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 two-year master Forensic Psychology for the academic year 2027-2028. Questions about admission requirements? Contact us via fpn-forensicmaster@maastrichtuniversity.nl
If you are an international student, we recommend that you check the study progress requirements.
If you need it, you can still consult the admission requirements for the previous academic year: 2026–2027
Application deadlines
The two-year master Forensic Psychology starts in September.
The deadlines below are applicable to applicants who want to start their studies in September 2027.
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| Date | What you need to know about this date |
|---|---|
| As soon as possible after 1 October 2026 | Apply via Studielink* (open for applications for the academic year 2027-2028) |
| 10 December 2026, 23:59 CET | Application deadline for applicants with a non-EU/EEA nationality who want to be considered for the UM NL-High Potential Scholarship |
| 1 March 2027, 23:59 CET | Deadline for all applicants to:
Note: In most cases, applicants with a non-EU/EEA nationality need to apply for a visa or residence permit. Take into account that this takes extra time. |
| 1 August 2027 | Strongly recommended deadline for paying the tuition fee |
| 31 August 2027, 23:59 CET | Deadline for completing all enrolment tasks (‘Enter tuition payment details’, ‘Send certified copy of diploma’, ‘Update passport / ID’ (if applicable)) in the MyApplication portal** If you need a visa or residence permit, you must complete most tasks by an earlier date. |
*Studielink is the national registration system for higher education,
**The MyApplication portal is Maastricht University’s application and enrolment platform.
Visa/residence permit for study
Are you a non-EU/EEA national requiring a visa/residence permit for study? Click here for more information
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 your 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 the two-year master Forensic Psychology depend on your previous education. Please check below which requirements apply to you.
Graduates from a Dutch university bachelor's in Psychology or Mental Health Science
You qualify for admission to this master’s programme.
Graduates from a relevant non-Dutch bachelor’s programme or graduates from a Dutch bachelor’s programme other than Psychology/Mental Health Science
You qualify for admission with the following subjects included in your bachelor’s curriculum (these subjects need to be apparent from your transcript):
- Relevant core subjects in psychology (for example, developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, or personality psychology)
- Academic basic training in clinical interviewing skills and psychological assessmentAcademic basic training in research methodology and statistical analysis
- Academic basic training in psychopathology
Additional requirements
Above average academic record
Because the two-year master in Forensic Psychology is a selective two-year programme that admits 24 students per academic year, your GPA is an important aspect of your portfolio. Furthermore, this master's programme holds the Intensive and Small-Scale Education (BKKI) quality mark, which means higher demands are placed on the teaching load and the number of contact hours. If your GPA was negatively affected by personal circumstances, we recommend explaining this in your motivation letter. If your institution does not use or mention a GPA, you must provide equivalent information regarding your academic performance. You can find more information about this in the Academic Background Form, which is part of the set of documents you are required to submit as part of your application (see ’Required documents for all applicants to this study programme’ on this page).
Language requirements for English-language master's programmes
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 whose diploma is based on a non-EU-EEA curriculum (handling fee)
Applicants for this study programme whose diploma is based on a non-EU/EEA curriculum are required to pay a handling fee. This applies even if the educational institution is located within the EU/EEA, as the fee is based on the curriculum, not the location of the institution. More information on this handling fee and how to arrange this payment can be found on the handling fee page.
Documents required for application
During the application process for this study programme, you need to complete a number of tasks for which you will have to upload documents in the MyApplication portal. The list below gives you insight into the documents you will (and might) need to prepare.
Please note:
- The documents must be uploaded in the MyApplication portal before the application deadline.
- The documents must be in PDF or Word format. We do not accept ZIP files.
- All documents must be submitted in English.
- Important: Only complete applications will be taken into consideration. Applications that are incomplete at the time of the deadline, will not be considered.
We recommend that you start your application on time, as you will not be able to revise your application after the deadline.
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’.
As a UM student you do not need to upload this document in the MyApplication portal unless your passport is not valid on 1 September 2027. In that case, you do have to upload a copy of your passport.
- A copy of your most recent grades transcript and a copy of your bachelor’s and/or master’s diploma
If you have not graduated yet, you can upload the official grades transcript of your bachelor's and/or master’s programme. If you have already graduated, you need to upload both your bachelor’s and/or master’s diploma and grades transcript
- A curriculum vitae
List your education, relevant extracurricular activities and internship/professional experience/work experience.
- A motivation letter (max. 500 words)
Explain why you want to be admitted to this master's programme at UM and why you believe you can successfully complete the programme.
- An Academic Background Form
You need to complete the document 'Academic Background Form. It is provided in the MyApplication portal under the task ‘Proof your academic capabilities’.
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 for English-language master’s programmes’ on this webpage to find out if you need to provide additional documentation of English proficiency. The outcome of your answers will indicate which document(s) you can use to prove your proficiency.
- Permission for document verification form
If your diploma is not verified by DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, the Dutch government agency responsible for education-related matters), you will need to upload the form ‘Permission for document verification’ in the MyApplication portal. This form allows Maastricht University to verify your diploma, grades transcript or other required documents directly with the issuing institution or relevant qualification registry.
How do we evaluate your application?
When you are considering to apply or are applying to this study programme, it is useful to know how we evaluate your application. You can find more information in this section.
For the two-year master in Forensic Psychology, selection is based on your academic performance and your motivation for the field. In addition, we attach great importance to the match between you and the study programme. We seek candidates with an attitude and motivation that align with a programme that is centred on the scientist-practitioner model.
The selection procedure is aimed at admitting students who have the greatest chance of successfully completing the study programme within the stipulated timeframe. A maximum of 24 students are admitted annually.
The selection will take place in March/April 2027.
Selection procedure
The selection procedure consists of two steps:
Assessment of your application
After all required documents have been received, the Board of Admissions will carefully assess your application. Within six weeks after the relevant application deadline, you will be notified whether or not you have been selected for an online interview, which is the second step of the selection procedure.
Interview
In the second step, you are invited for an online interview with two academic staff members who are part of the Board of Admissions. On the basis of the interview, the Board of Admissions evaluates your portfolio, as well as your motivation in relation to the programme’s objectives. The Board applies the following selection criteria:
- motivation and ability to acquire knowledge in the area of forensic psychology;
- motivation and ability to critically analyse the scientific research base in a specific forensic domain;
- attitude and communication skills necessary for a future career in forensic settings;
- motivation and ability to further scientific and clinical developments in forensic psychology;
- openness to learning within an international student environment;
- excellent command of the English language.
Interviews will take place in March/April 2027.
Message about your application status
Based on the results of the selection process, we determine which candidates will be offered a place in the study programme. We aim to inform you about the outcome within eight weeks after the application deadline.
If the number of qualified candidates exceeds the number of available places, candidates may be placed on a waiting list. Applicants on the waiting list may receive an offer at a later stage if a place becomes available. Candidates who are not offered a place will be informed accordingly.
Candidates who are offered a place must accept the offer via the MyApplication Portal within 14 calendar days of receiving it. This deadline is binding.
- If a candidate accepts the offered spot within 14 calendar days, they will be officially admitted to this master’s programme.
- If a candidate declines the offer, their application for this programme will be withdrawn, and they will no longer qualify for admission to this master’s programme.
- If a candidate does not accept the offer within the specified deadline, the offer will expire and the place may be offered to another candidate on the waiting list.