Psychology is one of the popular university studies in the Netherlands. Next to the university students study psychology at the MBO and the HBO in the social related studies. Students on the MBO study psychology on a lower level. These students are mostly between 16 and 19 years old.

Students on the HBO (Polytechnic/Hochfachschule) study psychology on a higher level. They are between 17 and 21 years old. Students have to follow at least one course of psychology in their major programme. This is a program of 71/2 EC.(European credits). The study of psychology in the HBO includes developmental, emotional, cognitive, and social psychology.

At the moment the study of psychology is part of problem-based learning but any HBO can in fact make his own programme. So there is a lot of difference in level and in psychology subjects.

Next to psychology in the major programme any student can choose psychology in their minor programme. In this minor program we go much deeper in certain subjects as psychopathology, sexuality, research etc. This programme is also 712 EC which is about 210 hours of study. So if a HBO student take psychology as major and minor his study contains about 420 hours of study.

The Dutch psychology organisation is called N.I.P. and you can visit its site on http://www.psynip.nl/. Most of the members are practising psychologist. Not many teachers are members at the moment

Hans Reijnierse