Admission requirements

All applicants who wish to enrol in the research master's programme in Psychology must meet a number of basic requirements regarding:

• Grade average;
• Academic level and background;
• Proficiency in English.

Grade average

If you wish to apply for the research master's programme in Psychology you are expected to have an overall grade point average (GPA) of at least an

• A-/B+/3.5 (American system)
• 2.1 HONS (an upper second class honours degree in the British system) 
• B (ECTS system), or 
• 7.5 (Dutch system).

However, admission will not be granted based on a sufficient grade point average only.

Academic level and background

Applicants should have at least a bachelor's degree (equivalent to at least three years of Dutch academic training) or an equivalent degree in a field relevant to the research mas­ter's programme in Psychology. Education systems vary considerably across the world; some bachelor's degrees are valued at three years of a Dutch university education, while others are valued at two years or less.

The minimum entry level for the research master's programme in Psychology is three years of Dutch university education. Students with a bachelor's degree in other disciplines than Psychology can apply for admission to the research master's programme, but they should have at least general knowledge of Psychology and its subdisciplines, as well as knowledge of statistics and methodology. Applicants should also have experience with the topic of specialization in the master's programme.

Experience with setting up, conducting and reporting experimental research is neces­sary.

Methodological knowledge and statistical knowledge is necessary. The book that reflects the level of statistical knowledge that is needed is: Andy Field, Discovering statistics using SPSS (2005). See: http://www.uk.sagepub.com/field3e/

Proficiency in English

All international applicants who are non-native English speakers and who apply for the research master's programme in Psychology are required to demonstrate sufficient pro­ficiency in English to enrol in university-level courses. Students must be able to read textbooks, understand lectures, take part in classroom discussions and undertake written work in English.

Applicants must submit one of the following tests. No other tests are accepted. Please note that only international, not institutional tests are accepted. Original test scores should be sent either by the testing institution or by the student to the Admissions Committee.

Please note: applicants who obtained their bachelor's diploma in the Netherlands, or applicants who can prove to have successfully finished an English-taught programme at university level, do not have to take an English language test.

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
Students are required to have a score of at least 7 on the academic module, with a minimum score of 6.0 for the separate components of the test.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Students are required to have a score of at least 100 (internet based test), with a minimum score of 20 for the separate components of the test.
• Cambridge International Examination
Students are required to have a minimum score ‘A’ for the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or ‘B’ for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE).

How to apply

(Foreign) diplomas and academic records are evaluated by the Universiteit van Amster­dam credential evaluation officers or by the national credential evaluation agency NUF­FIC. The application file is sent to the programme coordinator who discusses the file with the programme's Admission Committee. The Admission Committee makes the decision to either accept or reject the applicant for the MSc programme.

Please read the information on application and admission carefully:

• Only complete applications will be considered.
• Please type or write in capital letters with blue ink.
• Do not staple the documents in your application file.
• Confirmation of your application will be sent to you as soon as the Admissions Committee has received your application file in good order.
• Application files (or parts of it) will not be returned. Even if the applicant is not admit­ted.

Application documents

All applicants must submit the following documents:

1. A completed application form.
You can download this form below.

2. Copy of passport or birth certificate.
A copy of your passport (identity page) or birth certificate.

3. Letter of motivation. 
On a separate piece of paper, state in about 500 words the reasons why you wish to at­tend the programme, and what your study plan will be once you are admitted, i.e. which specialization you would choose as your major and which as your minor. Also any sug­gestions for research topics and interests can be put forward here.

4. Academic transcripts.
Official transcripts of all university courses and examinations that you have taken, in­cluding the credits and grades you have obtained. Transcripts from outside The Nether­lands have to be sent in a closed envelope, sealed by the university.

Transcripts in any other language than English, German, French, Spanish or Dutch should be translated into English by a sworn translator. The original transcripts should be sent together with the translation in a closed envelope, sealed by the university. If you have attended more than one university, please enclose a chronological overview with your application.

5. Copies of all academic diplomas. 
All copies of diplomas ob­tained outside the Netherlands must have a seal and the signature of the school admin­istration. Diplomas in any other language than English, German, French, Spanish or Dutch should be translated into English by a sworn translator. The original copies should be sent together with the translations.

6. English language test scores (non-Dutch applicants and non-native speakers only). 
Original test scores should be sent either by the testing institution or by the student to the Admissions Committee of the research master's programme in Psychology. No other tests are accepted. Please note that only international, not institutional tests are accepted.

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
Students are required to have a score of at least 7 on the academic module, with a minimum score of 6.0 for the separate components of the test.

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Students are required to have a score of at least 100 (internet based test), with a minimum score of 20 for the separate components of the test.

• Cambridge International Examination
Students are required to have a minimum score ‘A’ for the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or ‘B’ for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE).

Applicants who obtained their bachelor's diploma in the Netherlands, or applicants who can prove to have successfully finished an English-taught programme at university level, are exempted from taking an English language test.

7. Curriculum vitae/resume. 
A record of experience and skills at academic, research, clinical and work level. State it on 2 pages maximum.

8. Letters of reference. 
Two letters of reference from academic staff members testifying the applicant's ability to conduct independent research and to write a report on the results. Preferably applicants submit one statement from a supervisor of scientific work in the bachelor's programme and another from the supervisor of the bachelor thesis. Please either use the format for the letter of reference or make sure that the topics mentioned in this format are addressed in the letters of reference.

9. Administration fee
Students who apply on basis of a diploma from a university located outside the Netherlands are obliged to pay an administration fee of € 100. How the fee should be transferred is stated below. Please include proof of paying the administration fee to UvA.

10. A Copy of your residence permit.
Only for international students already living in The Netherlands: a copy of your residence permit.

11. A Financial plan
Please indicate how you plan to finance the two study years. State the values in Euros.  

12 Other applications
Please indicate which other institutes and programmes you have applied for (if any). 

How to pay the administration fee

Students who seek admission on basis of a diploma from outside the Netherlands need to pay an administration fee of € 100. 

How to pay the administration fee:
There are two ways in which you can pay the application fee. At all times, make sure your name and the programme you are applying for are clearly stated.

A. Bank draft

Please read these instructions carefully. It is recommended to do a routine check of bank drafts afterwards to see if your money ended up in the right account with the right name attached to it. It is also recommended to submit with your application form a copy of the specific bank draft, or a hand-written message stating the name of the bank and specific department responsible for making the transfer.

Payments from outside The Netherlands: You can transfer the application fee via the electronic bank transfer system using the BIC or SWIFT code. Please quote your name, the programme you are applying for and the following code:

R.2511.0019

Universiteit van Amsterdam
Faculteit der Maatschappij- en Gedragswetenschappen
(Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences)
ABN AMRO Bank,
De Entree 99
Postbus 90
1000 AB Amsterdam
BIC/SWIFT code: ABNANL2A
IBAN (International Bank Account
Number): NL77ABNA0540408484

For payments from The Netherlands: the bank number is 54.04.08.484

B. Cheque

Students may also send a (traveller's) cheque for € 120 (includes € 20 bank charges) made out to the: Faculteit der Maatschappij- en Gedragswetenschappen, Universiteit van Amsterdam. Mail your cheque together with your application file. Please make sure the cheque is in Euros. Cheques that were pre-printed in another currency are not ac­cepted. Crossing out a pre-printed currency and changing it to Euro is not acceptable for a bank.

Decision and appeal

Decision

The admissions committee responds with one of the following decisions:

• Full admittance
• Provisional acceptance
• Rejection
• Request for further information

Appeal

If you have received a rejection and you do not agree with the decision made by the admission/selection committee you are advised to contact the programme co-ordinator first, before lodging a formal appeal. The programme co-ordinator will gladly mediate between you and the admission/selection committee to give you more detailed informa­tion about the reason(s) for the decision of the admission/selection committee or to in­form the committee of the reasons for your disagreement with the committee's decision.

If you do not agree with the outcome, you can lodge an official appeal. You can do so by sending a letter of appeal to the ‘College van Beroep voor Examens' (COBEX):

College van Beroep voor Examens UvA
Spui 21
1012 WX Amsterdam
The Netherlands

When you do so please make sure to:

• Appeal within 4 weeks after receiving the letter informing you of the admission/selection committee decision.
• State clearly the reason why you appeal, i.e., state clearly why you do not agree with the argumentation the committee has given you for not accepting you.

When COBEX has received your appeal they will contact the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences to see if we can reach a solution to the difference in opinion within five working days.

If you and the admission/selection committee do not reach a solution COBEX will start the court case procedures and you will be invited for a hearing.

This hearing will be in The Netherlands. You may authorise someone else to be present on your behalf. Please note however that that person should be able to speak and read Dutch.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the programme co-ordinator.

Application procedure and deadlines

There is one general application deadline:

• 1 April:                   
  General application deadline, applicants will be notified before 1 June

Applications received after 1 April will only be considered if there are still places avail­able. Interested students are encouraged to express their interest by mail, even after the deadline.

Please send your completed application to:

Universiteit van Amsterdam
Research Master's Psychology
Eveline Zandvliet
Weesperplein 4
1018 XA
Amsterdam
The Netherlands

If you have any questions regarding application or admission, please contact the pro­gramme co-ordinator, Ms Eveline Zandvliet.