Master of Science in Health Sciences - Specialization in Medical Psychology

Medical psychology is an academic field that is enjoying a newfound appreciation in health sciences, one that takes a closer look into the interaction between psychological factors and health. For instance, how do physical complaints affect our psychological functioning? And also: why does our psychological makeup sometimes make us vulnerable to diseases, or prevent us from getting better? Students will constantly be confronted with thought-provoking research. Apart from studying these kinds of questions, medical psychologists also study doctor-patient communication and decision-making and develop and evaluate psychological interventions for somatic complaints such as pain and fatigue. This allows for a more enriched understanding of these topics.

Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences (NIHES) is an international academic research institute that provides all courses and programmes in English.

Erasmus University Rotterdam is the founding organisation of the Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences (NIHES). NIHES was established in 1992 to further improve scientific research on determinants of diseases and health, the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare and services, and the theory and methods of health sciences. NIHES is a centre for quantitative research that provides graduate and postgraduate education in medicine and health sciences. The Institute also provides comprehensive research training for health professionals through the large array of courses in various disciplines. The programmes combine theoretical training and practical research training to prepare participants for research, executive and advisory positions. NIHES holds a very strong international position. It cooperates with a global network of leading research centres in Europe, Asia, Latin America and the USA.