Health and Medical Psychology Leiden University

Overview

Health and Medical Psychology at Leiden University looks at how health, illness, and recovery are affected by biopsychosocial factors.
There is a strong focus on empowerment, so 'what someone can do', instead of only focusing on what the burden of a specific disease is.

The broad focus is on the relationships between biopsychosocial processes (such as cognitions, emotions and behaviour, psychophysiological stress systems, brain functioning) and health outcomes. More specifically, topics of interest are prevention of disease and promotion of health, and the diagnosis and treatment of the psychological aspects of chronic somatic diseases.

What you will learn

We offer a very diverse programme that takes you through all the indispensable elements of Health and Medical Psychology.
The major aim of the Health and Medical Psychology specialisation is to provide you with the theoretical background and professional skills required for health and medical psychology research and interventions. Health and Medical Psychology looks at how health, illness, and recovery are affected by biopsychosocial factors, such as physiological stress system responsiveness, cognitions, emotions, and behaviours, and social bonds.

Career prospects

Completion of the MSc degree will prepare you for subsequent
academic study, such as:

* A qualification as health care psychologist (PDO 'GZ-psycholoog' (adult)),
* PhD study,
* Specific therapy-training programmes (e.g. cognitive behaviour therapy).

If you complete this master's specialisation, you are qualified for any position requiring a degree in psychology, as well as for general research positions and academic policy-making positions.

Accreditation

Accredited by NVAO, the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders.