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Special pre-Master's
for HBO graduates
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20 EC
In internship
during this MA programme

Are you interested in raising children? In the way their environment shapes their development?  Would you like to learn how to support parents and educators, creating a context where children and youth can reach their full potential? Then this Master's programme may be just right for you! 

'Raising future generations' - What is needed?

About Clinical Child, Family and Education Studies

This Master’s programme in Clinical Child, Family and Education Studies (Dutch: Orthopedagogiek) will challenge you to make connections between scientific research and practical issues. Armed with scientific insights and clinical skills, you will be able to give advice, support, treatment and guidance when problems arise around children or adolescents in families or schools. You can make an important contribution to research of practical care issues related to parenting, education or children at risk. You will help children, youth, their parents and the systems surrounding them to function to their optimum potential. 

Alumnus Ruben shares his experiences below in the video.

Working in a multi-disciplinary way

While studying complex situations you will combine insights from education and child and adolescent studies, psychology, neuropsychology, child and youth psychiatry, forensic psychology, juvenile justice, pediatrics and sociology.

Clinical issues in raising children and youth: a sound basis

The programme is taught in English. You will take three mandatory courses concerning:

  • Working as a clinical professional in different contexts;
  • Critical Thinking for Clinical Professionals.
  • Functioning as an academic professional.

On top of these courses every student will do an internship, write a Master’s Thesis and you will choose an elective course. 

Study programme

Ready for the labour market

You will be prepared for work and further training in dealing with clinical issues in raising future generations. You could work as a policy advisor or care giver in fields such as youth care, special needs schools, care for people with a disability, paediatric rehabilitation, forensic care and (inter)national knowledge institutions. After completing this programme you qualify for post-master’s training as an 'Orthopedagoog-Generalist'. You can also pursue a career in research, for instance at a university or knowledge institution.

How does this Master’s programme differentiate itself from similar programmes at other universities?

  • In Utrecht, you are free to personalise your Master’s programme to create an individual profile with a unique focus. This can be done in the tracks, the elective modules and subjects of your internship and thesis.
  • You will be exposed to professional practice and you will learn how to present and showcase yourself in the labour market. 
  • Basic Registration in Diagnostics and NVO registration
  • Your lecturers participate in highly qualified research in the field of parenting, adolescence, education, development and learning in the research programmes Child and Adolescent Studies and Education and Learning.

Basic Registration in Diagnostics and NVO registration

This Master’s programme fulfills the requirements of the Dutch (Professional) Association of Educationalists (NVO) for registration. You can request the Basic Registration in Diagnostics if your internship allows you to report on diagnostic assessments for three cases. 

Top-level research

As a Master’s student in Utrecht, you can benefit from the expertise of Utrecht’s top research groups, for example in the area of young children, early childhood education, learning difficulties and psychosocial problems of children and adolescents. 

Research feeds education

Your lecturers participate in highly qualified research in the field of parenting, adolescence, education, development and learning in the research programmes Child and Adolescent Studies and Education and Learning. This means you will benefit from their most recent scientific insights. Moreover, as a Master’s student your thesis can contribute to the current research within the programme concerning projects.

Alumna Loes Hermelink shares her experiences

World-class university in a lively student city

Choosing Utrecht University means choosing one of the best universities in the country with several renowned international rankings  and twelve Nobel Prize laureates

Located in the middle of the Netherlands, Utrecht is a medieval city with a centre small enough to explore on foot, yet large enough to host world-class festivals, fashionable shops, modern architecture and fascinating museums. Find more about what student life is like in Utrecht! 

Key facts

Degree: 
Pedagogische Wetenschappen (MSc)
Language of instruction: 
English
Mode of study: 
Full-time
Study duration: 
1 year
Start: 
September
Deadline: 

Check the deadline that applies to you

Tuition fees: 
Dutch and other EU/EEA students (statutory fee, full-time) 2024-2025: € 2,530

Non-EU/EEA students (institutional fee) 2024-2025: € 20,043

More information about fees
Croho code: 
66607
Accreditation: 
Accredited by the NVAO
Faculty: 
Social and Behavioural Sciences
Graduate school: 
Social and Behavioural Sciences