List your Undergraduate Degree(s) or First University Degree(s), like BA, BSc or a professional education ( hogescholen (HBO)) diploma, with the year in which you graduated. Enclose an officially authenticated copy of your Bachelors degree, or the equivalent, with a transcript of subjects and marks, relevant to the master programme you are applying for. If you still did not graduate: add a detailed

3 statement by your home institution including the (expected) date of your graduation. You have to submit authentic, certified copies of the degree(s) and transcripts in the original version. Degrees and transcripts in either English, French, German or Dutch need no translation, but documents in other languages have to be translated by an officially certified English translator. 4. Professional experience Please fill out your professional experience related to this application. Details of importance can be written in your letter of motivation (see 7). 5. Language proficiency Indicate here your proficiency in English and / or Dutch. Acceptable proficiency in the English language Most master programmes are taught in English. If you are a native speaker and/or have a university degree in English, please indicate this here. You are exempted from a test. Applicants who studied for three years at Utrecht University or University College do not need to do a test. Applications from others will only be taken into consideration after proof of proficiency in English. You are requested to make an appointment for a test of English with one of the testing organisations mentioned below, either in your own country, or in the Netherlands, before applying for admission. TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language) This American test of English is organised by the Educational Testing Service USA. For information about testing dates and centres in your own country you can contact them via the Web and ask for an information bulletin (in the Netherlands students can contact the CITO in Arnhem, telephone: +31 (0) ). A test score of at least 580 (paper-based) or 237 (computer-based) is required. IELTS (International English Language Testing System) This test is organised by the British Council and the University of Cambridge. For information about testing dates and centres in your country, please surf on the Web to (in The Netherlands students can contact the BLTC in Amsterdam, telephone: +31 (0) ). As a test result an overall band of at least 6.5 overall band, and 6.0 for the written part is required. Acceptable proficiency in the Dutch language The language of instruction of some master programmes is Dutch. Those seeking admission to these programmes should remember that they must pass a Dutch language examination, unless they are native speakers. Utrecht University recognises two examinations as proof of sufficient proficiency in the Dutch language. These are: The Dutch language examination organised by the Department of Examinations of the Informatie Beheer Groep. The acronym for this examination is NT2, programma-niveau II, which stands for: Dutch as a second language, examination level II. The Dutch language examination provided by Utrecht University s James Boswell Institute. Their examination is abbreviated as ITN, which stands for: inter-university entrance examination in the Dutch language.

4 If you have no knowledge of Dutch, you must consider that it takes at least one year to attain a sufficient command of the language. The James Boswell Institute organises Dutch courses to prepare you for the Dutch language examinations. The Web address is or to james.boswell@jbi.uu.nl. It is important to register early for these language examinations, in particular for NT2, programma-niveau II. For information on this examination contact the Informatie Beheer Groep, Department of Examinations. Their Web address is 6. Other applications If you have also applied to other institutes / programmes, of Utrecht University or elsewhere, please indicate those applications. 7. Letter of motivation Please write a letter about your personal motivation. The letter should be written in English or Dutch. It is entirely up to you what you write about, but try to include some of the following: Why would you like to study at Utrecht University? What field of studies you find most interesting and why? Do you have any relevant working experience or social activities? What are your interests with regard to (or regardless of) your current education? What are your future plans regarding employment or study after completion of the master programme? Make sure your letter/essay is clearly legible, and put your name at the top. 8. References / letters of recommendation Please enclose two letters of reference from persons not related to you. The letters should be written in English or Dutch. At least one referee should be an academic. Information for the referee: All letters of recommendation are confidential. There is no fixed format, but the following information would be appreciated: name, title, address, telephone, fax and address of the referee to make it possible for the Admission Committee of a specific master programme to contact referees obtained and expected study results of the student whether a student is suitable for a Utrecht University master programme and vice versa possible circumstances that may have influenced study results information about the student s motivation, analytical and/or critical thinking, communicative skills, social skills and independence the student s plans for the future other interests and extracurricular activities It is not advisable to repeat things that have already been mentioned in the application form, unless further comments are given. Place the letter in a sealed envelope with the student s name written on the front, and your signature or a school/university stamp across the back. The student will send it with the rest of his/her application form.

5 9. Financial statement Only for non-residents of the Netherlands. Students with a student s residence permit are not eligible for the Dutch government s student grants and loans system. A student from abroad must prove to the Aliens Registration Office that he or she has sufficient financial means (that is, approximately 7200 euro on an annual basis). You should have about 600 euro at your disposal a month to cover the costs of living, books, rent, etc. For non-eu students the tuition fee for the Master's Programmes has been set at 10,000 euros per year. This fee does not cover textbooks and study materials. Due to government subsidies, the fee for EU students will be equal to the fee for Dutch students. The amount will be set at the end of April 2002 and published at A limited number of fee waivers is available. European Union citizens who are registered as full-time students in Dutch higher education and who are younger than 30 can apply to the Informatie Beheer Groep for a grant to cover part of their tuition fees. This request should be submitted to the Informatie Beheer Groep before 1 January of the academic year concerned. The fee is a grant, not a loan, and therefore does not have to be repaid. It is important and obligatory for students from abroad who (are planning to) study in the Netherlands to take out a health insurance policy. Health insurance is vital, since costs of medical treatment are extremely high. Furthermore, one condition set by the Aliens Registration Office is that students from abroad are able to show their health insurance policy. Students from the European Union may bring an E111 or E128 insurance. For an affordable health insurance policy, you could turn to: ABN AMRO (students desk), Neude 4, Utrecht The ABN AMRO students desk is open from 10 to 18 hours. Note: Students who have a student s residence permit do not qualify for studentgrants or loans from the Dutch government. As a result, they cannot qualify for the relatively cheap Students Health Insurance (so called SSPP), since this is exclusively for beneficiaries of the student grants and loans system. You must be able to finance your own study and living expenses. This is one of the requirements for being granted a residence permit in the Netherlands. All applicants must send proof of sufficient financial support or a statement of financial support from an institution or individual indicating that you will be supported financially to a degree sufficient to cover all the necessary travel and living expenses, as well as the cost of tuition. Please note that a non-refundable down payment is required after you are accepted to a master programme. See also Procedure after receiving your application for the non-refundable enrolment deposit. 10. Application for scholarship Indicate whether you would like to apply for a scholarship, and give details about other scholarships you have applied for. Use the Application form Utrecht scholarships to apply for a scholarship of Utrecht University. Please check for more information on scholarships.

6 11. Checklist enclosures Please provide an explanation if you did not provide the required information with this application. Use a separate sheet if necessary. Incomplete applications will be returned. 12. Short survey Please fill in this short survey. It will help us to update and maintain our information. Reply letter Please write your name and address on the reply letter and send it with your application form. We will send it back to you to confirm we have received your application in good order. Procedure after receiving your application You will receive the reply letter within a few weeks after sending in your application. If you have not received it after 15 days, please contact the Admissions Office. Your application will only be taken into consideration if you send us all the information requested. The Admissions Office will check all (complete) applications whether they comply with the general guidelines for admission set by Utrecht University. This can include a validation of the Bachelor s Degree by the Nuffic. The Admissions Office will send the applications to the admission committees of the specific master programmes. All the applications for one master programme will be reviewed by an Admission Committee of staff members involved in the specific master programme. The review will also include the correspondence of the content of the master programme with the bachelor degree of the applicant. The results of the review will be evaluated. After June 8, 2002 the Admissions Office will notify you whether or not you can be admitted and how to enrol. Once accepted to a course or programme, participants will be charged a non-refundable down payment of 500 euros within four weeks of acceptance to confirm participation in the programme. This deposit will be deducted from the tuition fee. The procedures to help you with visa and housing will start. If you applied for scholarship, after acceptance and review the Admission Committee of the specific master programme will forward the application for scholarship to the Utrecht Scholarships Committee. Before June 17 the Utrecht Scholarships Committee will notify you whether or not you get a scholarship. Before July 8, 2002 you will have to decide upon enrolment.