Psychology (MSc)

Pre-master’s programme

This pre-master’s programme will prepare you for admission to one out of nine (of the ten) specialisations within the master’s degree programme in Psychology (MSc). The pre-master’s programme does not prepare you for the specialisation Clinical Psychology (MSc). However, please note that four other specialisations prepare you for the same post-master clinical psychology training, namely Health and Medical Psychology (MSc), Child and Adolescent Psychology (MSc), Clinical Neuropsychology (MSc) and School Psychology (MSc).

Admission
The Psychology Board of Admissions determines whether the gap between a candidate’s previous education and the master’s degree specialisation can be bridged by a programme worth a maximum of 60 EC (‘EC’ indicates a credit; this is the abbreviation for ‘European credit’, and one EC represents a study load of 28 hours). In making this determination, the Board upholds the agreements made between all the universities in the Netherlands regarding the knowledge and skills expected of someone who graduates as a psychologist (MSc in Psychology). The Board of Admissions then determines the content and scope of the pre-master’s programme the candidate must complete. The year in which the candidate completes his or her previous education may affect this decision.    

Full-time course
The pre-master’s programme begins in September, and students are expected to complete all required modules within a single academic year. The programme is not available on a part-time basis, and there is no February intake. The pre-master’s programme requires a substantial commitment. It consists of a combination of 1st-, 2nd- and 3rd-year modules from the bachelor’s degree programme in Psychology and includes a significant number of modules on methodology and techniques/statistics. For a 60-EC programme, this amounts to a full-time course of study. Full-time study means that a student will devote 40 hours a week to the course. Students should consider carefully beforehand whether they can set aside enough time for the pre-master’s programme. Teaching takes place during the day, and sometimes also in the evening. Attendance at workgroups and practicals is mandatory. 

Certificate
Upon completion of the pre-master’s programme, students receive a certificate giving an overview of the modules taken and the grades achieved. However, this certificate is not the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and students may not use the title ‘BSc in Psychology’.