Bachelor Psychology

Program and courses Psychology BSc

In the Bachelor's program in Psychology, you study mind and behavior. You study people, who we are, how we think and feel and why we make certain decisions. This program's flexible curriculum gives you the freedom to specialize by combining a major with a minor.

Program structure and content

Throughout the program, you will get a solid foundation in the various fields of Psychology. These include Mental health, Social Psychology, and Social Science Research. By choosing a major in your second, and a minor in your third year, you can tailor your study program to your academic interests and career aspirations. You will follow lectures, and collaborate with your fellow students during tutorials and group assignments. You will also have the opportunity to put what you learned into action by doing lab research and scientific research projects.

First year

In the first year of the program, you will get a solid foundation in all the focus areas of Psychology. This will help you choose a major in your second year. 

You will take the following courses in block 1:

  • Introduction to Psychology and History of Psychology
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Introduction to Research Methodology
  • Academic Skills Psychology A
  • Experimental Subject Hours
  • Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)

You will take the following courses in block 2:

  • Social Psychology
  • Psychology of Personality
  • Introduction to Research Methodology
  • Academic Skills Psychology A
  • Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)

You will take the following courses in block 3:

  • Philosophy of Mind
  • Brain and Behavior
  • Introduction to Statistics
  • Academic Skills Psychology B
  • Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)

You will take the following courses in block 4:

  • Psychopathology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Introduction to Statistics
  • Academic Skills Psychology B
  • Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)
Second year

In the second year, you will choose one of the nine majors, which will be the core of the rest of your program. In each block, you'll take a specialization course, learn professional skills related to your major, and conduct supervised research in small groups. For an overview of the second year, including the specialization courses, check the different majors below. 

In addition to the specialization courses, you will also take the following general courses:

  • Biological Psychology
  • Correlational Research Methods
  • Cultural Psychology
  • Research Skills in Psychology
  • Sociology for Psychology Students
  • Experimental Research Methods
  • Professional Skills
Third year

In the third year, you will conclude your major with a course that focuses on professional practice. After finishing your major, you will further shape your program by choosing a minor and two electives. You will conclude your program with a Bachelor's thesis in the field of your major.

In addition to the minor and electives, you will take the following courses in the third year:

  • Applied Methods and Statistics
  • Philosophy of Science
Study abroad: going on exchange

We encourage all students to gain international experience. A popular and very exciting option is to go abroad on exchange. As an exchange student, you study at one of the many international partner universities of Tilburg University, typically for one semester.

The Study Abroad & Exchange Office of Tilburg University will be available to help you research the opportunities within your study program and a dedicated Study Abroad & Exchange Coordinator will be advising you before, during and after your exchange.

Most students will be eligible for a grant or scholarship to financially support them during their exchange experience. Additional grants for students with special needs or a difficult financial situation are also available.

More on studying abroad

Watch a trial lecture

You can find a detailed description of the courses and required literature in our course catalog.

Go to the course descriptions


Please note: programs are subject to change. We advise you to look up the current program in OSIRIS Student at the start of the year.


Specializations of BSc Psychology

Clinical Psychology

In the specialization in Clinical Psychology, you focus on the development and treatment of people with mental disorders, with particular attention to diversity (for example, age, gender and ethnicity). You explore applications used at doctors’ practices (POH-GGZ in the Netherlands), in second-line mental health care, and in policy-making regarding care and mental health. You can do this specialization in English and Dutch.

You will investigate questions such as

  • How can we best treat people with problems in their social functioning?
  • How can we best treat people with problems in their cognitive behavior, such as people with impaired thinking ability?
  • How can we best treat people with problems in their emotional functioning, for example people with a negative self-image or fear of failure?

A short impression of Clinical Psychology (video - 2:51 min)

You will take the following courses:

  • Emotions: Scientific and Clinical Aspects
  • Personality Disorders
  • Introduction to Treatment Methods
  • Psychological Assessment
Cognitive Neuropsychology

In the specialization Cognitive Neuropsychology, you focus on normal and deviant development of the brain and associated functions related to cognition, behavior and emotion. You learn to diagnose and treat functional disorders by applying Neuropsychological diagnostics and treatment. You can do this specialization in both English and Dutch.

You investigate questions such as

  • How does the brain work in terms of perception, attention, recognition and language?
  • What happens when something goes wrong in the brain? What happens if you can't move your arm anymore? 
  • How does your brain influence your behavior?

A short impression of Cognitive Neuropsychology (video - 2:49 min)

You will take the following courses:

  • Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology
  • Cognitive Neuropsychology
  • Neuropsychological Assessment
  • Psychological Assessment
Developmental Psychology and Lifespan Psychology

In the specialization Developmental and Lifespan Psychology, you focus on the development of people throughout their entire lifespan, from baby to senior. You explore applications used in youth care, health centers, clinics and schools. You can do this specialization in both English and Dutch.

You will investigate questions such as

  • In what way(s) do people change when they get older?
  • How do people become the way they are?
  • How do young people differ from older people?
  • How do adolescents think?

A short impression of Developmental Psychology and Lifespan Psychology (video - 2:24 min)

You will take the following courses:

  • Development of Personal Relationships
  • Positive Psychology and Development
  • Developmental Disorders
  • Psychological Assessment
Economic Psychology

In the English-taught specialization Economic Psychology, you learn how to apply social-psychological insights to economic behavior. For example, you apply economic psychology to marketing, consumer behavior, and behavioral changes.

You investigate questions such as

  • How do people make decisions?
  • How do people deal with scarcity?
  • How do people react to advertising?
  • Why is it hard to prepare for retirement?

A short impression of Economic Psychology (video - 3:15 min)

You will take the following courses:

  • Economic Psychology
  • Attitudes and Advertisement
  • Consumer Behavior
  • Behavioral Change
Forensic Psychology

In the specialization Forensic Psychology, you will study the risk factors for deviant behavior and antisocial tendencies. You will focus on personal characteristics and environmental influences which contribute to the development of antisociality. Antisociality is a pattern of attitudes and behaviors that are ocnsidered deviant and/or punishable by society. 

You will explore specialized assessment and treatment of people who manifest deviant behaviors and victims in the clinical forensic and judicial system. Examples of these systems are court, special youth care, forensic psychiatric centers and prisons. You can do this specialization in Dutch and English. 

You will work on questions such as

  • Why do people show violent behavior?
  • How do people become the way they are?
  • What can we do about this?

A short impression of Forensic Psychology (video - 2:22 min)

You will take the following courses:

  • Introduction to Forensic Psychology
  • Risk Assessment
  • Criminality, Cognition and Personality
  • Psychological Assessment
Medical Psychology

In the specialization Medical Psychology, you focus on patients with mental health problems as a result of a somatic condition. You explore applications used in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, at GPs (POZ-GGZ), in nursing homes, and in policy-making regarding care and health. You can do this specialization in English and Dutch.

You will investigate questions such as

  • Why do we like rollercoaster rides (even though they are stressful)?
  • Why can’t we tickle ourselves?
  • Does depression cause diabetes or does diabetes cause depression?
  • Can a man still ejaculate after a vasectomy (male sterilization)?
  • Are singles more likely to have sex than married people?
  • I worry a lot lately, is this linked to my medical treatment?

A short impression of Medical Psychology (video - 2:58 min)

You will take the following courses:

  • Stress and Health
  • Sexology
  • Clinical Health Psychology in Medical Science
  • Psychological Assessment
Psychological Methods and Data Science

In the English-taught specialization Psychological Methods and Data Science, you focus on the application of modern and advanced methods in psychology. You explore applications used by a data analyst at, for example, test-and consultancy companies in health care, marketing, human resource management, and public administration.

You will investigate questions such as

  • How do we cluster individuals into a small number of meaningful subgroups, using a set of observed variables? For example, a set of symptoms.
  • How do we explore and visualize the relationship among a set of observed variables using a network approach?
  • How do we define and analyse models in which data have a nested multilevel structure?
  • How do we analyse conditional processes in path models? 
  • How can we quantify evidence in the data in favor of a statistical hypothesis?
  • How can we adequately use “data science” approaches to social and behavioral research?

A short impression of Psychological Methods and Data Science (video - 2:51 min)

You will take the following courses:

  • Topics in Causal Analysis
  • Topics in Psychological and Sociological Measurement
  • Introduction to Statistical Science
  • Introduction to Data Science
Social Psychology

In the English-taught specialization Social Psychology, you focus on understanding and applying fundamental social-psychological issues in a social context. You explore applications of social psychology in policy and research departments at governments and in companies.

You'll investigate questions such as

  • What is normal behavior?
  • Who are we?
  • How can you influence people’s behavior?
  • Why do people behave the way they do?
  • How can you manipulate people for a good reason? For example, in case you want to stimulate people to exercise more or to go outside more often. 

A short impression of Social Psychology (video - 2:43 min)

You will take the following courses:

  • Group Dynamics
  • Social Cognition
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Applied Social Psychology
Work and Organizational Psychology

In the English-taught specialization Work and Organizational Psychology, you learn how to apply psychological insights to organizational behavior. For example, you focus on applications of organizational psychology to management, policy and human resource issues.

  • How do people behave in organizations?
  • How to motivate people? 
  • How can we ensure the wellbeing of employees in organizations? 
  • How do we select the right people for the right jobs?

A short impression of Work and Organizational Psychology (video - 2:27 min)

You will take the following courses:

  • Work Psychology
  • Organizational Psychology
  • Diversity and Inclusion at Work
  • Applied Work and Organizational Psychology

Please note: programs are subject to change. We advise you to look up the current program in OSIRIS Student at the start of the year.


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Why Psychology in Tilburg?

  • You get an excellent education in Psychology. Tilburg University has one of the few academic centers of expertise in the areas of Economic, Forensic, and Medical Psychology in the Netherlands. 
  • Self-direct your future career and design your own study program by choosing one of the nine majors and a minor to fit your academic interest and career aspirations. This unique combination will make you stand out on the job market.
  • Benefit from an interactive learning environment in a small-scale international classroom and personal guidance and coaching from an academic mentor. This mentor will support you throughout your study trajectory and help you achieve your full potential.
  • Gain international experience by spending a semester at a partner university abroad.

Interested in the Bachelor's program in Psychology?

Check your eligibility and the deadlines for application