Clinical Neuropsychology (MSc)

Suzanne van Dijk

Neuropsychologist

'After graduating I started working as a neuropsychologist as part of a multidisciplinary team at the geriatrics department of Haaglanden Medisch Centrum. My job consists of conducting neuropsychological assessments to detect and diagnose different disorders, such as different types of the neurodegenerative disorder dementia. Besides this, I’m responsible for the daily supervision of master students during their clinical internship at the hospital.'

'Each day I go to work with great pleasure. The great variety of patients and pathologies as well as the close cooperation with medical specialists and the supervision of interns makes this a perfect place to further develop my diagnostic skills and my (medical) knowledge.

The study has provided me with a good foundation for my current work as a neuropsychologist. By combining theoretical neuroscience and the clinical application of it, I've got a broad knowledge of cognitive, emotional and behavioural consequences of brain dysfunction. Moreover, lecturers who are working in different work fields shared their practical experiences to give some insight in the day-to-day work of a neuropsychologist which motivated me even more to start my own career in health care.'

Mia Thomaidou

PhD candidate in Clinical Neuropsychology

"This master specialisation equipped me with skills that can be applied in multiple disciplines. From dealing with patients to working with brain imaging, the broad range of courses and options offered in this programme have prepared me for the challenging first steps into my career.

As an international master's student in Clinical Neuropsychology, I had the opportunity to learn from lecturers with solid practical experience, both in research as well as in clinical practice. What I enjoyed and valued most was the flexibility of my master’s programme. I had my sights set on doing a doctorate after my studies and I was free to focus more on my thesis and research internship and a bit less on theory. The experience that I gained rendered me a strong candidate when I started applying for PhD positions, towards the end of my master’s.

I now work as a PhD candidate between Leiden University and the LU Medical Centre, on an ambitious and fascinating neuroimaging project. I am part of a great team of junior and senior scientists and I am always excited about going to work, travelling to conferences, and collaborating with exceptional scientists in my field."

What does this master's programme entail?

Neuropsychologists assess and treat the cognitive, emotional and behavioural consequences of brain dysfunction. Brain dysfunction can be a result of various neurological and psychiatric conditions, which can occur across the lifespan, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, locked-in syndrome, multiple sclerosis, migraine and epilepsy.
Neuropsychologists play an important role in the management of brain diseases. The demand for their services is becoming greater as the population ages and medical (neuro)technology advances. In Leiden, we aim to prepare students for a job market that encompasses clinical work and research, but also focuses on innovation and technological advances.

Evidence-based practice

The course is grounded in the neurosciences relevant to neuropsychology with a strong focus on evidence-based practice. This means that you are taught to focus on the use of current best scientific evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients or patient groups; this in terms of diagnostics, prognostics and creation and evaluation of interventions (the ‘scientist-practitioner’ model).

Reasons to choose Clinical Neuropsychology at Leiden University

• This master specialisation combines fascinating neuroscience and its clinical application. The research and practical aspects are strongly clinically oriented and scientifically based.

• You will be trained to offer good care to individual clients with brain damage. Moreover, you will learn to think as a neuropsychological researcher and understand what happens in the brain of these patients. An important focus lays on the severe consequences these problems can have in the daily lives of these patients.

• Within this master specialisation, there are many opportunities to specialize and determine your own focus, depending on your interests in particular patient groups, their life stage (child, adult or old age) or specific aspects of the illness, diagnostics or treatment. 

• Innovative research topics and methods are used in our department, offering students the opportunity to keep up with the newest developments and anticipate future progress in the field. 

Why study at Leiden University?

Clinical Neuropsychology: the right programme for you?

This master specialisation is the right program for you:

• if you wish to become professionally active in the field of clinical neuropsychology (for instance as a Health Care psychologist/Gezondheidszorgpsycholoog BIG, Clinical Neuropsychologist/Klinisch Neuropsycholoog or Clinical Psychologist/Klinisch Psycholoog).

• if you are interested in a scientific career that focuses on clinical issues in neuroscience and patients with brain disease.

• if you like to be involved in neuropsychological assessment, treatment and guidance of patients with brain damage.

• if you are interested in development of clinical tools and methods that focus on new directions in neuropsychology, such as e-health, virtual reality, brain-computer interfaces and serious gaming.