Career prospects

Towards the job market

Once you have completed the Master’s programme, you will be able to work in the professional field at an academic level. This may include supervising and treating children and young people but may also include developing policy. Alternatively, you could choose to continue your studies and earn a registration.

What does the work entail?

You may find work in the fields of diagnostics or mental health care, but you may also find a position as a consultant or policy assistant. Supporting quality of life and encouraging a healthy mental development are increasingly important areas of activity as well. You have an excellent starting position in a junior level job in the field of clinical child and adolescent psychology. Dutch students will be able to register as “master psycholoog” in the register for youth (SKJ), see below for details. Similar trajectories are possible in other countries, the specific registration and specialization requirements vary from country to country. 

The programme prepares you for work in the broad field of child and adolescent psychology. You will be qualified to work as a basic psychologist. You can work at various types of institutions, such as:

  • Mental health care institutions
  • Municipal mental health institutions
  • Schools/educational institutions
  • Hospitals/departments of psychiatry or medical psychology
  • Juvenile forensic institutions
  • Policy/research institutions

Continuing education

In order to be able to work as an independent psychologist, in the Netherlands you need a post-graduate education as a Health Care Psychologist ("gezondheidspsycholoog"), or School Psychologist. The professional association The Dutch Association of Psychologists (NIP) issues guidelines for these certifications.
 

NIP Basic Psychodiagnostics Registration (BAPD)

During this Master’s programme, you have the opportunity to complete the requirements for the NIP’s Basic Psychodiagnostics Registration (BAPD in Dutch) if your internship allows you to report on diagnostic assessment for three cases and is able to provide supervision. The university will provide the formal assessment.

Clinical Psychologist

If you hope to start a career in health care (psychiatry, GGZ, hospitals or youth care), this Master’s programme can prepare you for admission to the Health Care Psychologist professional study programme (in Dutch:GZ-opleiding). Please note that this also depends on the subjects you took during your bachelor's programme.

In order to be eligible to the Health Care Psychologist professional study programme, you must have had sufficient diagnostics and treatment contacts with clients and client systems during your internship. After being registered as a certified Health Care Psychologist, you will be able to enroll in the postmaster Clinical Psychologist study programme (in Dutch).

Career development

To help you prepare for your career and familiarise yourself with the labour market, the programme, the faculty and Utrecht University offer several services and activities.