Psychology is the favourite science for students who want to get into the depths of human feelings. This is considered to be the science of mind and behaviour. More specifically, psychology wants to explore the way people think, act, and feel, by appealing to the emotional side of people.
Passion can lead students to choose this specialisation. It is not considered a difficult one, but it is not very easy to approach, as the theoretical elements of the discipline are combined with the practical ones.
After studying Psychology, students choose to specialise in a particular sub-field. Depending on their preference, they can choose between Biological Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Comparative Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Personality Psychology and many others.
Psychology is a great opportunity to get to know each other better and to get to know others. Thus, students who are looking to understanding human behaviour, feelings and mind gain an inside vision of what these notions really mean and what determines people to make certain decisions and act under different circumstances.
The employment rate among Psychology graduates has grown in recent years. Salaries are satisfactory, and young people can focus either on psychological services in schools, hospitals, treatment centres, clinics, depending on the specialisation chosen. Furthermore, Psychology graduates can integrate a career in social media, marketing, and advertising, as they understand best the reasons why people choose to make decisions according to what they see in real life.
In the four years of Bachelor studies, graduates acquire the necessary knowledge to practice Psychology, initially learning the underlying theoretical notions. These notions become an important starting point in their career, seeing later how practice blends very well with theory. It should be noted that on the labour market, students who hold a Bachelor’s degree are much more appreciated and have an advantage over those who follow simple courses.
A Master’s program usually lasts between 2 and 3 years, coming as a complement to the Bachelor’s courses. Master courses have a much more loaded curriculum and a great deal of information. A Doctoral program is dedicated to students who want to do research in Psychology in various institutes or to become teachers. This has a duration of between 5 and 7 years.
I started studying in the zuid of Amsterdam in 2017 and it was an amazing experience. I moved from Rio to Amsterdam when I was only 18 and fitted in perfectly!
Everybody was super helpful with assisting me settling into my new life. I easily found a new job and managed to juggle between school work and work.
The campus looks slightly outdated but inside the facilities are top-grade, aswell as the professors
This is my 4th year at the university, in my opinion it is very fast passed and we are required and expected to learn a large amount of material in a short period of time. However the study material is very detailed and nicely explained. The books we use and research are very good
View moreThe classes and lectures were great, there was always an opportunity to ask questions and to interact with our peers and teachers. The material was clear and somewhat easy for the most part, however, there were courses in which the material was hard to obtain.
View moreWhen I entered the university, I had an idea of what “psychology” would look like in terms of studying it. Though some parts are still extremely interesting, others (such as a heavy focus on statistics and its counterparts) are not my preference, personally. However, I am sure that others still thoroughly enjoy the programme, despite the heavy focus on statistics.
View moreIt is very international and I felt very welcomed! The majority of students are from outside the Netherlands. The courses were super interesting. The facilities were affordable and in great condition. I had the best time here.
View moreI’m currently in my third year of psychology at Vu doing an internship at Vu, although I missed my second year due to covid I had a great first year in Amsterdam.
The initial thing I would point out is the housing crisis in Amsterdam, if you’re planning to come to Amsterdam I would look for housing at least 6 months in advance.
The Vu campus is in a decent campus in the south on the edge of the ring.
The level of teaching is very high as the professors are world-renowned in the psychology world. There is an opportunity for an exchange and electives in the three years.
Finally, there is a great social hub in the city of Amsterdam as expected.
My first year of college was great, in-person lectures and classes were essential for getting to know people, sadly because of covid obviously a lot of this is gone.
From a pre covid point it was a very well thought course with leading experts in the field presenting lectures and classes. I can’t talk for all of Vu but the psychology facilities are old and dated which is unfortunate.
The social life in Amsterdam is second to none, arguably there is nowhere better in the world for a student to live.
I would recommend this course to anyone interested in psychology as it was everything I expected it to be and more.
The course isn’t the hardest course to be accepted into but the coursework does require a lot of attention and work.
In the third year, there is also a chance for an exchange abroad which can be an exciting time to look forward to at the end of your course.
I liked the program and learned a lot! The professors were very good and the tutors were really lovely and helpful! The courses were interesting and diverse. There are a lot of international students so it is easy to make friends even if you are from abroad. The program was challenging at times but I believe it is a good base to continue to master’s programs. The accommodation situation is a nightmare in Amsterdam so be prepared for that, the university also cannot help everyone with accommodation.
View moreI just started my first year and I may say that I love the experience at the VU Amsterdam. The programme for Psychology is very good so far, although some of the professors could improve their way of teaching, but, at the end of every course, you always have the opportunity to give them constructive feedback so they can improve. You should keep in mind that if you start studying Psychology there will be a lot of reading and, well, studying required, you have to dedicate a lot of your time to that (but it’s not a bad thing if that is what you really want to do)! The courses are very interesting and sometimes it could be a bit overwhelming, but you only take two courses at a time, which is great! You have the opportunity to take a resit if you fail an exam, and if you fail again, you also have the opportunity to retake the course. Overall, I may say – so far, so good and that I really enjoy studying in this environment!
View moreThe Psychology department of Vrije University Amsterdam is great because we are always provided with the resources that we need and if we require any help we are always able to contact any staff and always are guaranteed fast response. Additionally, the application process is great and I received fast updates before attending the university. Now in my third year, I’ve grown to know the uni very well and can see that the staff really care about their students and the wellbeing of everyone attending, with many options to receive help, whether it’s for studying purposes or struggling with mental health. Overall, I would highly recommend attending Vu, it’s great!
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