more info
More information
Electives for non-Psychology students and students from other Dutch universities
A number of courses in the Psychology program are open to non-psychology students from other programs at Leiden University and students from other research universities or universities of applied science. They can take these courses as an elective student. A student taking psychology courses as an elective student should keep in mind:
Many of these courses have admission criteria.
If a course comprises lectures and mandatory work group sessions, all students, including the non-Psychology students, are required to attend the work groups.
For each course there is a maximum number of participants. As Psychology students can also register for these courses, this means that the number of places available for students taking these courses as electives is limited.
Registering for electives
Students from other programmes at Leiden University: Please contact the Student Service Centre (the SSC). The SSC will place students on a waiting list. If places are available once the registration deadline has passed, the SSC will register students to these courses.
. Registration information for psychology courses is available here.
Students from other universities/universities of applied science (HBO institutions) who wish to take an elective within the Psychology programme:
apply via the Student Services Centre
These students should send with their application their ‘Statement on no objection’. Applicants should first have this statement completed by their own university/HBO institution and should then submit the statement to the Student Services Centre, so that the Psychology study adviser can assess the application. The Student Services Centre will return the signed statement to the student. The student should then sent an original statement of payment, the application form for optional subject students and the statement of no objection to Plexus student administration. The student will be enrolled at Leiden University as a guest student, and will be given a student identity number. This gives the student access to Brightspace.
More about regulations for elective courses
Make sure you are admissable in the course, by checking the entry requirements of the course in the Prospectus
If you have any questions about the system of electives, please contact the Student Services Centre
If you are not a student and you wish to take one or more electives at the Psychology department, please see: Contractual enrolment
If you are a Psychology student and you want to take electives outside Psychology, please go to: Elective credits
Request permission to take electives (in uSis)
If you would like to use courses given from another programme toward your 30ec of elective requirement you must always request permission in uSis to do so. This request must be completed at least three weeks before the course begins so that you will know if the request is approved before the start of the course.
All elective courses must be applied for and registered in uSis. If the request is approved, the course will be added to your elective course requirements. Requests to take electives which have course content which overlaps with the content of courses given by the Institute of Psychology will not be approved. Please carefully review the course description before submitting a request.
Instructions on how to request permission to take elective courses offered by another institution of Leiden University:
1. In uSis go to 'view my advisement raport’ under ‘My Academics’;
2. Under the heading “Psychology: electives from other programmes”, click on one of the ‘dummy subject’ (e.g. “electives from other programme”);
3. Select "submit request" and then choose "replacement" in the drop- down menu of “petition type” then click "continue";
4. Complete the details of the course which you wish to replace;
5. Click on submit.
A successfully completed elective course will be automatically included in your study requirements.
Instructions on how to request permission to take elective courses offered by other Dutch or foreign universities:
1. In uSis go to 'view my advisement rprt’ under ‘My Academics’;
2. Under the heading “Psychology: electives from other programmes”, click on one of the ‘dummy subject’ (e.g. “electives from other programme”);
3. Select "submit request" and then choose " external education" in the drop- down menu of “petition type” then click "continue";
4. Complete the details of the course which you wish to replace;
5. Click on submit.
After completing the elective course you must request written proof of the course and exam grade which is signed and certified by the university where you have followed the course. This must be submitted to the Student Services Centre.
Note: For a correct entry on your degree, you must supply the English (and Dutch, if applicable) titles of the relevant electives!
Exemptions
Requesting an exemption for university-level coursework previously
Career Perspective
Career orientation
Career preparation in bachelor Psychology
In addition to offering you a solid university education, Leiden University aims to prepare you as well as possible for the labour market, and in doing so contribute to the development of your employability. In this way, it will become easier for you to make the transition to the labour market, to remain employable in a dynamic labour market, in a (career) job that suits your own personal values, preferences and development.
'Employability' consists of the following aspects that you will develop within your study programme, among others:
Discipline-specific knowledge and skills
Knowledge and skills specific to your study programme.
Transferable skills
These are skills that are relevant to every student and that you can use in all kinds of jobs irrespective of your study programme, for example: researching, analysing, project-based working, generating solutions, digital skills, collaborating, oral communication, written communication, presenting, societal awareness, independent learning, resilience.
But also think of job application skills: preparing a CV, formulating a cover letter, compiling a LinkedIn profile, networking, practising job interviews, preparing and holding a pitch.
Self-reflection
This involves reflecting on your own (study) career (choices), reflecting on your own profile and your personal and professional development. Gaining insight into, among other things, your competences and personality, your (work) values and motives. what can you do with your knowledge and skills on the labour market?
Who are you, what can you do well, what do you find interesting, what suits you, what do you find important, what do you want to do?
Practical experience
Gaining practical experience through practical and social internships and work placements, external research internships and projects, practical assignments, which are integrated into an elective, minor or graduation assignment, business challenges etc.
Labour market orientation
Gaining insight into the labour market, fields of work, jobs and career paths through, for example, guest speakers from the work field, alumni presentations and experiences, career events within the study programme, the use of the alumni mentor network, interviewing people from the work field, and shadowing/visiting companies in the context of a particular subject.
Employability in bachelor Psychology
In your programme, you will also find these employability elements.
Subject-specific and transferable skills
These skills are addressed in the various courses of the programme. Check the specific course descriptions in the study guide to see which skills are involved.
Examples of subjects that pay attention to the other employability elements are:
Self-reflection
Academic Skills tutorial (Ba 1)
Interpersonal Professional skills (IPS) (Ba 2)
Perspectives on Career Planning (POCP) (Ba 2)
Practical experience
Perspectives on Career Planning (POCP) (Ba 2) (social internship, practical assignment/case
Several mandatory courses and electives involve practical and practice-based assignments.
Labour market orientation
Perspectives on Career Planning (POCP) (Ba 2) (a.o. interviewing professionals, alumni presentations, guest speakers from the work field)
All specialisation courses (Ba 2/3)
Bachelor project Psychologie (Ba 3)
Activities to prepare for the labour market outside the curriculum
Every year, various activities take place, within, alongside and outside of your study programme, which contribute to your preparation for the labour market, especially where it concerns orientation towards the work field/the labour market, (career) skills and self-reflection. These may be information meetings on decision moments within your programme, but also career workshops and events organised by your own programme, the faculty Career Service or your study association.
For example:
Workshops and (faculty) career events organised by the (faculty) Career Services
Information session about choices, (optional) subjects, minors, honours education, study abroad, internships
Information session about the choice of a master's degree
Workshops and career events of study association Labyrint and SPS NIP
Faculty Career Orientation Days (FLO)
Career Service, LU Career Zone and career workshops calendar
Faculty Career Service
The Career Service of your faculty offers information and advice on study (re)orientation and master's choice, (study) career planning, orientation on the labour market and job applications.
Leiden University Career Zone
Leiden University Career Zone is the website for students and alumni of Leiden University to support their (study) career. You can find advice, information, (career) tests and tools in the area of (study) career planning, career possibilities with your study, job market orientation, job applications, the Alumni Mentor network, job portal, workshops and events and career services.
Workshops and events
On the course calendar you will find an overview of career and application workshops, organised by the Career services.
