Overview

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.

The Clinical Neuropsychology MSc programme offered by Leiden University 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; in terms of diagnostics, prognostics and the 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.