About selection

Selection is based on 2 criteria:

1. Motivation
   In order to participate in the selection procedure all candidates will have to write a motivation letter in which you indicate why you would like to study Psychology in Groningen. The main goal of writing the letter is to make sure your choice for Psychology is a well considered choice. We will assess whether you have taken the writing of your motivation letter seriously enough, i.e. that you actually describe why you want to study Psychology. In this way we will verify that your application is serious. It also provides an opportunity for essential reflection on your choice. The specific content of the motivation letter will not be taken into account in the selection process, the selection test will be used for this purpose.
2. Selection Test
   The selection test will give you a realistic idea of what the study programme has to offer and what it expects of you. It includes studying representative literature and a video lecture, on which you will be tested by means of three online multiple choice tests. This so-called curriculum sampling provides a good indication of study performance in the first-year (and long term) and hence helps us select the best students.

1. Apply at Studielink 1 October 2022 - 15 January 2023

Studielink is the central registration platform for higher education in the Netherlands (www.studielink.nl). Within Studielink you can select either the Dutch or the English programme. Please make sure that you select 1 September as the starting date, otherwise you might encounter problems during the application process. Please follow the instructions carefully.

Check admissibility by University of Groningen
After your application in Studielink, your admissibility for the Psychology programme is checked by the University of Groningen.
For holders of non-Dutch qualification(s); once the Admissions Office has processed your application file, you will hear from them within six weeks. If you are admissible to the programme, you will be requested to send certified copies of your high school qualification to the Admissions Office by the required closing date.

For general information and information on the Admission procedure, please check the pages for Dutch students / international students.
Please note: As of the academic year 2023-2024 all applicants with a non-Dutch qualification will have to pay an application fee.

2. Upload motivation letter 1 October - 15 February 2023

Write a motivation letter in which you indicate (maximum 250 words) why you would like to study Psychology in Groningen.
From 1 October until 15 February you can upload your motivation letter. When you have uploaded the letter successfully, you should receive a confirmation email. By submitting your motivation letter, you are automatically registered for participation in the selection tests.

3. Selection Test (online) 4 March 2023, 13:00 CET - 6 March 2023, 13:00 CET

The selection test will take place between 4 March 2023, 13:00 and 6 March 2023, 13:00. Within this time frame, you can take the test at any moment. The selection test takes place online, so it can be taken from any location. Read more in the block 'About the selection test' below.

4. Ranking number & admission

The result of your test, in comparison to the results of others, determines your ranking number and thus the chance of admission.

On April 15, 2023 you will receive your ranking number via Studielink. You will be offered a place (rank numbers 1-600) or placed on the waiting list (rank numbers above 600). Places can still be offered until August 31. To keep the offered place, you must accept it within two weeks.

Shortly after April 15, you will receive more information about your personal results, rank number and how to proceed

Date:
4 March, 13:00 CET - 6 March, 13:00 CET 2023 You can choose a moment within this timeframe but need to make the selection test in one session and finish before 6 March, 13:00.

Location:
Online (from any location)

Content:
Three multiple choice tests - Introduction to Psychology, Statistics and Social Psychology

Access:
You will receive an email containing a link to the test on Tuesday 28 February 2023. The link will become active on Saturday 4 March 2023, 13:00 CET
If you have not received the link by 1 March, 12:00 CET and it did not end up in your spam, please send an email to psychology rug.nl before 2 March, 12:00 CET.

Important:
The selection test is a closed book examination. It is not allowed to use the study material or other resources during the test nor make use of help from others. In order to verify this we will randomly contact some of you shortly afterwards, to examine you on the given answers.

Study material

The studymaterial for the selection test is also used in the first year of the Bachelor of Psychology. Through the given links you can access the chapters that must be studied for the selection test.  The book Psychological Science can also be accessed online.

• Introduction to Psychology: Methodology and Consciousness
  Psychological Science (7th ed.) Norton (Phelps, Berkman, & Gazzaniga). Chapter 2 and Chapter 4. NOTE: Formerly mentioned Chapter 11 has been replaced by Chapter 4, please do not study Chapter 11.
• Statistics
  Introduction to the practice of statistics (10th edition) (Moore, McCabe, Craig). Chapter 1 (online access).
• Social psychology
  Psychological Science (7th ed.) Norton (Phelps, Berkman, & Gazzaniga). Chapter 12.
  Also watch the lecture Social Psychology by dr. Liga Klavina.

General Tips

• You must understand the theory and be able to apply this.
• You must memorize relevant definitions and formulas and be able to apple these/make calculations with them
• We do not offer extra study material, practice questions or past selection tests. Serious study of the study material should suffice.
• We do provide the opportunity to become familiar with the way the test is administered by means of a ‘practice test’. You will receive this by email at the latest 24th of February.

Statistics guidelines

• The use of a simple calculator (NOT graphical calculator) is allowed
• Most of the questions in the book are representative of the selection test questions. The exercises that need the use of a graphical calculator are not representative.
• Only odd-numbered exercises have solutions (at the back of the book)

In the table below you will find a brief overview of the most important steps and crucial deadlines. Keep to these deadlines, exceeding them will result in exclusion from the selection procedure.