Top 10 Best Universities to Study Psychology in Europe in 2026
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What is behind criminal behaviour? How does memory work? How do we make a decision? And how do we learn a second language?
Psychology is a fascinating discipline to study, with a wide variety of specialisations to choose from. If you are interested in the human mind and you want to understand human behaviour, help other people and undertake exciting research, then this is the degree for you. Read on to find out more!
Study in Europe: Find Bachelors & Masters in Psychology
Many global rankings feature top institutions such as the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford. These are world-famous options, but they’re also very competitive and selective.
That’s why the table below also includes a variety of other excellent universities all over Europe with English-taught degrees where international students may have more realistic chances of admission.
| University | Country | Degree Type |
|---|---|---|
| Maastricht University | Netherlands | 2 Bachelors, 4 Masters |
| Macromedia University of Applied Sciences | Germany | 1 Bachelor of Science |
| SRH University | Germany | 2 Bachelors, 1 Master |
| Stockholm University | Sweden | 1 Master’s degree |
| Radboud University | Netherlands | 1 Bachelor, 3 Masters of Science |
| Tomorrow University of Applied Sciences | Online | 4 Master’s degrees |
| University of Helsinki | Finland | 1 Master of Science, 1 PhD |
| University of Szeged | Hungary | 1 Bachelor of Arts |
| University of Twente | Netherlands | 1 Bachelor of Science, 1 Master of Science |
| Webster Vienna Private University | Austria | 1 Bachelor of Arts |
Most universities around the world will offer a psychology degree. It may be daunting to choose where to study, so ensure you consider a variety of factors. Beyond consulting all the informational material a university has to offer on the programme, you could for example gather information on the research activities conducted by the lecturers teaching the course, or speak to a few alumni.
Psychology is a broad discipline concerned with the study of the human mind and its workings: behaviour, thoughts, emotions and relationships are some of the areas studied in psychology. There are different specialisations you can take, for example:
Keep in mind that these are just some examples!
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind, so a psychology degree is a science degree. Research methods and statistics will form part of any psychology programme, training students to ideate, plan and manage experiments and interpret their results.
A Bachelor’s degree in Physchology is most often offered as a BSc, sometimes as a BA.
There is a wealth of degree programmes available, some more specialised than others.
In all undergraduate psychology degrees, you’ll gain an overview of the foundations of psychology as a discipline – its history, its key concepts, its theories and its various specialisations. Another major area for all undergraduate degrees is an introduction to research methods and statistics, which will give you an understanding of how to ideate, plan and organise an experiment and interpret its data in light of the available literature.
The dissertation will most commonly be a write-up of a research project that you will conduct under the supervision of one of your lecturers.
Some examples of modules you may find in a BSc Psychology:
And many others, depending on the specialisation you will pursue.
A Master's in Physchology will typically entail more specialised modules, depending on which area of psychology you will want to focus on. These types of courses are most commonly offered at an MSc, sometimes an MA.
It’s not always necessary to have a bachelor’s degree in psychology to access a psychology master’s degree. Some universities will accept incoming master’s students from similar disciplines (such as education for educational psychology, for example), although at times they will require the completion of a few supplementary modules before the beginning of the course. Of course, admission criteria will vary from university to university.
You will normally be required to run a research project at the end of the master’s (either independently or as part of an existing research group) and write a dissertation, which will be longer than that required for an undergraduate degree.
Some examples of modules you may find in an MSc Psychology:
There are many reasons why it’s a good idea, in general, to pursue a PhD: for example, if you enjoy academic work and research or you are planning to enter a specific profession where a PhD will be needed.
A psychology PhD is certainly an exciting undertaking, and although you need to remember that a higher academic degree will not automatically translate into a higher wage, in some countries it may be needed to practise psychology.
Another reason why you should pursue a PhD is if you are interested in conducting research in a very specific branch of psychology, and if you want to specialise.
A PhD in Europe will generally last four years, although longer or shorter programmes may be on offer as well.
Rules for becoming a therapist – a counsellor or psychologist – vary country by country. This is because you will need to become accredited by the relevant professional body in the country where you operate. The good news is you won’t need to plan everything before your undergraduate: if you study and live in the EU, your degree will automatically be recognised and you will only need to apply for accreditation in the country where you reside. If you move out of the EU, then you will in some cases need to get your degree recognised first and then apply for accreditation.
At public universities, EU students often benefit from low tuition fees, sometimes as little as €500 to €2,500 per year in countries like France or Spain. Non-EU students usually pay higher fees, which can range from around €2,800 up to €20,000 per year depending on the destination. Private universities tend to be more expensive, with tuition often starting at around €8,000 and going beyond €20,000 annually.
Some countries are known for being more affordable. For example, Germany and some Scandinavian countries offer very low or even no tuition fees for EU students. In contrast, studying Psychology in the United Kingdom will mean paying higher tuition fees, particularly for non-EU students.
Tuition fees for psychology degrees in Europe can vary quite a bit depending on the country, university, and whether you’re an EU/EEA or non-EU student. Many universities also offer scholarships, grants, or financial aid, so it’s worth researching your options early.
You will be able to gain work experience related to your field of study during your degree. First of all, many universities offer a work placement as part of the degree programme, and this is a requirement especially at postgraduate level. There will also be several opportunities to gain research experience, if that is what you are most interested in: beyond the research you’ll be required to undertake for assignments and for your dissertation, you could join a research group as a research assistant. And don’t forget to sign up to participate in the research projects run by psychology students at your university. It’s a fun experience, you’ll learn a lot about the ins and outs of organising research, and you will make some good contacts. And don’t worry, projects like the Stanford Prison Experiment don’t get ethical approval nowadays!
Volunteering is also a great option to accumulate work experience for graduate students – depending on the requirements of the position and where you are at in your degree, you could volunteer as an assistant psychologist, for example. Another side gig for psychology students is to double up as tutors, especially in statistics and research methods.
Psychology is a degree that will give you a wide range of transferrable skills: presentation, research, teamwork and writing skills are just some examples.
You will also develop analytical and numeracy skills, thanks to all the statistics modules you’ll love to hate. This means that if you decide to not pursue a career in the field of psychology, the world will still be your oyster. From marketing to policy making, many employers will want what you have to offer.
Typical roles and job titles include:
Generally, typical employers will include universities, businesses, human resource departments, government, media organisations, financial organisations, health services, and many others.
With its wide range of specialisations, psychology as a discipline offers something for everyone.
However, there is a fundamental catch: you must be interested in how the mind works. If the mysteries of the mind don’t fire you up, then another area is a better bet. You can start by reading online magazines such as Psychology Today and Science Daily or other free resources to understand more about this industry.
It is sometimes possible to combine an interest in another discipline with psychology – for example, if you are interested in economics, sports, arts and literature, and other disciplines that can be tackled from a psychological perspective.
However, if your interests lie in the natural sciences, then this may not be for you.
Another word of warning: if statistics and maths are not exactly your bread and butter, it’s fine, you don’t need to give up the idea of studying psychology. But it would be wise to understand how much statistics you’ll be required to study before enrolling in the course you have chosen, and make sure you have the support you need.
There are many reasons to choose to pursue a degree in psychology – let’s examine the top three!
There are other similar subjects you can study. For example:
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