Bachelor in Psychology

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Maastricht University

Program Overview

The Bachelor in Psychology at Maastricht University is a dynamic three-year BSc program that dives into human behavior, brain processes, and what drives our decisions—perfect if you're curious about why habits are tough to break, how to boost mental health at work or in society, and ready to build skills for research, HR, consulting, or policy roles. Using Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in small groups, you'll tackle real-world cases from day one, making it ideal for motivated students who thrive on teamwork, independent thinking, and hands-on projects that prepare you for a versatile career.

Curriculum structure
Year 1 kicks off with a broad foundation in psychology, exploring its history and key subdisciplines to help you discover your interests while building essential skills. You'll dive into Skills I: Learning in Groups and Skills II, practicing personal development like identifying signature strengths, positive values, and teamwork in tutorial groups, alongside your first observational research using the empirical cycle. Courses like Brain and Behaviour introduce neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neurotransmission, and how neural mechanisms link to cognition, giving you a solid base to explain brain-based disorders and analyze research articles.

Year 2 deepens your expertise with project-based work tied to real-world applications, like questions from external partners, while honing collaboration in diverse teams. You'll tackle supporting courses such as Psychological Communication, Psychodiagnostics, advanced Statistics, and Programming, plus your own research project that sharpens data analysis and interpretation skills. This year builds confidence in applying psychology practically, from social influences to empirical methods.

Year 3 lets you personalize with electives (even abroad) and one of three specializations—think clinical, cognitive, or organizational psychology—capping it off with a Bachelor Thesis on a passion project. Under Programmatic Assessment, you'll gather feedback from tests, reflections, and peer reviews via mentor dialogues, not just grades, fostering growth as a specialist. It's your launchpad to stand out with tailored expertise.

Focus areas: Specializations in Year 3 include clinical neuropsychology, cognitive neuroscience, or work/industrial psychology, plus electives linking to brain science or positive psychology themes like character strengths and diversity challenges.

Learning outcomes: You'll explain psychological theories, design and conduct research (from observations to data analysis), apply skills like psychodiagnostics and teamwork, and grasp brain-behavior links—ready to evaluate studies, solve real problems, and communicate professionally.

Professional alignment (accreditation): This BSc is fully accredited by the Netherlands-Flanders Accreditation Organisation (NVAO), meeting EU standards for psychology training, with PBL ensuring versatile, evidence-based skills for licensed practice or master's entry worldwide.

Reputation (employability rankings): Maastricht's Psychology program ranks in the global top 100 (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024), with strong employability—grads land roles in research, consulting, and HR quickly, backed by the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience's high research output and PBL edge.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Maastricht University, our Bachelor in Psychology programme stands out because you'll dive straight into hands-on learning through Problem-Based Learning (PBL), where small groups of up to 12 students tackle real-world problems together—building practical skills like teamwork, research, presentations, and professional problem-solving from day one. You'll gain real experience running your own research projects in year 2, connecting to application fields like clinical practice or external stakeholder questions, plus psychodiagnostics, statistics, and programming to analyze human behavior effectively. The Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN) backs this up with top-tier facilities like advanced labs for brain research, ensuring you get comfortable using cutting-edge tools that pros in the field rely on.

Here are some standout ways you'll build practical skills specific to our Psychology programme:
- Group projects in PBL: Work collaboratively in tutorials on real issues, like mental health support or habit-breaking techniques, developing communication and research skills with tutor guidance.
- Research projects: Design and execute your own projects in year 2, using stats and programming, then cap it off with a personalized bachelor thesis in year 3.
- Laboratories: Access FPN's specialized labs including MRI scanners, EEG laboratories, and mobile research setups, plus data-processing rooms for hands-on neuroscience experiments.
- Software and digital tools: Learn programming and psychodiagnostics tools for data analysis and testing, integrated into projects on cognition and behavior.
- Clinical and specialized training: Courses from the Clinical Psychological Science department blend theory with practice on mental disorders, collaborating with Cognitive Neuroscience for brain process studies.
- Accessibility facilities: Use dedicated rooms with hearing loops, resting rooms between classes, and tools like computers for exams or extended deadlines to support your learning.

This practical focus prepares you to step into roles like researcher, HR specialist, or consultant right after graduation—imagine leading the way with skills honed in real labs and projects.

Progression & Future Opportunities

At Maastricht University’s Bachelor in Psychology, you'll dive into hands-on experiential learning right from the start through our signature Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach, where small groups of up to 12 students tackle real-world psychological problems together, building practical skills like research, collaboration, presentations, and professional observation. You'll get access to cutting-edge facilities at the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN), including specialized labs for research, data-processing rooms, MRI scanners, EEG laboratories, computer facilities, and an electronic learning environment tailored for psychology students. This setup lets you apply theory immediately, from observing behaviors in skills training to exploring neuroscientific tools—preparing you for a career where psychology comes alive beyond the textbook.

Here are some standout ways you'll gain practical experience in the program::

- Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in small tutorial groups: Work collaboratively on real-world cases, guided by tutors, to develop research, communication, and problem-solving skills—core to every course.
- Research labs and high-tech tools: Use FPN's MRI scanners, EEG labs, and mobile research setups for hands-on experiments in cognition, neuroscience, and clinical psychology.
- Group projects and skills training: Participate in subgroup work, observations, mentoring sessions, and presentations, like in Skills II where you practice research and study skills.
- Digital tools and software platforms: Train on the student portal for course booking and results, electronic learning environment (ELE), UM account, FPN AskPsychology online service, and computer facilities during intro week.
- Library and information skills practicals: Interactive sessions to master finding scientific resources, using catalogues, and referencing at the university's learning and resource centre.
- PBL tutorial rooms and support facilities: Dedicated accessible rooms for lectures and groups, plus a resting room for focus between sessions.

This practical focus is why our graduates stand out—imagine turning your passion for the mind into real expertise.

Country Requirements

Canadian high school diplomas from various provinces are accepted provided students meet specific credit requirements and achieve an overall average of at least 80 percent in required academic Grade 12 level courses.
China Senior Middle School Graduation Certificate plus National University Entrance Exam (Gaokao) plus successful completion of all year 1 credits/courses of a bachelor’s (undergraduate) programme in university
Egypt General Secondary Education Certificate plus successful completion of all year 1 credits/courses of a bachelor’s (undergraduate) programme in university Al-Azhar Secondary School Certificate plus successful completion of all year 1 credits/courses of a bachelor’s (undergraduate) programme in university
Germany Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife
French Diplôme du Baccalauréat Général, Baccalauréat Français International, or Diplôme du Baccalauréat Technologique are accepted, and applicants must upload a statement listing their Spécialité subjects for Première and Terminale.
Indian Standard XII qualifications such as CBSE All India Senior School Certificate with A or B grades, CISCE Indian School Certificate with 75 percent average, Intermediate Examination Certificate with 75 percent average, or NIOS Senior Secondary with A to C grades in five academic subjects are accepted, while state board diplomas are not accepted.
Saudi Arabia General Secondary Education Certificate plus successful completion of all year 1 credits/courses of a bachelor’s (undergraduate) programme in university
South Africa National Senior Certificate with a minimum average score of 70% across 7 subjects and the statement that the minimum requirements for admission to a bachelor’s degree are met
Turkey Lise Diplomasi from a Genel Lise plus successful completion of all year 1 credits/courses of a bachelor’s (undergraduate) programme in university
Pakistan Higher Secondary School Certificate or Intermediate School Certificate with grades A1, A, B or C plus successful completion of all first year bachelor’s programme credits are accepted.
United Kingdom qualifications such as three GCE A levels with grades A to C plus three different GCSE subjects, AICE with three A levels, or Scottish Qualifications Certificate with required higher and advanced higher subjects are accepted, and applicants must provide an overview of A levels while AS levels cannot replace missing A levels.
United States High School Diploma is accepted with either four AP exams with minimum score three, or three AP exams with minimum score four, or completion of first year bachelor’s studies, and applicants must submit an overview of AP exams while AP Capstone, AP Research, and AP Seminar are not accepted.