Opportunities after graduating
Graduates of this programme are well-prepared for diverse career opportunities in psychology. They may pursue careers as psychologists in mental healthcare, work as researchers, policy advisors, or consultants in healthcare organisations, or continue in academia. Other career opportunities include working in areas such as addiction research, forensic psychology, governmental organisations, or health insurance companies. The programme also provides a strong foundation for students interested in pursuing a PhD position.
Working in the Mental Health Care Sector
Interested in practising Psychology internationally?
Requirements for practising psychology and admission to post-academic training programmes differ between countries. A master's degree in psychology from Erasmus University Rotterdam may provide a strong academic foundation, but it does not guarantee that your degree meets the requirements for practising psychology or entering post-academic programmes abroad. Students are responsible for verifying the applicable requirements in the country where they intend to work.
Interested in practising Psychology within the Netherlands?
If you would like to work as a psychologist in the Dutch Mental Health Care (GGZ) or Forensic Care (FZ) sector, you will need to meet specific requirements. In early 2022, the Netherlands introduced the Zorgprestatiemodel (ZPM), which defines the conditions under which mental healthcare and forensic care can be reimbursed by the Dutch healthcare system.
To provide care that can be reimbursed within the ZPM framework, professionals must meet the relevant educational requirements and be able to provide the required documentation. If these requirements are not met, care provided cannot be reimbursed within the ZPM framework.
To work as a WO-psychologist (basispsycholoog) within the ZPM framework, you must meet two requirements:
- Evidence of Prior Education: You need to possess a declaration of prior education (so called "verklaring vooropleidingseisen"), which is provided by the university. Alternatively, you can demonstrate that you meet the requirements through alternative means as specified on the ZPM-website.
- Evidence of Diagnostic Competence: You need to possess a declaration of diagnostic competence ("verklaring diagnostiek") or BAPD certification ("basisaantekening psychodiagnostiek”).
The "Evidence of Prior Education" declaration demonstrates that you have obtained at least 110 EC distributed across 12 specific categories defined by LOGO.
Students in the Clinical Psychology master's specialisation who complete a practical internship are advised to choose an internship that allows them to obtain the Statement of Diagnostic Skills. Obtaining a BAPD certificate may be possible if the internship meets the relevant requirements, but this path is not organised or supported by Erasmus University Rotterdam. Students who choose to pursue a BAPD certificate are responsible for arranging this pathway themselves.
If you have completed both your bachelor's and master's degrees at Erasmus University Rotterdam, you will meet the prior education requirements if:
- You have successfully completed the bachelor's programme in psychology with a specialisation in Clinical Psychology.
- You have successfully completed the master's programme in Clinical Psychology (CP), Forensic and Legal Psychology (FLP), or the Dutch language master's programmes in Klinische Psychologie or Klinische Kinder- en Jeugdpsychologie (KKJ).
- You have successfully completed a GZ-practical internship of 20 EC.
A GZ-practical internship is a practical internship in which both diagnostic and treatment components are addressed and which meets the requirements for a practical internship preparing students for the Dutch GZ-opleiding. Through this internship, students may meet the requirements for a Declaration of Diagnostic Competence. Obtaining a BAPD certificate may be possible if the internship meets the relevant requirements, but Erasmus University Rotterdam does not offer or support a separate BAPD pathway. Students who wish to obtain a BAPD certificate are responsible for arranging this themselves.
If you have or plan to obtain your bachelor's and master's degrees at separate universities (e.g., a bachelor's degree from the University of Amsterdam and a master's degree from Erasmus University Rotterdam), you will need to request an "evidence of prior education" document from both universities. The university where you earned your bachelor's degree can provide a partial declaration related to your bachelor's. The university where you earned your master's degree can provide a partial declaration related to your master's. With these partial declarations, you can apply for a full declaration of evidence of prior education.
Note: The curricula differ between Dutch universities, both at bachelor’s and master’s level. If you combine programmes from different universities, you may not have obtained sufficient ECs in all required categories. Any missing ECs must be obtained by completing additional courses. Within the ZPM framework, only ECs obtained at Dutch universities are considered. It is not possible to obtain individual courses or ECs within the Psychology programme at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Students are responsible for verifying whether their chosen educational pathway meets all requirements. The tables below show which ECs can be obtained within the EUR master's programmes. To determine whether you meet the requirements, you should consider both the ECs obtained during your bachelor's programme and those obtained through your master's programme.
- Table master’s in Clinical Psychology (CP)
- Table master’s in Clinical Psychology (CP) as of academic year 2026-2027
- Table master’s in Forensic and Legal Psychology (FLP)
- Table master’s in Forensic and Legal Psychology (FLP) as of academic year 2026-2027
(For master's programmes offered in Dutch, please consult the Dutch version of this website.)
If your career goal is to become a GZ-psychologist in the Netherlands, you must complete the Dutch postgraduate training programme for GZ-psychologists (GZ-opleiding). To be eligible for this programme, you must meet specific educational requirements.
If you have successfully completed both the bachelor's and master's programmes in Clinical Psychology at Erasmus University Rotterdam, including a 20 EC GZ-practical internship with proof of Diagnostic Competence, you meet the educational requirements for the GZ-opleiding.
If you completed your bachelor's or master's degree at another university, you must verify whether your educational background meets the admission requirements described above.
Admission to the GZ-opleiding is highly selective. Completing the master's programme and meeting the educational requirements does not guarantee admission to the GZ-opleiding. Please note that the GZ-opleiding is conducted exclusively in Dutch.
For detailed information about the application process and admission requirements, please refer to the official website. The website of the Dutch Institute of Psychologists (NIP) also provides information about the profession of psychology in the Netherlands.
If you would like to become a skilled clinical psychologist and acquire up-to-date knowledge within the mental health field, the clinical psychology master's at EUR is just for you!
I personally experienced all of the professors very passionate about the topics they teach and eager to make learning about course contents as interactive as possible. Some professors even go above and beyond organizing extracurricular activities.
What I appreciated most was the fact that the professors encouraged the students to question and critically think about the current mental health system as it is now.
By means of role play with my fellow students, I have learned how to conduct a couple’s interview, a sexual anamnesis, and apply the methods of cognitive behavioural therapy.
Due to the small teaching groups, students are able to gain a lot more of the expertise the professors are able to offer.
What I found particularly exciting about following this MSc was that our professors were not only distinguished academics and (some of them) experienced clinicians, but they were also very good teachers.
Now, having gone through the programme, I can tell that it was the best choice. As a graduate, I do not have only theoretical knowledge about clinical psychology but learned important skills for assessment and therapy.
