COURSE CURRICULUM

The Clinical Neuropsychology specialisation within the Master in Psychology at Leiden University offers comprehensive training in both theoretical and applied aspects of neuropsychology, combining advanced coursework, practical experience, and research. The program consists of four mandatory courses: two focus on neuropsychological intervention methods and innovations in clinical neuropsychology, while the other two address neuropsychological diagnostics. Each topic is taught through a combination of lectures and workgroups, integrating theoretical foundations with practical applications and emphasizing evidence-based approaches.A key component of the program is the internship, which provides hands-on experience in professional settings relevant to clinical neuropsychology. Students may choose a standard 280-hour internship (10 ECTS) supplemented with at least 10 ECTS in electives, or a 560-hour clinical internship (20 ECTS) designed to meet requirements for the Dutch post-master program in Healthcare Psychology and for psychodiagnostics qualification (Basisaantekening Psychodiagnostiek). Internships can be completed in the Netherlands or abroad, though language requirements limit some options for non-Dutch speakers. The Internal Practice Internship (IPI, 10 ECTS) allows students to complete clinically oriented training within the university and is accessible to both Dutch and international students.The master’s thesis allows students to explore a specific neuropsychological topic in depth, conducting supervised empirical research. Projects vary widely, from analysing existing datasets to designing new experiments in the laboratory. Example topics include locked-in syndrome, the interaction of music, movement, and cognition, spatial navigation, and work participation in patients with neurological disorders. Throughout the thesis process, students develop advanced research skills, learn to report scientific findings rigorously, and gain practical experience in all phases of empirical investigation, preparing them for careers as clinical neuropsychologists, researchers, or practitioners in healthcare and research institutions.