Are you interested in joining the Master’s in Psychology after you have obtained your bachelor’s degree? If so, you may be required to take the Pre-master’s programme.
What is a pre-master's programme?
A pre-master's programme is a transfer and bridging programme for University of Applied Sciences (Dutch hbo) or Research University bachelor's programme students who wish to obtain a university master's degree, but who cannot be admitted directly. Students with a related previous education will gain the knowledge and skills needed for participation in the master’s. Once you’ve successfully completed the pre-master's programme, you’ll be granted admission to the master’s programme in Psychology.
Start Date
For the standard pre-master’s programme of 45 EC (for hbo students) there are two terms of enrolment. You can start either in September or February. In case of an individual pre-master’s programme the (advised) start date also depends on the specific deficit programme needed.
Programme
University of Applied Sciences (HBO) students
If you are graduating from a university of applied sciences, we advise you only to sign up for the Psychology (pre-)master’s if you are among the top students in your programme (with an average grade of 7.0 or higher). In addition to that, it is important that you are motivated to gain deeper knowledge and to learn to think scientifically. We furthermore advise you to brush up your English and Mathematics/Statistics skills before you start the pre-master’s programme. Additional courses can be found at Babel en Boswell Bèta or Open Universiteit or at Saxion for Saxion-students.
You can do the pre-master’s programme after completing your other programme, but you may also be able to incorporate it in your current programme as a transfer minor.
content of the pre-master’s programme
The standard (45 EC, for Dutch hbo students) pre-master's programme Psychology consists of a generic/academic part (30 EC), a module that prepares for the specific master’s specialisation (15 EC) (admissibility depending on previous education) and a tutorial package (so-called ‘self-study) with written test (0 EC, study load approximately 5EC) in the summer (holiday).
Generic / academic part (30 EC)
The generic part consists of methods and statistics courses, research and design courses and an orientation to the Psychology disciplines. This generic component which is offered twice a year is the first part of the pre-master. Students start with this part on September 1 or on February 1st. The generic part is as follows:
Block 1A/2A:
- 202001402 Research methodology and descriptive statistics – 5 EC
- 202000440 Introduction to psychology – 5 EC
- 202000443 Academic writing – 5 EC
Block 1B/2B:
- 202001403 Inferential statistics – 5 EC
- 202000441 Design methodology for psychology – 5 EC
- 202000444 Pre-master Research Practical – 5 EC
Besides these courses the student has to autonomously finish the obligatory component:
- 202000442 Professional ethics – 0 EC
Module that prepares for the master’s specialisation (15 EC)
The second part of the pre-master consists of a module to prepare for the (elected) master’s specialisation. Students follow a 15EC (full-time) module (from the BSc program) in block 1A or 1B. Whether a student is admitted to a particular module (and the accompanying specialisation) depends on the previous education of the student. This part of the pre-master’s programme is offered only once a year: in semester 1.So you follow one of these modules (that belongs to the specialisation that you’ve been admitted to).
Block 1A:
- 202000340 Health Psychology & Applied Technology (HPT)
- 202000344 Psychology in Learning & Instruction (LS)
- 202000348 Psychology of Safety (CRS)
Block 1B:
- 202000351 Human Factors & Engineering Psychology (HFE)
- 202000355 Mental Health (PCPT)
Written test based on self-education (study load approximately 5 EC) (in summer)
Prior to the 15EC module, the student has to successfully complete a written test in the summer (holiday) (preparation based on self-education). This self-education takes the form of knowledge gathering around one of the basic disciplines of psychology, which is relevant to the (chosen) master’s specialisation. Some of the students for instance gather knowledge in the field of social psychology, and other students gather knowledge in the field of cognitive psychology.
Schematic overview of the pre-master's programme
Schematically the complete pre-master's program is as follows:
| Sem 1 2020/2021 | Sem 2 2020/2021 | Summer 2021 or.. | Sem 1 2021/2022 |
Start September | Generic part 30 EC |
| Written test | Module 15 EC |
Start February |
| Generic part 30EC | Written test | Module 15 EC |
Please note that the above sequence of pre-master components is obligatory.
Research University students
The study programme and number of EC the pre-master’s programme for university students consists of depends on your previous education and will not be the same for everyone. Pre-master’s programmes for university students range between 10-45 EC.
Language
The pre-master’s programme is taught in English.
Admission
If you will be eligible for admission to the pre-master's programme in Psychology depends on your previous education. More information on admission.
Full-time
The master’s programme is offered on a full-time basis, with a study load of about 40 hours per week. We do not offer evening or weekend courses. The pre-master’s programme involves courses on three or four days per week, and two to eight hours of classes on any given day.
Rules of the pre-Master’s programme
The pre-master’s programme is designed not only to address any deficiencies in your prior knowledge, but it is also an effective way to find out whether studying at a research university in the field of Psychology is right for you. To this end, in the pre-master Psychology programme several rules, as a Binding Recommendation (Bindend Studieadvies), are applicable. There is for example limited time in which you have to complete the pre-master. You also have to earn sufficient marks with a maximum of one re-sit per course. That said, in practice almost all motivated students complete the programme in the allotted time.
Pre-master Application route
You can apply for admittance online, see https://www.utwente.nl/en/education/master/how-to-apply/. Students who integrate the premaster’s programme in their programme of a University of Applied Sciences, can apply via kiesopmaat.
Keep an eye on the application deadlines and check them prior to your application (pre-master and master deadlines are most of the times identical).
Contact
If you have any questions, please contact our Study Information Centre or send an e-mail to our study advisor (studieadviseur-mps@utwente.nl).