The master’s programme in Psychology in Leiden focuses both on in-depth study of psychological theory as well as on the acquisition of professional and research skills. Students develop their knowledge of psychology as a science and its application in order to effectively address relevant issues.
All specialisations are part of one MSc in Psychology and grant the same degree. It is therefore possible to follow, and graduate in, only one specialisation.
About our specialisations
The one year master’s programme in Psychology offers eleven specialisations. Five of these qualify students to apply psychological knowledge in a professional business setting. Career possibilities exist for example in the fields of marketing, research & development, data science, human resources or consultancy
Moreover, another six specialisations are focused on mental health care and qualify students for the Dutch post-master training programme in Mental Health Care psychology (GZ-opleiding). These are Child and Adolescent Psychology, School Psychology, Health and Medical Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, Clinical Psychology and Klinische Psychologie (Dutch).
The distinctive feature of the Leiden master’s programme is that the teaching is not restricted to only the functioning of psychological processes; these processes are always connected to their behavioural consequences, with the aim of understanding self-regulation and behavioural control.
In line with the profile of Leiden University as a research-intensive institution, the teaching programme of the master’s programme in Psychology is based on state-of-the art scientific research and maintains a strong emphasis on the acquisition of academic and research skills. Completion of the MSc degree prepares students for subsequent academic master’s degrees, including a PhD.
Reasons to choose Psychology at Leiden University
The Psychology programme in Leiden offers a wide range of areas to specialise in.
The specialisation in the programme can have a focus on mental health care or on the application of psychological knowledge in professional settings.
The programme offers 6 specialisations that all prepare students for a post master education in Mental Healthc Care psychology (gz-opleiding) and a subsequent career in this field as a licensed therapist.
Research and education are very closely tied at Leiden University. In each area within psychology, research units exist that investigate psychological phenomena on which the teaching is based.
The main objective of the master's programme in Psychology is to equip students with both research and methodological skills as well as professional skills which make graduates attractive candidates for a multitude of employers
Why Psychology in Leiden?
Students and lecturers from around the world who have obtained international training, experience and exposure bring an international and multi-cultural perspective on psychology and being a psychologist to class.
Five reasons to study a master's specialisation in Psychology
Education and research are closely connected at Leiden University. This means that teaching is often done by top researchers and it means that our students get acquainted with research throughout the whole study programme.
You will combine scientific knowledge and various research and practical skills like observation, presentation, interview techniques, amd argumentation.
In our teaching, we offer a variety of teaching formats: lectures, work groups, practicals, and individual supervision. We use modern ICT tools and blended learning to support our teaching in the master's programme.
You will receive intensive study guidance from study advisers, and internship and thesis mentors.
You will enrich yourself in an international classroom and you will get to know students and teachers with different cultural backgrounds. This offers an extra learning experience as there are almost 50 different nationalities within the master's programme in Psychology.
Study at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
The Institute of Psychology is housed in the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences within walking distance of the Leiden Central railway station. If you travel by train, a 5-minute walk will take you from the back of the station to the Pieter de la Court building. Here you'll find:
Research labs
Lecture halls
Tutorial rooms
A library with 70,000 printed specialist publications and extensive digital collections
About 300 computer workstations for students located in several places in the building
The FSW cafe or restaurant to chat with your fellow students
The Master Thesis Lab is a unique facility at our Faculty of Social and Behavioural Science. It provides students writing their master’s thesis with work spaces, assistance and advice on statistical and qualitative research, and online information.
POPcorner: Support in study and student life
Tackling your study in the right way does not come easily to everyone or at every time. In the POPcorner our Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences offers a unique facility set up in close consultation with students of varying cultural and social backgrounds. Through workshops, advice and online information we offer training and information about finding your way in academic and student life.
Study at a world-class university
Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands and enjoys an excellent worldwide reputation built up over more than four centuries. Since 1575 we’ve provided sound personal education for hundreds of thousands of students. We’ll do our utmost to give you the best possible support. And if you can and want to do more, we’ll challenge you every step of the way. For many years, we’ve been among the leaders in Dutch university rankings and we are currently to be found in a variety of top international rankings too.
The Master in Psychology is an academic degree focussed on human behaviour and cognition from a multi-level perspective in which you will hone your research skills. You will combine research with practical experience, working on real life applications of knowledge on the psyche while being taught and guided by speakers and experts from the field. In each specialisation you will focus on a subdiscipline within the broad field of psychology.
Objectives of the master's programme in Psychology
The objective of the master’s programme in Psychology is to equip students with advanced training in research methods and professional skills that prepare them both for a career involving psychological research as well as for the application of scientific knowledge and methods in various professional settings.
Training is provided in all relevant skills, including reviewing the relevant literature, applying theoretical knowledge to analyse practical problems, developing hypotheses and writing research proposals, designing and carrying out empirical studies, designing and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions, conducting advanced statistical analyses, and presenting results and recommendations.
Educational methods
We use various modes of instruction to augment the learning experience:
In the lectures the literature you have read will be applied to real life, by examples, to enhance your knowledge of the subject at hand.
In the small (10 to 24 students, depending on your specialisation) work group sessions you'll delve deeper into the course material. There is room for discussion. Work groups sessions require active participation and attendance is therefore mandatory.
In practical sessions you'll work on your skills. You'll gain, for example, skills in interviewing, observation and using statistical computer programmes (depending on your specialisation). 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.
The assigned material will be discussed during lectures
In small work group sessions you will delve deeper in the course material
Master students spend a lot of time studying the material by themselves
Practical sessions vary from interview skills training to lab tests
Theory becomes practice during these wide-ranging practicals
Student support services
Perhaps you have questions about your master’s, or could use some extra help, or maybe you’d like some support of a more personal nature? At Leiden University we have people and departments who will be glad to help in any and all of these areas.
Study adviser
Your study adviser is an expert on all aspects of your study programme, for example exam regulations, planning, academic issues, study delay etc. With the study adviser you discuss problems of any kind relating to the studies or any personal circumstances which might trouble your study.
Students following this programme can choose one specialisation. This can be either with a focus on psychology in everyday life or on its application in mental health care. Each specialisation consists of mandatory courses, electives a master’s thesis and an internship.
Courses
Each specialisation consists of 3 to 5 mandatory courses which will help you specialise in the chosen direction. The mandatory courses are intensive and combine theory with practice. Most courses consist of lectures that introduce theories and principles and workgroups that require the application of acquired knowledge. See the Prospectus of the specialisations of your choice to find the corresponding mandatory courses.
Electives
Depending on your interests and the available space in your programme you can choose electives. It is possible to choose electives organized by other specialisations. Doing so will result in a diverse classroom. Please note however that some electives can only be followed by students of certain specialisations or have other prerequisites. Please see the Prospectus for an overview of all possible electives.
Internship
Students need to do an internship of 10 or 20 ECTS. A 10-ECTS internship has to be supplemented by two elective courses. In the mandatory internship, students gain hands-on practical experience or research experience in an area of their own interest within the domain of their master’s specialisation. As one of the final parts of their training to become a ‘scientist - practitioner’, students have to familiarize themselves with the professional activities of a psychologist, either by focusing on applying scientific insights in the field or by focusing on conducting applied or fundamental research. You can find more information about the internship in the Prospectus.
Thesis
Your master's thesis will be the crown on your university education. Your thesis will enable you to go in depth on an cognition related topic and you may get the opportunity to obtain experience with all the phases of empirical research. Alternatively, some staff members have access to large and rich datasets, which will enable you to write a thesis without collecting new data. Staff members will offer research topics related to their own research interests, for which students can sign up. The exact topics and the participating staff varies from year to year.
Mental Health Care Psychology
In the Dutch healthcare system, only MHC psychologists (GZ-psychologen) are licensed to practice psychology unsupervised.
MHC psychology
‘GZ-psycholoog’ is a legally protected professional title in Dutch healthcare, registered in the BIG-register. MHC psychologists are generalists who can work in several different settings, for example private practices, somatic health care (medical psychology), psychiatry, institutions for disabled people, forensic psychology, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centres.
To become a licensed MHC psychologist in The Netherlands, you need to complete a 2-year post-master training programme (GZ-opleiding). The programme consists of a theoretical part (20%) and a practical part (80%). The latter requires a job position under supervision of a licenced MHC psychologist-teacher. Vacancies for this programme are scarce and only a minority of master graduates manages to get into the programme. Although it is hard, it is not impossible.
Meeting the requirements
After graduating from one of our five clinical specialisations including a 20 EC clinical internship, you meet the entry requirements of the post-master MHC training programme. Each specialisation ensures you have the required theoretical background and basic diagnostic skills. Within each specialisation, students need to opt for the 560-hour (20 EC) clinical internship in order to meet the entry requirements regarding practical training. Please note that these internship positions are scarce and there is a lot of competition between students applying for these positions.
Students who are not fluent in Dutch are unlikely to find a clinical internship position in The Netherlands. An alternative option is to find a clinical internship abroad. For international students who wish to pursue a career in MHC in their home country, it is recommended to find an internship where they can speak their native language. International students who wish to do an internship in The Netherlands are advised to apply for a 10 EC internship, for example in research, or apply for the Internal Practical Internship. For more information, please contact the internship coordinator of your preferred specialisation.
How current students can prepare for the post-master MHC training
When applying for the GZ-opleiding, you need to prove that you fulfil all entry requirements by showing the LOGO-verklaring. Please see the website for the application process and all requirements. One of them is having a certificate stating that you have sufficient skills in diagnostics, the Verklaring Psychodiagnostiek. You can acquire this certificate after a clinical (20 EC) internship covering diagnostic cases. Qualified internship supervisors (as specified on the form) can sign the certificate. Another requirement is a declaration of your theoretical knowledge, the Verklaring Vooropleiding. If you graduate from one of our MCH specialisations and have completed a 20 EC clinical internship, all theoretical requirements are covered. You can have the certificate signed by study adviser Jack Wiltjer.
Mental Health Care Specialisations
The Psychology programme at Leiden University offers 5 specialisations that qualify students for the Dutch post-master training programme in Mental Health Care psychology (GZ-opleiding). All specialisations grant the same Master of Science in Psychology degree and prepare you to work in the field of mental health care, but have a slightly different focus.
Capacity limit Mental Health Care related specialisations
To ensure the quality of education, there is a capacity limit and selection procedure for the Mental Health Care related master’s specialisations Clinical Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, Child and Adolescent Psychology, Health and Medical Psychology and School Psychology.
Extra-curricular
Would you like to create an extra challenge for yourself? Leiden University gives you plenty of room to do so.
Virtual Exchange
Leiden University offers students the opportunity to follow online courses to obtain extracurricular study credits without the necessity of travelling abroad. Leiden University and its partner organisations, such as Sorbonne University, offer around 20 online courses.
Are you a curious and motivated master’s student? The Honours Academy of Leiden University offers various kinds of extracurricular education, ranging from long-running programmes to short-term courses.
Leiden Leadership Programme (15 EC)
Are you interested in a leadership challenge? Join the Leiden Leadership Programme (LLP). This one-year programme will equip you with the leadership knowledge, insights and skills you need to increase your societal impact. You further your personal development through trainings, seminars and a practical assignment within an organisation, in which you learn to cooperate intensively with other professionals. With the LLP, you earn 15 EC in addition to your regular master's degree.
Master Honours Challenges (max. 10 EC)
Broaden your horizons with a Master Honours Challenge at Leiden University. In a small-scale, interdisciplinary course, you will tackle a complex issue for society or an organisation.
Discover your path. Try out new topics, fields, and skills and discover what suits you.
Gain interdisciplinary experience. Work with other disciplines on complex issues.
Broaden your skillset. Pitch for stakeholders, make a podcast, documentary, or exhibit or create your own business.
Build a network. Work with motivated students and teachers, as well as real-life partner organisations.
Career prospects
A master's degree in Psychology at Leiden University combines theoretical knowledge with academic and professional skills, making you an attractive candidate for many employers.
Skills after graduation
The skills you acquire in this master’s programme are the basis of careers in a wide range of academic, governmental, business, health care and organisational settings. Your skills are also a good basis for research assistantships and PhD projects.
Where do our former students work?
The workfield of psychology students is very broad. The different specialisations prepare students for a career in a wide variety of fields. Students end up working in research, health care, commercial settings, organisations and the government. The following list, although not exhaustive, presents some examples of real life career opportunities:
Policy-maker and policy adviser, e.g., various governmental organisations, education, police departments
Medical and judicial decision-making expert, e.g. hospitals, insurance companies, forensic and penitentiary institutions
Clinical psychologist for people with various mental health problems
(Applied) Researcher in a wide array of fields
Medical adviser within a pharmaceutical company
Neuropsychologist conducting assessments and providing therapy in a hospital, rehabilitation centre, or nursing home
Marketing professional
Communications adviser or PR specialist for a business or non-profit organisation
HR manager for a multinational company
Entrepreneur
For more insight on future jobs see the career prospects section at the specialisation website of your choice.
Go to the LU Career Zone for more information on positons and organisations where alumni of Applied Cognitive Psychology work.
Research PhD
Completion of the MSc degree in Psychology prepares you for subsequent academic degrees, including a PhD.
Career preparation
Where you end up depends on the chosen study direction, your own skills and interests.
Leiden University offers several services to help you prepare for the jobmarket.
The internship is a mandatory part of the master's specialisation. A qualified staff member within the organisation providing the internship outside or inside Leiden University will be responsible for the daily supervision of the student. For questions about your internship, you can always contact the Internship Coordinator of your master's specialisation.
At the Career Services counsellors will give you advice and information on planning your career, whether you have just started your master’s study or have already graduated. Each of Leiden’s seven faculties has its own career services department, with specific expertise and resources related to the faculty’s programmes.
In addition, as a master’s student you have access to our web-based resources, which include career step plans, job seeking strategies and self-assessment tools. The Career Services desk also offers a range of relevant workshops. If you prefer a personalised approach, you can make an appointment for an individual counselling session with your departmental career counsellor.
Specifically, you are welcome at the Career Services for advice and information on:
What are the possibilities with my Master’s degree?
You can also find career information and advice on the website of the Career Services.
The Leiden University Career Zone is an online career portal that helps you with your preparation for the labour market. You will find information on:
Knowing yourself (tests, self analysis)
Exploring the labour market (i.e. jobs and branches)
Developing your skills (application skills, work & life skills)
Finding vacancies (Jobportal)
Career Route Planner
Workshops & Events
Career Services
Leiden University’s alumni hold positions in a vast range of sectors, all over the world. They are therefore good resources for graduates who are just starting out on the job market. Through the Leiden Alumni Mentor Network you can contact Leiden alumni online and ask them for advice. For more information, go to the Mentor Network website.
The Psychology study association Labyrint regularly organises activities so that you can explore the labour market in fields relating to your study programme. Examples include labour market conferences, social drinks, and speed-dating sessions with companies.
Employers are interested in graduates who have developed their talents in a variety of areas. So it’s a good idea to work on your personal development and on CV-building right from the start of your degree programme.
Take a look at the Career Route Planner what you could do in addition to completing your studies successfully.
Pelin Altuntac
Former master student from Turkey
"Currently, I work at Booking.com as product owner and the knowledge I gained from this masters program helps me to easily handle my day-to-day responsibilities."
Applied Cognitive Psychology is a very good masters program for those who want to learn using psychology to solve real-life problems. It offers a great variety of topics and allows you to gain practical skills and start specializing in different fields of psychology.
After I started ACP and took Human Computer Interaction class, I’ve decided to build my career in tech companies so I could use my knowledge to improve tech products. I was interested in creating user-friendly experiences, therefore I did an internship and thesis that pertained to User Experience Research. Currently, I work at Booking.com as Product Owner and the knowledge I gained from this masters program helps me to easily handle my day-to-day responsibilities such as doing quantitative and qualitative research, interpreting data, trying to understand how people make decisions and how we can improve our website to enable them to make better decisions.
International career
Are you considering starting a master’s programme in Psychology at Leiden University and are you planning on pursuing a career in health care outside of the Netherlands? If so, then before your start your studies, make sure to check if your preferred country has special requirements to work as a psychologist, in addition to the Dutch title Master of Science in Psychology.
When you pursue an international career as an Psychologist you should be aware that all Dutch master’s programmes in Psychology are accredited by the Dutch Government (the NVAO) and lead to a Master of Science in Psychology title according to Dutch Law.
Worldwide harmonisation
The harmonisation of Psychology programmes throughout Europe and beyond is not complete. Therefore, if you pursue an international career, you have to examine the specific regulations of the countries where you want to work in the future, to assess the value of the Dutch Master of Science in Psychology title and the specific regulations for practising psychology.
Health Care Psychology
Especially in the field of Health Care Psychology, a one year master's programme is not sufficient to automatically acquire legally accepted competence in practising psychology in every European Union Member State or other European countries in which the profession or the title of Psychologist is regulated legally or by other means.
Make the enquiry before you start
Therefore you are advised to enquire, before you will start with a master’s programme in Psychology at Leiden University, whether you will be deemed competent to practise the profession of psychology or use the title of Psychologist in any European country other than the Netherlands after having obtained the degree of MSc in Psychology at Leiden University. Of course the same holds for countries outside of the European Union.
Also see the Nuffic website, the dutch organisation for internationalisation in education.
Student life
Leiden is the ideal city for students. There is a wide variety of activities you can do next to your studies, to make the most out of your student life.
Study association Labyrint
Labyrint is the study association for Leiden psychology students. Labyrint organises a great variety of activities during which you can broaden your view on Psychology and get to know fellow students. Examples of activities are an introduction weekend for first-year students, excursions, congresses, parties and trips. Every year Labyrint offers two trips to other university cities, such as Copenhagen, Krakau or Budapest. Also worth mentioning: Sofa magazine and the online bookshop. Members of Labyrint can buy their books and summaries with a discount of fifteen percent. For just €17,50 a year you join 3,800 other members if you become a member of Labyrint.
Student association SPS-NIP
The SPS-NIP is the Leiden student platform of the Dutch Psychologists Association (NIP). Membership provides you with valuable resources and benefits which enhance your career and connects you to a large network of psychologists. SPS-NIP also works in close relation to the European Federation of Psychology Student Association (EFPSA) which also facilitates international student exchange programmes and organises an annual meeting for psychology students from all over Europe. Become a member of SPS-NIP (Dutch).
Why is studying in Leiden so much fun?
Leiden is a small student city, but it doesn’t feel small at all. Around 10 percent of the inhabitants are students. These students are from all over the world, with over 105 different nationalities studying at Leiden University. The city is compact and safe, but still conveys an international atmosphere, with students from all over the world represented throughout the streets of Leiden.
Alongside your studies
As a student there’s plenty to do in Leiden. You can join one of the many student unions and societies: sports-related, study-related or just to have fun outside your studies. The range of student unions and societies on offer is enormous. This enables you to be as active as you please during your student years. Relaxation and enjoying your time in this beautiful city are also key parts of studying here! There are also plenty of opportunities to develop your skills in the different student unions and societies, during the OWL or El Cid introduction weeks or through the different committees of the university.
Student city
If you can’t find the scene you’re looking for at one of the many student unions and societies, then the city of Leiden still has plenty to offer you. Pay a visit to one of the three cinemas, go out for lunch or dinner in one of the many vibrant (and very affordable) restaurants, visit the theatre or other performing arts at the Leidse Schouwburg or the Stadsgehoorzaal Leiden. What about enjoying the sun on a terrace alongside the canals? Leiden is on the edge of the ‘Green Heart’, enabling you to enjoy the countryside outside of the city. The beach and other cities, like Amsterdam, Den Haag, Delft, Rotterdam and Utrecht, are also close to Leiden. Due to the central location of Leiden, many students take the opportunity to explore other cities and countries in Europe during their weekends or holidays.
Traditions
Apart from Leiden being a vibrant student city, Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands. Leiden University has century-old traditions and a very rich history. Since 1575 the university has enjoyed a prominent place in the city of Leiden and since its founding the university its motto has been ‘Bastion of Freedom’. Leiden as a city also dates back many centuries. As a result it has many monuments, including the Waag (Weigh House), the city hall and the Academy Building. The Academy Building once held many student lectures and still does, while also containing the famous Sweat Room, the place where all graduates of Leiden University have signed their name on the wall.
What to do in Leiden
Leiden has a wide selection of events which take place throughout the year and there’s always something you can do to enjoy yourself. For example during the annual Museum Night, the Leiden International Film Festival, the Night of Arts and Knowledge and of course the city’s local celebrations such as the Relief of Leiden on the 3rd of October. Leiden has many museums and beautiful monuments that elucidate the amazing history it contains.
In short, Leiden is a fantastic student city which you need to discover!
Do you want to know more about the master's in Psychology and what it's like to study in Leiden? Leiden University offers several information activities to help you choose a master's programme.
The following information is general information about the information activities the University organises. Scroll down to 'Information activities for Psychology' to find the dates of and links to the events that are planned for the Psychology master.
Events
Master's Open Days
During the Master's Open Days you’ll have the opportunity to learn all about Leiden University’s master's programmes. Attend presentations about your chosen programme(s) or practical matters such as admissions and housing. Get real insight into the content of your preferred master's, along with the career opportunities it will bring.
Are you interested in a specific master’s specialisation in Psychology? Do you want to know more about what it is like to follow this master’s specialisation at Leiden University? By attending a lecture and discussions with a student, you can learn more about the programme that you are considering. Be a Student for a Day!
Laila
Psychology student
'In Portugal all Master’s degrees in Psychology take two years, so I was amazed to hear there are one-year Master’s programmes in the Netherlands. I was always planning to do the two-year Research Master’s here, but now I’m wondering whether a one-year Master’s might be a better option. I came here today to hear the differences between the two. This will help me work out which is best for me.'
Do you have any questions about the master's programme in Psychology? Read below who can help you and please contact us!
Questions about studying at Leiden University
Do you have questions about studying at Leiden University?
Do you want to know more about one or more programmes or about our information activities? The StudyLine is a source of information for students and is staffed by students. You can contact them by mail or by phone on +31 (0)71 527 11 11 on working days between 9.00 am and 17.00 pm.
Do you have questions on your admission and application?
For questions about your admission and application, you can contact the Student Information Centre. You can contact them by telephone on +31 (0)71 527 80 11 (daily between 11:00 am and 16:00 pm) or ask your question in the online contact form.
Student’s perspective
Are you interested in a student’s perspective on this master’s programme? Get in contact with the student ambassador by mail.
Practical matters master
For questions about practical matters including admission requirements and selection, send a mail to the Psychology administration office.
Chat with a student
Do you have a question about student life in Leiden, studying at Leiden University or do you want more information about the Psychology master's programme? You can get in contact with a student from this programme directly! If you have a question specific for a specialisation this student can get you in touch with students from this specialisation.
Pre-master’s programme
Are you planning to take a master’s degree programme in Psychology? And have you completed a Dutch HBO (University of Applied Sciences) or WO (academic) bachelor’s degree in a related field? Then the one-year pre-master’s programme in Psychology could be the right option for you.
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 (‘one 'EC or 'European Credit' 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.
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 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’.
Please note! The premaster programme does not grant admission to the clinical specialisations of the master’s programme in Psychology.
This pre-master’s programme will prepare you for admission to one of the five following specialisations within the master’s degree programme in Psychology (MSc):
Applied Cognitive Psychology
Economic and Consumer Psychology
Methodology and Statistics in Psychology
Occupational Health Psychology
Social and Organisational Psychology
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.
For admission to the premaster, it is essential that the gap between the previous education and the master's specialisation can be bridged with a programme of no more than 60 EC.
Below you can find an overview of previous education programmes that can grant admission to the premaster, divided into 3 groups, containing programmes from University of Applied Sciences (HBO) as well as programmes from Research Universities (WO).
1. Previous education programmes that grant admission to the premaster programme:
HBO Maatschappelijk Werk en Dienstverlening, MWD (in Dutch)
HBO Pedagogiek (in Dutch)
HBO Sociaal Pedagogische Hulpverlening, SPH (in Dutch)
HBO Toegepaste Psychologie, TP (in Dutch)
WO Pedagogische Wetenschappen (in Dutch)
WO Psychobiologie (in Dutch)
2. Previous education programmes that grant permission provided that Psychology forms a substantial part of it (minimum 60 EC):
HBO in Social Work (in Dutch)
WO Algemene Sociale Wetenschappen (in Dutch)
WO Criminologie (in Dutch)
WO Gezondheid en Maatschappij, WUR (in Dutch)
WO Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics, PPLE
WO Urban Studies
WO from University College & WO Liberal Arts and Sciences (UU), track Cognitive and Neurobiological Psychology, or track Social, Health, and Organisational Psychology. Students from a University College and students with a Liberal Arts and Sciences (UU) degree may be eligible for a shortened 1-semester premaster programme, depending on the subjects chosen in the bachelor's programme.
3. Other previous education programmes
Please note that only programmes in a related field as the above-mentioned programmes from points 1 and 2 are eligible, provided that Psychology forms a substantial part of this programme (at least 60 EC).
Is this the case for your previous education programme? Then you can apply for the premaster programme and your admissibility will be assessed.
Is your previous education not related to the above-mentioned programmes? Then you are not eligible for the premaster programme.
Please note: Only students who have completed their bachelor degree at a Dutch institute of higher education are eligible for admission to Leiden's pre-master's programme in psychology. Students without a Dutch bachelor's degree, cannot 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.
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 programmeonce 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 theVariant 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 Academic Competences Test, will be held op Friday June 6th 2025. Time and location will later be disclosed to the candidates.
Registration
To be eligible to register, you must have satisfied the entry requirements or it must be reasonable to assume that you will satisfy these requirements before the start of the programme.
Register in Studielink well before the 25 March
You can apply from the 1st of October for study year 2025-2026 in Studielink. In Studielink:
Select the bachelor's degree in Psychology
Startdate: 1st of September 2025
Under 'Start as' select: 'higher year'
The pre-master's always starts in September. You may only submit one registration request for one pre-master's specialisation.
After your application in Studielink you will be sent log-in details for our Online Application Portal (uSis). This can take a couple of days. In uSis you must indicate that you intend to follow the pre-master’s programme. You must also indicate which master’s specialisation you wish to follow once you have completed the pre-master’s programme. You can then upload all the necessary documents. Follow the instructions carefully. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
Note that the pre-master’s programme does not grant access to the five Clinical specialisations of the master Psychology (MSc).
Application documents required:
Copy of a valid passport or European ID card
CV (résumé)
Copies of diplomas and transcripts; digital copies are required initially. If you have not yet completed your study programme, state your expected graduation date and submit copies of all transcripts obtained to date, including an overview of ongoing courses.
Your application in Studielink and in uSis must be completed by 1 April 2025. As it takes a couple of days before you receive your uSis-account and as it takes time to upload your documents, we stick to the deadline of 25 March 2025 for your application in Studielink.
Processing applications
You can apply from the 1st of October 2024 in Studielink. The Admissions Office will check whether your application is complete and will forward your application to the Admissions Committee of the pre-master’s programme. Please note that the Admissions Committee will start reviewing applications as from January 2025. You will then receive a message about your eligibility within 4 to 6 weeks.
Finance
A reduced tuition fee applies to the pre-master’s programme in the 2022-2023 academic year.
Tuition fees and student grants and loans
Pre-master’s students pay a pre-master tariff per EC with a maximum of the legal tuition fee. Pre-master’s students have the right to receive student grants and loans if they are eligible under the Student Finance Act (Wet op de studiefinanciering). Read more about tuition fees
Transferring to the master’s degree programme
To be admitted to the master’s degree programme in September 2025, you need to register in Studielink. You need to submit another application for admission, this time for the MSc Psychology. Your application must be completed by the 15th of May 2025. If you want to start the master’s degree programme in February 2026, the deadline is the 15th of November 2025.
To submit your application for admission to the MSc Psychology you will be asked to upload all the required documents again. However, instead of submitting all the required documents we advise you to upload the ‘decision on your admission’ which you received when applying to the pre-master’s programme. That way the Leiden University Admissions Office can easily identify you as a former pre-master’s student.
You will then receive a decision on your admission to the MSc Psychology valid for the specialisation for which you followed the pre-master’s programme. You are unconditionally admitted to the MSc Psychology once you have completed your pre-master’s programme, after which your registration will be completed.
It is also possible to submit an admission request for the selective master’s degree programme MSc in Psychology (research). This is treated as a completely new admission request, with associated admissions requirements, procedures and deadlines. Read more about the Psychology (research) (MSc)master’s degree programme.
Contact
Do you have any questions about the pre-master's programme? Please contact us!
