PROGRAMMES
General admission requirements
Educational and professional background
IOB offers three Advanced Master programmes. This means that applicants must hold a
university degree of at least four years of study in the social sciences (economics, political
science, sociology, international relations or related disciplines), preferably at the Master’s level,
with good study results. Although applicants with a four-year Bachelor’s degree can be admitted,
priority will be given to those with a Master’s degree. Applicants with degrees obtained under the
European Bologna system must hold a Master’s degree. Applicants with a three-year Bachelor’s
degree do not qualify for admission to the Master programmes. In addition, applicants must
demonstrate a serious interest in development studies. Relevant professional experience is
considered an advantage.
Language
All of our programmes are offered in English, in which applicants must be proficient.
Applicants must submit an English language certificate:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): minimum score of 550 for the paper-based
test or 79 for the internet-based test. Information about this test is available at www.toefl.org.
IOB does not accept the TOEFL ITP.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): minimum overall score of 6.5 and a
minimum score of 6.0 on each component. Information about this test is available at www.ielts.org.
6 · master programmes