LEUVEN t Master of Science in Psychology: Theory and Research Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences KU Leuven. Inspiring the outstanding.
Discover KU Leuven Situated in Belgium, in the heart of Western Europe, KU Leuven has been a centre of learning for nearly six centuries. Today, it is Belgium's largest and highest-ranked university and, founded in 1425, one of the oldest and most renowned universities in Europe. As a leading European research university and co-founder of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), KU Leuven offers a wide variety of inter national master s programmes, all supported by high-quality, innovative, interdisciplinary research. Since its founding, KU Leuven has been based in the city that shares its name. Leuven is a pleasant, safe and bustling student town, where centuries-rich history meets cuttingedge science. The university also offers degree programmes at campuses in 11 Belgian cities, including Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences The Faculty of Psychology and Educational Studies is a young faculty at a centuries-old university. It has nonetheless become a permanent fixture in the research and educational landscape. The faculty has an ambitious mission, emphasising not only scientific excellence, but also societal relevance and a strong link between research and teaching. Its degree programmes provide a varied, appealing and research-based education of high academic quality. The faculty s research groups in psychology carry out advanced research in many basic areas of psychology, including perception, cognition and language, emotion, cross-cultural psychology, neuroscience, learning psychology, biological psychology and quantitative psychology, as well as applied fields of clinical, organisational, and school psychology. Our research is internationally renowned and embedded in well-established worldwide collaborations with other universities and research institutes.
Master of Psychology: Theory and Research The Master of Psychology: Theory and Research is a new research master from the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences. Its programme builds on the research expertise on hand at the faculty. It aims to guide students to become independent researchers in psychological science through the realisation of two main objectives: a thorough training in statistics and research methodology an in-depth study of the basic disciplines of psychology, supplemented with a specialisation in perception, cognition and language, emotion, cross-cultural psychology, social and cultural psychology, developmental psychology, neuroscience, learning psychology, biological psychology or quantitative psychology. In addition to individual and group-based coursework, students become immersed in ongoing multidisciplinary research at the faculty. Throughout the master's thesis and internship, students gain thorough hands-on expertise in performing empirical research in psychology. Topics for master's theses and internships range from fundamental to very applied in nature, and allow the student to sculpt the programme according to his own personal research interests.
Programme The first year of the programme consists of high quality methodological and statistical training combined with smallgroup interactive courses in the basic subdisciplines of psycho logical research. Throughout the programme, students are encouraged to develop critical theoretical thinking and a deep understanding of methods and statistics employed in the social sciences. The second year of the programme involves active immersion in empirical psychological research lining up with the student's own interests through the internship. During this period (120 days in total), the theoretical knowledge and methodological skills obtained throughout the programme are applied in addressing carefully formulated research questions in a domain of choice. In close collaboration with faculty members acting as internship supervisors, students formulate a research proposal, design and conduct an empirical study, and communicate the results in an internship report that takes the form of a publishable research article. Students may complete their internship at one of the research groups of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at KU Leuven, or - acknowledging the increasing importance of international research experience in scientific and career development may complete part or all of their internship outside Leuven. Internship coordinators and faculty members help students locate and arrange internships at international research groups around the world. Our students have conducted their internships at top universities and institutes worldwide, including University of Cambridge (UK), University of Oxford (UK), University of Melbourne (AUS), Stanford University (USA), Rutgers University, University of California, Berkeley (USA), Tübingen Max Planck Institute (GER), University of Göttingen (GER), University of Copenhagen (DAN) and others. The programme is organised according to a two-year structure consisting of 120 ECTS. The programme starts at the end of September. The academic year is divided into two semesters, each consisting of 13 teaching weeks, followed by exam revision periods and exams. The programme involves individual assignments as well as research seminars led by experienced scholars offering insights into basic theories and recent developments in the field.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY: THEORY AND RESEARCH 120 ECTS COURSE ECTS GENERAL COMPULSORY COURSES 35 Statistics IV 7 Lectures in Psychology 4 Master s Thesis, Part 1: Project 10 Master s Thesis, Part 2: Research and Reporting 14 SPECIFIC COMPULSORY COURSES 35 Statistics V 8 Statistics VI 4 Methods of Scientific research, Part Two 7 Topics in Psychonomic Science 4 Topics in Social and Cultural Psychology 4 Topics in Psychology of Individual Differences 4 Topics in Behavioural Neuroscience 4 INTERNSHIP 30 Internship at Theory and Research 30 OPTIONAL COURSES 30 Students choose minimum 20 ECTS from, among other: Laboratory Animal Science 5 Philosophy of Mind 5 Psychology of Individual Judgment and Decision Making 4 Quantitative Psychology 4 Advanced Topics in Perception and Action 4 Advanced Topics in Memory and Language 4 Advanced Topics in Emotion and Learning 4 European Seminar on Quantitative Psychology 4 Evolutionary Psychology 4 Human Brain Imaging 4 Gender Studies 4 For detailed descriptions of this programme s courses and for the course timetable, please consult www.kuleuven.be/ma/mes
So far, I really enjoy the academic atmosphere at the Faculty of Psychology. The topics discussed are interesting and up-to-date. The professors and classmates are open-minded and friendly. Simply put, I feel welcomed, listened to, encouraged and supported. (Yang Yang, China) Admission requirements A background in statistics and quantitative research methods and an affinity with psychological research are strongly recommended. Holders of the following degrees may be admitted to the Master of Psychology: Theory and Research: Foreign degrees: Bachelor or Master of Psychology Bachelor's or Master's degree in the field of Science and Technology Dutch-language degrees: For an overview of the Dutch-language degrees that qualify you for direct admission to the programme, see: 8 www.kuleuven.be/ma/mtrel All candidates must present proof of English proficiency. Only official TOEFL or IELTS test results are accepted. The minimal TOEFL score is 100 (internet-based test), 250 (computerbased test), or 600 (paper-based test); minimal IELTS (academic) score: 7-7,5. For students who hold a prior degree awarded by an English-speaking university from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States, the certified diploma and transcripts suffice provided they confirm that the entire university-level course of study was completed in English. Absolutely no other diplomas will be accepted as evidence even if the applicant has followed an exclusively English-taught programme.
For information about TOEFL tests, services, policies or procedures, please consult 8 www.ets.org/toefl Chinese students need an APS certificate. For exemptions see 8 www.kuleuven.be/application/faq.html For additional questions about APS exemptions, please contact admissions@kuleuven.be All candidates need to submit a complete transcript of academic records, including: A complete list of courses for which credit was obtained (including the number of ECTS). All marks, preferably following the ECTS scale. If another scale is used, a table with the grading marks and evaluation criteria should be included. Application deadline The application deadline for non-eea (European Economic Area) students is 1 March. EEA students with the required background and language fluency may register until 1 June. Non-EEA students living in Belgium with a valid residence permit also may register until 1 June. Tuition The Flemish government's generous co-financing system ensures that tuition fees remain relatively low (projected to remain well below 1 000 for the coming years). International students pay the same tuition as Belgian students. Career outlook The primary purpose of the Master in Psychology: Theory and Research is to prepare students to pursue a PhD. 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 insurance providers government agencies pharmaceutical, food, and medical technology industries
KU LEUVEN Oude Markt 13 box 5005 3000 LEUVEN, Belgium onderwijscommunicatie@kuleuven.be www.kuleuven.be Learn More www.kuleuven.be/ma/mtrel ppw.kuleuven.be/mapsy-theory-research General information www.kuleuven.be/english www.kuleuven.be/internationalprogrammes www.kuleuven.be/admissions www.kuleuven.be/tuitionfees Publications www.kuleuven.be/internationalbrochures Campuses www.kuleuven.be/campuses Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences ppw.kuleuven.be/english Master of Psychology: Theory and Research Prof. P. Bijttebier Programme Director Mr. Maarten Thiry Policy Adviser maarten.thiry@ppw.kuleuven.be www.fb.com/leuvenuniversity This brochure provides the most complete and accurate information available concerning this master s programme offered at KU Leuven. However, amendments to the composition of this programme may be approved at any time. Consequently, KU Leuven is in no way legally bound by the information provided in this brochure. The most recent information on all our academic programmes can be consulted at www.kuleuven.be/internationalprogrammes Last updated: September 2014 v.u.: Isabelle Van Geet, Oude Markt 13, 3000 Leuven