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Pre-Master’s programme in Psychology

If your prior degree does not fully satisfy the admission requirements, you may be offered a pre-master’s programme to raise your knowledge and skills to the required level. Upon completion of the programme (within two years), you will be admitted to the master's track for which you are doing your pre-master. The pre-master’s programmes only start in September and there are a limited number of places available.

You may qualify for a pre-master’s programme if you have completed one of the following prior degrees:

  • A HBO bachelor Toegepaste Psychologie (Dutch bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology from a university of applied sciences)
  • A bachelor’s degree other than Psychology from a Dutch university

Pre-master’s programme for students with a bachelor HBO Toegepaste Psychologie

Pre-master's programme for 10 tracks (limited number of places)
Tracks
Pre-master's places
per track voor
september 2024*
Applied Cognitive Neuroscience
3
Applied Social Psychology
5
Clinical Forensic Psychology & Victimology
2
Environmental Psychology
2
Klinische Neuropsychologie
5
Klinische Psychologie
8
Ontwikkelingspsychologie
5
Talent Development and Creativity
5
Theory and History of Psychology
3
Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology
5

Please note
It is possible that at a certain point in time there will be a reorganization of GZ-oriented master tracks with an additional selection procedure for a track leading directly to the post master GZ programme.
This is all still very uncertain, but if it happens, premaster students who complete their premaster in time, can still do a masters in the original track for which they did the premaster or a suitable substitute for it.

*The final number of places for the pre-master starting in September 2025 will be announced here at the end of October.

Admission requirements (HBO bachelor Toegepaste Psychologie)
  • A Bachelor HBO Toegepaste Psychologie from a Dutch university of applied sciences.
  • For English-taught tracks: satisfying the language requirements.
    See the section ‘Language requirements’.
  • 20 ECTS worth of knowledge in the field of psychology within a university Bachelor’s degree programme in Psychology. This concerns courses on psychological theories and/or applications (i.e. not general courses such as philosophy, history, or general skills courses). These courses can for example be taken at:
    • University of Groningen via Open Modules
    • Open University
      Courses that will always be approved can be found on the list of OU course units. Many of these courses are also offered by Kies Op Maat through of e-minors.
  • Knowledge of statistics at the level of the first year of a university degree programme in Psychology.

    You can satisfy this requirement by completing Onderzoekspracticum Inleiding Onderzoek or Onderzoekspracticum Inleiding data-analyse (taught in the past by the Open University).

Other courses: to be assessed by the Admissions Board.

Please note
Students of the Bachelor’ HBO Toegepaste Psychologie at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen can satisfy the above-mentioned admission requirements by completing a schakelminor [transfer minor]. For more information, please contact contacthbotp@org.hanze.nl.

Language requirements

Depending on your background and the language of instruction of your chosen track, you may have to present proof of proficiency in Dutch or English before the start of the Master’s degree programme.

Dutch-taught tracks

For the Dutch-taught tracks Ontwikkelingspsychologie, Klinische Psychologie and Klinische Neuropsychologie, the following qualifications will be accepted as sufficient proof of proficiency in Dutch at native-speaker level:

  • Babel language test in Dutch for medical professionals B2+ (speaking and writing). Check the website for more information and how to register for the Babel language test. When registering indicate that this is related to a Master's in Psychology at the University of Groningen.
  • Diploma from a Dutch-language secondary school.


English-taught tracks

  • Candidates who have completed an entire secondary school programme or Bachelor’s degree programme in the US, at an English-taught institution in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, or Australia, will be deemed to have satisfied the language requirements.
  • Dutch and foreign Bachelor’s students at Dutch universities will be deemed to have satisfied the language requirements.
  • University of applied sciences students of Applied Psychology as well as Bachelor’s students from foreign universities will have to present proof of having passed one of the standard tests listed below.

Accepted tests

A sufficient test result in one of the following tests will constitute proof of English proficiency.

Please note:
Test results that are older than two years cannot be accepted (except vwo-diplomas).

Examen

Minimum score

IELTS overall band

  • 6.5 - overall
  • 6.5 - speaking
  • 6.5 - writing

TOEFL internet based
(our institutional code: 7191)

Also offered by UG language centre
  • 90 - overall
  • 22- speaking
  • 24 - writing

Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

  • C, B or A
Cambridge Proficiency (CPE)
  • C, B or A
Native speakers of English

Dutch pre-University diploma (VWO) including English

  • 5.5 for English
Admission procedure for placement in the pre-master’s programme
  1. A maximum number of places are available in the pre-master’s programme for each track. You can apply for a maximum of two tracks (first and second choices).
  2. If you qualify for admission to the pre-master’s programme, lots will be drawn to decide whether you can be admitted to the programme for the track of your first choice.
  3. If you are not admitted, you will be placed on the waiting list for your first choice and you will participate in the ballot for the pre-master’s programme for the track of your second choice. Here, too, you may be placed on the waiting list if you are not admitted.
  4. You can move up the waiting list as places open up over time, and eventually you may secure a place in the pre-master’s programme for one of your chosen tracks.

Pre-master’s programme, fees and start master

Pre-master’s programme
Once you have been assigned a place in a certain track, the Admissions Board will define your pre-master’s programme.

Costs
An overview of pre-master’s programme fees can be found on Fees for pre-Master’s programmes.

Start of Master’s degree programme
You will be admitted to a master’s track if you complete the pre-master’s programme for this track within two years. You can extend the pre-master’s programme into a second year if you successfully complete 50% in the first year.

How to apply for a pre-Master’s programme if you have a bachelorbachelor HBO Toegepaste Psychologie

Application is open between 15 January and 1 March.

  1. Apply for the pre-master's programme in Psychology on the Studielink  website for the track of your first choice.
  2. Apply with the University of Groningen via the Application form pre-master Psychology- HBO TP (available from 15 January). Using this form, you can also apply for a possible second track.
  3. Make sure you make a well-considered choice, because you can only graduate in one master’s track. Once you have been placed in a track, you cannot switch to another one before the start or during the master's programme. We also advise against discontinuing your current track to apply for a different one, as you would not be permitted to begin a new skills course, thesis, or internship in the new track if you have already started these. This would mean that you cannot graduate in that track.
  4. You can apply before you complete your bachelor's degree, but must have obtained your Bachelor’s degree before the start of the master's programme.

After your application

A few weeks after the application deadline, you will be told whether you are eligible for the pre-master's track of your choice and what the next steps will be.

All data and deadlines in one overview
Availability of
application form

15 Jan 2025 -
1 March 2025

Application deadline
1 March 2025
Decision concerning eligibility to pre-Master’s programme
no later than
11 Apr 2025
Results of pre-Master’s lottery

Clinical Forensic Psychology & Victimology, Klinische Neuropsychologie, Klinische Psychologie
no later than
17 april 2025
Results of pre-Master’s lottery
Applied Cognitive Neuroscience, Applied Social Psychology, Environmental Psychology, Ontwikkelingspsychologie, Talent Development and Creativity
Theory and History of Psychology, Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology
no later than
13 June 2025
Biweekly updates
on admission of students on waiting list
24 June 2025 -
26 Aug 2025
Actual admission
(when all requirements
are met: diploma, courses, language requirements, tuition fees)
no later than
31 Aug 2025

the sooner,
the better

Pre-Master’s programme for students with a Bachelor’s degree in a subject other than Psychology from a Dutch university

If you have (or will soon have) completed a bachelor's degree other than Psychology at a Dutch university and believe you are eligible for a pre-master's program, you can apply. The admissions committee will determine if you indeed qualify for a pre-master's programme based on your prior education.
If you think you qualify directly for a master's programme, please visit this page, section If you have a different Bachelor’s degree from a Dutch university.

Pre-master’s programme for 7 tracks (limited number of places)
Tracks
Pre-master places per track for September 2025
Applied Cognitive Neuroscience
3
Applied Social Psychology
5
Environmental Psychology
2
Ontwikkelingspsychologie
5
Talent Development and Creativity
5
Theory and History of Psychology
3
Work, Organizational and Personnel
Psychology
5
Admission requirements and lottery procedure

Admission requirements for the pre-Master’s programme

  • A deficit of no more than 60 ECTS compared to the admission requirements for the Master’s degree programme (general and trackspecific criteria and language requirements).
  • Adequate basic knowledge of statistics (at the level of the first year of a Dutch university degree programme in Psychology).
  • Proficiency in Dutch or English – see the section under the heading ‘Language requirements’ on this page.


Procedure for admission to the pre-Master’s programme

  1. A maximum number of places are available in the pre-Master’s programme for each track. You can apply for a maximum of two tracks (first and second choices).
  2. If you qualify for admission to the pre-Master’s programme, lots will be drawn to decide whether you can be admitted to the programme for the track of your first choice.
  3. If you are not admitted, you will be placed on the waiting list for your first choice and you will participate in the lotterty for the pre-Master’s programme for the track of your second choice. Here, too, you may be placed on the waiting list if you are not admitted.
  4. You can move up the waiting list as places open up over time, and eventually you may secure a place in the pre-Master’s programme for one of your chosen tracks.
Language requirements

Depending on your background and the language of instruction of your chosen track, you may have to present proof of proficiency in Dutch or English before the start of the Master’s degree programme.

Dutch-taught tracks

For the Dutch-taught tracks Ontwikkelingspsychologie, Klinische Psychologie and Klinische Neuropsychologie, the following qualifications will be accepted as sufficient proof of proficiency in Dutch at native-speaker level:

  • Babel language test in Dutch for medical professionals B2+ (speaking and writing). Check the website for more information and how to register for the Babel language test. When registering indicate that this is related to a Master's in Psychology at the University of Groningen.
  • Diploma from a Dutch-language secondary school.


English-taught tracks

  • Candidates who have completed an entire secondary school programme or Bachelor’s degree programme in the US, at an English-taught institution in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, or Australia, will be deemed to have satisfied the language requirements.
  • Dutch and foreign Bachelor’s students at Dutch universities will be deemed to have satisfied the language requirements.
  • University of applied sciences students of Applied Psychology as well as Bachelor’s students from foreign universities will have to present proof of having passed one of the standard tests listed below.

Accepted tests

A sufficient test result in one of the following tests will constitute proof of English proficiency.

Please note:
Test results that are older than two years cannot be accepted (except vwo-diplomas).

Examen

Minimum score

IELTS overall band

  • 6.5 - overall
  • 6.5 - speaking
  • 6.5 - writing

TOEFL internet based
(our institutional code: 7191)

Also offered by UG language centre
  • 90 - overall
  • 22- speaking
  • 24 - writing

Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

  • C, B or A
Cambridge Proficiency (CPE)
  • C, B or A
Native speakers of English

Dutch pre-University diploma (VWO) including English

  • 5.5 for English
Pre-master’s programme, fees and start master

Pre-master’s programme
Once you have been assigned a place in a certain track, the Admissions Board will define your pre-master’s programme.

Costs
An overview of pre-master’s programme fees can be found on Fees for pre-Master’s programmes.

Start of Master’s degree programme
You will be admitted to a master’s track if you complete the pre-master’s programme for this track within two years. You can extend the pre-master’s programme into a second year if you successfully complete 50% in the first year.

How to apply for a pre-master’s programme:

Application is open between 15 January and 1 March.

  1. Apply for the pre-master's track Psychology on the  Studielink  website for the track of your first choice.
  2. Apply with the University of Groningen via the Application form pre-master Psychology (available from 15 January). Using this form, you can also register for a possible second track.
  3. Make sure you make a well-considered choice, because you can only graduate in one Master’s track. Once you have been placed in a track, you cannot switch to another one before the start or during the master's programme. We also advise against discontinuing your current track to apply for a different one, as you would not be permitted to begin a new skills course, thesis, or internship in the new track if you have already started these. This would mean that you cannot graduate in that track.
  4. You can apply before you complete your bachelor's degree, but must have obtained your Bachelor’s degree before the start of the master's programme.

After your application

A few weeks after the application deadline, you will be told whether you are eligible for the pre-master's track of your choice and what the next steps will be.

All data and deadlines in one overview
Availability of
application form

15 Jan 2025 -
1 May 2025

Application deadline
1 May 2025
Decision concerning
accessibility to pre-Master’s programme
no later than
30 May 2025
Results lottery
no later than
13 June 2025
Biweekly updates
on admission of students on waiting list
24 June 2025 -
26 Aug 2025
Actual admission
(when all requirements
are met: diploma, courses, language requirements, tuition fees)
no later than
31 Aug 2025

the sooner,
the better
Last modified:25 September 2024 12.20 p.m.
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