Prospective students should:

• have earned a bachelor degree in Psychology at a Research University (not at a University of Applied Sciences / Professional Education) or demonstrate the ability to meet the requirements for such a degree, and;
• have sufficient knowledge of Methodology and Statistics (at least 20 EC): introductory and more advanced courses in methods and statistics of psychological research (including psychometrics, multivariate data analysis) and the use of SPSS, and;
• have obtained at least 30 ec in advanced courses on a third year Bachelor level on topics pertaining to this master specialisation, and;
• possess the skills, understanding and knowledge that are required for earning the bachelor’s degree; more specifically knowledge on university level of the following topics:
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Social and Organisational Psychology
  • Personality Psychology
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuropsychology and/or Psychophysiology and/or Biopsychology
  • Clinical and Abnormal Psychology
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Theory or training in interpersonal skills, such as interview, counselling, discussion techniques
  • Theory or training in psycho diagnostics

Applicants who meet the admission requirements, will need to take part in the selection process for the master's specialisation Child and Adolescent Psychology. Note: only applicants who meet the admission requirements will participate in the selection process, these are two separate and consecutive steps in the whole admission process.

In the selection process applicants need to demonstrate how they score on the following two selection criteria:

Selection criterium 1

Selection criterium 1 is a good academic record as indicator for academic excellence. Applicants must use the 'Application Form' (see required documents) to show their achievements in three domains (1.a, 1.b and 1.c).

1.a The results earned in the bachelor on general psychology courses on the following topics:

• Introduction to Psychology
• Social and/or Organisational Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuropsychology and/or Psychophysiology and/or Biopsychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Developmental Psychology

1.b The results earned in the bachelor on courses pertaining to the Clinical domain (at least 3 courses) on the following topics:

• Psychodiagnostics
• Interpersonal skills, such as interview, counselling
• Psychopathology and/or Psychological treatment

1.c The results earned in the bachelor on courses pertaining to knowledge and skills in Methodology and Statistics (total at least 20 EC on basic and advanced level), including the following topics:

• Psychometrics
• Multivariate Data Analysis
• Statistical Software such as SPSS

Selection criterium 2

Selection criterium 2 is a motivational statement for the master’s specialisation Child and Adolescent Psychology. Applicants must use the 'Motivation Letter Form' (see Required documents) to describe their motivation.

Child and Adolescent Psychology has a limited capacity (18 in February 2024-2025, 80 in September 2025-2026).

With regard to admission to the programme, the Admissions Committee evaluates the knowledge and skills of the applicants on the basis of the documents they have submitted with their application. On the basis of this evaluation the Admissions Committee decides:

1. which applicants meet the admission requirements and can participate in the selection procedure;
2. which applicants cannot be admitted because they do not meet the requirements.

Only after it has been decided that the applicant meets the admission requirements are the qualitative selection criteria checked:

• Selection criterium 1 is a good academic record as indicator for academic excellence. The weighted average grade for each of the three domains (General Psychology, the Clinical domain and Methodology and Statistics) will be ranked as Excellent (≥8) or Sufficient (6-8) (Dutch grading system; or international equivalent based on conversion by Central Admissions Office Leiden University). All three criteria must be scored Excellent for criterium 1 to be Excellent.
• Selection criterium 2 is a motivational statement, this will be scored based on:
  • quality and structure of the reasoning;
  • connection of personal interests and motivation with the content of the programme;
  • language skills and use of language.

Possible scores: Excellent, Sufficient, Insufficient. All three criteria must be scored Excellent for criterium 2 to be Excellent.

If an applicant scores Excellent on both selection criterium 1 and 2 their application is marked as excellent, and they will be admitted to the programme. If there are more Excellent applications than available positions, the positions will be distributed by a draw from the Excellent applications.

For the remaining open positions, a draw will be made from the applications marked as Sufficient. Candidates classified in the Sufficient category who didn’t get a position will be put on a waiting list. The ranking for this list will be based on a draw.

Note that this applies for applicants who chose a specialisation as their first choice in Studielink. The waiting list per specialisation consists of 1. Excellent candidates for whom the specialisation is the first choice, 2. Sufficient candidates for whom the specialisation is the first choice, 3. Excellent and Satisfactory candidates who have entered the specialisation as a second choice. For more information see 'How does the ranking work' on the FAQ.

Applicants with an insufficient application won’t be admitted.

The draw is done by the Selection Committee. Candidates will be notified before May 31 (September intake) December 15 (February intake) whether they are selected and placed into the programme or placed on the waiting list. In case of cancellation by selected candidates, candidates from the waiting list are placed up to the maximum capacity.

The following requirements apply*: 

• IELTS 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.
  • We do not accept IELTS General Training, IELTS Indicator, or IELTS One Skill Retake
• TOEFL internet based: 90 overall, with at least 20 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 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.

*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 bachelor 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.