Frequently Asked Questions
Question: I have taken the GRE test, but the online application system requires me to enter the GMAT test results. How do I proceed?
Answer: Please enter ‘zero’ for the GMAT test results and then upload your GRE test results. This way we know that you took the GRE and not GMAT.
Question: According to the online application system, I need to upload a document called ‘TUSP motivation’. What does this mean?
Answer: TUSP is the abbreviation of Tilburg University Scholarship Program. It does not apply to IMSE, as the IMSE programme offers the Erasmus Mundus scholarships. It is therefore not necessary to write a motivation letter for the TUSP scholarship, so please ignore it.
Question: I will have not completed my BSc (or equivalent first degree) before the deadline, but I plan to finish it during the following spring before the IMSE program starts. Can I still apply?
Answer: Students in the last year of BSc studies can certainly apply for admission. The Selection Committee can tentatively admit the student based on a transcript of his/her academic record and the expected date of graduation, together with an official letter from their home university stating that the student will have completed the degree in due time.
Question: I am native speaker of English. Do I have to present any language skills proof or certificate?
Answer: Native speakers (from USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the English speaking part of Canada) do not have to send proof of language proficiency.
Question: I am not a “native speaker” according to the answer above, but I am from an Anglophone country and I have studied my BSc degree in English language. Do I still have to present a TOEFL or IELTS certificate?
Answer: You are exempt from doing an English test if you are a citizen of, or if you had your university education in English for at least three years in one of the following countries: Australia, Canada (with the exception of Quebec), New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States of America. For all other countries, the English test is compulsory.
Question: I do not have (yet) a TOEFL or IELTS certificate, but I am fluent in English and I have other proofs of proficiency (English courses, studies abroad done in English, publications in English, etc). Can I still apply?
Answer: The TOEFL or IELTS certificate is a mandatory admission requirement, and therefore it must be submitted with the application.
Question: I already took an English test, do I still need to take the GMAT/GRE test?
Answer: Yes, all applicants who wish to be considered for the Erasmus Mundus category A scholarship need to take the GMAT/GRE test – it is not the same as the English test and is mandatory. For applicants, who wish to be considered for the EM category B scholarship, the GMAT/GRE test is optional.
Question: I am a Chinese student. When do I have to apply for a NESO certificate?
Answer: Chinese applicants are kindly asked to note that they will need to apply for a NESO certificate in order to be able to study in the Netherlands. For this certificate, only the IELTS test score is accepted. You can apply for the NESO certificate during your first semester of the programme.
Question: Is the IMSE programme suitable for applicants with work experience?
Answer: The IMSE programme is primarily aimed at fresh Bachelor graduates with no more than a few years of work experience. Based on our experiences, the programme content may be less relevant for those applicants with a substantial amount of work experience.
