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.

Academic Requirements

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

Academic level

• International degrees should be equivalent to a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree, in Psychology or a closely related field.
• Applicants must have a grade average of (or equivalent to) 7.5 or higher in the Dutch system

In order to apply, you should have an academic Bachelor’s degree in Psychology or another closely related field. International degrees should be equivalent to a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree. Preferably this is a Bachelor of Science degree or an honours degree. An undergraduate degree programme with an applied emphasis (Dutch: HBO Bachelor) is not equivalent to an academic Bachelor’s degree.

If you wish to apply for the Research Master’s programme in Psychology you are expected to have an overall grade point average (GPA) and an average GPA per selection requirement of at least:

• A-/B+/3.5 (American system)
• 2.1 HONS (an upper second class honours degree in the British system)
• B (ECTS system), or
• 7.5 (Dutch system)

Across the different groups of courses (i.e. basic knowledge, methods & statistics, and advanced knowledge) as well as for the empirical research project a GPA of 7.5 is also required.

However, admission will not be granted based on a sufficient grade point average only, our decision is based on academic level and background (ensuring that applicants have an adequate background in psychology, methods and statistics and advanced knowledge in their chosen major), motivation, experience in empirical quantitative psychological research, level of scientific writing skills and grade point average.

Knowledge and skills requirements

In addition, candidates are expected to meet the following requirements:

A. Basic knowledge and skills courses in the most important fields of Psychology (≥ 24 EC)
B. Advanced knowledge and skills courses relevant for the field of the chosen major (≥ 12 EC at level 2 or 3)
C. Methods and statistics courses in Psychology or Social Sciences (≥ 24 EC of which ≥ 21 EC on quantitative research and ≥ 4 EC at level 2 or 3)
D. Research experience, as demonstrated by an empirical (quantitative) research project on a Psychology or a related Social Science topic, about which you wrote an individual report (≥ 9 EC)
E. Scientific writing skills, as demonstrated by a description of a potential research study submitted in the statement of motivation. The adequacy of the research design will be evaluated as well as the structure, logic, and strength of argumentation, and grammar and spelling.

More information about the academic requirements

English language proficiency

• International candidates who are non-native English speakers are required to submit official English proficiency test scores. 

More information about the English language requirements

Information for HBO students / undergraduate degree programme with an applied emphasis

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 research Master’s programme.

More information for HBO students

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 (Research).

Read the step-by-step guide to Studielink

Before starting your enrolment application in Studielink, read the 'Step-by-step guide to 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 in English, including your academic transcripts, grading scheme, copies of your degree certificates, curriculum vitae/resume, English language proficiency test score, and course descriptions from the course catalogue provided by your university. Please make sure you have collected the documents that apply to your situation when you start the application.

The Research Master’s in Psychology 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 need to arrange a variety of practical matters before starting your studies. This includes your visa or residence permit, insurance and housing. You will receive an email with more information about this after you have been admitted.

Get more information about practical matters for international students.

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.