Applied Cognitive Psychology Leiden University

Overview

The Applied Cognitive Psychology MSc programme at Leiden University focuses on both cognitive enhancement and cognitive ergonomics. Besides the mandatory courses students can choose an internship position, a thesis subject and several electives of their own interest within various disciplines in psychology. In this way students are able to choose specific topics depending on their own interest and ambitions. 

The integrative approach and the combination of theory with analysis of realistic case studies make the master’s specialisation in Applied Cognitive Psychology at Leiden University unique and useful for a wide range of careers.

Are you interested in addressing and remedying important practical problems in society? Do you want to help raise people’s performance levels? You can use the knowledge you acquire in this programme in the following areas: Cognitive Enhancement and Cognitive Ergonomics. 

The skills you acquire in this specialisation are the basis of careers in a wide range of academic, government, industrial and organisational settings. The improvement of human functioning in a complex technological environment is the key issue here. Your skills are also a good basis for research assistantships and PhD projects in applied areas.

Career prospects

• Adviser on optimising training programmes for medical skills, driving skills, and flying

• Consultant on occupational efficiency

• Safety and accident-prevention manager in oil and offshore industries, e.g. SHELL, in traffic and road safety design, e.g. governmental agencies, SWOV or in aviation and transport, e.g. NLR, KLM/AirFrance.

• Policy-maker and policy adviser, e.g., various governmental organisations, education, police departments

• Medical and judicial decision-making expert, e.g. hospitals, insurance companies, forensic and penitentiary institutions

• IT systems and software consultant, e.g. Oracle and all other IT companies

• Security adviser, e.g., government, financial institutions.

• Cognitive engineer in industry, e.g., product design and control of operating environments in production process, food and advertisement industries

• Cognitive engineer in health care and care of the elderly, e.g., hospitals, geriatric and rehabilitation centres.

• Applied cognitive researcher, e.g. universities, TNO, space, aviation and traffic research centres