Admission requirements
For this master’s programme, your application file will be assessed by the Board of Admission if you hold a bachelor’s degree from a university, and if you submit a complete application file. The admission requirements for academic year 2021/22 for the master’s programme Business Research track Operations Research depend on your prior qualifications. Please check below which requirements apply to you.
Select your previous or current education to check what documents you need to upload: |
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Upload all required documents for the application procedure via MyUM, preferably in the order as listed.
Go to Admission & Registration to learn more about the admission and registration procedure.
Please note: to start in September you have to graduate before 31 August at the latest.
Assessment by the Board of Admission
Everyone who obtained or will obtain a bachelor’s degree before the start of the programme can apply for this master’s programme. Provided that you submit a complete file with all the minimum required scores, your file will be assessed by the Board of Admission. The Board evaluates the quality of your application by looking at your GMAT score or Proof of Academic Capabilities (if applicable), IELTS/TOEFL score (if applicable), Grade Point Average, the level of statistics and mathematics and at how well your bachelor’s programme corresponds with the master's programme. Besides this, the Board looks at your motivation, relevant work experience, international experience and extra-curricular activities. Based on this information the Board of Admission will decide whether you can be admitted to the programme or not.
Assessment of your file happens on a rolling basis. This means that, once you submit a complete file with all the minimum required scores, it will be presented to the Board of Admission. We will not wait until the deadline before we present your file to the Board. You will receive a decision within 2-4 weeks after completion of your file.
Applicants with a Dutch or specific Flemish university bachelor’s degree
Applicants from a specific Dutch or Flemish NVAO-accredited study programme
Specific study programmes in the Netherlands and Belgium have the so-called NVAO accreditation. Students from relevant NVAO-accredited bachelor’s programmes are exempted from taking the GMAT or GRE test.
Please download the list of relevant NVAO-accredited programmes here.
If your education is mentioned on this list, please upload the following documents via MyUM:
- List of grades of your bachelor’s programme
Upload a transcript of grades from each university you have attended, plus a translation if the original is not in English. - Curriculum vitae
List your education, relevant extracurricular activities, internships and (professional) experience. - Letter of motivation
Provide good arguments for why you want to do this master’s programme at Maastricht University and why you expect that you can successfully complete the programme. This letter should be about 1 or 2 pages long. - Two letters of recommendation
Provide two relevant letters of recommendation, preferably from academic staff members. - Two names of members of the teaching staff that supervised or taught you during the bachelor’s programme (only for SBE BSc students).
- A recent passport picture
- A copy of your valid passport or your EU/EEA identity card
Applicants with another Dutch university bachelor’s degree
If you have a bachelor’s degree from another Dutch university, you are eligible for admission. Please upload the following documents via MyUM:
- List of grades of your bachelor’s programme
Upload a transcript of grades from each university you have attended, plus a translation if the original is not in English. - Curriculum vitae
List your education, relevant extracurricular activities, internships and (professional) experience. - Letter of motivation
Provide good arguments for why you want to do this master’s programme at Maastricht University and why you expect that you can successfully complete the programme. This letter should be about 1 or 2 pages long. - Two letters of recommendation
Provide two relevant letters of recommendation, preferably from academic staff members. - Official GMAT or GRE score report or alternative proof of academic capabilities
Minimum required GMAT scores: 550 (total score) and 4.0 (Analytical Writing Assessment).
If you cannot take the GMAT or GRE test, it is possible to provide proof of your academic capabilities consisting of analytical, quantitative and verbal skills. Please fill out the standard template 'Proof of Academic Capabilities' and insert all your proof into the file.
More information about the GMAT/GRE test and Proof of Academic Capabilities - A recent passport picture
- A copy of your valid passport or your EU/EEA identity card
Applicants with an international bachelor’s degree
You have obtained or will obtain an international bachelor's degree. However, applicants from AACSB or EQUIS accredited bachelor's programmes need to fulfil different admission requirements than students with another international bachelor's degree.
AACSB or EQUIS accreditated bachelor's programmes.
Is your education mentioned on this list? Please go to 'Applicants with a specific AACSB or EQUIS accredited bachelor’s degree
Is your education not mentioned on this list? Please go to 'Applicants with another international bachelor's degree'
Applicants with a specific AACSB or EQUIS accredited bachelor’s degree
If your educational institute is AACSB or EQUIS accredited, you need to upload formal proof of this (e.g. a stamped and signed transcript of grades). It is important to know that the burden of proof rests with the applicant. Please upload the following documents via MyUM:
- List of grades of your bachelor’s programme
Upload a formal transcript of grades (signed and stamped by your educational institute) from each university you have attended, plus a translation if the original is not in English. - Curriculum vitae
List your education, relevant extracurricular activities, internships and (professional) experience. - Letter of motivation
Provide good arguments for why you want to do this master’s programme at Maastricht University and why you expect that you can successfully complete the programme. This letter should be about 1 or 2 pages long. - Two letters of recommendation
Provide two relevant letters of recommendation, preferably from academic staff members. - Official GMAT or GRE score report or alternative proof of academic capabilities
Minimum required GMAT scores: 550 (total score) and 4.0 (Analytical Writing Assessment).
If you cannot take the GMAT or GRE test, it is possible to provide proof of your academic capabilities consisting of analytical, quantitative and verbal skills. Please fill out the standard template 'Proof of Academic Capabilities' and insert all your proof into the file.
More information about the GMAT/GRE test and Proof of Academic Capabilities - A recent passport picture
- A copy of your valid passport or your EU/EEA identity card
In addition, Non-EU/-EEA students have to:
- Pay the €100 handling fee (click here for more information)
- English proficiency exam with sufficient scores (click here for more information)
Applicants with another international bachelor's degree
If you have another international bachelor’s degree from a university (e.g. not AACSB or EQUIS accredited), you are eligible for admission. Please upload the following documents via MyUM:
- List of grades of your bachelor’s programme
Upload a transcript of grades from each university you have attended, plus a translation if the original is not in English. - Curriculum vitae
List your education, relevant extracurricular activities, internships and (professional) experience. - Letter of motivation
Provide good arguments for why you want to do this master’s programme at Maastricht University and why you expect that you can successfully complete the programme. This letter should be about 1 or 2 pages long. - Two letters of recommendation
Provide two relevant letters of recommendation, preferably from academic staff members. - Official GMAT or GRE score report or alternative proof of academic capabilities
Minimum required GMAT scores: 550 (total score) and 4.0 (Analytical Writing Assessment).
If you cannot take the GMAT or GRE test due to COVID-19 measures, it is possible to provide proof of your academic capabilities consisting of analytical, quantitative and verbal skills. Please fill out the standard template 'Proof of Academic Capabilities' and insert all your proof into the file.
More information about the GMAT/GRE test and Proof of Academic Capabilities - A recent passport picture
- A copy of your valid passport or your EU/EEA identity card
In addition, Non-EU/-EEA students have to:
- Pay the €100 handling fee (click here for more information)
- English proficiency exam with sufficient scores (click here for more information)

Questions?
Read the FAQ for master's applicants at the School of Business and Economics.