Post-Application

Assessing your Application  

You can expect to hear from us within eight weeks of the respective application deadline.

The assessment of applications is based on academic performance (e.g. grades for (recent) courses and for quantitative courses) and research potential (e.g. research ideas, PhD attitude, research experience). But also collegiality is considered relevant (e.g. positive attitude, ability to work in teams and communication skills). The application file should clearly convey the motivation and potential to continue with a PhD after completing the Research Master’s program.

The Admissions Board gives preference to candidates who demonstrate strong academic performance, clear research potential, and the ability to successfully start a PhD program by the end of the Research Master. 

Interview 

An interview is part of the selection process. Selected applicants are invited to an online interview within 6 weeks by the Admissions Office. The interview is informal and covers your motivations, research interest and why you think the TI program is for you. It will also give you the chance to ask any questions you might have about the program or the PhD trajectory.  

The Admissions Board uses the interview as part of its holistic assessment of the application and in building a cohort with diverse research interests and a strong fit with the academic community at the partner Schools.

If you receive an offer of admission

All the details of your offer will be contained in a conditional offer letter issued by the Director of Graduate Studies on behalf of the Tinbergen Institute Admissions Board. This includes any offer of scholarship or tuition fee waiver for Year 1 and/or Year 2 of the program. The letter will also contain links to the applicable Scholarship Regulations, as well as a final date by which you should submit your response. Admission offers are conditional on verification of diplomas and test results.

All details of the onboarding process, including housing, immigration and academic preparation will be made available to students via the internal Tinbergen Institute information pages.

If you are still completing your degree when you apply, you must provide your final certified diploma once it has been awarded. 

Following unconditional admission, students in the joint degree program are registered at Erasmus University Rotterdam and also at the University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. 

If you are waitlisted

A waitlist decision means that your application was strong, but TI is not yet able to offer a place. This may be due to limited capacity rather than a shortcoming in your profile.

Follow the instructions in your notification to confirm whether you wish to remain on the waitlist. If a place becomes available, TI may contact you at relatively short notice.

You may share relevant new achievements, such as improved grades or publications, with the Admissions Office. TI cannot guarantee admission from the waitlist.

If you are not admitted

The program is highly selective, and many strong candidates apply each year. A negative decision reflects a holistic and comparative assessment of academic performance, research potential and motivation, based on the application portfolio.

If you are not admitted, you may wish to:

• seek general guidance from TI on how to strengthen a future application;
• gain additional relevant coursework or research experience;
• improve test scores where relevant;
• attend an information session to better understand the program and its expectations; and
• reapply in a future year.

Applicants who reapply are assessed independently and without bias. A new application, including all required documents, must be submitted.

Feedback on admission decisions

Due to the high number of applications, TI generally cannot provide detailed individual feedback on unsuccessful applications. Applicants may contact the Admissions Office for general guidance.

For more information read our FAQ section.