MSc in Psychology - Applied Cognitive Psychology

Leiden University

In this specialisation you develop all the practical and academic skills necessary to apply psychological knowledge to real-life problems in working environments and organisations.

What does this master's programme entail?

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

• Optimising the cognitive capabilities of people of all ages
• Advice on the optimal circumstances for performance and learning
• Studying the effects of drugs on human performance

Cognitive Ergonomics

• Developing accident-prevention programmes, e.g. safety research in industry and traffic
• Developing user-friendly tools and interfaces
• Improving decision-making processes: psychology and law, including the topics of eyewitness memory, false confessions and jury decision-making

The main emphasis is on translating theory into practice. The aim of this master’s specialisation is to provide you with a maximum amount of hands-on experience starting on the very first day.

Reasons to choose Applied Cognitive Psychology at Leiden University

• Leiden University is the first institution in the Netherlands to offer this master specialisation in English and has years of experience establishing an intensive high-quality master programme.
• The special part about this master specialisation is the focus on cognitive enhancements. Because the brain is plastic, you learn how to enhance your own and others' performance. How do athletes, employees or elderly maximise their potential? You will acquire that knowledge!
• With this master specialisation, you have good opportunities in the job market. You can find a job in the commercial sector, or a job at companies dealing with traffic or ICT. You will be challenged during your study in several ways: fieldwork, divergent possibilities for an internship and you will develop a business plan.

Career prospects

A master's degree in Psychology at Leiden University combines theoretical knowledge with academic and professional skills, making you an attractive candidate for many employers.

Skills after graduation

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.