Your future

Students start their career in Clinical Psychology at Maastricht University and then spread out all over the world.

On this digital map you can find out more about the career paths of some of our alumni

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• First job: PhD candidate, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University.
• Currently: Postdoctoral researcher, Department of Public Mental Health, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University.

The research master in cognitive and clinical neuroscience (specialization in psychopathology) is unique in that it combines hands-on clinical skills training with an in-depth critical appraisal of the most recent findings, including important biological correlates, social epidemiology, and aetiological models of the most common mental disorders. Under the close supervision of professors, I recall having lively discussions with a small group of fellow students from various countries and backgrounds. The master's program provided me with the opportunity to learn from the best and prepared me perfectly for my PhD. I totally recommend this program!

• Graduated: 2019
• First and current job after graduating: Doctoral student of clinical psychology at the Department of Psychology at the University of Prince Edward Island, Canada.

“The Psychopathology specialization of the Research Master in Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience program prepared me optimally for further studies and work in clinical psychology. The fact that most of my cohort got PhD positions soon after graduating and I secured admission into an uber competitive clinical psychology training program in North America (where acceptance rates are around four percent) is evidence of how great the overall level of education is within this program.

Completing this degree was a lot of hard work but being surrounded by an equally enthusiastic cohort as well as having well-renowned experts in psychology and neuroscience as instructors made the entire journey worthwhile. While I know that many graduate programs exist in the field of psychology and neuroscience, what really stood out to me about this psychopathology specialization was how it combined a critical-minded approach to research with basic training in clinical practice. The curriculum—with courses arranged disorder-wise—is quite unique. Overall, the program endowed me with skills and knowledge that form the perfect base on which to build my clinical psychology research and practice skills further during my doctoral studies.

One more thing: coming from Pakistan, I did not know what to expect in the Netherlands. But I am happy to say that I absolutely loved my time at Maastricht University—it was the best time in my entire academic journey so far. I loved the cycling, the Dutch preference of direct and straightforward communication, the highly international classroom (six nationalities in a group of sixteen), great teacher-student ratio, super accessible and friendly professors (who treat you like their equals), an ultra-modern chic campus and connections with other elite universities worldwide. I would not trade this experience for anything in the world”.

• First job: ward psychiatrist in a psychiatric clinic in Berlin
• Currently: Working as a psychiatrist in an outpatient clinic and writing expert opinions for Berlin courts.

Doing the master of science program in cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychology and psychopathology was a challenging and very exciting time for me. For a medical doctor and psychiatrist like me, it was extremely interesting and helpful to get a scientific point of view on the field of my interest. I gained state-of-the-art knowledge about ongoing research and research methods in the fascinating world of the psyche. I would recommend this program especially to the medical students interested in psychiatric research because here you’ll learn research methods to an extent that your medical school will probably not provide.

• Graduated: 2015
• First job after PP: Combined clinical and PhD-student position at the department of clinical psychological science (UM) and the community mental healthcare centre Virenze-RIAGG Maastricht.
• Current job: Mental healthcare psychologist (GZ-psycholoog) in training at METggz Maastricht

I was in a warm group of highly motivated students from around the globe with whom I intensively engaged in the psychopathology program. I highly valued the close collaboration with experts in both the clinical field as psychopathology research. I enjoyed the courses, as well as the skills trainings and internships. The program provided the opportunity to pursue both my research and clinical ambitions at an excellent standard.

• Graduated: 2020
• First and current job: PhD on treatment of cognitive impairment after cardiac arrest. Employed at the Limburg Brain Injury Center of Maastricht University, and the University of Twente.

The Research Master Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience (specialization: Psychopathology) was both challenging and enjoyable. Although it was tough at times, the small enthusiastic group of fellow students also made it a lot of fun. We wrote many research proposals during the program. This skill now comes in handy in my PhD. I also liked the focus on soft skills during the program, such as presenting, debating, and learning conversational techniques. These skills are useful as a researcher when I share my findings with the research community, discuss ideas with colleagues, and see patients in the hospital. The combination of the skills and knowledge I obtained during the master has given me the tools to work in research as well as with patients.

• Graduated: 2017
• First job after PP: Junior researcher and policy adviser at ARQ Centre of Expertise for the Impact of Disasters and Crises | PhD candidate at Utrecht University
• Currently: Policy researcher and adviser at ARQ International 

I started the Psychopathology master’s program already knowing I was passionate about psychotrauma and other stress-related disorders, hoping that the program would help me develop the skills needed to become a researcher and a clinician working in that field. I got what I wished for and much more. The coursework was challenging and inspiring, and the staff involved put their best effort into helping us grow as researchers.  The best of all was that my peers were fantastic: the atmosphere and support within our cohort were unparalleled. If it weren’t for them, it would have been a much more difficult road, so my advice is to lean on each other in the cohort: together, you do better.  

Another thing for which I’m grateful is the local knowledge this program provided. My original plan had been to return to the UK after graduation, but when my plans changed, it was my supervisor who alerted me to the strong presence of psychotrauma researchers in The Netherlands. She connected me with some researchers at ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, where I now work. While the knowledge and skills I developed during my PP years allow me to do the work I currently do and develop my skills further, it is the people I met on the way for which I am the most grateful.

• First job: PhD student at the University of Cambridge MRC Cognition and Brain Science Unit
• Current job: Sir Henry Wellcome Fellow at the University of Cambridge

The Research Master was an incredible experience. We were the second cohort to go through the programme and I loved every minute of it. Getting taught by leading researchers in their respective areas of expertise is something I still benefit from today. It has given me an appreciation for a wide range of research methodologies across disciplines. The programme’s focus on a scientist-practitioner model has also driven me to do research with a clinical focus. I believe the programme is the ideal preparation for a career as a scientifically oriented clinician or a clinically oriented scientist.