Admission requirements

On this page you will find important details of the application process (such as deadlines, admission requirements, required documents and application assessment) for the bachelor’s programme in Psychology for academic year 2024-2025.

The bachelor Psychology is a fixus programme with selection by the educational institution. This means that you go through a selection procedure after applying. Not everybody who meets the admission requirements will also be offered a place in the study programme. The UM performs a pre-selection, afterwards Studielink takes care of the allocation procedure. Only a limited number of students can be admitted each year, 500 for the academic year 2024-2025.

For the academic year 2024-2025, all available places will be allocated by means of selection.

See the Selection Bachelor in Psychology Regulations for 2024-2025

The information on this page is for students who would like to start in academic year 2024-2025.

Non-EU students: make sure to check the study progress requirements

This study programme is also taught in Dutch. Check the NL version of this page for the language requirements.

Important deadlines for application for this study programme

The bachelor Psychology starts in September.

The deadlines below are applicable for applying for a start in September 2024.

When you want to apply or are applying for this study programme, it is important that you inform yourself of the deadlines that you need to meet. The important deadlines when applying for this study programme are provided in the table below.

Note: if you are viewing this webpage on your phone, we recommend that you use landscape mode.

Date	What you need to know about this date
1 October 2023	Studielink is open for applications for the academic year 2024-2025
Up to and including 15 January 2024, 23:59 CET	Deadline for completing the entire application process for all applicants Non-EU/EEA applicants need to require a visa or residence permit
Before 1 February 2024	The selection procedure will be accessible somewhere between 15 January - 1 February, you'll be informed via email and the MyApplication portal
Up to and including 1 March 2024, 17:00 CET	Deadline for completing the selection procedure
15 April 2024	Your ranking number will be published in Studielink

Please note: in Studielink you must directly make a choice between the Dutch (4501) and English (4501_T1) track. Switching tracks is not possible.

General requirements: previous education

The admission requirements for academic year 2024-2025 for the bachelor’s programme in Psychology depend on your previous education. Please check below which requirements apply to you.

Applicants with a Dutch diploma

If you possess one of the diplomas stated below then, in principle, you qualify for admission.

VWO diploma: all profiles
All HBO propaedeutic diplomas

Applicants with a non-Dutch diploma

If you have a non-Dutch diploma that is equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma you qualify, in principle, for admission to this programme. Check if this applies for your diploma.

List of diplomas equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma 2024-2025

Applicants who do not meet the requirements

Entrance exam, Colloquium Doctum
If you do not have the required diploma, or do not meet the additional requirements, you can still qualify by passing an entrance exam (the so-called Colloquium Doctum).

If you pass the Colloquium Doctum and submit the requested proof of language proficiency, you will qualify for admission to the bachelor’s programme.

Applicants who started a bachelor's in Psychology at another university

Applicants who started a bachelor's programme in Psychology at another university and who wish to transfer to the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience at Maastricht University must follow the same application and enrolment process as all other applicants (including the selection procedure). Note that you must apply as a first-year student in Studielink before 15 January 2024.

In case you are offered a place in the bachelor’s programme after completing the selection and once you are fully enroled (including payment of the tuition fee) as a student at Maastricht University, you can request exemptions based on your pre-university education. The Board of Examiners will assess requests for credit transfer and will determine which courses you are exempted from. Important information regarding exemptions and how to apply for them can be found here.

Additional requirements

Language requirements English

As English is the language of instruction in this study programme, it is essential that your English language skills are good enough for you to undertake intensive and challenging academic courses that are taught and examined in English.

Answer the questions below to find out if you meet the language requirements.

Applicants who received their previous education in a non-EU/EEA country (handling fee)

Applicants for this study programme who received their previous education in a non-EU/EEA country will have to pay a handling fee. More information on this handling fee and how to arrange this payment can be found on the Handling fee page.

Documents required for application process

During the application process for this study programme you will need to complete a number of tasks for which you will often have to upload documents. The list below gives you an insight into what documents you will (and might) need to prepare.

Required documents for all applicants to this study programme

A recent passport picture
The passport picture must satisfy certain requirements
A copy of your valid passport or your EU/EEA identity card
Make a copy of the page with your personal details. Save this copy as ‘passport copy’ and not as ‘passport picture’
A copy of your most recent grades transcript and a certified copy of your diploma if you have already obtained it

Documents that might be required depending on your (academic) background

Document(s) that demonstrate your proficiency in English
Answer the questions concerning language requirements under ‘Language requirements English’ on this webpage to find out if you need to provide additional documentation. The outcome of your answers will indicate which document(s) you can use to prove your proficiency.
Proof of proficiency in subjects with evidence of additional courses or tests in the required subjects (if applicable)
A request for exemption (if applicable).

All documents must be uploaded in the MyApplication portal before: 15 January 2024, 23:59 CET.

How do we assess your application?

When you want to apply or are applying for this study programme, it is useful to know how we assess your application. You can find more information in this section.

Fixus programme

The bachelor's programme in Psychology is a so-called fixus programme. This means that there is a limited number of places available. Below you will find more information on the selection procedure.

Selection procedure

The UM assesses your uploaded documents. You'll be informed by email whether you're admissible for the selection procedure. If so, you'll be invited to participate in the selection procedure, which consists of an online questionnaire and online test. The invitation for the selection will be sent in the week after the application deadline.

The selection procedure covers the following subjects:

motivation
study attitude
secondary education grades
video lectures
digital literature
an online test

The selection procedure will take about 6 to 8 hours to complete.

You can do all of the parts online at a time that suits you. You must complete the selection procedure before 1 March 2024, 17:00 CET. Make sure you start on time. You can complete the selection procedure in parts and even go back to change your answers (except to the 'high school grades'). Please note: once you have submitted the selection procedure, it cannot be changed and you cannot retake it.

Note: during the years, you have three selection attempts for this programme. Read more about selection attempts below.

Assessment and ranking score

The criteria examined during your assessment are: your motivation, your secondary education grades, your study attitude and orientation, and your score on the test that is part of our selection procedure.

Based on the results the UM ranks the candidates. On 15 April 2024 you'll be informed about your ranking number via Studielink.

The allocation starts at the top of the ranking. Students who are offered a place, based on their ranking number, must confirm/accept their place in Studielink within 14 days after they have been offered a place.

Please also send a certified copy of your diploma (as soon as available) by regular post to:

Maastricht University Student Services Centre
UM Admissions
PO Box 616
6200 MD Maastricht
The Netherlands

More information

For questions about the selection procedure please email fpn-bacheloradmissions@maastrichtuniversity.nl
For general questions about application, enrolment and admission tasks/documents please email study@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Note: only complete applications will be assessed. We therefore recommend that you adhere to the deadlines provided in the table under ‘Important deadlines for application for this study programme’ on this page.

Selection attempts

Over the years you're allowed to participate in the selection procedure for this programme up to three times (selection attempts). Each year, one selection procedure takes place.

A selection attempt will be registered if:

you've (had) an active application for the bachelor's in Psychology in Studielink after 15 January 2024,
you don’t complete the selection procedure and still have (had) an active application after 15 January 2024,
you withdraw your application after 15 January 2024.

No selection attempt will be registered if:

you withdraw your application in Studielink before 16 January 2024.

Note: in case you fail your final secondary school exams, the used-up selection attempt can be annulled. Please contact the Student Services Centre of UM about this.

Binding study advice at end of bachelor year 1

For this study programme a ‘Binding Study Advice (BSA)’ applies for the academic year 2023/2024. This means that you must obtain 42 of the 60 ECTS in your first year (the norm is set each academic year and laid down in the Education an Examination Regulations). Students who do not meet the criteria will receive a Negative Binding Study Advice (NBSA). An NBSA means that you will not be allowed to re-register for the Bachelor in Psychology programme at UM for the next four years. Students who risk an NBSA will receive a warning after the first semester. For the academic year 2024/2025, the BSA is still under review, a decision will be made in May 2024.