Psychology

Check whether you meet the admission requirements and apply

• I have a Dutch university level (WO) bachelor’s degree (VU bachelor's degree, or bachelor's degree at another university)

  The Psychology master's programme is a selective master's programme with capacity restriction. You are admissible if you meet the specific admission requirements and if you are selected for the programme.

  The following requirements apply to Master’s programme: Psychology: Work and Organizational Psychology. Information on the Dutch Master’s programmes can be found on the Dutch website.

  Requirements with a bachelor programme in Psychology
  Students with a bachelor in Psychology from the VU or a different Dutch University and a minor in Social and Organizational Psychology (minor S&O) obtained at the VU are eligible for admission to the Master’s programme: Psychology: Work and Organizational Psychology. Psychology students with a different minor are eligible for admission if they meet the following requirements:

  • A sufficient grade for a specialized quantitative methods course (for example M&D3: Individual and Organizational Diagnosis (6ECTS)) or a comparable course (to be assessed by the admissions board).
  • One of the three following courses: Human Resource Management, Management and Organization, or Human Resource Development, or a comparable course (to be assessed by the admissions board).

  Requirements with a different bachelor degree
  With a related bachelor programme like (International) Business Administration (Bedrijfskunde), Public Administration and Organization Science (Bestuurs- en Organisatiewetenschappen), Beta Gamma Business Administration, Communication and Information Science (Communicatie- en Informatiewetenschappen), Communication Science (Communicatiewetenschap) or Human Resource Management (Personeelswetenschappen), obtained from a different Dutch University, students can enroll if they meet the following requirements:

  1. A minimum of 24 ECTS of completed Psychology courses consisting of:

  • Introduction to Psychology (6 ECTS)
  • An (introductory) course ‘Work & Organizational Psychology (6 ECTS) (or an equivalent course to be assessed by the Admission Board).
  • One of the following more specialized courses: Human Resource Management, Management and Organization, Human Resource Development, Organizational Behavior, Organizational Development, (or an equivalent course to be assessed by the Admission Board).
  • One extra psychology course, such as personality, social, clinical, developmental, or cognitive psychology.

  1. A minimum of 18 ECTS of completed Quantitative methods courses, consisting of:

  • Statistics (6 ECTS)
  • Research methods (6 ECTS)
  • A sufficient grade for a more specialized quantitative methods course (e.g., M&D3: Individual and Organizational Diagnosis, psychometrics, multivariate statistics, multiple regression, or structural equation modelling) (6 EC) (to be assessed by the Admission Board).

  To determine whether you are eligible for admission, you must submit an admissions request in your dashboard on VU.nl (see Application with a Dutch degree or Application with an international degree).

  Inadmissible
  If you do not have one of the bachelor's degrees mentioned above, then you do not meet the admission requirements and you will unfortunately not be admitted to the Master's programme in Psychology.

  English language proficiency
  The admission board wants to stress the intensity of the programme: reading scientific articles and writing papers will be a key part, all in a very high pace. Your English language skills, both oral and written, are extremely important in this programme. As you will have to communicate frequently with your fellow students and you will be working with and for international companies.
  
  VU Amsterdam requires applicants to take an English language test and to submit their score as part of their application.* You can apply online for the Master's programme before having your English language test results yet. We do however advise you to plan a test date as soon as possible. Below you will find the minimum English test scores for admission to the programme:  
  
  IELTS (academic): 6,5
  
  TOEFL

  • Paper based test 580 
  • Internet based test 92

  Cambridge English

  • Cambridge Proficiency Exam A, B, C 
  • Cambridge Advanced Exam A, B, C

  VU Amsterdam offers the TOEFL ITP English-language proficiency test. The test is offered by the VU 4aalloket. You can find more information and register for this test at www.taalloket.nl.  

  * the following candidates are exempt from this requirement. Candidates who: 

  • have received an English-language secondary or tertiary education in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia;  
  • obtained a bachelor's or master's degree in the Netherlands from an NVAO accredited English-language education; 
  • obtained a bachelor's degree or master’s degree from an accredited English-language program in another EU country; 
  • obtained a Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) or Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) with at least a score of C1; 
  • Are in possession of a VWO diploma or equivalent, of which English is of an equivalent level. 

  Selection procedure

  The Master’s programme: Psychology: Work and Organizational Psychology has a maximum of 90 places available. For academic year 2024-2025, the amount of applications did not exceed the capacity. Therefore all applicants were offered a placement for this specialization.

  A candidate can apply for a maximum of two specializations within the Psychology Master’s programme, but can be admitted to only one specialization.
  
  Candidates will be ranked based on a score on the following two criteria:

  1. Motivation and reflection: motivation for the specialization, the programme at the VU Amsterdam, reflection on professional development, academic skills and future professional field. Upload the motivation form for in the Selection File Master. The motivation form for the Dutch specializations can be found on the Dutch website.
  2. The weighted average grade of the admission bachelor's programme.

  Both criteria have the same weight.

  When the number of applications exceeds the maximum capacity of a specialization, candidates are selected according to the procedure described below:

  • The top 20% of the maximum capacity are selected directly; 
  • The lowest scoring 20% of the maximum capacity will be placed on the waiting list in order of ranking number;
  • The remaining spots within the specialization are allocated by drawing lots; candidates who are not selected immediately will be placed on the waiting list in order of the ranking list. 

  Candidates who are offered a placement must accept the offer within two weeks. If you decline the placement offer or if you do not accept the offer in time, you will not be admissible for the program in academic year 2024-2025, your place will then be offered to the next candidate in line.

  If you have questions regarding the selection procedure, please do not hesitate to contact us via masterselectiepsychologie.fgb@vu.nl

• I have a Dutch higher vocational education (HBO) bachelor’s degree

  A candidate with an HBO bachelor's degree (regardless of which minor or pre-master's programme was taken) does not meet the preliminary programme requirements for the Psychology master's program and is not eligible for admission to the Psychology master's programme.

• Application with a Dutch degree

  Step 1: Register in Studielink
  Apply for the Master’s programme in Psychology before March 15 2025. You will receive login details with which you can complete your registration in your dashboard on VU.nl. Go to the app Complete application and select the master’s specialization(s) of your choice. A registration does not commit you to anything and can be cancelled free of charge until 31st of August 2024.

  Step 2: submit a request to evaluate your eligibility
  To determine whether you are eligible on admission, submit the following file in Prerequisites File Master.

  • The Admission request’ form (Psychology Bachelor) or 
  • The Admission request’ form (different Bachelor)

  Upload all the necessary documents in one joint PDF file. If you apply for more than one specialization click on 'change your selection' to add a new document. Only the last uploaded document is visible. The previously uploaded documents will not be deleted, they will only disappear from view. Incomplete submissions will not be taken into consideration.

  Step 3: participate in the selection procedure
  To participate in the selection procedure, upload the following documents;

  1. For selection criterion 1: upload the motivation form in the Selection file Master. 
  2. For selection criterion 2:
     - VU students do not have to upload their transcript as this will be requested internally.
     - Candidates with a Dutch previous education from a different university: upload a certified copy of your transcript in your Selection File Master with a reference date between the 22nd and 29th of March 2024.
     - Candidates with an international degree: upload your transcript in the Admission request form (see step 2).

  Step 4: selection procedure result mid-May
  The result of the selection procedure will be announced via e-mail in mid-May. If you are selected immediately, you will receive a placement offer at the same time. A placement offer is valid for two weeks only. If a candidate rejects the placement offer or is too late for accepting, this placement becomes available again. The placement will be offered to the next candidate on the waiting list. Placements can be offered until mid-August.

  Step 5: Completing your registration
  Make sure you have met the prior education requirements, specific entry requirements and paid your tuition fees by 31 August 2025.

  Deadlines

  • March 15 2025 - Register in Studielink 
  • April 1 2025 - submit complete admission file and selection documents;
  • Early-May 2025 - deadline for the admission board to communicate the decision whether you meet the specific prerequisites. Note: the sooner you complete your application file, the sooner you will receive a decision on this;
  • Mid-May 2025 - result selection procedure;
  • 31 August 2025 – complete your enrolment, including meeting the specific educational entry requirements and payment of tuition fees.

• I have an international degree

  The Master's in Work and Organizational Psychology is the only English taught track of the Master's degree in Psychology and is open to both Dutch and International students. The Psychology Master's programme is a selective master's program with capacity restriction. You are admissible to the Master's programme in Psychology if you meet the specific admission requirements and if you are selected for the program.

  Admission requirements

  The Psychology Master's programme is a selective programme. In addition to being selected for a spot in the programme, applicants holding a non-Dutch pre-university diploma must meet a number of requirements. If you do not yet meet the requirements but expect to do so in the future (such as obtaining your diploma), you can already apply.

  In order to meet the entry requirements of this Master’s programme, you need to have obtained at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited research university including at least three full years of academic study amounting to a minimum of 180 ECTS or equivalent. Typically, successful students in this programme have at least a 7,0 average grade (or an equivalent GPA score).

  Specific admission requirements for the Master's in Psychology: Work and Organizational Psychology

  In order to meet the entry requirements of this study programme, a student needs to have:

  1.  completed (or is currently completing) a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology or related programme;
  2.  successfully completed courses related to the core of this programme, consisting of (or equivalents of):
     • At least 24 ECTS of completed Psychology courses, consisting of:
       • Introduction to Psychology (6 ECTS)
       • An (introductory) course ‘Work & Organizational Psychology (6 ECTS) (or an equivalent course; this is compulsory) (6 ECTS).
       • A more specialized organizational psychology course (e.g., Human Resource Management, Management and Organization, Human Resource Development, Organizational Behavior, Organizational Development) (6 ECTS).
       • One extra psychology course, such as personality, social, clinical, developmental, or cognitive psychology (6 ECTS).
     • At least 18 ECTS of completed Quantitative methods courses, consisting of:
       • Statistics (6 ECTS)
       • Research methods (6 ECTS)
       • A more specialized quantitative methods course (e.g., statistical diagnostics, psychometrics, multivariate statistics, multiple regression, or structural equation modelling) (6 ECTS).

  Selection and Admission procedure

  The Faculty’s Admission Board will decide upon your admission after having evaluated your complete online application. If the Admission Board decides that you meet the admission requirements, you can participate in the selection procedure. We use two criteria to select students:

  1. Motivation and reflection: motivation for the specialization, the programme at the VU Amsterdam, reflection on professional development, academic skills and future professional field. Upload the motivation form for each chosen specialization in the Selection File Master. 
  2. Current or final Grade Point Average (GPA) of your previous education.

  Both criteria are equally important. Applicants with the highest score will receive the highest ranking.

  When the number of applications exceeds the maximum capacity of a track, applicants will be selected according to the procedure described below:

  • The top 20% of the maximum capacity is admitted directly;
  • The least scoring 20% ​​of the maximum capacity will be placed on the waiting list in order of ranking;
  • The other places within the track are allocated by lottery; applicants who are not immediately selected will be placed on the waiting list in order of ranking.

  Applicants who receive a proof of placement must accept or decline the offer within two weeks. If you refuse the proof of placement or if you do not respond within the set two weeks, you will no longer be admitted in the 2024-2025 academic year and your place will be offered to the next person in the ranking.

  If you have questions regarding the selection procedure, please do not hesitate to contact us via masterselectiepsychologie.fgb@vu.nl

  English language proficiency

  If you are applying for one of our English-taught Master's degree programmes you will have to demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency by submitting English test results.  

  Although complete applications are preferred, you can begin your application before you have completed the test and then submit your passing score once you have been conditionally admitted. 

  You can find an overview of all accepted tests and scores that can be used to demonstrate your English language proficiency on the language requirement page.

• Application with an international degree

  Applying with an international degree

  If you have read the admission requirements and feel you are eligible for admission, please take the following steps to submit your application. Note that the initial application procedure is fully online and that scans of your relevant documents are required. 

  Step 1: Prepare documents and apply online

  To apply you are required to provide the following documents: 

  • Scan of your passport or national ID card (ID for EEA students only) valid at the start date of the programme.
  • Master Application File please download the correct file from this website. In this file you can see which documents are required to apply for your programme. 
  • Proof of English language proficiency (if already obtained) upload your proof of English language proficiency or English language test results. Please find the English language requirements here. 

  Please prepare the required documents and arrange the payment of the application fee. You can find an explanation of each document on the application page. All documents should be provided in English. Please apply at Studielink until 15 March 2024. 

  After having prepared the required documents, please follow the online application procedure. Here you can find all relevant application information, including deadlines, a step-by-step explanation of the procedure and the English language requirements. In Studielink you can apply for the Master's Psychology and in your dashboard on VU.nl you can choose the Work and Organizational Psychology specialization.
  
  Step 2: Await decision on admission

  The admission board will review your application as soon as it is complete. Normally this takes about four weeks, but it might take longer in busy periods so be sure to apply as soon as possible. If you gain conditional admission, you can participate in the selection procedure. 

  Step 3: Participate in the selection procedure

  To participate in the selection procedure, please upload the motivation document under the heading Selection file Master. Please note that you can upload the motivation document at the same time as your application file.

  Around the middle of May 2025 you will receive the result of the selection procedure. If you are admitted directly you will receive a proof of placement. If you are not admitted directly, you could receive a proof of placement up until half August 2025. 

  Step 4: Accept the proof of placement

  Applicants who receive a proof of placement must accept or decline the offer within two weeks. If you refuse the proof of placement or if you do not respond within the set two weeks, you will no longer be admitted in the 2025-2026 academic year and your place will be offered to the next person in the ranking.

  Step 5: Finalize your registration and move to Amsterdam!

  Make sure to finalise your registration as a student before the start of the programme. Here you will find an explanation on what to do after you are admitted. When all of the conditions are met, you will be ready to start your programme at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam! 

  Grants and scholarships

  International students can apply to several scholarships. For all VU scholarships, please see www.vu.nl/scholarships. Any available external grant or scholarship can be found through Study in NL.

  International Student and Alumni Ambassadors

  Our International Student and Alumni Ambassadors are happy to tell you all about their experiences with studying at VU Amsterdam and living in Amsterdam.

  • Our Student Ambassadors are current students at VU Amsterdam that represent a wide variety of programmes and countries.
  • Our International Alumni Ambassadors are VU Amsterdam graduates who are currently either working in the Netherlands or abroad, or doing a PhD or (second) Master's.

  You will find the full overview of our Ambassadors here: vu.nl/ambassadors. There you can chat with them directly.