When applying for the International Management/CEMS programme, you are required to provide proof of proficiency in at least three languages, one of which must be English. The second and third languages can be any languages (including your mother tongue).

On the CEMS language requirements pages you can find explanations of the minimum required level for these languages, and how to provide the correct documentation for each language.

In a multicultural world, speaking several languages is an important asset. It increases the attractiveness of graduates to employers as it demonstrates their international orientation and mindset and enhances their cultural awareness. It also makes the CEMS programme and CEMS graduates distinctive from other international masters. Both CEMS and RSM therefore welcome efforts by students to improve their language skills during their master programme, even if their language skills are already at the minimum required level. 

You must meet the language requirements for the IM/CEMS programme by the 31 January application deadline. 

When planning a test date for eventual language tests, please keep in mind that test centers can get quite busy and do not always have openings. We therefore strongly advise you to register for a test date well in advance and keep in mind that it can take weeks to get the results back.

The language that people consider as their native language or mother tongue can be spoken at different levels. When you are born and educated in a country where you also speak the same language with your parents and friends, you are typically fluent in both speaking and writing. If you only speak this language at home and never received any formal education in this language however, your language proficiency in writing and/or speaking is probably below the C2 level that is considered as fully fluent.

No, having a passport does not prove proficiency in a language. 

It is the official policy of the CEMS organization that mother tongue does not have to be tested, but can be proven with a mother tongue statement. However each CEMS school is empowered to establish and implement its own application requirements, and RSM has determined that mother tongue statements are not sufficient evidence of master of the mother tongue. The mother tongue, as with all other languages indicated in an IM/CEMS application for RSM must also be evidenced on paper in a form that is acceptable to RSM. On the CEMS language requirements page you can find explanations on how to provide the correct documentation for each language.

The Language & Training Centre of Erasmus University Rotterdam (LTC) offers language courses and language (intake) tests for most (but not all CEMS languages) that are accepted as proof of language proficiency upon entry. 

In a few cases it may happen that you speak a language that you wish to choose as you third language, which cannot be proven by an accredited language institution, simply because these institutions or exams are not available. This means that you cannot use this language for your application. For example, if your secondary or university education was completely taught in Hindi, then you can claim Hindi as your third language. But if you did not have secondary or university education in Hindi, you cannot claim this language as your third language, because there are no accepted methods of proving your level. A passport alone is not proof of proficiency of a language.

The Business Communication skill seminar is a compulsory element in the programme. During this seminar, students learn how to use a variety of techniques to effectively communicate in a business environment. Each school offers Business Communication Seminars in English, with the aim that the students transfer the acquired skills to other languages.

Information about the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages can be found on the website of the Erasmus University Language & Training Centre (LTC)

Basically, you have two options: either improve your languages and bring it up to the level that is required by CEMS, or learn a new language at beginner’s level.

If you go for the second option, it means that you drop your original third language and replace it by the new language. If you consider doing this, choose a language that is challenging and can help you in your future career. For example, for a Western student it is more challenging and more rewarding to learn Eastern languages such as Mandarin or Japanese than another related Western language.

Applicants who meet the minimum requirements but are not selected for the IM/CEMS programme, will be offered alternative admission to our other MSc programmes. This means you don't need to submit a new application. Instead you'll be given a choise of the available programmes.

Please note that it's only possible to receive an offer of admission to programmes which still have spots available. Some programmes may have reached maximum capacity by the time the CEMS results are available.