Apply between 1 October 2023 and 1 March 2024 (for enrolment in September 2024)

It may take a couple of days to complete all steps of the application procedure, so make sure to start your application well in time. Make sure to fill out Studielink and MyInfo before the application 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 2023.

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) 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 writing assignment in the application.

More information about the academic requirements

Statement of Motivation

• In addition to the knowledge and skills requirements, the selection committee also assesses the relevance of your motivation statement. Applications may be rejected if the motivation is not sufficiently in line with the content of the programme. See header 6 for more details about the motivation statement.

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

Selection procedure

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 based on their study results and motivation; admission will be decided by drawing lots for equally ranked candidates. Eligible students who are not allotted a place in the programme will be placed on a waiting list in case a place becomes available later on.

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 in SIS by credit card (Master or Visacard) or iDEAL. Only after you have paid this fee the UvA can start to process your application in MyInfo. It is not possible to start an application without paying the application fee. 

Note: that it can take up to 24 hours for your fee payment to be registered in SIS. Make sure to pay your application fee in time and at least 24 hours before the application deadline of your programme.

Applying for programmes at multiple Graduate Schools?
You only have to pay the fee once. So, you can apply to multiple programmes.

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 the Dutch or Surinamese nationality.
• If you have already applied and have paid the application fee for another master’s programme at the UvA for the academic year 2024-2025.
• If you have started a UvA master’s programme in the 2021, 2022 or 2023 academic year.
• If you apply for a master’s programme at the Interfacultaire. Lerarenopleidingen (ILO), Faculty of Dentistry or Faculty of Medicine.
• If you are an exchange student.
• If you are applying through the Foundation for Refugee Students (UAF) and/or have an official refugee status in the Netherlands (as shown on your residence permit).

After you have registered in Studielink, you will receive an email (within a few days) from the Central Student Administration with a link to our online application system: MyInfo. This is where you will submit your application to the University of Amsterdam. During your application via MyInfo you will be asked to upload documents, see 6 ‘upload required documents’.

In MyInfo you will be asked to upload certain documents, 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.

All applications are evaluated after the application deadline of 1 March. You will receive the outcome mid-May 2024.

Should you get admitted to the programme, you will be asked to accept or decline the offer before a certain deadline. It is important to inform us about your decision so we can approach waitlisted candidates. 

If you have been (conditionally) admitted to our Master's programme, we need to verify your previous education. This means that we have to check whether you have successfully completed your Bachelor’s programme. 

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.

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.