Here you can find information about the various educational programmes that our department offers.
Note that the VU Psychology program has recently been ranked among the best 40 Psychology programs world-wide, according to the QS University ranking system
Programs in Social Psychology
The two-year Research Master’s in social psychology is a unique teaching programme in the Netherlands and Europe that offers a specialization in Social Psychology. The teaching programme offers a solid theoretical and methodological basis, and offers in-depth knowledge through a multidisciplinary and integrative approach.
This Research Master’s programme takes a multidisciplinary approach to fundamental social psychological processes. The underlying idea is that new insights can be obtained by incorporating biological, cognitive and evolutionary perspectives in the study of social psychological phenomena. These might include interpersonal relations, communication, cooperative behaviour and emotions. Social psychology is therefore an important factor in countless situations and settings.
In this programme you learn the essential skills needed to conduct innovative research of the highest quality. It also provides an excellent opportunity for in-depth exploration of the central theories in social psychology and its related disciplines, and ways of bridging the gap between them. There is a substantial focus on research and presentation skills throughout the programme.
Programs in Organizational Psychology
If you’d like to find out more about our teaching program, including the Masters in Work and Organizational Psychology, please contact the teaching coordinator, professor Reinout de Vries (r.e.de.vries@vu.nl).
Why choose this specialization?
The Master’s program ‘Work and Organizational Psychology’ focuses on human behavior in organizations and work situations. Some of the questions posed are: How can organizations attract competent and reliable employees? What role do organizational leaders play? How does one influence group and organizational processes? The program offers courses that are grounded in both theory and practice, offering insight in the role of personality, social processes, leadership, and decision-making in organizations, and is taught by internationally renowned experts.
Click here for our program flyer: Understanding Human Behavior in the Workplace
Structure of the program
In the first semester, students can choose five out of the following seven courses:
- Consumer Behavior and Economic Decision Making (6 EC)
- Leadership and Organization (6 EC)
- Social Processes and Organizational Change (6 EC)
- Work and Health (6 EC)
- Advanced Structural Models (6 EC)
- Personality at Work (6 EC)
- Elective (6 EC)
In the second semester, students will write their Master thesis (16 EC) and conduct an internship (14 EC).
Your future career
Students who have obtained a Master’s degree in Work and Organizational Psychology often find employment in Human Resource Management departments of large companies. Typical jobs include personnel manager, trainer, assessor, or internal consultant. You can also end up as a coach or external consultant in a consultancy firm or as a recruiter or assessor in a recruitment agency. Work and Organizational Psychologists are also sought after in educational and research institutions, and may also end up in general management functions.
Specific admission requirements
Bachelor in Psychology, Public Administration, Business Science, Management, or HRM/Personnel Science.
Programs in Cognitive Psychology
Explore the intricacies of the brain, combine insights from cognitive psychology and neuropsychology, deepen your understanding of normal and abnormal brain function.
The Master’s in Cognitive Neuropsychology is a two-year Research Master’s programme that operates on the cutting edges between cognitive psychology and clinical neuropsychology. While cognitive psychology is geared towards general theories of brain function, neuropsychology focuses on individual patients with brain damage, whose condition can often provide us with new insights into how the human brain works. Combining these two approaches into one Master’s programme is unique in the Netherlands.
The curriculum combines in-depth courses about normal and abnormal cognitive functioning across the life span with essential research skills in the neurosciences. You will learn to interpret fascinating clinical cases using solid cognitive and neuropsychological theories, but also learn to critically evaluate these theories. You will have the option to make an excursion into the emerging fields of educational neuropsychology, social cognition, or other related research areas. Look at our selection of exciting scientific questions we are working on. After choosing the research master in cognitive neuropsychology you might be working on this as well!