Admission requirements - MSc Development and Rural Innovation

Purpose and reason for the admission requirements

The admission requirements for the master program Development and Rural Innovation are defined in such a way that the students should be able to successfully complete the program nominally in two years. In order to be admitted students should have an educational background in technical, life sciences or relevant management studies.

The criterion used for admission is

a WUR BSc degree in Forest and Nature Conservation, Environmental Sciences, Food Technology, Biosystems Engineering, Animal Sciences, Biotechnology, International Land and Water Management, Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning, Molecular Life Sciences, Plant Sciences, Nutrition and Health, Soil, Water, Atmosphere, a BSc in Biology from a Dutch univeristy (with CROHO 56860 or 59325), or equivalent.

The norm for this equivalence is

A previous education with a focus on one or more of the following topics:

• Life Sciences (for example Natural Resources Management)

• Physical Sciences and Engineering

• Health Sciences

• Natural Sciences (physics, chemistry and/or biology)

• Agricultural Development

• Rural Development

• Food Sciences

• Mathematics

• Agricultural Sciences

Method of assessment whether this norm is met

• Transcript of records displaying the content of previous course subjects and project work;
• Curriculum vitae displaying relevant work, internship and/or project experience on an academic level in a relevant field if applicable.

Scores attributed by the Admission Board

Admitted / not admitted / admitted under condition obtaining the BSc or MSc degree

The Admission Board may allow and/or suggest compensation of knowledge gaps by:

• a GPA≥7.0* for the previous education for small discrepancies as new knowledge is sufficiently easily acquired.

*Check the general admissions page for the International credentials evaluation guide for international equivalencies to a Dutch GPA>7.0. This guide includes compensating factors for a slightly lower GPA the Admission Board may include in their judgement.

Contact us through the contact button above to discuss how to mitigate knowledge gaps if you are still in the process of obtaining your degree.

Admissible study programmes

Study programmes of which the graduates may meet the knowledge requirements of this programme are for example:

• WO B Advanced Technology
• WO B Applied Earth Sciences
• WO B Biologie (Biology)
• WO B Biomedische wetenschappen (Biomedical Sciences)
• WO B Bouwkunde (Architecture)
• WO B Diergeneeskunde (Veterinary Medicine)
• WO B Civiele techniek (Civil Engineering)
• WO B Future Planet studies
• WO B Life science & Technology
• WO B Milieu-natuurwetenschappen (Environmental Sciences)
• WO B Natuurwetenschap en Innovatiemanagement (Science and Innovation)
• HBO B Bos- en Natuurbeheer (Forest and Nature Conservation)
• HBO B Civiele Techniek (Civil Engineering)
• HBO B Dier- en Veehouderij (Animal and Livestock Farming)
• HBO B Diermanagement (Animal Management)
• HBO B Horticulture & Business management
• HBO B International Development management
• HBO B International Food & Agribusiness
• HBO B Kust- en Zeemanagement (Coastal and Sea Management)
• HBO B Land- en Watermanagement (Land and Water Management)
• HBO B Milieukunde (Environmental Sciences)
• HBO B Plattelandsvernieuwing (Rural Development)
• HBO B Toegepaste Biologie (Applied Biology)
• HBO B Tropische Landbouw (Tropical Agriculture)
• HBO B Tuinbouw en Akkerbouw (Horticulture and Arable Farming)
• HBO B Voedingsmiddelentechnologie (Food Technology)

Did you do a bachelor’s in the social sciences or economics?

Chances are high that you are not admissible to the MSc Development and Rural Innovation (MDR). However, WUR also offers the MSc International Development Studies (MID). MDR and MID are sister programmes, designed for different target groups. MID is specifically designed for students with a social sciences or economics bachelor’s, who would like to do a social sciences/economics master’s with an emphasis on international development. Please check the admission criteria for both study programmes to see what applies to you.