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On this page, you will find important details of the application process (such as deadlines, admission requirements, required documents and application assessment) for the master’s programme in Artificial Intelligence for the academic year 2026-2027 (start in February 2027) and the academic year 2027-2028 (start in September 2027).
If you need it, you can still consult the admission requirements for the previous academic year: 2026–2027
Application deadlines
The master's programme in Artificial Intelligence has two starting moments: February and September.
The deadlines below are applicable for applicants who want to start their studies in February 2027 or September 2027.
Note: If you are viewing this webpage on your smartphone, we recommend using landscape mode.
Start in February 2027 (academic year 2026-2027)
| Date | What you need to know about this date |
|---|---|
| As soon as possible after 1 July 2026 | Apply via Studielink* (open for applications for the February intake for the academic year 2026-2027 from 1 July). The study starts in February 2027. |
| 1 November 2026, 23:59 CET | Deadline for applicants with a non-EU/EEA nationality to:
Note: In most cases, you will need a visa and/or residence permit |
| 1 December 2026, 23:59 CET | Deadline for applicants with an EU/EEA or Swiss nationality to:
|
| 1 January 2027, 23:59 CET | Strongly recommended deadline for paying the tuition fee |
| 31 January 2027, 23:59 CET | Deadline for completing all enrolment tasks (‘Enter tuition payment details’, ‘Send certified copy of diploma’, ‘Update passport / ID’ (if applicable)) in the MyApplication portal Note: If you need a visa and/or or residence permit, you must complete your visa file by 30 November 23:59 CET |
*Studielink is the national registration system for higher education,
**The MyApplication portal is Maastricht University’s application and enrolment platform.
Start in September 2027 (academic year 2027-2028)
| Date | What you need to know about this date |
|---|---|
| As soon as possible after 1 October 2026 | Apply via Studielink* (open for applications for the academic year 2027-2028 from 1 October). The study starts in September 2027. |
| 1 May 2027, 23:59 CET | Deadline for applicants with a non-EU/EEA nationality to:
Note: In most cases, you will need a visa and/or residence permit |
| 1 June 2027, 23:59 CET | Deadline for applicants with an EU/EEA or Swiss nationality to:
|
| 1 August 2027 | Strongly recommended deadline for paying the tuition fee |
| 31 August 2027, 23:59 CET | Deadline for completing all enrolment tasks (‘Enter tuition payment details’, ‘Send certified copy of diploma’, ‘Update passport / ID’ (if applicable)) in the MyApplication portal Note: If you need a visa and/or or residence permit, you must complete your visa file by 30 June 23:59 CET |
*Studielink is the national registration system for higher education,
**The MyApplication portal is Maastricht University’s application and enrolment platform.
Please note:
- The February intake of our study programme starts on 25 January 2027 (introduction on 22 January 2027). This will not impact the deadlines above.
- The programme in Artificial Intelligence is listed under the 'transnationale Universiteit Limburg (tUL)' in the ‘My courses’ tab in Studielink. Maastricht University (UM) is part of the tUL; this programme is taught at UM just like our other master’s programmes.
- In Studielink you also need to choose the starting moment. Please make sure to select February 2027 if you wish to start on 25 January 2027 or September 2027 if you wish to start on 1 September 2027.
- Find out if you can apply for a scholarship or financial aid. Deadlines for scholarships are often earlier than the dates mentioned above.
Visa/residence permit for study
Are you a non-EU/EEA national requiring a visa/residence permit for study? Click here for more information
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 your 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 the academic year 2027-2028 for the master’s programme in Artificial Intelligence depend on your previous education. Please check below which requirements apply to you.
Note: You must have passed all your bachelor’s requirements by 31 August at the latest for the September intake or by 31 January for the February intake.
Dutch university diploma
Previous education requirements
Graduates from the following bachelor’s programmes qualify directly for admission:
- Bachelor’s programme in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (formerly known as Data Science and Knowledge Engineering) from Maastricht University
- Bachelor’s programme in Computer Science from Maastricht University
Graduates from the following bachelor’s programmes qualify for admission, depending on the courses they followed:
- Bachelor’s programme in Maastricht Science Programme from Maastricht University
- Bachelor’s programme in Business Engineering from Maastricht University, once successfully passed Reasoning Techniques (KEN2230) and Data Structures and Algorithms (KEN1420)
- Bachelor’s programme in Brain Science (with more than 30 ECTS in the DACS AI package) from Maastricht University
- You qualify directly for admission for the master’s programme in Artificial Intelligence, if you graduated from a Dutch research university with an artificial intelligence related bachelor’s programme listed as a KION bachelor’s programme.
In all other cases you will be considered for admission by the Board of Admissions if you have a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent diploma from a research university in a programme such as Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science or Technical Data Science and you meet the required competences as mentioned below:
- Computer science: including software development, data structures & algorithms
- Programming: experience in object-oriented languages e.g. Java, C#, C++, Python
- Mathematics: including calculus, linear algebra, probability and statistics
Documents required for the application process
During the application process for this study programme you will need to complete several 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.
Please note:
- Only complete applications will be reviewed
- All other documents may be handed in in English, Dutch or German
Required documents for all applicants to this study programme:
- A recent portrait photo*
The portrait photo must satisfy certain requirements. You can find these requirements in the task description 'Upload portrait photo' in the MyApplication portal.
- A copy of your valid 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’
- A copy of your most recent grades transcript
- A copy of your diploma if you have obtained it
If you have obtained a diploma for more relevant studies than one, please upload all diplomas and grade transcripts.
- Your Curriculum Vitae
List your education, relevant extracurricular activities and internship/professional experience.
- A motivation essay
Give good arguments about why you want to do this master's programme at Maastricht University, and why you expect that you can successfully complete the programme.
*As a current UM student it is not necessary to upload these documents in the MyApplication portal, unless your passport will not be valid on 1 September 2027. In that case, a specific task to upload a copy of your passport will appear in the MyApplication portal.
Documents that might be required depending on your (academic) background:
- Course descriptions (in English) of the mathematics and computer science courses that are listed on your grade transcript
We always advise you to provide this document, especially if your grade transcript does not contain the same course names as the topics mentioned in the admission requirements.
- Evidence of other courses or tests in mathematics/computer sciences that are not part of your grade transcript, but which you think are relevant to assess your application (for instance an additional online programming course)
Advised for all applicants.
- Document(s) that demonstrate your proficiency in English
Answer the questions concerning language requirements under ‘Language requirements for English-language master 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.
- Permission for document verification form
If your diploma is not verified by DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, the Dutch government agency responsible for education-related matters), you will need to upload the form ‘Permission for document verification’ in the MyApplication portal. This form allows Maastricht University to verify your diploma, grades transcript or other required documents directly with the issuing institution or relevant qualification registry.
With which degree are you applying?
Pre-master's in Artificial Intelligence
You can follow a pre-master’s if you have studied at a research university and have minor deficiencies in your prior knowledge, or if you have studied at a university of applied sciences and meet all the above-mentioned required competences.
It is not possible to register (or apply for) our pre-master's programme directly. You will have to apply for one of our regular master's programme in Studielink first (to be found in Studielink with the ‘transnationale Universiteit Limburg’). If our Board of Admissions decides a pre-master is the best option for you, we will inform you that you are offered a one-semester pre-master’s programme at the UM Department of Advanced Computing Sciences. We will also arrange your enrolment.
The pre-master's programme is tailor-made for each individual applicant and the courses you will follow depend on the knowledge and skills you have already obtained.
The programme has a duration of one semester which is equivalent to +/- 6 months (30 ECTS).
English is the language of instruction in this study programme.
The programme should be successfully completed within one semester. If you complete the pre-master’s successfully in one semester, you qualify directly for admission to the master’s programme. For more information, please contact dacs-admissions@maastrichtuniversity.nl
The pre-master's programme study fee is half of the annual statutory or institutional fee for master students - depending on your situation.
Additional requirements
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 whose diploma is based on a non-EU-EEA curriculum (handling fee)
Applicants for this study programme whose diploma is based on a non-EU/EEA curriculum are required to pay a handling fee. This applies even if the educational institution is located within the EU/EEA, as the fee is based on the curriculum, not the location of the institution. More information on this handling fee and how to arrange this payment can be found on the handling fee page.
Exemptions
You can apply for course exemptions if you have completed courses at a recognised and accredited higher education institution that are similar in terms of content and level.
For more information, please contact the Board of Examiners at dacs-boe@maastrichtuniversity.nl
How do we assess your application?
Based on the documents you have submitted and the admission procedure for your chosen programme, the UM decides whether to admit you. Once UM has decided whether you qualify for admission, you will be informed about this by email.