Admission requirements

On this page you will find important details of the application process (such as deadlines, admission requirements, required documents and application assessment) for the research master’s programme in European Studies for academic year 2025-2026.

For the research master’s programme in European Studies, enrolment is based on your quality and suitability. For this your motivation, previous education and your (professional) experience are important.

Important deadlines for application

This master’s programme starts in September.
The deadlines below are applicable for applicants who want to start their studies in September 2025.

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Date	What you need to know about this date
1 October 2024	Studielink is open for applications for the academic year 2025-2026
1 May 2025, 23:59 CET	Deadline for completing the entire application process for non-EU/EEA applicants (these applicants require a visa or residence permit)
1 June 2025, 23:59 CET	Deadline for completing the entire application process for applicants from the EU/EEA or Switzerland

Please note:
Find out if you can apply for a scholarship or financial aid. Deadlines for scholarships are often earlier than the dates mentioned above.

In Studielink, you need to choose the starting moment. Please make sure to select September 2025 in the dropdown-menu, so that you will apply for the start of the next academic year.

Are you a non-EU citizen requiring a visa/residence permit for study?

Please note that Maastricht University can only formally apply for your visa/residence permit if you have met all admission and enrolment requirements.

This means you have to have completed all admission and enrolment tasks in the MyApplication portal (except the ‘visa/residence permit’-task and the ‘send certified copy of diploma’-task) before we can send your application to the IND (Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service).

We have to send the application to the IND before 1 July if you are starting your studies in September. Please note: a few pre-master and master programmes offer a start in February. If you’re study programme offers a start in February and you want to start your studies in February, we have to send the application to the IND before 1 December. You can find out if your study programme offers a start in February on the admission requirements web page of that programme (pre-master’s, master’s).

Therefore, we strongly recommend that you reconsider applying for this study programme if you are not sure that you will meet the following requirements before 1 July/1 December (if applicable in your situation):

Having remedied all subject and/or language deficiencies (if applicable)
Having qualified for admission to your study programme, including being selected (if applicable to your study programme) AND
Having paid the tuition fee for your study programme

General requirements: previous education

The admission requirements for academic year 2025/26 for the research master’s programme in European Studies depend on your previous education. Please check below which requirements apply to you.

Graduates from a relevant university bachelor's programme

You qualify for admission if you have graduated in a relevant bachelor's degree in: European Studies, Social or Political Science, History, Economics, International Relations, Law, or a similar field provided that the bachelor’s programme included sufficient Europe-oriented component.

Additional requirements

You must have strong academic abilities, not be afraid to work hard, and have a keen interest to pursue research in the field of European integration.

Please note: There are additional requirements when applying for the double degree track (see below).

Language requirements for English-language master’s programmes

As English is the language of instruction in this study programme, it is essential that your English language skills are good enough for you to undertake intensive and challenging academic courses that are taught and examined in English.

Answer the questions below to find out if you meet the language requirements.

Applicants who received their previous education in a non-EU/EEA country (handling fee)

Applicants for this study programme who received their previous education in a non-EU/EEA country will have to pay a handling fee. More information on this handling fee and how to arrange this payment can be found on the Handling fee page.

Additional requirements when applying for the Double Degree programme

If you wish to enrol in the double degree programme, you need to indicate this in your motivation letter when applying (please explicitly mention if you intend to pursue a double degree and briefly explain why). Your application will be assessed by the Board of Admission of Maastricht University (UM) and, independently, by the Board of Admission of the University of Cologne. Please bear in mind that the University of Cologne has specific entry requirements and selection criteria (see website of the University of Cologne).

All candidates need to submit their application at Maastricht University. Maastricht University and the University of Cologne both revise the applications, making sure that candidates fulfil the entry requirements of both universities and pass the selection procedure successfully.
If you are accepted to the double degree option, and applied with a non-German bachelor’s degree, it is under the condition that you send certified copies of your documents to uni-assist for evaluation during your first year of studies. You will also have to pay the corresponding handling fee (currently €75; subject to change).
If your application to the Master European Studies (Research) is accepted at Maastricht University but rejected for the double degree option with the University of Cologne, you can study the European Studies Master’s programme at Maastricht University with one of the other options offered (internship or study abroad option).

Tuition fees for the Double Degree Programme

Year one

In year one you are enrolled at UM and have to pay the regular UM tuition fee.

Year two

All students at the University of Cologne must pay a social contribution of approximately € 320 per semester. This is not a tuition fee but a solidarity payment. It also includes the cost of the semester ticket for free public transportation. You are enrolled at the University of Cologne.

In order to be able to graduate, you also need to enrol at Maastricht University at the start of the second academic year. You will not pay tuition fee at Maastricht University for year two. The admissions office of the UM will contact you in May of your second year to inform you on the enrolment procedure at UM.

For questions please contact masteroffice-fasos@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Documents required for application process

During the application process for this study programme you will need to complete a number of tasks for which you will often have to upload documents. The list below gives you an insight into what documents you will (and might) need to prepare.

Required documents for all applicants to this study programme

A recent passport picture*
The passport picture must satisfy certain requirements. You can find these requirements in the task description 'Upload portrait picture' in the MyApplication portal.
A copy of your passport or your EU/EEA identity card*
Make a copy of the page with your personal details. Save this copy as ‘passport copy’ and not as ‘passport picture’. Your passport must be valid on 1 September 2025.
A copy of your most recent grades transcript and a copy of your bachelor’s or master’s diploma if you have obtained it
If you have not graduated yet, you can upload your official grades transcript from your bachelor's or master’s programme.
Your Curiculum Vitae
Please list your education, relevant extracurricular activities and internship/professional experience.
A motivation letter
Address the following topics:

Why are you interested in the Research Master European Studies at Maastricht University?
Which of the following three themes are you most interested in: 1) the history of the European integration process; 2) governance and representation in the European Union; 3) Europe and the world (see here for more information). Please give examples of research questions that appeal to you within these themes.
What kind of training have you had in research methods, so far? Are you most experienced and/or interested in qualitative or quantitative research methods?
What are your plans in year 2 of the Research Master? Please indicate if you are interested in the double degree programme (with Cologne University), the research internship or the exchange abroad, and briefly explain why.

Two writing samples
Provide proof of sufficient academic writing/research skills. The Admission Board asks the applicant to submit: an independently written research paper, and/or a thesis from a university bachelor’s programme (written by applicant in the language of the chosen programme), and/or an essay on a topic specified by the Admission Board (written by applicant in the language of the chosen programme). The writing samples should reflect your research experience and academic writing skills, and consist of at least 2,000 words (excluding the footnotes and reference list). The submitted work should be written in English.

*As a UM student it is not necessary to upload the above-mentioned documents in the MyApplication portal. However, if your passport will not be valid on 1 September 2025, then you still have to upload a copy of your passport.

Documents that might be required depending on your (academic) background

Document(s) that demonstrate your proficiency in English
Answer the questions concerning language requirements under Language requirements for English-language master’s programmes’ on this webpage to find out if you need to provide additional documentation. The outcome of your answers will indicate which documents you can use to prove your proficiency.

How do we assess your application?

When you want to apply or are applying for this study programme, it is useful to know how we assess your application. You can find more information about this here.

For the research master’s programme in European Studies, enrolment is based on your quality and suitability. For this your motivation, prior qualifications and your (professional) experience are important. You provide proof of this by uploading several documents. All complete application files will be assessed by the UM.
An interview may also be part of the selection procedure for admission to this programme. Selection interviews will take part in the period from April throughout June.

Based on the documents you have submitted and the admission procedure for your chosen programme, the UM decides on whether to admit you. Once UM has made a decision on your admissibility, you will be informed about this by email.