Psychology (BSc)

About the programme

During the International Bachelor in Psychology in Leiden you will build a sound basis for your career as a psychologist. You will become acquainted with all of the main subdisciplines of psychology and have the opportunity to structure your study in a way that suits you.

Bachelor's programme

You begin with a coherent overview of the entire field of psychology. Next, you will obtain deeper knowledge of and insight into the various subdisciplines. An important component in this year is research methodology and statistics: the methods and statistics courses cover one quarter of the study credits for the first year. Another important part of the first year is the academic skills course during which you will learn and practice academic skills, such as writing an essay, giving a presentation and setting up an experiment in your first year.

You will focus on the practical professional skills of a psychologist, such as diagnostics, interview techniques and data analysis. You will be able to follow in-depth, specialisation courses in some of the subdisciplines for the master’s specialisation of your choice. We help you to make your choice and to prepare for the job-market in the course Perspective on Career Planning.

Put your programme together

During the second part of the second year and the entire third year you will be freer in how you put your programme together. You can choose to concentrate on a particular subdiscipline and specialise, or you can choose courses from various subdisciplines to further orient yourself in the field. You can take electives while choosing your own route.

You will probably have a fair idea of what you want to do in the future. You may want to get a master’s degree in one of the subdisciplines of psychology or prepare for a job. The third year allows you to choose courses that help you on your way. If you plan your courses carefully, you may also spend a semester studying abroad. You will complete the bachelor’s programme with a bachelor project: a research project that you will carry out in a small group and is completed with an individually written bachelor thesis. With your Leiden bachelor’s degree in Psychology you can continue with the Master's programme.

Our education according to international students

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Alexander Skowron

First year student

The International Bachelor in Psychology in Leiden has a very close connection to research. The teachers are experts in their fields of study. It’s interesting to learn from these people. You can ask questions and receive the best information.

When I knew for sure I wanted to study psychology I visited quite a few open days. Groningen, Maastricht and Leiden of course. I decided to come to Leiden because of the program and the international environment over here. Also I really liked the city, especially the old part of the town.

Arianne Berardi

First year student

"The IBP has a vibrant international atmosphere. In your bachelor at Leiden University, you will receive an overview of many fields of psychology, and if you are into research, this is definitely a great place to study."

I’m really interested in how human beings work, the different aspects of who they are. Psychology is a really broad science, it combines many different fields of study with a lot of research. They are always making progress, it’s always on the go. That’s an attractive aspect of psychology for me.

Most of the teachers are really passionate about their field of study. They’re always willing to answer questions after the lecture, that’s nice. They are really curious about our opinions, and are stimulating us to think critically. My colleague students, who are friends as well, are really nice: we were eating together in the breaks, but study together as well. We worked on assignments and that kind of things.

Student support services

Going to university brings many changes to your life. We offer you personal supervision in order to help you to successfully complete the programme within the time limits set for it.

In your first and second year your study progress will be assessed. The assessment is based on the final requirements of the programme that provide a good indication of whether you will be able to successfully complete the programme within the required period of time. You will be allowed to proceed with the programme if you have completed 45 of the 60 credits by the end of the first year, including one of the Statistics courses.

If you do not fulfil these criteria, you will not be allowed to proceed with this programme in Leiden. Personal circumstances will be considered and are part of the assessment. The regular contact with your tutor and Student Adviser during the bachelor’s phase ensures that you will know in advance if you run the risk of not being allowed to continue with your studies. More about Guidance & Advice.

Educational methods

We use various modes of instruction to augment the learning experience:

In the lectures the literature you have read comes alive and you build your knowledge of the subject at hand.
In the small (12 to 24 students) work group sessions you delve deeper into the course material. There is room for discussion. Work groups sessions require active participation and attendance is mandatory.
In practicals you work on your skills. You gain skills in interviewing, observation and using statistical computer programmes, among others. Attendance is also mandatory in these practical sessions.
In the online course environment students review their peers’ assignments and prepare for examinations with online mock exams and recorded lectures.

Do you want to read more about the courses in the programme? Take a look at the programme structure.