Human Movement Sciences (Research) 24 months Postgraduate Programme By Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam |TopUniversities
Subject Ranking

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Programme Duration

24 monthsProgramme duration

Tuitionfee

24,150 EURTuition Fee/year

Main Subject Area

Sports-Related SubjectsMain Subject Area

Programme overview

Main Subject

Sports-Related Subjects

Degree

MSc

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus


How do toddlers learn to walk? How can augmented reality help patients with Parkinson’s Disease? How do top athletes get maximum performance out of their muscles? What’s the best training to improve stability and prevent falls among elderly people? As a student in the two-year Research Master Human Movement Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, you will learn how to answer urgent and socially relevant questions while conducting research aimed at unraveling the secrets of human movement through fundamental and applied scientific studies in Sport and Health.

Human movement is essential for understanding how we function, perform and stay healthy, yet it remains one of the most complex and dynamic areas in science. It is shaped by intricate interactions between the body, brain, behaviour and environment, and affects nearly every aspect of daily life. Questions about motor control, physical resilience or recovery after injury, exploring human movement opens the door to deeper scientific insight with direct societal relevance.

You will specialise in one of four scientific domains (biomechanics, movement neuroscience,  psychology, physiology), while developing advanced research and academic skills that prepare you to address complex questions in application areas such as sports, prevention and health, physical education, and high-demand professions (e.g., police, military). From the start, you are encouraged to connect theoretical insight to real-world impact, laying the foundation for a career in academia, or for contributing to research and development in industry or other non-academic institutions.

VU Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences is ranked No.6 in the world on the Shanghai Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments.

Summer School

Apply to VU Amsterdam Summer School and develop your academic skills in a focused and inspiring study abroad experience.

Programme overview

Main Subject

Sports-Related Subjects

Degree

MSc

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus


How do toddlers learn to walk? How can augmented reality help patients with Parkinson’s Disease? How do top athletes get maximum performance out of their muscles? What’s the best training to improve stability and prevent falls among elderly people? As a student in the two-year Research Master Human Movement Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, you will learn how to answer urgent and socially relevant questions while conducting research aimed at unraveling the secrets of human movement through fundamental and applied scientific studies in Sport and Health.

Human movement is essential for understanding how we function, perform and stay healthy, yet it remains one of the most complex and dynamic areas in science. It is shaped by intricate interactions between the body, brain, behaviour and environment, and affects nearly every aspect of daily life. Questions about motor control, physical resilience or recovery after injury, exploring human movement opens the door to deeper scientific insight with direct societal relevance.

You will specialise in one of four scientific domains (biomechanics, movement neuroscience,  psychology, physiology), while developing advanced research and academic skills that prepare you to address complex questions in application areas such as sports, prevention and health, physical education, and high-demand professions (e.g., police, military). From the start, you are encouraged to connect theoretical insight to real-world impact, laying the foundation for a career in academia, or for contributing to research and development in industry or other non-academic institutions.

VU Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences is ranked No.6 in the world on the Shanghai Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments.

Summer School

Apply to VU Amsterdam Summer School and develop your academic skills in a focused and inspiring study abroad experience.

Admission Requirements

93+
3.3+
6.5+

Students must meet the following admission requirements:

1. Academic requirements

Your previous education needs to be deemed equivalent to at least a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree ( wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO ) obtained at a research university (nominal duration 3 years). 

2. Programme specific requirements
  • a relevant Bachelor's degree, such as human movement sciences, medicine, dentistry, health sciences, medical biology, or biomedical technology

  • GPA of 7.0 out of 10 in the Dutch grading system or higher (or the international equivalent, e.g. a B+ or a GPA of 3.0) for the final two years of the Bachelor's programme

  • strong interest in and aptitude for research, as demonstrated in research oriented courses, internships and/or thesis

  • the admission procedure includes an interview with the Admission Board.

What if you do not meet all admission criteria

If you do not meet the admission criteria, the Admission board may decide that you are admissible after you have eliminated your deficiencies. These deficiencies depend on your educational background. If you do not meet the admission criteria, you will receive a list of online courses you will be asked to attend and pass in order to eliminate the deficiencies. We recommend to start the courses prior to 1 April if you intend to start in September. Furthermore, if you are unsure about your eligibility to our programme, we recommend applying before 1 March in order to leave sufficient time for the admission process and the deficiency programme.

Please be aware that the online programme is challenging and only 20% of the participants successfully pass the exams. The costs of the online courses are €204,- per course and are non-refundable. The online courses particularly focus on research methods that are commonly used in the field of Human Movement Sciences, like mathematics, programming, biomechanics, statistics and measuring movement, and correspond to the “Requirements Methodological Knowledge” section in our list of admission criteria.

Because the two-year Research Master's programme is a selective master, your results from your bachelor and the deficiencies courses will be taken into account by the Admission Board in deciding whether you can be admitted to the Research Master's programme afterwards.

3. English-language proficiency requirements
You will have to demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency. You can find an overview of relevant information to demonstrate your English language proficiency on the language requirement page.

2 Years
Sep

Tuition fees

Domestic
2,694 EUR
International
24,150 EUR

Scholarships

Selecting the right scholarship can be a daunting process. With countless options available, students often find themselves overwhelmed and confused. The decision can be especially stressful for those facing financial constraints or pursuing specific academic or career goals.

To help students navigate this challenging process, we recommend the following articles:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Start at the programme page of the degree you are interested in. Read the admission requirements and application steps carefully. Then apply through Studielink, complete your application on your VU dashboard, pay the application fee (if required), and wait for the admission decision, which is usually communicated within 4–6 weeks.
Check the specific ‘Admissions’ section on your programme’s page for required documents. General requirements include your diploma, transcripts and other supporting documents. Documents should be in English, German, Dutch, French, Italian, or Spanish; others must be translated into English.
Yes, for Master’s, you can apply without a diploma copy; if conditionally admitted, you must send a certified diploma copy before the deadline.
The International Office checks your application for completeness. If there’s missing or incorrect information, they will contact you. Otherwise, your application is reviewed and you typically receive a decision within 4–8 weeks. Check your email (including spam) regularly for updates.
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