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Bachelor
Psychology
Compare programme

Study programme

One of the most important instruments available to the psychologist is research. By using scientific methods to do research, a psychologist can gain insight into human behaviours. During your studies you will train your scientific and writing skills. In addition, you will be introduced to all areas of psychology: from social psychology to clinical psychology. You will follow large-scale lectures and small-scale tutorials.

Please note: we offer the specialisations clinical and clinical developmental psychology in English. However, the four Master tracks in healthcare psychology are only offered in Dutch. In the Netherlands, post-graduate training is required to become a registered health care psychologist ‘Gezondheidszorgpsycholoog’ or registered Clinical Psychologist ‘Klinisch Psycholoog’.  These post-graduate programmes are also only offered in Dutch

  • Year 1

    Introduction

    Your first academic year, known as the propaedeutic year, consists of a substantive component and a research component. During the substantive component, you are introduced to the field of psychology and all its sub-disciplines: neuropsychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, work and organisational psychology, clinical psychology, research methods and cognitive neuroscience.

    In the research component, you will learn academic and writing skills during Research Methods and Statistics and practical training groups. At the end of the year, you will also write a propaedeutic thesis. After completing all components in the propaedeutic year, you will receive the first-year diploma.

  • Year 2

    Conduct research and choose your major

    In the first half of the second year, the focus is on learning how to conduct research. You learn how to translate psychological questions into a research design, how to compile a study, statistically analyze the data and how to write a research report. In addition, you will attend practical training in psychological communication skills.

    In the second half of the second year you will choose your major: your specialisation. You can choose from a variety of specialisations: 

    • Work and Organisational Psychology
    • Psychological Methods
    • Brain and Cognition
    • Social Psychology
    • Clinical Psychology 
    • Clinical Neuropsychology (Dutch)
    • Clinical Developmental Psychology 
  • Year 3

    Bachelor's thesis and choose between a second major, a minor or an exchange

    Your Bachelor's thesis will take up a grand part of the first half of your third year. In the second half, you can choose between doing a second specialisation, a minor (for example Communication Science or Law) or an exchange programme. You can use this last part of the Bachelor's programme to tweak the programme to your individual wishes.

Study programme

COURSES SEM 1 SEM 2 SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 EC
  • Introductory Psychology and Brain & Cognition
    12
  • Research Methods & Statistics
    12
  • Tutorials Academic Skills
    —
  • Developmental Psychology
    6
  • Work and Organisational Psychology & Social Psychology
    12
  • Clinical Psychology & Neuropsychology
    12
  • Behavioural data science / Propaedeutic Thesis
    6
COURSES SEM 1 SEM 2 SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 EC
  • Scientific and Statistical Reasoning
    9
  • Practical training: Psychological Communication
    3
  • Practical training: Psychological Communication
    3
  • Practical training: Psychological Research
    12
  • Fundamentals of Psychology
    6
COURSES SEM 1 SEM 2 SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 EC
  • Methods & statistics
    6
  • Bachelor's thesis
    12
  • Current topics in Psychology 1
    6
  • Current topics in Psychology 2
    6
  • A second specialisation, a minor or an exchange programme
    30
You will find more information in the course catalogue. 
Additional options
  • Honours Programme

    If you are ambitious, you can choose to take part in our Honours programme. You can begin the programme in the second year of your Bachelor's. You'll take the Honours programme alongside your regular studies. Completion results in you graduating 'with honours': an internationally recognised qualification. If you are up to it, then it's an opportunity not to be missed. 

  • Exchange

    The UvA has partnerships and exchange agreements with more than 100 other universities. As part of your Bachelor's programme you can do an exchange semester abroad. This can be a valuable learning and cultural experience, and a great addition to your study programma. In order to support students in arranging a stay abroad, the Psychology department has its own International Office to which students can turn to with questions and for advice

  • Minor

    There are various opportunities during the Bachelor's programme for you to shape your programme to your liking. You can choose a minor: a cohesive programme lasting half a year taken outside your own degree programme. You can make a combination of your interests, ambition and talents.

Time distribution and tutoring
  • Workload
    • Education: 12 hours per week
    • Self-study: 30 hours per week

    Please note: a binding study advice (BSA) applies to all UvA Bachelor’s programmes, including the bachelor’s programme in psychology. In order to receive a positive binding study advice you must obtain at least 48 credits (out of 60) in your first year. If you fail to do so, and no extenuating circumstances apply, you will be issued a negative binding study advice (BSA) and you will not be able to continue your studies

Study this programme in Dutch?

Are you a Dutch-speaking student? Then you can also participate in our Dutch Bachelor’s programme in Psychology. The Dutch-taught programme is exactly the same as the English-taught programme. 

Yes! I’m interested in the Dutch Bachelor’s programme.