Prior education You are eligible for admission to the Master programme if you have successfully completed a Bachelor’s or undergraduate degree* from a research university. Whether you are eligible for admission, depends on the specific degree you have obtained. * Comparable to the Dutch academic level according to the standards of the Dutch Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (Nuffic). Admission You will be admitted to the master’s programme if you have successfully completed one of the following programmes: Bachelor Psychology at Erasmus University Rotterdam Bachelor Psychology at a Dutch research university (i.e., you will not be admitted with a degree from a University of Applied Sciences (i.e., “Hoger Beroepsonderwijs”)) Admission to be decided upon by the Admissions Committee If you have successfully completed a programme in Psychology at a foreign university, you may also be eligible for admission to the master’s programme. Likewise, you may be eligible for admission to the master’s programme in Psychology, if you have successfully completed a programme that is comparable to the Psychology bachelor's programme (from a Dutch or foreign research university). Examples of such programmes include Cognition, Language & Communication, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Psychobiology and Health Sciences. Whether you are eligible for admission to the master’s specialization of your preference, depends on the curriculum of your prior education and your results in statistics courses as part of this education. We expect you to have obtained at least: 25 EC in relevant courses, of which at least 15 EC in the field of Psychology; and 15 EC in statistics courses and basic skills in SPSS, JASP or R. You are expected to be familiar with the following statistical techniques (and able to apply them in statistical packages such SPSS, JASP or R): descriptive statistics, correlation, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, between-subjects versus within-subjects designs, multiple regression, 1-factor and 2-factor ANOVA, repeated measures ANOVA, GLM, psychometrics, non-parametric testing. When you apply for the master’s specialization of your preference, the Admissions Committee will assess whether you are eligible for direct admission to the master’s specialisation. Please note that if you are eligible for admission to a specialisation, based on another prior education than the bachelor’s degree Psychology at EUR (or: with the EUR bachelor’s degree in Psychology but with specialisation that does not align with the master’s programme specialisation of your preference, there is no guarantee that you can directly obtain your degree. You are responsible for filling the gaps in your knowledge and skills of statistics or the specialisation that you have chosen. There may be additional requirements, next to a master’s degree, if you want to enroll in certain post-academic vocational training or become a member of a specific professional association. It is your own responsibility to acquire information related to these requirements in case you are considering such options. Language requirements A good command of English is essential. Therefore, you will have to submit proof of English proficiency in your application. You meet the requirements if: You have obtained a bachelor's diploma from a university in the Netherlands; or You have obtained a pre-university education (VWO) diploma and English was one of the subjects included in the assessment conferring that diploma and graded a 7.0 or higher; or You have obtained a diploma of International Baccalaureate (valid for 5 years); or You are a native speaker of English (i.e. a national of one of the following countries: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom and the United States of America) and you have obtained a diploma of secondary education in English for at least 2,5 years in one of the above countries; or You have obtained your diploma of higher education in English (the entire programme) in one of the following countries: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom or the United States of America. We usually deem the level of English bachelor's programmes at West European or Scandinavian universities sufficient as well. Please mind that in case you meet one or more of the above-mentioned English language requirements, you need to present a proof thereof. For example, if you have obtained your diploma of higher education in English, we need to see a written proof of it in the form of either a passage in the diploma, grade list, or a letter from the university stating that the language of instruction was English for the entire programme. If you do not meet our requirements, you can demonstrate your English skills with a language test: Please note that the test may not be older than two years at the time of application. Also note that it takes several weeks before the results of the tests are known. Language Test Minimum Score Minimum Sub-scores Internet based (iBT) TOEFL (our TOEFL ID Code 5971) * 5 (100 in the old format) (internet based) 4.5 (20 in the old format) IELTS Academic** 7.0 6.0 Cambridge EFL (English as a Foreign Language) Examinations CAE level B CPE level C Language Cert Academic 75 65 Pearson Academic 75 66 * Please note that Institutional (ITP) TOEFL tests and the Home Edition are not accepted. ** Please note that we do not accept the IELTS Academic online test. Would you like to take a language test at Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)? The language test, based on CEF, is organised by the Language & Training Centre of EUR and tailored specially for our applicants. More information can be found on the website of the language centre. Are you an ESSB pre-master student? If you do not meet our language requirements for upcoming academic year, but already study at ESSB as a pre-master student, we offer a special arrangement: you can take the English assessment at the Language & Training Centre of EUR at our expense once. If you wish to do so, please send an e-mail to master@essb.eur.nl (subject “English assessment for pre-master students”) and mention your name, student number, the master programme and specialization you want to apply for. We will inform you on how to register for the English assessment. The English assessment test rounds will take place in late November & March. So make sure you email us in time. This test is only valid for our master programmes and you will therefore not receive a certificate for other purposes. Academic performance In addition to the credentials mentioned above, the Admissions Board will also take into account your academic performance, i.e. your grades. Please note that there is no minimum score or average grade mentioned; your application will be assessed against the pool of applicants of the given year. Additional information Should the admissions criteria mentioned above be too concise, please refer to the information below. Prior education Diplomas will be carefully evaluated to determine whether they qualify as degrees from research universities (as opposed to universities of applied sciences). An evaluation can only be done after the submission of the on-line application form and all required supporting documents. In order to be eligible for admission to the programme, you must have fulfilled all the requirements for your bachelor’s degree by August 15 at the very latest. In case you are unable to fulfill these requirements in time, this will result in a denial of admission. If you have not yet completed your bachelor’s degree but expect to before August 15, please send us an official copy of your academic records at the moment of application. In case the transcript of records does not contain any of the following: The name of the programme you are enrolled in; The kind of degree you are studying for; The date of enrollment; The amount of credits you have obtained so far, you must also provide a statement of your university (please read more information about this) mentioning the date you expect to fulfil all the requirements necessary for graduation. Until we have your documents you might receive a conditional offer, which might become unconditional if we receive the missing documents. Proof of English proficiency If you have obtained your diploma of higher education in English we need to see a written proof of it in the form of either a passage in the diploma, grade list, or a letter from the university stating that the language of instruction was English. Institutional TOEFL tests are not accepted. The Examination Board makes the final decision on granting you an exemption for English language proficiency. Erasmus University Rotterdam does not offer any preparatory English courses. Information of the language test, based on CEF, organised by the Language & Training Centre of Erasmus University Rotterdam and tailored specially for our applicants, can be found on the website of the centre . Read more Read less Direct Admission You will be admitted to the master Psychology if you have successfully completed a Bachelor Psychology at a Dutch research university (i.e., you will not be admitted with a degree from a University of Applied Sciences (i.e., “Hoger Beroepsonderwijs”)). Admission to be decided upon by Admissions Committee Depending on the specialisation you wish to apply for, you are eligible for admission to the programme if you have obtained a relevant bachelor or undergraduate degree (comparable to the Dutch academic level according to the standards of the Dutch Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (Nuffic)) from a research university. Some examples of relevant bachelor programmes are: Psychology Liberal Arts and Sciences Health Sciences Cognition, Language and Communication You are also expected to have obtained at least: 25 EC in courses related to the preferred field of your specialisation, of which at least 15 EC in the field of Psychology; At least 15 ECTS in statistics courses and at least basic SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) skills. You are expected to be familiar with the following statistical techniques (and be able to apply them in SPSS): descriptive statistics, correlation, hypothesis testing, between-subjects versus within-subjects designs, multiple regression, 1-factor and 2-factor ANOVA, repeated measures-ANOVA, MANOVA, GLM, psychometrics, non-parametric testing. We would like to stress that if you are an eligible candidate for the specialisation, there is no guarantee that you can directly obtain your degree. You are responsible for filling the gaps in your knowledge and skills of statistics or the specialisation that you have chosen. There may be additional requirements, next to a master degree, if you want to enroll in certain post-academic vocational training or become a member of a specific professional association. It is your own responsibility to acquire information related to these requirements in case you are considering such options. The eligibility of your bachelor can only be determined after you have submitted an application and only after we have received all requested documents. Prior inquiries will be purely hypothetical. FAQ's Can my eligibility be assessed before I officially apply for admission? The eligibility of your prior education can only be determined after you have submitted an application and only after we have received all requested documents. Prior inquiries will be purely hypothetical. For this reason, we encourage you to officially apply for admission. You can also assess your eligibility yourself by taking a look at the detailed admissions criteria on this page. We have tried to make the criteria as transparent as possible. Is the programme taught part-time? No, it is a full-time programme. Can I start the programme in the second semester? No, the programme starts only once a year, in September. Can I transfer my grades from another university? A transfer of grades is not possible. Due to the special educational build-up of the curriculum, which mainly consists of obligatory as opposed to optional courses, we, unfortunately, cannot accept transfer students. Why do I have to submit proof of English proficiency? Our programme is an English-taught programme. All lectures and literature are in English. This requires that you can read, write, speak, and understand English at an academic level; thus, we need proof thereof from our applicants. This applies to our Dutch and non-Dutch applicants. Can I take an institutional TOEFL test? No, you cannot. You will need to do the official TOEFL test at a TOEFL-certified institute. In both cases please visit TOEFL.org for more information. Are there any exceptions to the language requirements? Yes, in some cases, you might be exempted from presenting the results of an English proficiency test. Please look at the admission page to determine your eligibility for exemption. Keep in mind that if you believe you qualify for an exemption, you need to present proof thereof.
We open for applications as of October 2026 and the application deadlines are as follows: Status applicant Deadline application Non-EU / EEA applicants May 1, 2027 EU / EEA applicants June 1, 2027 Please remember that we can only process and review applications deemed complete before or on the deadline. Please submit your application as early as possible to ensure it is complete before the deadline. Next, make sure to thoroughly review the list of required documents and information you need to submit. How to Apply? How to Apply? Step-by-step application procedure Step 1: Register for the ‘Psychology’ in Studielink. Studielink is the national database for the registration for a study programme in the Netherlands. It is the first step of the application procedure. Make sure you choose the right programme (including the language of instruction, or (if there are several degrees offered) the resulting degree). Please note: You can select your track/specialisation during the second step in the EUR admission portal. It is not possible to apply for more than one Psychology specialisation at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Double Psychology applications cannot be processed. Studielink Step 2: Follow up to your application in the EUR Admissions Portal After your registration in Studielink: fill out an online application form through EUR Admissions Portal. In the Admissions Portal, you will have to choose the track/specialisation and upload the required documents (see below). After registration in Studielink, you will receive an e-mail with the subject “Follow up to your Studielink application”. This e-mail contains a link to the EUR Admissions Portal. You need to login to the Admissions Portal with your login details (the ERNA details). These details are sent to you by e-mail after registering in Studielink . Please mind that you will receive a number of automated messages during application. They often get spammed, so be sure to check your spam/ junk mailbox folders. Required documents The following documents (in pdf) will be requested from you during the application process. 1. A scan (photocopy) of your passport/ID card; A scan (photocopy) of the personal data page of your passport/ ID card and (if applicable) residence permit (both sides). The document(s) must be valid. This is not mandatory if you hold a Dutch passport or are/have been a student of a Dutch university. If you upload a scan of your ID card please note that the information on this card should contain your first name, surname, date of birth, country of birth and nationality, as well as be an internationally recognized form of identification. If this is not the case, a scan of your passport is required. Both sides of your ID card need to be uploaded. 2. A scan (photocopy) of your university diploma(-s); Please note that if the original documents are in a language other than English, Dutch, French or German you need to provide both the copies of originals as well as official (certified) translations. Self-made translations will not be accepted. If you have not yet obtained your bachelor’s/ undergraduate/ pre-master degree, please include an official copy of your academic record(-s) at the moment of application. In case your official transcript does not contain enrolment data (date of enrolment, name of the programme/ degree you are studying for, number of credits obtained/ to be obtained), a statement from your university with the missing information and a date you expect to fulfil all requirements necessary for graduation (most of the time it is a letter from your programme administration) must be provided. The current students of Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences at Erasmus University Rotterdam may upload their student copy of grade list (studievoortgangsoverzicht). 3. A scan (photocopy) of an official academic transcript(-s) of records; A scan (photocopy) of an official academic transcript(-s) of records (stamped and signed by the university) , including the reverse side if it contains information. The transcript needs to include the following information: All your grades from the beginning of the program up until now. It is desirable that the courses yet to be passed are also listed. The specialisation or major you’re following or have followed (if applicable). If your specialisation is not mentioned on your transcript while you’re following or have followed a specialisation/major, you can upload an additional official statement of your university confirming the said specialisation. The average grade of your bachelor. Please note that if the original documents are in a language other than English, Dutch, French or German you need to provide both the copies of originals as well as official (certified) translations. Self-made translations will not be accepted. The current students of Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences at Erasmus University Rotterdam may upload an unofficial copy of their transcript instead including the above mentioned information. 4. Proof of proficiency in the English language; Proof of proficiency in the English language. Please make sure you meet the English language requirement for this programme as stated on the admission page. 5. Download, fill out and upload the attached checklist; Download, fill out and upload the attached checklist (Methods and Techniques and SPSS); see below. Not applicable to the current students or graduates of Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences at Erasmus University Rotterdam. 6. Possible additional documents; Apart from the above documents that are mandatory in the course of application you may upload additional documents that you think might contribute to your profile (e.g., resumé, motivation letter, reference letter etc.) Make sure you do not overdo with these as their amount might overshadow the essentials. 7. Descriptions of the courses taken in the field of your preferred specialisation/track. Please upload an extensive description of the specialisation courses you passed, in addition to a description on the completed courses in methodology and statistics in PDF format, including; the number of credits, aim of the course, content of the course, type of exam, bibliography of the required course material (textbooks), etc. For example: https://eur.osiris-student.nl/onderwijscatalogus/extern/indeling/ESSB_MPSY_KP . The template for this description can be found in the application portal. Not applicable to the current students or graduates of Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Downloads Methods and Techniques and SPSS doc, 16 KB ESSB Course description - non-clinical tracks doc, 79.89 KB What happens after application? After you submit your application, the process of assessing it starts. This process consists of several steps, and you might want to know what to prepare for. Application complete? We will let you know if your application is complete within a week of you submitting it (assuming that there are no holidays in between). We will also contact you should we need additional information. Assessment Once your application is complete, you will not be contacted until your application is assessed to determine your eligibility for the programme. The Admissions Board carefully reviews each file for admission. You will be contacted as soon as the assessment outcome is known. It may take up to two months, starting when your application is deemed complete. Decision Due to the many factors involved in the admissions decision-making process, the Admission Board does not elaborate on its motivation for the outcome of the decision. We kindly ask you to respect this. Thank you for your consideration! Change of contacts If your personal or contact details (email address, home address, etc.) should change, please adjust them in Studielink . Finalise your admission and enrolment After we have assessed your application and decided to select you for the programme, the process of completing your admission and enrolment starts. In addition to sending the original copies of your documents, several other matters must be considered during this process. For more information about finalising your admission and enrolment, visit the pages for admitted students. FAQ's FAQ's Application procedure When can I apply? The application for the academic year starting in September opens in October of the previous calendar year. Can I apply without having obtained my diploma before the application deadline? If you have not completed your bachelor's degree yet but expect to do so before mid-August, please upload a most recent copy of your academic record(s) (grade list) to the application and provide a statement of your school with the date you expect to fulfil all requirements necessary for graduation. The statement by your school should include the name of your diploma in the original language and be written in English, German, Dutch or be accompanied by a certified translation in one of these languages. Until we have your documents, you might receive a conditional offer, which might become unconditional if we receive the missing documents (diploma and final transcript of academic record(s)) before the beginning of the academic year. How can I get an official translation of my documents? A registered sworn translator usually does an official translation, generally associated with a notary. Alternatively, an institution issuing the respective document may be entitled to issue official translations. Please note that you must send a copy of the documents in the original language and also the translation. Can I submit the proof of English proficiency later, after I submit the application? You may submit the proof of English proficiency later, but until then your application will be viewed as "incomplete" and will not be assessed. Please mind that it can take up to a month to receive the results of most English language exams. We therefore strongly advise to schedule the exam well in advance of the application deadlines. You can submit the missing proof of language proficiency no later than the application deadline. Do I have to submit a reference letter? No, it is not mandatory. You may add the letter as an additional evidence if you believe it might contribute to your profile. How do I get certified copies of documents? A certified copy is a copy of a filed document, legal or otherwise, that contains a seal and a signature that establishes that the document is genuine, a true copy. A document may be certified by an official authorised person (e.g., a university, a notary, a sworn translator, etc.). Applicants with Dutch prior education do not have to send us certified copies; we can verify your previous education online. Who needs to apply for a residence permit and/or entry visa? Please consult this page to learn more about immigration procedures and rules.
In this specialisation, you will explore how psychological insights, evidence-based methods, and participatory, user-centred design approaches are applied to create innovative solutions that address societal needs, tackle psychological problems, promote healthy behaviours, and prevent unhealthy ones. You'll become familiar with various models of behaviour change and health behaviours, gaining a strong theoretical understanding and practical skills in intervention design and implementation, practising with real-world cases. For example, you will be challenged to develop ideas on how to change the food environment into a healthy one or develop a concept of an app to enhance resilience and improve mental health.
This master's will train students to become all-round professionals who can apply scientific knowledge on health promotion in practice. With increasing shortages in care professionals and the challenges an ageing population poses, experts in this field will be in high demand. Graduates will stand out due to their strong theoretical foundation and exceptional research and professional skills, including teamwork, project management, scientific integrity, transparency, and communication.