If your prior education does not (completely) fit the entry requirements, this pre-Master’s is your stepping stone to getting admitted to our Master's Accountancy and Control.
Obtaining your MSc degree is a great step for your career. Expert teachers will challenge you to think differently and form your own views and opinions to tackle complex issues. You will also start building your network of experts and leaders in your specialisation (track). Future employers will reward these achievements with a favourable starting salary and excellent promotion opportunities.
You have one semester to successfully complete the pre-Master’s programme. Throughout this semester you can expect excellent teaching and support from our professors, each highly respected in their field of expertise. If you need to follow extra courses outside the pre-Master’s programme you can do so in some cases in semester 2 of the academic year. You get access to the Master's programme after successfully finishing all pre-Master's courses and – if applicable - the extra courses.
Your pre-Master’s programme depends on your prior education. For all pre-Master's students, we selected a fixed set of 4 courses for you. In addition, depending on your previous education, you may be required to do additional courses. This will be determined based on individual advice. Taken together, these pre-Master's courses form an excellent preparation for the Master's programme.
Language | English |
Duration | 6 months |
ECTS | 20 ECTS |
Start pre-Master's | September |
Start Master's Accountancy and Control | The following academic year in September |
Cost | You pay the tuition fee per ECTS. Calculate your tuition fee |
The entry requirements for this pre-Master’s programme depend on your previous education.
Your eligibility is based on these two criteria:
1. Your Dutch HBO Bachelor’s degree
The courses that you have to follow during the pre-Master's depend on the courses you followed in your previous Bachelor's programme. The programme director can decide if you need to follow extra courses next to the pre-Master's programme. Please note, that the extra courses are not part of your tuition fee. The decision on which courses you need to follow next to your pre-Master's will be made, based on:
Only the courses in research methods are part of the regular 20 EC pre-Master’s programme in Accountancy & Control.
If extra courses next to the pre-Master's are needed to follow you can register separately through Contract Education Economics & Business.
2. Grade Point Average
We are looking for students who have shown academic potential to keep up with the high level and workload of the programme.
We will assess your application in its entirety, but we are looking for students with good results in their Bachelor’s degree. Previous experience has shown that applicants with a GPA equivalent to a Dutch grade of 7.0 and higher have a good chance to be selected to the programme. Please note that applications with a lower GPA can still be submitted and will be assessed.
Your eligibility is based on these two criteria:
1. Your Dutch academic degree
The courses that you have to follow during the pre-Master's depend on the courses you followed in your previous Bachelor's programme. The programme director can decide if you need to follow extra courses next to the pre-Master's programme. Please note, that the extra courses are not part of your tuition fee. The decision on which courses you need to follow next to your pre-Master's will be made, based on:
Only the courses in research methods are part of the regular 20 EC pre-Master’s programme in Accountancy & Control.
If extra courses next to the pre-Master's are needed to follow you can register separately through Contract Education Economics & Business.
2 Grade Point Average
We are looking for students who have shown academic potential to keep up with the high level and workload of the programme.
We will assess your application in its entirety, but we are looking for students with good results in their Bachelor’s degree. Previous experience has shown that applicants with a GPA equivalent to a Dutch grade of 7.0 and higher have a good chance to be selected to the programme. Please note that applications with a lower GPA can still be submitted and will be assessed.
Your eligibility is based on these two criteria:
1. Your EU Bachelor’s degree
The courses that you have to follow during the pre-Master's depend on the courses you followed in your previous Bachelor's programme. The programme director can decide if you need to follow extra courses next to the pre-Master's programme. Please note, that the extra courses are not part of your tuition fee. The decision on which courses you need to follow next to your pre-Master's will be made, based on:
Only the courses in research methods are part of the regular 20 EC pre-Master’s programme in Accountancy & Control.
If extra courses next to the pre-Master's are needed to follow you can register separately through Contract Education Economics & Business.
2. Grade Point Average
We are looking for students who have shown academic potential to keep up with the high level and workload of the programme.
We will assess your application in its entirety, but we are looking for students with good results in their Bachelor’s degree. Previous experience has shown that applicants with a GPA equivalent to a Dutch grade of 7.0 and higher have a good chance to be selected to the programme. Please note that applications with a lower GPA can still be submitted and will be assessed.
Next to the general requirements, we also require:
1. A GMAT test
Good analytical writing and quantitative reasoning skills are crucial for starting in this Master’s programme. To ensure this, you need to provide a sufficient Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score. The GMAT test is replaced by the GMAT Focus test. If you have a valid score report of the old GMAT test, we still take this into consideration.
Tests and scores
- GMAT Focus Edition: Minimum score: 535 and preferably 565 or
- GMAT test (old edition): Minimum score: 560 and preferably 600
Instead of a GMAT, a GRE test score may be accepted if you have already obtained a GRE score, or it is difficult to take the GMAT test on short notice in your country.
Exemptions
Based on mutual agreements with certain universities, students might be exempted from the GMAT requirement. Check the list of universities to see whether this applies to you.
2. An English language proficiency test
Our Master’s programmes are in English. Good English skills are essential for successful class participation and understanding. To ensure this, we'll assess your English skills through specific proficiency tests:
Your English proficiency test score cannot be older than 2 years before the start date of your programme. For example, if you are applying for the September 2025 intake we do not accept English proficiency tests taken before September 2023.
Make sure you schedule your English proficiency test before the application deadline. Sufficient test scores received after the application deadline are accepted, as long as your English proficiency test was taken before the application deadline.
Exemptions
Did you obtain your previous education in the Netherlands, Ireland, or Malta? Find out if you can get an exemption from the English proficiency requirement.
Students with previous non-EU education and a non-EU nationality may consider applying for a Master’s-qualifying programme for the Master's Accountancy and Control at the Cambridge Education Group.
The application deadline for the September 2025 intake:
For applicants with an EU degree: | 1 May 2025 |
For applicants with a Dutch degree: | 1 June 2025 |
Register in Studielink – Select the programme: BSc Economics and Business Economics - pre-Master's programme. After that choose: Accountancy and Control.
After registering in Studielink, you will receive your UvAnetID. This will give you access to check the status of your personal enrolment Checklist. There you find the subsequent steps that you need to take in order to complete your enrolment.
In order to check if you are eligible for the programme you need to upload and submit your documents in our online application system Embark. Make sure you keep an eye on the deadlines!
You will most likely receive your results within 4-6 weeks after we have received a complete application, but in peak moments (January till June) evaluating your application may take a few weeks longer.
The tuition fees for your pre-Master’s programme depend on the number of ECTS credits you need to obtain. Please take into account that it is not possible to arrange payment of your tuition fees until the programme has officially admitted you to the pre-Master’s programme. The tuition fees for pre-Master's programmes are usually not calculated until August.
If you have received the great news that you are (conditionally) admitted to the programme, it's time to focus on other essential matters like arranging a visa (if necessary), finding accommodation, and preparing for the start of your academic journey. We will inform you per email about these topics when (conditionally) admitted. Want to get an early idea of what you need to consider? Visit one of these helpful pages: practical information/praktische zaken (Dutch info).
Are you a young professional, holding an HBO degree (HEAO-BE/AA/RA/AC) or a relevant academic BSc degree and do you want to combine work and study? We offer intensive programmes in Dutch for both the Accountancy and the Control track. These programmes allow you as a working professional to obtain your Master's degree whilst working 4 days per week in an Accountancy or Control related environment. The part-time classes are solely taught on Fridays. This way you can combine it with your career.