Maastricht University, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience
Master Forensic PsychologyMaastricht, Netherlands
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 32,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* institutional fees top; low - EUR 13,000 per year; high - EUR 25,000 per year | statutory fees: EUR 2.601 per year
Key Summary
Introduction
Are you ambitious, self-critical, and eager to learn? Are you curious about the psychology of people who come into contact with the law? And would you like to pursue a career in forensic mental health? Then Forensic Psychology might be the perfect programme for you. It will provide you with a mix of theoretical and empirical knowledge. You will study scientific literature in relation to real-life problems and work on projects in small tutorial groups. Furthermore, the programme includes hands-on training in forensic assessment, therapy and expert witness skills. After graduation, you will be qualified to work in prisons, forensic psychiatric facilities, police services, probation services, and in areas such as child protection and domestic violence.
Programme highlights
This program is unique because of our:
- selected, motivated, hardworking students
- learning in small groups
- close contact with professors and experts in the field
- practical skills labs throughout the first year
- clinical and research internship in the second year
- internship possibilities in various countries
Curriculum
International classroom
From day one, you’ll be challenged with differing viewpoints and experiences as you interact with staff and students from all over the world. Your preconceptions and worldview will be enhanced by this interaction, bringing you closer to the program’s goal of teaching students not only facts and concepts but also international accessibility and understanding. Roughly 50% of the students in this master’s programme come from outside the Netherlands. Such diversity creates an international atmosphere that is strengthened by the international orientation of the programme.
Study abroad
You can opt to spend your internships (clinical and/or research) at one of our partner institutes across the globe. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from top forensic researchers and clinicians in such diverse places as: San Diego, California; Toronto, Canada; Edinburgh, Scotland.
Problem-Based Learning
As with many Maastricht University programs, the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience programs are taught using Problem-Based Learning (PBL). In small tutorial groups 10 to 12 students, you seek solutions to ‘problems’ taken from real-world situations. Instructors act as facilitators, giving help as it’s needed. This allows you to build independence and develop problem-solving skills that you’ll need in the field. This active, dynamic and collaborative learning method has one of the highest knowledge retention rates of any instructional method. You'll also take a number of skills labs, which offer hands-on training. You'll practice assessment and therapy skills during class and work on other cases as homework.
Research and clinical internships
At the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, we consider internships an indispensable experience. Internships not only enhance your studies by giving you practical experience, but they also give you an edge when looking for a job. The Forensic Psychology programme, therefore, contains both a clinical and a research internship in the second year, during which you will have the opportunity to put both your research and your clinical skills into practice. Dutch-speaking students are also offered the opportunity to fulfill entrance requirements (e.g. ‘basisaantekening psychodiagnostiek NIP’) for professional post-master’s training programs in the Netherlands.
Courses & curriculum
Year 1
The first year of the master’s program consists of a number of core courses. In addition to those, you will participate in various skills labs during which you will receive hands-on training in forensic assessment, therapy and expert witness skills.
Year 2
The second year of the program is focused on gaining practical experience. During this year, you will do a clinical internship and research internship, and you will write your master’s thesis.