Psychology (MSc)
International career
Are you considering starting a master’s programme in Psychology at Leiden University and are you planning on pursuing a career in health care outside of the Netherlands? If so, then before your start your studies, make sure to check if your preferred country has special requirements to work as a psychologist, in addition to the Dutch title Master of Science in Psychology.
This applies to the five Health Care master’s programmes Child and Adolescent Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, Clinical Psychology, Health and Medical Psychology and School Psychology.
Title according to Dutch Law
When you pursue an international career as an Psychologist you should be aware that all Dutch master’s programmes in Psychology are accredited by the Dutch Government (the NVAO) and lead to a Master of Science in Psychology title according to Dutch Law.
Worldwide harmonisation
The harmonisation of Psychology programmes throughout Europe and beyond is not complete. Therefore, if you pursue an international career, you have to examine the specific regulations of the countries where you want to work in the future, to assess the value of the Dutch Master of Science in Psychology title and the specific regulations for practising psychology.
Health Care Psychology
Especially in the field of Health Care Psychology, a one year master's programme is not sufficient to automatically acquire legally accepted competence in practising psychology in every European Union Member State or other European countries in which the profession or the title of Psychologist is regulated legally or by other means.
Make the enquiry before you start
Therefore you are advised to enquire, before you will start with a master’s programme in Psychology at Leiden University, whether you will be deemed competent to practise the profession of psychology or use the title of Psychologist in any European country other than the Netherlands after having obtained the degree of MSc in Psychology at Leiden University. Of course the same holds for countries outside of the European Union.
Also see the Nuffic website, the dutch organisation for internationalisation in education.