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How can mental health problems such as anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and grieving problems best be studied and treated? How do psychological theories relate to research and clinical practice? How can we prevent the disorders from occurring, improve treatment results and prevent relapse? You will address these and similar kinds of questions in the Master’s programme Clinical Psychology.

Studying questions of mental health

Driven by research and clinical experience

In the Clinical Psychology Master’s programme you will acquire and develop fundamental knowledge of relevant theories and skills in evidence-based psychotherapies and become familiar with prevailing research methods in the field of clinical psychology. The lecturers work in clinical practice and/or conduct state-of-the-art theoretical or applied research at Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ. This integration of science and practice forms the basis of the teaching approach in this programme.

Objective of the programme

The programme will enable you to develop into an academic professional. You have broad knowledge of contemporary scientific theories and instruments as well as skills related to prevention, psychotherapeutic treatment and policy formation in the area of psychological aspects of health, illness and psychopathology. You are familiar with research methods in mental healthcare and can translate this knowledge into practice. You know what it’s like to work in a multidisciplinary team.

Learn to work in a multidisciplinary way

Clinical psychology continuously interacts with other disciplines, given the context in which behavioural and health problems emerge. Relevant fields include medicine, biology, neurology, pharmacology, economics, sociology and social psychology. As a result, this interdisciplinary perspective is an important focus of the programme. Some lectures will also be taught by (guest) lecturers from diverse disciplinary backgrounds. During your internship you will often work in a multidisciplinary context as well. Because clinical internships must take place in organisations that operate in the native language, international students often need to complete their internship abroad - typically in their home country. For them it is strongly suggested to try to acquire an internship position immediately after application.

International character

The Clinical Psychology Master’s programme will mainly be taught in English. Some skills-oriented tutorials will be taught in English and Dutch. The content and context of the programme have a strong international character, and you will have opportunities for international orientation (thesis, internship, symposia). On top of that, the student body reflects a rich diversity of nationalities and cultures. This provides a strong basis for the international and diversity-oriented character of the Clinical Psychology programme and community. 

Postgraduate training programmes 

The clinical Master’s degree offers Dutch-speaking students the opportunity to apply for different postgraduate programmes (Healthcare psychology; in Dutch: GZ-psycholoog) or pursue a PhD position. For international students, formal accreditation needs to take place at an individual level by the .
Be aware that the vLOGO certificate is a pre-requisite to work in the Netherlands in clinical practice. For more information, please check:  (in Dutch).

Science and practice

The teachers are nationally and internationally renowned scientific experts and have extensive experience in clinical practice and academic research. This is reflected in the programme, for example in the expertise offered in:

• cognitive behavioural therapy
• the study of grieving (loss) and psychotrauma (war, violence, disasters)
• experimental psychopathology (in relation to anxiety)
• treatment of complex anxiety disorders
• treatment of depression
• culture and health(care)

Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ is a great university not only because of its professionalism and expertise but also because of its great atmosphere of mutual respect and egalité!