Psychology (MSc)

Entry requirements

We make a distinction between the following types of previous education.

Your prior qualification(s) determine...

if there are deficiencies you must compensate;
which variant of the pre-master's programme is for you;
if you have to take the Academic Competences test.

Only students who have completed their bachelor degree in a related field at a Dutch institute of higher education are eligible for admission to Leiden's pre-master's programme in psychology.

We make a distinction between the following types of previous education:

	Previous education
	University of Applied Sciences bachelor’s degree (HBO) in: HBO in Social Work and Social Services (Maatschappelijk Werk en Dienstverlening, MWD) HBO in Education (HBO Pedagogiek) HBO in Youth Work (Sociaal Pedagogische Hulpverlening, SPH) HBO in Social Work* HBO in Applied Psychology (TP)
	Academic bachelor’s degree (WO) in: General Social Sciences* WO in Criminology* WO in Health and Society (Gezondheid en Maatschappij) (WUR)* WO in Education and Child Studies (Pedagogische Wetenschappen) WO Liberal Arts and Sciences (UU)** WO Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (PPLE)* WO in Psychobiology WO Urban Studies* WO from University College*
	(Please note: these lists may be subject to annual revision!)
* **	Provided that Psychology forms a substantial part of the course (at least 60 EC) Track Cognitive and Neurobiological Psychology, or track Social, Health, and Organisational Psychology

If your bachelor's degree is not listed above, this means that your bachelor's degree does not grant access to our pre-master programme.

If you do not hold a Dutch bachelor's degree, it is not possible to be admitted to Leiden’s pre-master’s programme in Psychology.

We advise students to rectify deficiencies in proficiency in English and/or mathematics before 1 May. All deficiencies must be rectified before the start of the programme.

Mathematics

Because the pre-master’s programme includes many modules based around methodology and techniques/statistics, students are required to have a basic level of competence in mathematics. Students on the Psychology course must be able to work at VWO (‘pre-university education’) level. If you do not have a VWO diploma but you do have a HAVO (‘higher general secondary education’) diploma with a transcript including a pass in mathematics (based on the average of school examinations and the central written examination), this is also sufficient. If you do not have either of these, you have a deficiency and we strongly advise you to take the course in mathematics offered by the Psychology department in the period from January to April.

Please note that the deadline for submitting an application for admission is 1 April. This means that you have to submit your application for admission before the course in mathematics is concluded.

Download

Brochure informatie wiskundecursus (in Dutch)

For questions, please contact: premasterpsychologie@fsw.leidenuniv.nl

English

Prospective students should have proof of thorough proficiency in English by means of one of the following tests:

IELTS overall 6.5
TOEFL (internet based) overall 90
Cambridge English Exam CPE/CAE overall 180

For detailed information about which English qualifications are accepted, as well as the relevant exemption criteria, refer to English language proficiency.

Variant A

Students who hold an accredited Dutch HBO bachelor’s degree from the abovementioned list (see: Previous education) will be admitted to the Variant A pre-master programme once they have passed the Academic Competences test.

Variant B

Students who hold an accredited Dutch academic bachelor’s degree (WO) from the abovementioned list (see: Previous education) provided that Psychology forms a substantial part of the course, are exempt from the Academic Competences test and will be directly admitted to the Variant B pre-master programme.

The candidate will have two hours to study a scientific article written in English and to answer a number of open questions relating to this article. There is no possibility to resit the test (even in the following year). Candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree from a university programme are exempt from the test. The test costs €100. Candidates who need to take the test will receive an invoice for this amount.

The date for the Academic Competences test 2025 will follow soon.