Apply between 1 October 2025 and 1 March 2026, 23:59 CET (Amsterdam time) (for enrolment in September 2026).

The full application process may take several days, so make sure to start well in advance. You must complete both Studielink and our online application system before the deadline.

Note: you may apply before finishing your Bachelor's programme. However, you must obtain your Bachelor's degree and show us a valid proof of graduation by 31 August 2026.

Basic requirements

All Psychology Master's candidates are expected to meet the following basic requirements:

• ≥5 EC Basic knowledge of Psychology
• ≥24 EC Methods and Statistics courses in Psychology or Social Sciences of which ≥21 EC on quantitative research
• ≥9 EC an Empirical research project about which you wrote an individual report (demonstrating your writing & research skills) on a Psychological or related Social Science subject.

Candidates who obtain a Psychology Bachelor’s degree at a Dutch university prior to the start of the Master’s programme automatically meet all basic requirements.

Track-specific requirements

In order to apply for the Master's track Cultural Psychology, you should meet the following track-specific requirements in addition to the basic requirements:

• Knowledge of Cultural Psychology (≥6 EC level 2)
• Advanced knowledge in any field of Psychology (≥12 EC on level 2/3)

English language proficiency and academic level

• International candidates who are non-native English speakers are required to submit official English proficiency test scores. 
• International degrees should be equivalent to a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree.

Deadline

The deadline for submitting a certificate of English for the master's in psychology is 1 March if you want to start in September. Please note, if you think you need a pre-master's programme and you apply between 1 October and 1 November, the deadline for the certificate is 1 November. Make sure you have booked the test on time. We cannot accept applications without the certificate.

Pre-Master's programme

If you do not meet all the selection requirements for the master's track, you might qualify for a pre-Master's programme.

If you would like to know whether a pre-Master's programme is an option for you, please apply for the master's track of your choice. Be sure to apply early so you can find out quickly about your next steps. The sooner you apply, the sooner you will find out whether you still need to complete any courses.

Applications can be submitted from 1 October to 1 November. Make sure to fill out Studielink and the online system before the application deadline. Please note: if you do not meet all the requirements, you will be informed before Christmas – thereby providing the opportunity to take and finish a pre-Master’s during the second semester to qualify for the September admissions round (provided that the missed courses will be given in the second semester).

Information for HBO students

An undergraduate degree programme with an applied emphasis (Dutch: hbo-bachelor) is not equivalent to an academic Bachelor’s degree, and therefore gives no access to the Psychology Master’s nor to the pre-Master’s programmes.

Before you can apply to the UvA, you will need to submit an enrolment application in Studielink. Studielink is the national online system for students who would like to pursue a degree programme at a Dutch university.

Check your DigiD (before starting in Studielink)

A DigiD (Digital Identification) is an online ID (username and password) that provides access to government administration websites.

• Students who do not live in the Netherlands can use Studielink without a DigiD.
• Students who currently live in the Netherlands will need their DigiD to use Studielink. We strongly recommend you to apply for your DigiD at least three weeks before registering in Studielink.

Choose your programme

When submitting your enrolment application, choose 'WO Master' Psychology. You will be able to choose the Master's track of your choice in step 4.

Read the step-by-step guide to Studielink

Before starting your enrolment application in Studielink, read the 'Step-by-step guide to Studielink'. 

The Psychology Master’s tracks have a maximum number of available places. You may apply for a second track, provided that you meet all entry requirements. 

When applying for two tracks, select your first choice in Studielink. Please note that you cannot change your track preference after you have registered in Studielink, so choose carefully. 

You will be able to select your second track choice in our online application system. Please note that you can only be admitted to max. one track per admissions round. This means that, if you apply to two tracks and are eligible for both, you only get max. one placement offer. 

The second preference will be taken into consideration if you cannot be admitted to the (pre)master of their first choice.

Students who were already admitted to another track of the Psychology Master’s programme, and who wish to enroll for a second track in the consecutive academic year, are not able to enroll according to the instructions mentioned above. These students should send an email to the admissions office (admissions-psy@uva.nl) with the following information:

• name and student number
• name of track they started in the previous year
• filled out Proof of Qualifications document for the track-specific requirements of the second track
• motivation statement for second track according to our format
• most recent grade list

In case students get admitted to a second track in the consecutive year, they should not forget to re-enrol in Studielink.

After submitting your enrolment application in Studielink, you will receive an email with your UvAnetID. Follow the instructions in the email to activate your ID as you will need it to complete your UvA application.

All students applying for a Master’s degree programme with an international bachelor’s diploma are required to pay a non-refundable €100 application fee*. Only after you have paid this fee the UvA can start to process your application.

Paying the application fee at Amsterdam Law School, Faculty of Science, Graduate School of Child Development and Education, Graduate School of Communication, Graduate School of Humanities, Graduate School of Psychology or Graduate School of Social Sciences

If you apply for a master’s programme at one of the faculties above, you first need to pay your application fee in SIS. You can pay your €100 application fee by credit card (Mastercard, Visacard),  GooglePay, ApplePay, Bancontact or iDEAL.

Only after paying the fee, you can start your application in our online application system or DataNose. It is not possible to start your application without first paying your non-refundable application fee.

Note that it can take up to 24 hours for your fee payment to be registered in SIS and you are able to submit your application in our online application system or Datanose. Make sure to pay your application fee in time and at least 24 hours before the application deadline of your programme.

Paying the application fee at Economics and Business (FEB)

If you apply for a programme at FEB, you will be asked to pay the fee when submitting your filled out application form in Embark. Submitting the form without paying the application fee is not possible. You can pay your €100 application fee by credit card.

Applying for programmes at multiple Graduate Schools?

It can take up to 24 hours for your fee payment to be registered in SIS and you are able to submit your application in our online application system or Datanose. Make sure to pay your application fee at least 24 hours before the application deadline of your programme.

 You don't have to pay the application fee:

• If you have of will obtain a bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university or university of applied sciences (HBO).
• If you have already applied and have paid the application fee for another master’s programme at the UvA for the academic year 2026-2027.
• If you are an exchange student.
• If you are applying through the Foundation for Refugee Students (UAF).

*The application fee is non-refundable. You are not entitled to a refund even if you do not submit your application form, or if you submit an application form after the deadline (which will not be taken into consideration) or if you submit an incomplete application.

Following the submission of your enrolment request in Studielink, you will receive an email from us within 48 hours. This message will contain a link to our online application system, SIS, where you are required to complete your application for the Master’s programme. As part of this process, you must upload all mandatory documents (see 7 ‘upload required documents’). Please ensure that your application is submitted in full before the stated deadline. 

Please note: Completing all the steps may take a few days. You might also need to look for or request certain documents. We therefore strongly recommend that you start well in advance. 

In our online application system you will be asked to upload certain documents, including your academic transcripts, grading scheme, copies of your academic diplomas, cv, English language proficiency test score and course descriptions from the course catalogue provided by your university. 

Proof of Qualification

In order to demonstrate your knowledge of the basic and track-specific requirements, you need to fill out and upload your proofs of qualification (PoQ) for both the basic and the track-specific requirements. Refer to section 2: Entry requirements and list your corresponding courses in the PoQ templates.

Statement of Motivation

Please use our template to fill out your statement of motivation. No other formats are accepted. Make sure you substantiate your motivation for the particular track you’re applying for (avoid generalities).

The Psychology Master’s is a selective programme. In case the number of candidates exceeds the number of places in the programme, students will be ranked in groups based on their study results; admission will be decided by drawing lots for equally ranked candidates. Eligible students who are not alloted a place in the programme will be put on a waiting list in case a place becomes available later on. Placement from the waiting list can still happen until mid-August. Make sure to check your email (and spam folder) for any updates.

All applications are evaluated after the application deadline. The outcome of timely submitted applications will be announced around mid-May (by email through our online applicaiton system). Make sure to check your UvA email (and spam folder) for important messages.

Should you be admitted to the programme, you will receive an email with the official offer. This email will include the deadline by which you must accept or decline the offer: within two weeks. It is important to respond before this deadline, as failure to respond in time will result in your application being automatically closed.

What is a certified document?

A certified document is an official copy of the original document provided by a representative of your home institution or notery.

Please note that:

• This is not the same as a photocopy of a certified document.
• The language should be English, Dutch, German, or French. Documents in other languages must be submitted in their original language along with an official translation made by a sworn translator.

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree certificate (diploma) obtained at the UvA

The Admissions Office will manually check whether you have graduated during August (For the February start this will be during January). You do not have to do anything for this. Once this has been checked by the admissions office, your conditional offer will be converted into an unconditional offer.

You must graduate from your (Bachelor's) programme by 31 August at the latest. (For the February start at 31 January at the latest).

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree certificate (diploma) obtained in the Netherlands or a non – Dutch degree.

Please send us certified copies of your transcripts and degree certificates, so we can check them. Ask your university to email these documents to admissions-psy@uva.nl. We do not accept digital documents that you mail to us yourself.

Graduation Statement

In a Graduation Statement, your university needs to declare that you have fulfilled all the graduation requirements and have graduated from the Bachelor’s or Master’s programme. It should also state your exact graduation date. Your graduation date cannot be later than 31 August for the September start and 31 January for the February start.

What happens after we have received your documents?

Once we have received your certified documents, we aim to verify them within 3-4 weeks. Upon successful verification, you will promptly receive an email confirming your definitive admission. Additionally, your Enrolment Checklist status will be updated to 'completed'. This checklist will outline any remaining steps required to finalize your enrollment in the programme, such as tuition fee payment.

If you are an international student, you will be informed about housing opportunities and visa/residence permit procedures (if applicable), after you have been admitted. Please click on the links to read information about visa or residence permit, insurance and housing.

There will be several introduction events during the second half of August. The Graduate School of Psychology will organize an introduction event on the last Thursday of August. Admitted students will receive more information in due time.

A student ID card is a personal card which serves as proof of identity for examinations or borrowing library books. You will receive instructions on how to request your student ID card.

You will need to pay the tuition fee in order to complete your enrolment for a degree programme at the UvA. Find out more about how to pay the tuition fees.