Admission requirements
On this page you will find important details of the application process (such as deadlines, admission requirements, required documents and application assessment) for the bachelor’s programme in Psychology for the academic year 2025-2026. Questions about admission? Contact us via study@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Please note: this study programme is also taught in Dutch. Check the NL version of this page for the language requirements.
Non-EU students: make sure to check the study progress requirements.
Selection
The bachelor Psychology is a fixus programme with selection by the educational institution. This means that you go through a selection procedure after applying. Not everybody who meets the admission requirements will also be offered a place in the study programme. The UM performs a pre-selection, afterwards Studielink takes care of the allocation procedure. Only a limited number of students can be admitted each year, 500 for the academic year 2025-2026.
For the academic year 2025-2026, all available places will be allocated by means of selection.
See the Selection bachelor Psychology Regulations for 2025-2026
Important deadlines for application
The bachelor Psychology starts in September.
The deadlines below are applicable for applicants who want to start their studies in September 2025.
Note: if you are viewing this webpage on your phone, we recommend that you use landscape mode.
| Date | What you need to know about this date |
|---|---|
| 1 October 2024 | Studielink is open for applications for the academic year 2025-2026 |
| 15 January 2025, 23:59 CET | Deadline for completing the entire application process for all applicants Non-EU/EEA applicants need to require a visa or residence permit |
| Before 1 February 2025 | The selection procedure will be accessible somewhere between 15 January - 1 February, you'll be informed via email and the MyApplication portal |
| 1 March 2025, 17:00 CET | Deadline for completing the selection procedure |
| 15 April 2025 | Your ranking number will be published in Studielink |
Please note: in Studielink you must directly make a choice between the Dutch (4501) and English (4501_T1) track. Switching tracks is not possible.
Are you a non-EU citizen requiring a visa/residence permit for study?
Please note that Maastricht University can only formally apply for your visa/residence permit if you have met all admission and enrolment requirements.
This means you have to have completed all admission and enrolment tasks in the MyApplication portal (except the ‘visa/residence permit’-task and the ‘send certified copy of diploma’-task) before we can send your application to the IND (Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service).
We have to send the application to the IND before 1 July if you are starting your studies in September. Please note: a few pre-master and master programmes offer a start in February. If you’re study programme offers a start in February and you want to start your studies in February, we have to send the application to the IND before 1 December. You can find out if your study programme offers a start in February on the admission requirements web page of that programme (pre-master’s, master’s).
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you reconsider applying for this study programme if you are not sure that you will meet the following requirements before 1 July/1 December (if applicable in your situation):
- Having remedied all subject and/or language deficiencies (if applicable)
- Having qualified for admission to your study programme, including being selected (if applicable to your study programme) AND
- Having paid the tuition fee for your study programme
General requirements: previous education
The admission requirements for academic year 2025-2026 for the bachelor’s programme in Psychology depend on your previous education. Please check below which requirements apply to you.
Applicants with a Dutch VWO or HBO propaedeutic diploma
If you possess one of the diplomas stated below then, in principle, you qualify for admission.
- VWO diploma: all profiles
- All HBO propaedeutic diplomas
Applicants with a non-Dutch diploma
If you have a non-Dutch diploma that is equivalent to the Dutch VWO (pre-university secondary school) diploma you qualify, in principle, for admission to this programme. Check if this applies for your diploma.
List of diplomas equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma 2025-2026
If your diploma is not included in this list, it must be evaluated first. UM will assess whether you qualify for admission on individual basis.
Applicants without the appropriate diploma and 21 years of age or older
If you do not have the necessary diplomas, you may still be eligible for admission based on the Colloquium Doctum. For this, you must be 21 years of age or older.
The UM Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience does not organise a Colloquium Doctum exam. You must demonstrate with certificates that you have mastered the required subjects (Biology, Mathematics and English) at Dutch VWO-level new style.
Application
Please submit and complete your application before 15 January 2025 and indicate in Studielink that you want to be admitted based on the Colloquium Doctum. The following documents need to be uploaded in the MyApplication portal:
- a copy of your valid passport or your EU/EEA identity card
- a statement in the MyApplication Portal in which you declare that it is a Colloquium Doctum application
Please note: In order to be admitted based on the Colloquium Doctum you must arrange obtaining the certificates yourself.
- For the Biology and Mathematics exams, you can go to Boswell-Bèta and/or Central Committees for Entrance Exams (CCVX) – entrance exam
- For the English subject exams, you can go to Babel and/or the UM Language Centre.
- IELTS: 6.0
- TOEFL iBT: 80
- TOEIC listening and reading: 670; speaking and writing: 290
- Cambridge First B2: Grade B (scale 173-175) or, Grade C (scale 169-172)
- TOEFL Paper-delivered Test: Reading: 20-30; Listening: 20-30
Once you have successfully completed your additional examinations, you need to upload the three certificates in the MyApplication portal. Once uploaded, notify the UM Admissions Office via study@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
Applicants who started a bachelor's in Psychology at another university
Applicants who started a bachelor's programme in Psychology at another university and who wish to transfer to the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience at Maastricht University must follow the same application and enrolment process as all other applicants (including the selection procedure). Note that you must apply as a first-year student in Studielink before 15 January 2025.
In case you are offered a place in the bachelor’s programme after completing the selection and once you are fully enrolled (including payment of the tuition fee) as a student at Maastricht University, you can request exemptions based on your pre-university education. The Board of Examiners will assess requests for credit transfer and will determine which courses you are exempted from. Important information regarding exemptions and how to apply for them can be found here.
Additional requirements
Language requirements English
As English is the language of instruction in this study programme, it is essential that your English language skills are good enough for you to undertake intensive and challenging academic courses that are taught and examined in English.
Answer the questions below to find out if you meet the language requirements.
Applicants who received their previous education in a non-EU/EEA country (handling fee)
Applicants for this study programme who received their previous education in a non-EU/EEA country will have to pay a handling fee. More information on this handling fee and how to arrange this payment can be found on the handling fee page.
Documents required for application process
During the application process for this study programme you will need to complete a number of tasks for which you will often have to upload documents (for the most part in the MyApplication portal). The list below gives you an insight into what documents you will (and might) need to prepare.
Please note: all documents must be uploaded in the MyApplication portal before 15 January 2025, 23:59 CET.
Required documents for all applicants to this study programme
- A recent passport picture
The passport picture must satisfy certain requirements. You can find these requirements in the task description 'Upload portrait picture' in the MyApplication portal
- A copy of your valid passport or your EU/EEA identity card
Make a copy of the page with your personal details. Save this copy as ‘passport copy’ and not as ‘passport picture’
- A copy of your most recent grades transcript AND/OR a copy of your diploma if you have already obtained it
Documents that might be required depending on your (academic) background
- Document(s) that demonstrate your proficiency in English
Answer the questions concerning language requirements under ‘Language requirements English’ on this webpage to find out if you need to provide additional documentation. The outcome of your answers will indicate which document(s) you can use to prove your proficiency.
- A request for exemption (if applicable)
How do we assess your application?
When you want to apply or are applying for this study programme, it is useful to know how we assess your application. You can find more information in this section.
Psychology is a numerus fixus programme with selection by the educational institution. This means that you go through a selection process after applying. Due to the limited number of places, we cannot offer a place to every applicant who meets the admission requirements.
Read more about the variety of application processes within Maastricht University
Selection procedure
The selection procedure, which consists of an online questionnaire and online test, will be accessible in the MyApplication portal around 1 February 2025.
The selection procedure covers the following subjects:
- study attitude
- motivation
- secondary education grades
- video lectures
- digital literature
- an online test
You can complete the selection procedure in parts and even go back to change your answers.
You can do all of the parts online at a time that suits you. You must complete the selection procedure before 1 March 2025, 16:59 CET. Make sure you start on time.
Please note: once you have submitted the selection test, it cannot be changed and you cannot retake it.
Please note: over the years, you're allowed to participate in the selection procedure for this programme up to three times (selection attempts). Each year, one selection procedure takes place.
Read more on the selection procedure and selection criteria for 2025-2026
Assessment and ranking score
The criteria examined during your assessment are: your motivation, your secondary education grades, your study attitude and orientation, and your score on the test that is part of our selection procedure.
Based on the results the UM ranks the candidates. On 15 April 2025 you'll be informed about your ranking number via Studielink.
The allocation starts at the top of the ranking. Students who are offered a place, based on their ranking number, must confirm/accept their place in Studielink within 14 days (14x24 hrs.) after they have been offered a place. This is an absolute deadline!
Note: only complete applications will be assessed. We therefore recommend that you adhere to the deadlines provided in the table under ‘Important deadlines for application’ on this page.
Selection attempts
Over the years, you're allowed to participate in the selection procedure for this programme up to three times (selection attempts). Each year, one selection procedure takes place.
More information
- For questions about the selection procedure please email fpn-bacheloradmissions@maastrichtuniversity.nl
- For general questions about application, enrolment and admission tasks/documents please email study@maastrichtuniversity.nl