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Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research (AIHR) AIHR
Bachelor
Compare programme
Psychology

Career prospects

Psychologists excel in understanding human behaviour and mental processes. With a Bachelor of science in Psychology, you can enter the job market directly, but you can also consider further specialisation that contributes to even better career perspectives. Psychology offers diverse paths, such as research, organisational psychology, developmental psychology, and more.
Subsequent Master's programmes
  • Psychology

    Within this Master’s programme you can choose between 11 tracks. Read more about the different tracks of the Master’s in Psychology.

  • Health Care Psychology

    This Master's degree in Health Care is for you if you want to specialise in clinical psychology at the UvA. If you're considering further studies like the post-master's degree in GZ psychology (health care psychologist) or other post master programs such as the post-master's degree in psychotherapy, this programme is a great fit. It offers 4 different tracks to choose from. 

    Please note: The 4 Master tracks in healthcare psychology are only offered in Dutch. In the Netherlands, post-graduate training is required to become a registered health care psychologist ‘Gezondheidszorgpsycholoog’ or registered Clinical Psychologist ‘Klinisch Psycholoog’. These post-graduate programmes are also only offered in Dutch. At other Dutch universities English taught clinical master programmes are offered.  

    Read more about the tracks of Health Care Psychology. 

  • Research Master Psychology

    In the Psychology Research Master’s , you dive even deeper into the psychological topics that interest you most. You learn to think critically and scientifically, developing the knowledge and skills needed to conduct high-quality psychological research. This master’s programme is taught in English. 

  • Other UvA Master's programmes

    Would you like to pursue another master's degree (within or outside the UvA) after your bachelor's in Psychology? Ensure that your bachelor's degree meets the admission requirements of that programme. Some master's programmes you can start immediately, while others may require: 

    • Completing a pre-master’s programme first 
    • Having a specific bachelor's degree for admission 

Where do psychologists work?

With a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, you can enter the labour market. However, many positions often require a completed master's degree. 

If you have a degree in Psychology, you can pursue many different roles across a wide range of sectors. 

 

Fields of work
  • Organisational advice/ consultancy
    • Consultant 
    • Organisational adviser 
  • Research
    • Researcher at a university 
    • Researcher at various other research institutes, such as NIPO, TNO, the Kohnstamm Institute, Helen Dowling Institute, Rathenau Institute, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (Nivel), Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), etc. 
    • Researcher in the private sector, for example at an advertising agency, a market research firm, Philips, Unilever, etc. 
  • Training and coaching
    • Trainer at training institutes such as De Baak, Schouten & Nelissen, etc., in areas such as personal effectiveness, leadership, performance appraisals, etc. 
    • Social skills trainer 
    • Team-building trainer 
    • Coach 
  • Mental health care
    • Practitioner (therapist) in outpatient or inpatient care, working individually or with groups: children, adolescents, adults, older people, individuals with acquired brain injury, addiction care, etc. 
    • Psychodiagnostician 
    • Mental health practitioner in general practice (e.g. GP practice nurse for mental health) 
    • Clinical psychologist in a hospital 
    • Researcher 
  • Education
    • Educational psychologist 
    • Dyslexia specialist 
    • Performance anxiety coach 
    • Social skills trainer 
  • Marketing / advertising
    • Marketing specialist 
    • Strategist 
  • Corporate sector
    • Occupational psychologist (recruitment and selection) 
    • Coach 
    • Consultant 
    • Researcher 
    • Trainer 
  • Government (national, local, etc.)
    • Policy officer / policy adviser 
    • Researcher 
    • Occupational psychologist (recruitment and selection) 
    • Consultant 
Frequently Asked Questions
  • Do you always become a psychologist, or can you work in business?

    You do not automatically become a psychologist. Many graduates work in other areas, such as HR, policy, education, communication, research, or data. The bachelor’s degree gives you a broad foundation.
    Do you want to work in business? That is possible, for example with the specialisation Work & Organisational Psychology or a minor in management, data, or communication.

  • How do I become a psychologist, and which track fits clinical work?

    After the bachelor’s degree, you are not yet a psychologist. Most students do a Master’s programme of 1 or 2 years.
    If you want to work in a clinical setting, the specialisations Clinical Psychology, Clinical Developmental Psychology, and Clinical Neuropsychology fit best with a clinical Master’s. For some clinical jobs, you also need a post-Master’s programme or BIG registration.

  • Which Bachelor's specialisation suits students who want to do research?

    Psychological Methods and Brain & Cognition are a good match if you want to do a research Master’s or work in academia.