A university Bachelor’s diploma

The Master’s in American Studies is open to all students with a Bachelor’s diploma from the UvA, or a recognised equivalent from another accredited university in:

• History

You also have access to the programme with one of the following Bachelor’s diplomas if, however, you have successfully followed a Minor in American Studies or 30 ECTS-credits worth of courses relating to American culture and history (to be decided by the Examinations Board on the basis of your application).

• English Language and Culture
• Media and Culture
• Communication Science
• Political Science
• Sociology
• European Studies

The level of the Bachelor diploma from a foreign higher education institution must be equal to three years of Dutch university education (to be judged by the Examinations Board).

Other Bachelor’s diplomas

Prospective students with Bachelor’s degrees (university) other than those mentioned above can nonetheless apply for admission to the programme. The Examinations Board will in such cases take a look at the content of the prospective student’s Bachelor programme, his/her study results and general motivation.

Application process

Students interested in following the Master’s programme American Studies should make sure to apply via the online registration system before 1 April and upload all of the requested documents.

For more information about the registration process please follow the link provided below.

English language requirements

All non-native English speakers applying for an English taught MA programme are required to demonstrate sufficient proficiency in English before their admission and registration can be finalised.
Students must be able to read textbooks, understand lectures, take part in classroom discussions and write at an academic level in English. 

Students with a BA degree completed in the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand are exempted from taking an English language test.

UvA Bachelor's students who have completed the courses Academic English with a grade of 7.0 or higher are also exempted from taking a language test.

All other applicants must take one of the following tests. No other tests are accepted. For contact information regarding these tests, please visit the websites of the relevant examiners.

• The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - Academic

Students are required to have a score of at least 7.0 for the separate components of the test. 
Original test scores should be sent either by IELTS directly or by the student to the Admissions Office of the Graduate School for Humanities.

UvA Bachelor's students can take the IELTS test free of charge by contacting Student Services (see the link below).

• Cambridge International Examination

Students can also take the Certificate in Advanced English Exam (CAE) or the Certificate of Proficiency in English Exam (CPE).

The required minimum scores are:
A  for the Certificate in Advanced English, or
B  for the Certificate of Proficiency in English.

Original scores should be sent either by Cambridge Examinations or by the student to the Admissions Office of the Graduate School for Humanities.

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - International Test

The Graduate School for Humanities only accepts the Internet-based International test. Students are required to have a score of at least 100, with a minimum of 22 for the separate components of the test.

Students should apply for a TOEFL test with ETS (link below). The institution code for the Graduate School for Humanities is 7247 (U Amsterdam Grad Humanities). Original scores should be sent either by ETS or by the student to the Admissions Office of the Graduate School for Humanities.

Chinese applicants are recommended to do the IELTS (academic) language test in order to apply for the NESO Certificate (see: how to apply / applicants from China).

Questions

Should you have any further questions, please contact the Graduate School Admissions Office.

E: graduateschool-fgw@uva.nl