COURSE CURRICULUM

The Research Master in Clinical and Health Psychology at Leiden University provides a comprehensive and rigorous training in both academic and applied aspects of psychology. The program combines advanced coursework, research experience, and practical training to prepare students for careers as scientist-practitioners, clinicians, or academic researchers.The general coursework (40 ECTS) equips students with advanced academic and research skills that can be immediately applied to their own projects. This component includes lectures, seminars, small-group work, and practical exercises, ensuring that students develop strong methodological, analytical, and scientific communication abilities. Track-specific courses (20 ECTS) offer in-depth knowledge of core theories, issues, and research domains in clinical and health psychology, allowing students to specialise and gain expertise in areas of particular interest.Electives (15 ECTS) provide flexibility to either deepen expertise in the chosen track or broaden knowledge across related domains, including Brain and Cognition. Students may also combine their research training with modules from the professional one-year master’s programs in Clinical Psychology or Health Psychology to meet requirements for post-master psychotherapy training programs (PDO in Dutch).A key component of the program is the research internship, which gives students hands-on experience under the supervision of expert researchers. During the internship, students engage with study design, data collection, analysis, and practical lab work, gaining exposure to diverse research methods and techniques beyond their thesis project. Preparatory tasks, such as literature review, communication with supervisors, and funding applications, are integral to the internship experience.In the second year, students focus on a 25 ECTS master’s thesis. The first semester involves preparing a literature review and formulating a research question, culminating in a written research proposal. In the second semester, students implement the research, collect and analyse data, and write their thesis, demonstrating mastery of research skills, critical thinking, and independent scientific inquiry. The program thus equips graduates with the expertise, practical experience, and methodological competence required for careers in research, clinical practice, and applied psychology.