At the end of the first year of the bachelor Psychology (cohort 2023-2024) and the bachelor Brain Science, all students will receive a Study Advice. A positive Study Advice means that you can continue in the next year. A negative (and binding!) Study Advice means that you will not be allowed to enrol in the bachelor Psychology or the bachelor Brain Science at Maastricht University for the next four years.
Please note:
There will no longer be a Binding Study Advice (BSA) for 1st year bachelor Psychology students from cohort 2024-2025.
Criteria for a positive Study Advice bachelor Psychology cohort 2023-2024
You must obtain at least 42 credits of the 60 ECTS in your first year, and you must have passed at least one (1) of these two (2) modules in your first year.
- PSY1022 Methoden en Technieken/ IPN1022 Methods & Techniques or
- PSY1024 Statistiek voor Psychologen I / IPN1024 Statistics for Psychologists I
Criteria for a positive Study Advice bachelor Brain Science for cohort 2024-2025
In your first year of study, you must obtain at least 42 credits of the 60 ECTS.
If you fulfill these criteria you will receive a positive Study Advice and you can continue your studies.
Personal and study related circumstances? Contact the Academic advisers right away!
Personal or study related circumstances can be taken into consideration before issuing a negative Study Advice. It is of great importance to report personal circumstances at the time of their occurrence.Factors that may be taken into consideration include illness, special family circumstances, physical, sensory or other functional impairments and pregnancy. In a number of cases, administrative duties may also be considered as personal circumstances. If any of these circumstances are applicable, you are required to inform the Academic Advisers.
The formal procedure is described in the 'Onderwijs en Examenregeling ' (OER) / the Education and Examination Regulations (EER).
Procedure
| Procedure Binding Study Advice (BSA) | |
Throughout | Academic advisers and mentors invite students based on their study progress. |
| January | First Warning Advice email (to all students) The Board of Examiners will issue, on behalf of the Faculty Board, a warning to all first-year bachelor's students in the months of January and May to highlight the importance of achieving the BSA standard. |
| May | Second Warning Advice email |
| July/August | Intention to issue a Negative Binding Study Advice Certain personal circumstances may be taken into account when issuing a BSA. These circumstances will only be taken into account if they were reported to the academic advisers within four weeks after the circumstances occurred. See the EER for details >> |
| July/August | Negative BSA (NBSA) hearings Before we issue a NBSA, you will be given the opportunity to be heard. In this hearing you can bring forward the (documented) personal circumstances on which want to be exempted from receiving a nBSA. The BSA Hearing Committee will test the given grounds on admissibility and decides afterwards if the grounds will be officially recognised. The BSA Hearing Committee will take the advice of the Academic Advisers into account. |
| August | Negative Binding Study Advice issued |
| 6 weeks after publication | Six weeks to appeal If you do not agree with the (negative) binding study advice, you can appeal within six weeks. |
Are you considering terminating your study?
Always contact the Academic advisers to discuss your intention. Note that terminating your study will not halt the BSA procedure. See UM website > Terminating your studies for the administrative steps.
More information
Early communication is key. Talk to your mentor, the Academic advisers or the Board of Examiners.
See also: UM website > Student Guidance