# Admission requirements

**Source**: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/study-programmes/master/media-studies/film-and-photographic-studies/admission-and-application/admission-requirements
**Parent**: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/study-programmes/master/media-studies/film-and-photographic-studies/admission-and-application/application-procedure

Film and Photographic Studies (MA)

# Admission requirements

To be eligible for Film and Photographic Studies at Leiden University, you must meet the following admission requirements.

## Diploma requirements

General diploma requirements

- You are eligible to apply for the MA Media Studies: Film and Photographic Studies if you have: A bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university in Film and Literary Studies: Film Studies or Art History or
- A bachelor’s degree from a research university, equivalent to the level of a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree; and
  - Knowledge of and insight into theoretical and/or historical analysis of film, video, photography and other media comparable with those acquired upon completing one of the bachelor's programmes referred to above, for example by completing a BA or MA programme in film and literary studies, media and culture, art history, visual anthropology, culture studies, media studies (especially film or photography) or a similar academic discipline.

The Board of Admissions will assess whether your degree and background are sufficiently related to the level and content of a bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university in Film and Literary Studies: Film Studies or Art History on the basis of the requirements specified above.

*Students with a Bachelor in Film and Literary Studies: Film Studies or Art History from Leiden University are directly eligible for admission. Students can apply in [Studielink](https://www.studielink.nl/). There is no need to submit an application for admission using the online application portal.*

Pre-master’s programme

If you have a related bachelor’s degree from a research university that does not meet the requirements specified above, you may be eligible for the 60 EC pre-master’s programme. After submitting your application in Studielink, the Board of Admissions will decide whether you can be directly admitted to the master’s programme or whether you will first need to complete a pre-master’s programme. It is not possible to apply for a pre-master’s programme directly. Once you have completed the imposed pre-master’s programme, you will be admitted to the relevant specialisation of the Master’s programme. [Read more about the pre-master’s programme.](https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/study-programmes/master/media-studies/film-and-photographic-studies/admission-and-application/pre-master%E2%80%99s)

Bachelor’s degree of a university of applied sciences (hbo)

If you have a Bachelor’s degree in a related field from a university of applied sciences, equivalent to the level of a Dutch hbo bachelor’s degree, the Board of Admissions may impose the 60 EC pre-master’s programme. [Read more about the pre-master’s programme.](https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/study-programmes/master/media-studies/film-and-photographic-studies/admission-and-application/pre-master%E2%80%99s)

## Language requirements

English language proficiency

The following requirements apply\*: 

- [IELTS](https://www.ielts.org/) Academic modules only, on paper or on computer: 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0 for each separate component score. 
  - We do **not** accept [IELTS Academic online](https://www.ielts.org/for-test-takers/ielts-online).
  - We do **not**accept IELTS General Training, IELTS Indicator, or IELTS One Skill Retake
- [TOEFL](https://www.ets.org/toefl.html) internet based: 90 overall, with at least 4.0 (new 1-6 scale as of 21 January 2026) or 20 (old 0-30 scale) for each separate component.
  - We are **not** able to accept The TOEFL IBT Home Edition™, except in the following situation only:\
    You are unable to take an in-person test on location because test centres are inaccessible or closed due to unsafe conditions in a country.
  - We do **not**accept the following types of test: TOEFL My Best™ scores (multiple test scores combined), TOEFL Essentials™  or institutional tests such as ITP.

- [Cambridge English Exam](https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/) C2 Proficiency, or C1 Advanced (180), with a minimum score of 169 for each separate component.

Note that English test results may **not** be more than two years old and must be obtained in one single test.\
\
*\** **New TOEFL grading scale 2026**\
*In January 2026, TOEFL introduced a new grading scale. Test certificates issued in 2026 and 2027 will show overall scores in both the old grading scale (0-120) and the new grading scale (1-6). Component or band scores will only be shown in the new grading scale.\
Leiden University’s 2026-2027 overall score requirements will continue to be based on the old grading scale. If you took your test on or after 21 January 2026, you must meet the overall score requirement shown on our website in the old grading scale (0-120), and the component score requirements shown on our website in the new grading scale (1-6).*\
\
\*You do not have to submit an English proficiency test if you have completed your education in the USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (except French-taught programmes in Canada) Singapore, South-Africa or Malta; or if you have obtained an English-taught International Baccalaureate™; or if you have completed a Dutch VWO diploma or an English-taught degree at a Dutch research university or (for September intake) a diploma of an English-taught higher professional education (hbo) programme completed at a Dutch university of applied sciences.\
\
For detailed information, including exemption criteria and methods of submission, refer to [English language proficiency](https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/binaries/content/assets/studentenwerving/scm/admission-and-application/language-requirements/english_proficiency_masters_programmmes_eng.pdf).

[>> Go to the next step: Check the application deadlines](https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/study-programmes/master/media-studies/film-and-photographic-studies/admission-and-application/application-deadlines)