Gifted Education (specialisation)

Entry requirements

1. Admission requirements for students with a foreign Bachelor’s degree

Knowledge of relevant domains in the field of Pedagogical Sciences (16 ECTS or more)

You have completed courses on subjects like:

• (special) education and learning
• developmental psychology
• neuroscience
• psychopathology
• parenting
• youth care
• ethics and philosophy

2. Proficiency in academic writing and critical reflection (15 ECTS or more)

As demonstrated by courses in which you’ve written a thesis, essay or research report. A sample of your written work must be submitted with your application. Your academic skills and ability to meet the publication requirements of the American Psychological Association (APA) will be assessed.

Proficiency in empirical research practice (20 ECTS or more)

You have completed courses on:

• research methodology used within the social sciences, including knowledge on inter- and intra-individual research designs (e.g. experiments, surveys, observational studies) and psychometrics

You have hands-on experience with data-analysis software and you are able to report and interpret qualitive or quantitative results according to the standards of the APA.

3. Proficiency in maintaining a professional attitude (8 ECTS or more)

You have completed courses on (therapeutic) interview techniques or have done an internship.

4. Proficiency in English

In order to take part in this Master’s programme, you need to be fluent in both written and spoken English. Non-native speakers of English without a Dutch Bachelor's degree or VWO diploma need one of the following:

• A TOEFL score of ≥575 (paper based)
• A IELTS score of ≥6.5
• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) with a mark of C or higher

* Applicants are considered to be a native speaker of English if they are from Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, UK, USA or South Africa.

Months of entry

February, September

Course content

Programme overview

Giftedness is more than IQ, it also includes physical, musical, social and creative abilities. The Master's specialisation in Pedagogical Sciences focuses on how personal characteristics – like motivation and performance anxiety – abilities, and surroundings influence each other. You will learn how to identify the needs of a gifted pupil and test your instincts with research results. You will be critical of both your field and your own talents and talent development. You will investigate the conflict between stimulating talent and being fearful of doing so.

This programme works closely with the Centre for the Study of Giftedness (CBO), headed by Lianne Hoogeveen. Radboud also has close relationships with schools and other organisations, giving you the opportunity to find internships and research projects in the Netherlands and abroad.

What will you learn?

• Gain a theoretical background in the topic of gifted education including intervention methods and the role of systems in child upbringing
• Get valuable experience learning abroad, with the opportunity to find an international internship
• Get experience designing, conducting and presenting your own research

Career prospects

Graduates from this programme could find work in a wide variety of positions:

• Remedial educator
• Educational advisor
• Policy maker
• Teacher
• Researcher
• Consultant for schools

*This is a specialisation of the Master's in Pedagogical Sciences.

To apply for this course, please contact us by e-mail.

Learn more via the Radboud University contact form.

Fees and funding

There are various scholarships available for studying at Radboud University. Some of the opportunities are described below. A full list, including detailed information, can be found on our scholarships and grants page at our website.

Radboud Scholarship Programme

Open to a select number of excellent international students. Instead of the institutional tuition fees, non-EEA students pay the legal tuition fees (€2,209). Visa and residence permit costs, liability insurance and health insurance are also covered.

Orange Tulip Scholarship

Open to students from Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Indonesia, South-Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and China. Instead of the institutional tuition fees, non-EEA students pay the legal tuition fees (€2,209). Visa and residence permit costs, liability insurance and health insurance are also covered.

Fulbright-Radboud Scholarships

Open to excellent American students. The grant will be paid in 12 monthly instalments of 1,050 euros. International travel and the cost of the residence permit will be covered, and an extra allowance of €1150 will be paid on arrival.

Sino-Dutch Bilateral Exchange Scholarship

Open to excellent students from China. Consists of a contribution of € 16,113 towards the total costs of one year of study or research in the Netherlands.

DIKTI-Neso Scholarships

Aimed at lecturers at higher education institutions in Indonesia who wish to pursue a PhD or Master's at a university in the Netherlands. A DIKTI scholarship includes allowances for living expenses, insurance, travel costs, tuition fees and more.

Indonesian Education Scholarship (LPDP)

Open to excellent Indonesian students under the age of 35. Involves a full scholarship.

Holland Scholarship Programme

Open to excellent students from Canada, America, India and Turkey. Scholarship consists of 5,000 euros payed at the start of study.

Dutch Student Finance

EU/EEA students and Swiss students under 30 years of age are eligible if they are working at least 56 hours per month in the Netherlands, or have been living in the Netherlands for five years or more. Dutch student finance consists of four components: a basic grant, a supplementary grant (depending on the parental income), a student travel product, and a loan.