Selection procedure Bachelor’s degree programme Psychology

Apply with Studielink between 1 October 2024 and 15 January 2025
On the Studielink website, you can apply for a programme in Dutch higher education. Within Studielink, you must choose between the Dutch Bachelor Psychologie or English Bachelor Psychology. Choose carefully, as this choice cannot be changed after the application deadline. Make sure to select September 1st as the start date, otherwise, you may encounter issues during the application process. You can apply when you have not yet obtained your diploma or language test results, but must meet the entry requirements by July 15 at the latest.

Admissibility check by the University of Groningen
After you have registered in Studielink, we will check whether you are in principle admissible to the Psychology degree programme or whether we need additional information to assess your admissibility. General information and details about the admissions procedure can be found on the pages for Dutch students / international students.

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.

Placement in the Dutch or English Bachelor Psychology
The programme has a total of 600 places available. After the selection test, 350 spots are assigned to the highest-scoring students in the Dutch bachelor and 250 to the highest-scoring students in the English bachelor. When a spot becomes available (regardless of the language variant), the highest-scoring student on the waiting list, alternating between the two language variants, will be admitted.

Fixed quota degree programme
You may apply for a maximum of two fixed quota degree programmes in one academic year. This can also be the same degree programme at two different educational institutions. Please consult the studiekeuze123 website for more information.

Transfer
Applicants transferring from a Psychology Bachelor's programme from another Dutch university, follow the same application and enrollment steps as other candidates, including selection. This means you need to apply via Studielink as a first-year student. After full enrollment, you can request exemptions through the Examination Board.

Students with an HBO propedeuse/bachelor
To enroll with an HBO background, you must demonstrate sufficient prior knowledge at the VWO-6 level through one or more additional exams. On this page, you will find information about these additional entry requirements, how to meet them, and the steps you need to take.

More information 
Shortly after January 15, you will receive further details about the selection process and the selection test via email, provided you have registered through Studielink and submitted a motivation letter.

You can upload your motivation letter between 1 October and 25 January.

Write a motivation letter in which you explain in a maximum of 1500 characters why you would like to study Psychology in Groningen. The aim of the motivation letter is to stimulate you to make a well-considered choice and to make it clear to both yourself and us why you want to follow this degree programme. We will assess whether you have taken the task of writing this motivation letter sufficiently seriously. The specific content of the letter will not be considered in the selection procedure; this will be based on the selection test.

After successfully uploading your letter, you will receive an automated confirmation email. If you do not receive it, try uploading again. If you still do not receive a confirmation, please contact us. You are automatically registered for the selection test if we have received your application and motivation letter on time.

Process and objectives of the selection test
The selection test aims to give you a realistic idea of what the programme has to offer and what will be expected from you. The test involves studying literature representative of the programme and watching a video lecture, on which you will be tested through three multiple-choice tests. The selection test covers the subjects Introduction to Psychology, Statistics, and Social Psychology. This so-called curriculum sampling provides a good indication of academic performance in the first year (and long term) and helps us select the best students.

Literature
To prepare for the test, you will have to study relevant literature and watch a video lecture. This material will be made available on this page as of January 15.

Practice Environment  
To familiarize yourself with the format of the test, you will receive access to a practice environment in February, which includes a short practice test. This practice test is similar in format (though not in content) to the selection test. Sample tests for practicing with the study material will not be provided.

Request extra time
It is possible to receive extra time in case of ADHD, dyslexia, or other functional impairments. You will be granted an additional 10 minutes per subtest.

You can request extra time by sending an emailto psychology@rug.nl before January 25, accompanied by an official medical certificate from an authorized person or institution.

Language
The literature to be studied is in English. However, for students who have applied for the Dutch-taught bachelor, the selection test will be administered in Dutch.

Preparing for the test: general tips

• You will have to understand and be able to apply the theory.

• You will have to remember relevant definitions and formulas and be able to apply and use them when making calculations.

• We will not provide any additional study material, practice questions, or previous exams. Seriously studying the literature provided should suffice to pass the selection test.

• To familiarize you with how the test will be administered, you will be given access to the test environment including a short practice test as from late February 2024.

• Make sure you test your computer/laptop and Internet connection in advance.
  

Make sure you prepare well for the selection test. To find out how other students have experienced the selection test, watch this video about the selection test for the Bachelor’s degree programme in Psychology.

You will be automatically registered for the selection test if we receive your registration and your motivation letter in good time. The selection test takes place online.

Test date
8 March 2025
10:00 - 20:00 CET 
Within this time frame you can choose the time to take the test (approx. 3 hours, including breaks).

The selection test for both language variants will take place online. This differs from previous information on this website, which stated that the test for the Dutch-language Bachelor test would be held on-site.

Your results on the test compared to the results of the other participants will determine your ranking number and thus your chances of admission.

You will receive your ranking number via Studielink on 15 April 2025. You will either be offered a place (ranking numbers 1-600) or be placed on the waiting list (ranking numbers over 600). More information about your personal results, ranking number, and the further process will be emailed to you shortly after 15 April. Starting April 15, rank numbers will be shown weekly on this page.

Places can continue to be offered until 31 August. If you are offered a place, you will have to accept it within two weeks in order to keep it.

The table below provides a brief overview of the most important steps and crucial deadlines. Make sure you meet these deadlines, because exceeding them will result in exclusion from participation in the selection procedure.

A total of 600 places are available for the Bachelor’s degree programme in Psychology. Your results on the test will be compared to the results of the other participants to determine your ranking number and thus your chances of admission.

Although, of course, results from the past are no guarantee for the future, below is an overview of numbers from recent years to give an indication of your chances of admission.

Unfortunately, we are unable to give you a personal indication of your chances of admission.

Questions?
Please visit our FAQ page.

For remaining questions about:

• the selection procedure: e-mail to psychology@rug.nl
• additional tests in case of HBO propaedeutic year as previous education: read the general information and/or e-mail to toelatingstoetsen.gmw@rug.nl
• admission based on a Dutch secondary school diploma: read the general information and/or contact Students Information & Administration
• admission on the basis of a foreign previous education: read the general information or contact the Admissions Office.

Would you like to hear from a hands-on expert what it is like to study Psychology? Our student ambassadors are happy to answer all your questions about Psychology: studyinformation.bss rug.nl.