Introduction
Are you ready for the many challenges of studying behavior, awareness, and the brain? Then this study will suit you, for psychology pervades all forms of human activity.
As a psychologist, you deal with human behavior and development in many fields, including psychological treatment, education, workplace, sports, environment, traffic, health, media, and more. In clinical professions, for example, you are concerned with the treatment of people with emotional or behavioral disorders or supporting patients with neurological deficits. Developmental issues are central to clinical work as well since the origins of maladaptive behavior often lie in early childhood.
In our bachelor program:
you learn about theories of the biological, cognitive, social and environmental factors influencing behavior;
you obtain basic communicational and diagnostic skills necessary for work in practice;
you are trained to get an in-depth focus on the methodological and statistical knowledge and skills essential for scientific research;
you learn to reflect on scientific theory in psychology;
you learn to reflect on your own development as a psychologist;
you have the possibility to focus on a domain of your own interest and what fits best with the track in your future Master's program.
Why study this program in Groningen?
the Psychology department in Groningen is ranked #38 in the world according to World University Rankings 2019
very broad program based on recognized and versatile expertise
easy access to the international world of research
learn from and interact with an international group of students and instructors
strong emphasis on integration research results
Program
Year 1
The first-year courses will introduce you to
general psychology
biological psychology
developmental psychology
personality psychology
social psychology
methods of research and statistics
history and applications
The teaching of skills takes place in small groups under the guidance of a teacher/mentor and focuses on:
acquiring basic academic skills (reading, presenting, writing, study skills)
applying statistical knowledge and research methods
learning professional methods of interviewing and the mastering of group dynamics
Courses
A Theoretical Introduction to Research Methods
Cognitive Psychology
Introduction to psychology
Statistics Ia
Academic skills
A practical introduction to research methods
Psychology: History and application
Statistics Ib
Developmental psychology
Social and cross-cultural psychology
Dialogue and group skills
Biopsychology
Personality and individual differences
Year 2
The classes are subdivided into various professional areas of psychologists:
work, organizational and personnel psychology
cognitive psychology
clinical psychology
clinical neuropsychology
environment and social behavior
Statistics, test theory, and research methodology are taught and in a practical form. You will be taught in small groups how to set up, describe, analyze and present a simple research project. Administering tests and the handling of diagnostics are highlighted during the practicals on professional skills.
Courses
Cognitive Psychology (optional)
Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology
Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology (optional)
Test theory
Communication and diagnostic skills
Statistics II
Clinical psychology
Psychology in the workplace
Research methods: theory and ethics
Social environment and behavior
Research practicum
Statistics III
Working with Psychology
Theory of Science
Year 3
The first two years are the same for everyone and they have a broad orientation. You can now compose your courses to prepare optimally for one of the specializations of our master programs. Also, you can choose from many other courses within the field of psychology or from a different context, even at foreign universities.
Important in this year is the bachelor thesis: an academic report about your own research project supervised by a staff member. During the writing of the thesis you can combine the knowledge that you have gained during your studies with statistical, diagnostic and methodological skills.
Courses
Controversies in Psychology
Deception in clinical settings
Experimental skills
Group dynamics
Psychopathology symptoms, classification, and diagnostics
Sport and performance psychology
The social psychology of communication
Teaching skills
Bachelor theses
Independent Societal Project
Literature study
Teaching and Mentoring in Psychology
Consumer and economic psychology
Gerontology
Human error
Interventions in individual development
Introduction to cognitive-behavioral therapies
Learning: Theory and practice
Mass psychology
Perception
Philosophy of Psychology
Social influence
Understanding Psychopathology
Clinical Neuropsychology
Cognition and Attention
Cognitive-behavioral processes across disorders: A transdiagnostic approach
Conflict management
Intergroup relations
Organizational change
Programming for psychologists
School Neuropsychology: Mind, Brain & Education
Social cognition and affect
Dynamic skills in groups
Cognitive neuroscience
Developmental Neuropsychology
Diagnosis and assessment
Interpersonal relations
Personnel Psychology
Study abroad
Study abroad is optional
The program offers the possibility to do a minor at a foreign university.
Entry requirements
Admission requirements
Specific requirements
More information
knowledge minimum
We strongly advise a firm background in English (see language test below), Mathematics and Biology.
language test
Non-native English speakers must provide evidence of satisfactory results for one of the standard tests.
previous education
If you hold an EU secondary school diploma comparable to a Dutch VWO-diploma you are also admissible (for example Abitur, International Baccalaureate). A rule-of-thumb for students holding an EU-diploma (no rights may be derived from this): If your diploma gives admittance into academic universities in the country of origin of your diploma, then it also gives admittance to universities in the Netherlands. Students who finished their first year of an applied sciences university program (HBO in Dutch), cannot automatically be admitted to the Bachelor of Psychology. The admissions board may ask for supplementary requirements. Please contact the academic advisor for more information.
other admission requirements
This bachelor's program has a selection procedure. This means that the program selects candidates to be admitted to the program. We choose this way of working because we would like to admit the most suitable students for our program.
Numerus Fixus
This program has a numerus fixus with a maximum of 600 attendees a year.
Application deadlines
Type of student
Deadline
Start course
Dutch students
15 January 2021
01 September 2021
EU/EEA students
15 January 2021
01 September 2021
non-EU/EEA students
15 January 2021
01 September 2021
Tuition fees
Nationality
Year
Fee
Program form
EU/EEA
2020-2021
€ 2143
full-time
non-EU/EEA
2020-2021
€ 9500
full-time
Job prospects
Psychologists get into jobs where a thorough knowledge of human possibilities and constraints is important. For instance a job in mental health care. You should think of assistance or therapy. Psychologists can also work in business or in organizations. For example, they are used to recruit new staff, in coaching or training. Finally, it is possible to find yourself in research institutes or universities.
Job examples
Forensic psychologist
Student psychologist
Vocational and organizational expert
Sport psychologist
Prevention officer
Market researcher
Career and organizational consultant
Communication advisor
Traffic psychologist
Marketing consultant
Cognitive ergonomist
Policy researcher
Information officer
Research
Psychological Research at this university is done at the Heymans Institute, called after the founding father of psychology in the Netherlands. The versatility of its research, ranging from fundamental to very practical, manifests itself in the seven research programs of the institute. Quite a few staff members, whom you may have met as a teacher already, participate in these programs.