Admission requirements

The admission requirements for academic year 2025-2026 for the master Forensic Psychology depend on your previous education. Please check below which requirements apply to you.

Graduates from a Dutch university bachelor's in Psychology or Mental Health Science

You qualify for admission to this master’s programme.

Graduates from a relevant non-Dutch bachelor’s programme

You qualify for admission if you have a university bachelor’s degree with the following subjects relevant to this master’s programme:

• Basic training in clinical interviewing skills
• Basic training in psychological assessment
• Basic training in research methodology and statistical analysis
• Basic training in psychopathology

During the application process for this study programme, you will need to complete a number of tasks for which you will have to upload documents in the MyApplication Portal. 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. You can find these requirements in the task description 'Upload portrait picture' in the MyApplication portal.
• 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/OR a copy of your bachelor’s diploma
  If you have not graduated yet, you can upload the official grades transcript of your bachelor's programme.
• A curriculum vitae
  List your education, relevant extracurricular activities and internship/professional experience.
• A motivation letter (max. 500 words)
  Provide good arguments about why you want to do this master's programme at UM and why you believe that you can successfully complete the programme.
• An Academic Background Form
  The document 'Academic Background Form' that needs to be filled in will be offered to you in the MyApplication portal under the task ‘Proof your academic capabilities’.

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 for English-language master’s programmes’ 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.

Please note:
Make sure to upload the documents in the MyApplication portal in PDF or Word-format. Do not upload Zip files, we cannnot open these files.

Only complete registrations will be taken into consideration.

All documents must be in English.

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.

For the master's programme in Forensic Psychology selection takes place based on your knowledge and skills. But your suitability is also important. You need an attitude and motivation that fits a programme that embraces the scientist-practitioner model. The intention of the selection procedure is to optimise the chances that you will be able to complete the programme within the time stipulated. A maximum of 24 students will be admitted.

The selection will take place in April/May 2025. The selection procedure exists of two steps.

Selection procedure

Step 1, assessment of your application

After all required documents have been received, the Board of Admissions will carefully assess your application. Within six weeks after the relevant application deadline, you will be notified whether or not you have been selected for the second step of the selection procedure.

Step 2, interview

In the second phase of the selection procedure, you will be invited for an (online) interview. On the basis of the interview, the Board of Admissions evaluates your knowledge and skills level, attitude and motivation in relation to the programme’s objectives. The Board applies the following selection criteria:

• motivation and ability to acquire knowledge in the area of forensic psychology;
• motivation and ability to critically analyse the scientific research base in a specific forensic domain;
• attitude and communication skills necessary for a future career in forensic settings;
• motivation and ability to further scientific and clinical developments in the forensic field;
• openness to learning within an international student environment;
• excellent command of the English language.

Interviews will take place in March/April.

Message about your application status

Based on the documents you have submitted and the selection procedure for your chosen programme, the UM decides on whether to offer you a place in this study programme. Once the UM has made this decision, you will be informed about it by email. We strive to let you know if you are offered a place or not, within six weeks from the application deadline.

If there are more candidates than places, candidates that qualify for admission may be placed on a waiting list. This means that the final acceptance decision is delayed and that the UM offering you a place in the study programme depends on the availability of places.