Educational Sciences

There are two admission routes to the programme:

Direct Admission: Direct admission is granted if you obtained a Belgian Bachelor of Science degree in Educational Sciences, Pedagogical Sciences, and Adult Education Sciences. Direct admission is also granted if you obtained a Belgian Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology or Social Sciences.

Application-based admission: If you hold a non-Belgian Bachelor’s degree in Educational Sciences, Pedagogical Sciences, Psychology, Social Sciences, Academic Teacher Education, or another relevant field, your application will be assessed by the Admission Board. The Board considers your educational expertise as well as your academic and methodological skills. 

Important: The English language requirements have changed for this year's application process. If you are applying for admission for the 2027–2028 academic year, please check the requirements below carefully, as they may differ from those that applied in previous application cycles.

Prospective students must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of English, the language of instruction, by meeting one of the following requirements:

• TOEFL iBT (home edition):
  • For exams taken before January 21, 2026: minimum overall score of 79, with a minimum subscore of 18 in each of the four components.
  • For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026: minimum overall score of 4.5, with a minimum subscore of 4 in each of the four components.
  • MyBest™ scores are not accepted.
• IELTS Academic or One Skill Retake: minimum overall band score of 6.5, with a minimum score of 6.0 in each of the four components.
• ITACE: minimum B2 in at least four of the five components.
• Cambridge English Qualification: B2 First (FCE) with a minimum score of 170.

Language certificates and other proof of (online) language tests may not be more than five years old at the time of first enrolment.

Exemption: You do not need to provide a language test if you hold a full English-taught higher education diploma from Australia, English-speaking Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America.

Previously obtained degrees: Official undergraduate/bachelor and graduate/master’s degree(s) (if applicable)

Official transcript of records of all degrees: Transcripts should list the courses taken, grades obtained, and final overall grade for each completed programme. The Admission Board considers your educational and methodological/research training when assessing your academic preparation. If your institution does not use a grading system, provide an official document confirming this or stating your level of achievement.

Motivation letter: Personal statement of max. 2 pages explaining your interest in the programme, your relevant educational and methodological/research background, what you hope to gain from it, and how the programme connects to your future plans. The statement should be personal and authentic, reflecting your individual profile. Digital tools may support your writing, but the content should remain your own and avoid generic or AI-generated language.

Curriculum Vitae: CV of max. 2 pages highlighting your relevant educational and methodological/research experience. 

Please submit both your Motivation Letter and Curriculum Vitae in the same document. An optional template is available here if you would like to use it.

Recommendation letters: must be dated within the last three years and written by someone who has supervised or worked with you in an academic or professional capacity (e.g., a professor, mentor, employer, internship supervisor, or thesis supervisor). The letter should be concise and explain why, based on their experience with you, they consider you a suitable candidate for this programme. Generic or other-programme focused recommendation letters will not be accepted. Although not mandatory, you may use this optional recommendation letter template.

Identity document: Passport or Belgian ID card

Passport photo: This will be your official picture for all university purposes (student card, student profile, etc)

When you receive the conditional acceptance letter, you will have to verify your diploma before you can continue with your enrolment. Make sure you only verify your diploma once you have obtained it, as we don't accept any verifications while your programme is still in progress.

How to verify your diploma

The coordinator of our international MSc in Educational Sciences programme invites you to an online information session about the next steps following your conditional acceptance. During this session, you will receive practical information on how to prepare for your arrival at VUB's Department of Educational Sciences. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and get to know your future classmates.

How to register? You will receive an email with a link to register for the session using a passcode. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.

Your application has been approved and you will receive notice that your study contract is ready to be signed. The document will be available in your application portal, under "Overview". After you sign your online study contract you will receive: 

1. Confirmation email of your signed contract.
2. Enrolment certificate sent to your personal email.
3. Student card and an activation email for your VUB account.
4. Access to register your courses for the upcoming academic year with your VUB account

For non-EEA students, it is advised to not sign a study contract before securing a visa.

Important information for non-EEA students

• If you are a non-EEA student, you should obtain a study visa: How to apply for a study visa
• Non-EEA students who apply for a visa or residence permit (ID) must be able to prove they have sufficient financial means to cover their living costs, studies, healthcare and repatriation costs: Sufficient financial means
• A blocked account is to proof to the Belgian government that you have sufficient financial means to live in Belgium for a whole academic year: Blocked account
• Health insurance is mandatory to enrol at VUB: Health insurance
• You should arrange suitable accommodation for your stay in Belgium: Student housing