Psychology BSc

Program content

Throughout the program, you will get a solid foundation in the various fields of Psychology, preparing you for a diverse range of professions. Examples of these professions include Health and Social Services, Mental Health, Organizational Leadership and Management, Community and Public Relations, Education, Program Development and Facilitation, and Social Science Research. Design your own study program by choosing one of the nine majors in your second year, and a subsequent minor in your third year. Apart from lectures, you will put theory into practice during lab research and research projects. You will also collaborate with your fellow students during tutorials and group assignments. 

• In the first year of the program, you will get a solid foundation in all the focus areas of Psychology. This will prepare you for choosing your major and minor in your second and third year. 
• In your second year, you will choose one of the nine unique majors. This major will be the core of your program. In addition to a number of statistics courses, you will take four specialization courses, learn professional skills related to your major and conduct supervised research in small groups. 
• In the third and final year, you will finish your major with a professional practice course, and choose a minor and two electives. You'll conclude your program with a Bachelor's Thesis related to your major.

Watch the video on the structure of the Bachelor's program in Psychology. (video - 2:46 min)

You can specialize in one of the following majors:

Choosing a major

To support you in choosing the right major, the program organizes information fairs where you can learn everything about the majors and how they relate to the Master's programs. Chose the wrong major? Not to worry; if you change your mind, you can still switch majors without study delay after your second year. 

Typical courses include the following:

• Brain and Behavior
  Learn how the brain functions and how human experience and behavior are related to it. This course answers questions such as, how does the brain develop, how do nerves work,  and how do people sleep and dream?
• Personality Psychology
  Learn how and why people differ from each other. The course examines the characteristics that are typical for individuals. Answer questions such as, what types of personality are there, what is our self-image, or why do people react differently to stress and illness?
• Developmental Psychology
  Learn about development from conception to old age. Answer questions such as, how does emotion develop in children, and what are the cognitive consequences of old age?

More on the program and courses

Study Psychology in Tilburg

• Design your career and your own study program by combining a major and a minor that fit your academic interest and career aspirations. This unique combination will make you stand out in the job market. At Tilburg University, you have the unique option to choose Economic, Forensic and Medical Psychology, because it is one of the few centers of expertise in these areas in the Netherlands.
• Gain international experience by spending a semester at a partner university abroad.
• Benefit from an interactive learning environment in a small-scale international classroom.
• Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)
  Personal guidance and coaching from an academic mentor throughout the entire program (years 1, 2 and 3) to help you achieve your full potential. 
  Watch a short video about our Program for Academic Study Success (2:21 min).

What to expect when coming to Tilburg

• Why study at Tilburg University?
• International student support
• Study in Holland

Beyond your Bachelor's: Extracurricular activities

• Join the study association Complex. They organize multiple formal and informal activities for their members. For example, together with SPS-NIP (Section Psychology Students of the Netherlands Institute of Psychologists) they organize annual events such as Experience Your Future. The purpose of this event is to introduce psychology students to, among other things, specializations within psychology, registration after obtaining a master's degree, and the field of psychology. 
• Join Faculty Association IDEA.
• Challenge yourself by participating in one of the programs of excellence.

More info on extracurricular activities

Careers and subsequent Master’s programs

After obtaining your Bachelor's degree in Psychology you can choose to do a Master's program. After you have completed a Master's program, you will have favorable career prospects as a psychologist or researcher.

Graduates found work at Elisabeth-TweeSteden hospital, mental health care institutions, universities, market research agencies, Impegno, GfK, CZ and Philips.

 Discover what you can do after your Bachelor’s

Please follow the national application and admission procedure (in Dutch) if you are applying based on a Dutch vwo or hbo-p diploma, regardless of your nationality. A general description of the national application procedure is also available in English.

Admission requirements

• To be eligible for admission to a research university such as Tilburg University, you must have a high school diploma equal to the highest level of secondary education in the Netherlands (the Dutch vwo diploma).
• As this Bachelor’s program is taught entirely in English, you must prove your English language proficiency. 
• A good knowledge of mathematics is important for being successful in this Bachelor’s program. In order to be admitted, you must therefore prove that you have sufficient knowledge of mathematics.
• A selection procedure applies for the Bachelor's program in Psychology (Numerus Fixus). For academic year 2023-2024, the number of available spots is 700. 

You can find more detailed information about the admission requirements on this program's 'Application and admission' page.

Go to application and admission

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