Psychology - Theory and Research, M.Sc.

Psychology - Theory and Research, M.Sc.

  • Application Deadline
  • 24 months
    Duration
The Psychology - Theory and Research programme at KU Leuven aims at guiding students to become independent researchers in psychological science. The faculty offers a challenging and dynamic study environment with a strong link between research and teaching. Its degree programmes provide a varied, appealing and research-based education of high academic quality. 

About

Students of the research master will obtain:

  • a thorough training in statistics and research methodology
  • the in-depth study of the basic disciplines of psychology, supplemented with a specialization in perception, cognition and language, emotion, cross-cultural psychology, neuroscience, learning psychology, or quantitative psychology.

In addition to individual and group-based coursework, students become immersed in ongoing multidisciplinary research at the faculty.

Hands-on expertise
  • Master’s thesis: You conduct independent psychological research in line with your own interests. Topics can range from fundamental to applied and frequently lead to publication in scientific peer-reviewed journals.
  • Internship: You complete an internship (120 days) at one of our faculty research groups or one of many top universities and institutes worldwide.

Objectives:

The program of the Research master "Master of Psychology: Theory and Research" aims to guide students to become independent researchers in psychological science through the realization of two objectives: (a) a thorough training in statistics and research methodology, and (b) the in-depth study of the basic disciplines of psychology, supplemented with a specialization in perception, cognition and language, emotion, cross-cultural psychology, neuroscience, learning psychology, or in quantitative psychology. Students become acquainted with recent multidisciplinary research at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences (KU Leuven). Throughout the master's thesis and internship, students gain thorough hands-on expertise in performing empirical research in psychology.

General learning outcomes

  • Students can gain insight in theory and research in the basic domains of psychology and their chosen areas of specialization.
  • Students can critically examine scientific developments in psychology and argue their scientific views and decisions. They can apply this knowledge the analysis of specific psychological problems.
  • Students know and understand the methodology of behavioral science research, both in terms of general principles and data analysis, its potential and limitations. They can apply this knowledge both in the processing of their own research data and in the critical reading of that of others.

Career perspectives

The primary purpose of the Master of Psychology: Theory and Research is to prepare students to pursue a PhD project. Many of our graduates go on to pursue academic careers at top universities. The programme also provides a solid background for international careers in a variety of other settings, which may include:

  • scientific research and policy functions in research institutes
  • somatic and mental health treatment institutions
  • centres for educational research and counselling

The Psychology - Theory and Research programme is offered at KU Leuven.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

  • StatisticsIV (Basic statistical methods for psychological data: Linear models)
  • Master's Thesis Part 1: Project
  • Master's Thesis, Part 2: Research and Reporting

    Audience

    To be eligible and to ensure an optimal match with the programme, the following selection criteria apply:

    • holder of a Bachelor or Master’s degree in Psychology or in the field of science and technology (for a list of Dutch language degrees that qualify, see below)
    • a solid background in statistics and research methods
    • an affinity with psychological research

    Detailed Programme Facts

    • Programme intensity Full-time
      • Full-time duration 24 months
    • Credits
      120 ECTS
    • Languages
      • English
      Schedule TOEFL® Schedule IELTS
    • Delivery mode
      On Campus

    English Language Requirements

    You only need to take one of these language tests:

    • Minimum required score:

      100

      The TOEFL iBT ® measures your English-language abilities in an academic setting. The test has four sections (reading, listening, speaking, and writing), each with a score range of 0-30, for a total score range of 0-120. Read more about TOEFL iBT ®.

      Schedule TOEFL®

    • Minimum required score:

      600

      The TOEFL®PBT is administered in a paper format and measures your ability to use and understand English in a classroom setting at the college or university level. It accurately measures how well you can listen, read and write in English while performing academic tasks. Read more about TOEFL®PBT.

      Schedule TOEFL®

    • Minimum required score:

      7

      The IELTS – or the International English Language Test System – tests your English-language abilities (writing, listening, speaking, and reading) on a scale of 1.00–9.00. The minimum IELTS score requirement refers to which Overall Band Score you received, which is your combined average score. Read more about IELTS.

      Schedule IELTS

    Academic Requirements

    To be eligible and to ensure an optimal match with the programme, the following selection criteria apply:
    • holder of a Bachelor or Master's degree in Psychology or in the field of Science and Technology (for a list of Dutch language degrees that qualify, see below)
    • a solid background in statistics and research methods
    • an affinity with psychological research
    • English language proficiency

        Tuition Fee

        • International Applies to you

          906 EUR/year
          Tuition Fee
          Based on the original amount of 906 EUR per year and a duration of 24 months.

        • EU/EEA Applies to you

          906 EUR/year
          Tuition Fee
          Based on the original amount of 906 EUR per year and a duration of 24 months.
        We've labeled the tuition fee that applies to you because we think you are from and prefer over other currencies.

        Living costs for Leuven

        • 810 - 1280 EUR/month
          Living Costs

        The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

        Funding

        StudyPortals Tip: Students can search online for independent or external scholarships that can help fund their studies. Check the scholarships to see whether you are eligible to apply. Many scholarships are either merit-based or needs-based.

        The Global Study Awards: get funded with up to £10,000 to study abroad

        Together with the ISIC Association and British Council IELTS, StudyPortals offers you the chance to receive up to £10000 to expand your horizon and study abroad. We want to ultimately encourage you to study abroad in order to experience and explore new countries, cultures and languages.

        I want to participate

        Apply with Studyportals

        Did you know that you can directly apply to available Masters from our selected Application Partners? Check out a complete list of programmes to apply for right now.

        Select a Master's and apply