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Education Master's and PhD degree programmes Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology - Research
Header image Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology

Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology

Would you like to improve the physical and mental health of individuals and communities? Become an independent researcher? Help advancing health research and improve healthcare for all?

This two-year selective research master’s programme focuses on the prevention, development, and treatment of both physical and mental conditions. Biological, psychological, and social aspects all play a role in such conditions. Through a high-quality and interdisciplinary curriculum, you learn to unravel complex mental and physical health problems and how you can contribute to better solutions by applying innovative research designs and statistical techniques while making use of state-of-the-art facilities. You will be situated within the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), and have the opportunity to work with unique data resources.

Follow your own path

At the end of your first semester you will be able to choose between two tracks:

Lifecourse Health Development : In this track, the focus lies on unraveling how chronic diseases and mental health problems develop and progress over time by applying a life-course approach. Understanding the processes that lead to changes in health and wellbeing and improving prevention and treatment strategies are key aspects of this track. You learn how a person's age, lifestyle, stressful life events, or stage of illness affects these processes.

Health Systems and Prevention : This track is designed for students who have a strong interest in developing evidence-based solutions to complex problems in population health. You learn to apply health systems thinking as a strategy for designing population-based prevention strategies and to evaluate the impact of large-scale programmes or policies on population health, well-being and healthcare costs. You also acquire practical experience during an internship allowing you to put research into practice to make a measurable impact on society.

Make a positive impact

Join our small international cohort and learn from experts in their fields. If you are seeking to improve health for all, this research master's is the ideal choice for you! Keep reading for more information about what makes it unique, its two tracks, the courses, the entry requirements, and the job prospects.

Questions? Reach out at cpe umcg.nlorWhatsAppFor news and updates on the MSc CPE follow us on Instagram & LinkedIn . We look forward to connecting with you!

Facts & Figures
Degree
MSc in Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology (research)
Course type
Research master
Duration
24 months (120 ECTS)
Croho code
60399
Language of instruction
English
Start
September
Faculty
Medical Sciences
Watch this video
Why study this programme in Groningen?

The MSc Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology is a unique programme that aims to educate and train the researchers of the future in a challenging high-quality interdisciplinary programme. When selecting the MSc Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology you can look forward to:

- Applying innovative techniques to unravel contemporary health issues
- Becoming part of a close-knit international cohort of a maximum of 35 students
- Engaging in a stimulating and supportive research environment
- Receiving guidance and support to overcome challenges and help you achieve your personal learning objectives
- Enjoying the flexibility to select a track and research topic that aligns with your interests
- Benefiting from high-quality teaching by renowned researchers
- Receiving training for both personal and professional growth
- Applying your knowledge and skills in small projects focused on real world problems
- Getting valuable experience as a researcher by working on your own research project
- Having the possibility of securing a fully funded three-year PhD position at the UMCG
- Having the possibility to register as an epidemiologist upon graduation

Programme

The first year starts with solidifying your bases in psychology, medicine, and epidemiology through various courses and projects. Strong attention is also given to epidemiological research methods and statistics.

At the end of the first semester you will be able to choose between the Health Systems and Prevention track and the Lifecourse Health Development track.

Please note that we are currently updating the programme. As a result, the ocasys courses system may not be fully up-to-date. However, you can find the available courses for the 2024/2025 academic year in this PDF document: msc-cpe-courses-description.pdf (rug.nl)

Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Development and evaluation of health measurement instruments

In this course, you will delve into the fundamentals of creating and assessing measurement instruments. The focus will encompass key themes, including understanding various types of measurements and the process of operationalizing them. Additionally, attention will be given to crucial aspects such as validity and factor analyses, reliability, responsiveness, and interpretability. Various challenges will be addressed such as measurement of mental health disorders and cross-cultural adaptation of questionnaires.

Chronic disease epidemiology

During this course, you learn about the development, progression and burden of common chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia or mental health disorders. You acquire (or strengthen) medical knowledge, including etiology, pathophysiology, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases, as well as their epidemiology, covering incidence and prevalence, risk factors, and trends. The potential influence of large range of biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors will be addressed.

Interdisciplinary research

In this course, you explore health challenges in society through the lens of different disciplines such as medicine, public health, psychology, sociology, demography and health economics. The aim is to enhance your interdisciplinary thinking by closely examining and analysing a specific health issue through the perspectives of various relevant disciplines. The course covers key concepts, theories, and research methods from different fields, shedding light on the strengths and challenges unique to each discipline. Examples of novel interdisciplinary epidemiological research will be discussed.

Study design

In this course the principles and practice of epidemiological research are taught. Different study designs will be introduced and different sources of bias in epidemiological studies will be assessed. By the end of this course, you will have gained the essential scientific and methodological knowledge to effectively engage in epidemiological studies.

Health Systems and population health

This course gives an overview of major theories and concepts of health and prevention on a systems level. You will learn to apply interdisciplinary and intersectoral research to practical policy questions, aiming to solve complex public health problems related to societal issues like pandemics, ageing, increasing levels of chronic diseases, widening health inequalities, migration and urbanization. Key to tackling these issues is the application of a systems approach to health.

Lifecourse epidemiology

Lifecourse epidemiology examines how various experiences and exposures throughout a person's life influence human development, health and disease. In this course, you learn how early life experiences and transitions, such as entering the workforce, parenthood or end-of-life care, may impact health and well-being throughout life. You will explore various lifecourse concepts to understand health differences in a population, such as causal pathways (e.g. accumulation, chains of risk) or timing of exposure (critical and sensitive periods). You learn about the complex interplay between biological, behavioural, and psychosocial factors influencing health across all stages of life, across generations, and for various health outcomes.

Professional Skills training

Leadership, communication, collaboration and creative problem solving skills may influence the quality and impact of research. During this course you will strengthen and acquire valuable professional skills. A variation of strategies are used to strengthen skills, such as lectures, self-assessment tools, workshops, assignments and pizza-meetings. The skills training is complemented by mentor meetings in small groups (6-8 students) and individual coaching.

Project-based learning

In the project-based learning you use research methods, knowledge, models and frameworks from separate disciplines to address a complex health challenge. In each project, you start with a challenging problem or question connected to a real-world challenge. You will take part in 4 projects during the first year. Policy makers, healthcare professionals, patients and other experts play an important role in this project-based learning. In these projects, you will try to solve challenging research problems by learning about and applying the key concepts introduced in the courses. The project-based learning provides you with relevant practical experiences as a researcher.

Health measurement instruments

During this course, you will learn the basics of developing and evaluating measurement instruments. Attention will be paid to the following themes: 1) Types of measurements and operationalizing 2) Validity & Factor Analyses 3) Reliability 4) Responsiveness 5) Interpretability

Health Systems and policy evaluation

In this course, students learn about conducting prevention and public health research at population and health system level using practical approaches. They learn about using open data sources and register data in population research and applying various quantitative methods in policy evaluations. Next to this attention is paid to translating research results into practical information for policy makers. In the final assignment, a written policy brief, all aspects learned in this course come together.

Intervention research from a lifecourse perspective

In the second course of the lifecourse track, you build up on your knowledge from the first course and explore advanced methods used in the lifecourse research. By employing a lifecourse approach, researchers and policymakers can develop more effective strategies to improve and maintain good health across the lifecourse. In this course, you will learn about interventions from a lifecourse perspective, such as optimizing health trajectories, targeting critical periods, and addressing both individual and socio-environmental factors. Examples and challenges of lifecourse-based interventions designed to promote health and well-being across different stages of life will be discussed during interactive lectures. Additionally, by working with longitudinal datasets such as the unique TRAILS cohort study with its 18-year follow-up, you will gain firsthand experience and insights into the challenges related to the lifecourse approach.

Complex health interventions

In this course, the development, adaptation, feasibility, evaluation and implementation of complex interventions will be introduced. . Complex interventions are delivered and evaluated on different levels (e.g. patients, healthcare professionals, organisation). Understanding how interventions work, where it works and for whom are key elements of this course. You learn about co-creation methods and how diverse stakeholder perspectives can be included in intervention research. You learn about the methods to adapt interventions to a new context, and the evaluation of effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and implementation processes.

Health behavior change

Using topics in health psychology and psychiatric epidemiology, this course will delve into the dynamics of behavior change, considering diverse perspectives such as those of patients and healthcare professionals. It will incorporate concepts and models from psychology to comprehensively address the complexities of behavior change within prevention and healthcare contexts.

Scientific Integrity

Good scientific research is also ethically sound research, but what does this mean? The aim of this course is to introduce you to problems and tools of research ethics to guide you towards conducting research in a responsible manner. Topics covered in the Scientific Integrity course address all phases of scientific research from research problem selection, methodology and working with research subjects to issues of international collaboration, commercialization and authorship.

The second year consists in applying the knowledge acquired during the first year to your own research projects, mainly the Master Thesis project.

For the master thesis project you can choose out of a wide range of topics and you can choose elective courses based on your area of interest, background knowledge, and the topic of your project within the departments of Public Health, Health Psychology, Epidemiology, or Psychiatry.

Please note that we are currently updating the programme. As a result, the ocasys courses system may not be fully up-to-date. However, you can find the available courses for the 2024/2025 academic year in this PDF document: msc-cpe-courses-description.pdf (rug.nl)

Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Advanced statistics

In this course, you learn to tell a compelling story with data. You will refresh and deepen your knowledge of statistics. You learn to apply sophisticated statistical techniques such as multiple linear least square regression or survival analysis. You will be introduced to problem-solving practices in biostatistics and epidemiology in a data-driven manner.

Electives

The aim of the elective courses is to broaden and deepen your knowledge and skills in the field of clinical and psychosocial epidemiology. Students can choose courses that match their own learning goals and contribute to their development as a researcher in this field. Ideally, the elective courses support the master thesis project, but this is not a strict requirement.

Introduction into R

First you will learn the basics of R through short lectures and many computer exercises. The following topics will be treated: the R language, R variables (objects), R data structures, reading and writing data files, manipulating datasets, making graphs, performing basic statistics (only one day!), simulations, and creating functions.

In week 3, students work on a case study, in pairs. This case study is an integrated set of exercises in R that build on the knowledge that they gained during the first eight days of the course. The goal of the exercises is to determine whether students are able to use R without hands on instructions in order to answer a scientific research question and visualize results.

The final result of the case study will be the R-script that performs all assignments and answers all questions.

Master Thesis Project

The aim of the Master Thesis project is to conduct a research project and to analyze, describe and interpret the results in the master thesis. During the conduction and writing of the results, students will gain experience in the full research cycle by (a) carrying out the master thesis project, (b) describing the results in a scientific way, and (c) presenting and defending the results during a scientific symposium.

Writing a research proposal

The academic knowledge and research skills acquired during the CPE programme culminate in the final phase of the programme, during which students design and write their own PhD research proposal. Most often, the PhD research proposal builds on the Master's thesis project.

The primary aim of the PhD research proposal is to set up a PhD research project that can be carried out in a period of three years. Specific aims are (a) to set up and describe the PhD research project, taking into account current developments in the area of research and at least one other different discipline and taking into account relevant methodologies, (b) to write this as a scientific research proposal, and (c) to present, discuss and defend the proposal during a scientific symposium.

Study load

40 hours of class and self-study per week on average

Curriculum

Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology consists of both mandatory and elective courses.

Depending on your knowledge, you will learn about the basics of medicine or the basics in psychology and psychosocial factors.

Apart from broadening your knowledge in the field of health and the determinants of health, you will explore the fields of Public Health, Health Psychology, Community and Occupational Medicine, and Psychiatric Epidemiology. Strong attention is also given to epidemiological research methods and statistics.

You will be able to choose additional courses called 'electives' to suit your particular interests.

Your individual development as a researcher is central to the programme and therefore you will be conducting research side by side with scientists who are leading experts in their field. Moreover, CPE is situated in the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), which means that you can benefit from a unique and interesting clinical setting and a unique availability of large data cohorts.

During the second year you will write your master thesis, which can function as the basis of your own PhD proposal.

Programme options
Health Systems and Prevention (track)

This track focuses on population health. Here, you'll learn to adopt a “health system” approach to understand the social and structural factors influencing the health of communities

You will also discover how to assess the impact of large-scale programmes or policies on the overall health and wellness of populations. Through the HSP track, you will acquire practical experience during a real-world internship, allowing you to put research into practice to make a measurable impact on public health.

More information about this option

Lifecourse Health Development (track)

This track focuses on the health of the individual. You'll learn to look at how health changes over a person's life using a "lifecourse" perspective. Understanding the process leading to changes in health and wellbeing and improving prevention and treatment strategies is a key aspect of the programme. While collaborating with renowned researchers and clinicians, you will study how a person's age, or stage of illness affects these processes.

More information about this option

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is optional

An internship (abroad) is among the possibilities. Our international network stretches across Europe, and from Latin America to Asia!

Entry requirements

Transfer options

Transferring from...

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Psychology (EN)All Research universitiesNo additional requirements
BiologyAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
GezondheidswetenschappenAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Pharmaceutical SciencesAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
MedicineAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Biomedische WetenschappenAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
SociologyAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Human Geography and Urban and Regional PlanningAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Econometrics and Data ScienceAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
EconomicsAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Economics and GovernanceAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Academic training primary school teacherAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Human Movement SciencesAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Life Science and TechnologyAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Geography, Spatial Planning and EnvironmentAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Econometrics and Operations ResearchAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Biomedical SciencesAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
BiologyAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Bio-Farmaceutische WetenschappenAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Artificial IntelligenceAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Biomedical EngineeringAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
BiotechnologyAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Data Science and Artificial IntelligenceAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Data Science (joint degree)All Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Data Science & SocietyAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Economics and Business EconomicsAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
PharmacyAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Health and Life SciencesAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Health and SocietyAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Liberal Arts and Sciences (joint degree)All Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Liberal Arts and SciencesAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global ChallengesAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Life Science and Technology (joint degree)All Research universitiesNo additional requirements
PsychobiologyAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Psychology (NL)University of GroningenNo additional requirements
Psychology (EN)University of GroningenNo additional requirements
Human Movement SciencesUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
BiologyUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
MedicineUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
PharmacyUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
SociologyUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Pedagogical SciencesUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Spatial Planning and DesignUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Life Science and TechnologyUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Economics and Business EconomicsUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Econometrics and Operations ResearchUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Data Science & SocietyUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Global Responsibility & LeadershipUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Human Geography and PlanningUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Liberal Arts and SciencesUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Academic training primary school teacherUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

You are admissible with a bachelors degree in bio(medical) sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences, Psychology, Social Sciences, Human Movement Sciences, Life Sciences, Biology, Sociology, Econometrics, Pedagogy, Economics, Demography and spatial sciences. If you have another degree background the selection committee will determine whether your background meets the admission requirements. Feel free to contact us for advice.

grade list

You will need to provide your official university transcript. It should include a list of all the courses you've taken, with the credit hours for each, the final grades you received, an explanation of the grading system used, and your class rank if available. Make sure to include the grades for courses you didn't pass as well.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

You will need to send us an up-to-date CV

assessment interview

During the interview you'll be asked to give a short presentation on a research project you undertook as part of your previous studies and to elaborate on your motivation to apply for the MSc Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology programme and the track of your choice.

entry test

The entrance examination will be a test of your statistical knowledge. In preparation of this exam, a mock version and several teaching videos will be made available. If you pass the entrance exam, you will be invited for an interview. More details here: www.rug.nl/applycpe

language test

Please make sure to visit www.rug.nl/applycpe for more information about the accepted language tests and the required minimum scores.

reference letter

You will need to submit one letter of recommendation written by an academic or previous supervisor

(motivation-) letter

The motivation letter is an opportunity for you to convey your enthusiasm, goals, and suitability for the MSc Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology programme. Make sure to describe your expectations for the programme and the track of your choice and how it aligns with your future career plans. Additionally, emphasize the qualities and experiences that make you the right fit for this programme.

other admission requirements

We prioritize high-quality education and provide a small-scale learning environment to ensure personal attention and the growth of our students. In order to maintain an engaging learning experience, our programme has a limited number of spots available each year, accepting a maximum of 35 students. That is why, to ensure the best fit and experience for our students, we have a thorough selection procedure as part of the admission process. Find out more on our dedicated page.

Registration procedure

You will find below a quick overview of the application and selection procedure. Make sure to visit our "How to Apply" page for more detailed information .

  1. If you have a Dutch bachelor's degree, you will first need to apply via Studielink.
  2. You will then need to send an email to cpe umcg.nl and request further instructions about the application procedure.
  3. Your application will then be evaluated by the MSc Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology Admissions Board.
  4. If you are selected, you will be invited to take the entrance examination
  5. If you pass the entrance examination, you will be invited for an interview, which can be conducted online or in-person.
  6. After all the interviews are completed the MSc Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology Admissions
  7. will review each applications and inform you of the results. You should expect to hear from us within 2 to 3 weeks after the interview.

Selection procedure

We prioritize high-quality education and provide a small-scale learning environment to ensure personal attention and the growth of our students. In order to maintain an engaging learning experience, our programme has a limited number of spots available each year, accepting a maximum of 35 students. That is why, to ensure the best fit and experience for our students, we have a thorough selection procedure as part of the admission process. Find out more on our dedicated page: https://www.rug.nl/applycpe

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 March 202501 September 2025

Applications for 2024-2025 will open in October 2023, the application deadlines are as follow:

  • Early bird deadline for all students: Monday 15 January 2024
  • Deadline for non-EU/EEA students: Friday 1 March 2024
  • Deadline for EU/EEA students: Wednesday 1 May 2024

Please note: All applicants with a non-Dutch bachelor qualification will have to pay an application fee. More information about the application fee can be found on this page: https://www.rug.nl/education/application-enrolment-tuition-fees/admission/procedures/application-informatie/with-non-dutch-diploma/application-fee

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

You are admissible with a bachelors degree in bio(medical) sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences, Psychology, Social Sciences, Human Movement Sciences, Life Sciences, Biology, Sociology, Econometrics, Pedagogy, Economics, Demographical Sciences. If you have another degree background the selection committee will determine whether your background meets the admission requirements. Feel free to contact us for advice.

grade list

You will need to provide your official university transcript. It should include a list of all the courses you've taken, with the credit hours for each, the final grades you received, an explanation of the grading system used, and your class rank if available. Make sure to include the grades for courses you didn't pass as well.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

You will need to send us an up-to-date CV

assessment interview

During the interview you'll be asked to give a short presentation on a research project you undertook as part of your previous studies and to elaborate on your motivation to apply for the CPE programme and the track of your choice.

entry test

The entrance examination will be a test of your statistical knowledge. In preparation of this exam, a mock version and several teaching videos will be made available. If you pass the entrance exam, you will be invited for an interview. More details here: https://www.rug.nl/research/gradschool-medical-sciences/master-programmes/how-to-apply/clinical-psychosocial-epidemiology

language test

Please make sure to consult https://www.rug.nl/research/gradschool-medical-sciences/master-programmes/how-to-apply/language-requirements for more information about the accepted language tests and the required minimum scores.

reference letter

You will need to submit one letter of recommendation by an academic or previous supervisor

(motivation-) letter

The motivation letter is an opportunity for you to convey your enthusiasm, goals, and suitability for the MSc Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology programme. Make sure to describe your expectations for the programme and the track of your choice and how it aligns with your future career plans. Additionally, emphasize the qualities and experiences that make you the right fit for CPE.

other admission requirements

We prioritize high-quality education and provide a small-scale learning environment to ensure personal attention and the growth of our students. In order to maintain an engaging learning experience, our programme has a limited number of spots available each year, accepting a maximum of 35 students. That is why, to ensure the best fit and experience for our students, we have a thorough selection procedure as part of the admission process. Find out more on our dedicated page.

Language requirements

ExamMinimum score
C1 Advanced (formerly CAE)C1
C2 Proficiency (formerly CPE)C2
IELTS overall band6.5
IELTS listening6
IELTS reading6
IELTS writing6
IELTS speaking6
TOEFL internet based92

Registration procedure

You will find below a quick overview of the application and selection procedure. Make sure to visit our "How to Apply" page for more detailed information .

  1. If you have a non-Dutch degree, you will first need to register on Studielink, then you will be invited to finalize your application in the online Progress Portal of the University of Groningen.
  2. Once you've completed the registration process, the Admissions Office will conduct an initial review to ensure that all required documentation is complete and verify your educational background.
  3. The CPE admissions board will then review your application.
  4. If you are selected, you will be invited to take the entrance examination.
  5. If you pass the entrance examination, you will be invited for an interview, which can be conducted online or in-person.
  6. After all the interviews are completed the Selection Committee will review each applications and inform you of the results. You should expect to hear from us within 2 to 3 weeks after the interview.

Selection procedure

We prioritize high-quality education and provide a small-scale learning environment to ensure personal attention and the growth of our students. In order to maintain an engaging learning experience, our programme has a limited number of spots available each year, accepting a maximum of 35 students. That is why, to ensure the best fit and experience for our students, we have a thorough selection procedure as part of the admission process. Find out more on our dedicated page: https://www.rug.nl/applycpe

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 March 202501 September 2025

Applications for 2024-2025 will open in October 2023, the application deadlines are as follow:

  • Early bird deadline for all students: Monday 15 January 2024
  • Deadline for non-EU/EEA students: Friday 1 March 2024
  • Deadline for EU/EEA students: Wednesday 1 May 2024

Please note: All applicants with a non-Dutch bachelor qualification will have to pay an application fee. More information about the application fee can be found on this page: https://www.rug.nl/education/application-enrolment-tuition-fees/admission/procedures/application-informatie/with-non-dutch-diploma/application-fee

Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 24200full-time

Practical information for:

After your studies

Job prospects

Your master thesis can function as the basis of your own PhD proposal. You will have the possibility to compete for full scholarship to continue with a three-year PhD programme at the UMCG!

If you do not wish to continue as a researcher, there are plenty of other opportunities. Alumni currently work as consultants for the World Health Organization (WHO), policy officers in the government, consultants for pharmaceutical or biotechnological companies or as university teachers.

For those students interested, you can choose to take courses to become a registered Epidemiologist A. You can find specific information about the epidemiologist training programme here.

Research

Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology is characterized by its problem-based research; our research groups focus on the diagnosis, prevention, treatment and prevention of mental health problems. As a student, you will study and work side by side with leading scientists. You will be considered a member of one of these cutting-edge research groups and in that way gather invaluable hands-on research experience.

Fields of research
4 departments with different fields of research are involved in the MSc Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology Programme:

  1. Public Health
  2. Epidemiology
  3. Psychiatry
  4. Health Psychology

Examples of research questions:

  • How do people function at work having survived cancer?
  • What is the effectiveness of a family centred approach in preventive child health care?
  • What is the impact of mental health on the school-to-work transition of young adults?
  • Can mindfulness support people in dealing with chronic disease?
  • How can patients learn to become more resilient (how can they break out of a negative mental loop)?
  • Do patients and their partners experience less depressive symptoms when they are able to share their worries?
  • How do partners deal with one of them having a chronic or life-threatening disease?

What do our students say?

“I think the best part of CPE is that you really feel what is like to be a researcher. You can dedicate a large percentage of your study time to your research project, allowing you to really focus on doing research. In a year’s time, you become an expert on your topic. Additionally, writing a PhD proposal is an integral part of this Master, making it much easier to continue your studies with a PhD.

My research during my Masters - and now in my PhD - looks at how lifestyle choices influence employment outcomes. For example: how do exercise and dietary choices affect sick leave? What I love about this is how practical it is. Sometimes research seems very theoretical, but for my research, it’s immediately clear how it can be used to make people’s lives better.”

- Patricia Ots, former CPE student, now a PhD researcher at the Graduate School of Medical Sciences

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‘There are sixteen students of ten different nationalities in my year. The professors and researchers that teach us, encourage us to share ideas and to do background research on our own initiative. With success. Every student is motivated and involved.’

- Manon Schallig, CPE student

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‘It is important to share science. Topics that we research in Groningen can be of great importance to other countries and vice-versa. Talking about it leads to new perspectives and maybe even opportunities for further research by like-minded researchers.’

- Matheus Silva Gurgel do Amaral - former CPE student, now a PhD researcher at the Graduate School of Medical Sciences

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CPE is about learning how to independently perform ethical and technically sound research. This is the kind of research needed to make changes in society.

I come from Brazil where I studied medicine. For me, the most important part of CPE is how we get prepared to do research before starting it. In some places in Brazil, you would just have to start with your research and try to find out how to do it along the way. Here, we had a nicely structured program that prepared us for every step before we took them.

The small groups allowed our classes to be more interactive and to create a stronger bond with the other students, which is particularly important for international students. The multicultural environment, which was many times used as a theme of discussion during some of our courses, helps to shape students who think out of the boxes because you realize how you just take things for granted sometimes by seeing that other people do it differently.

We also always received support from the program coordinators and teachers. Moreover, there were coach groups to help with issues related to the subjects studied or with the psychological aspects of the process. We also had contact with professionals from many different fields, which helped with getting used to working in big multidisciplinary teams.

We learned many transferrable skills, which go further than the mere learning of the subject I was working on. This became very evident when I started the PhD, when I had contact with other first-year PhD students during the “Managing your PhD” course. During our discussions, it became apparent that I had a more solid understanding of what it was to do research, how to organize my project, and how to make use of the opportunities available to me. So the transition from master student to researcher happened in a much smoother way.

All in all, CPE was an incredible personal experience, where I made a lot of friends, and through which I became more independent and confident by learning the tools to perform good research.

By the way, being nervous is part of the process, but understand that you don't need to have everything perfect from the beginning. You are here to learn and everybody knows that!

Matheus Gurgel

Read more

Top researchers and experts within their fields are teaching the courses. As the cohorts are small, the courses are very interactive.

Often, the related disciplines do not sufficiently collaborate to acknowledge this reciprocal relationship. I wanted to acknowledge this relationship and that many different aspects, such as social, psychological, and medical aspects, play a significant role in physical and mental conditions. Because of this, I applied for the Research Master in Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology as it acknowledges these relationships and highly emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach among disciplines within research.

Within this programme, top researchers and experts within their fields are teaching the courses. As the cohorts are small, the courses are very interactive. As the Research Master students of the Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology Research Masters come from different academic backgrounds related to Health Sciences, discussions always include many different perspectives, which widens the perspective.

Another unique aspect of the Research Master's is that the students pick their Master thesis topics and supervisors - not vice versa. Within interviews, the students interview the potential supervisor to check whether they are a good match.

Within the Master Thesis projects, which make up a big part of the whole programme, students can learn in-depth about medical and mental conditions, data collection, storage and processing, and advanced statistics. Within my Master Thesis project, in which I compared the prevalence of Functional Disorders across ages, I learned an advanced statistical method I had always been interested in learning.

The Research Master's ideally prepared me for my future career in research as it provided me with the necessary knowledge and taught me the relevant research skills. I found a PhD position within the department where I wrote my Master's Thesis, and I am excited to continue my research journey in Groningen!

Lisa Maeder

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The quality of the master is unmatched, and this is the perfect course for enthusiastic and motivated students, who want to be challenged and encouraged to reach the next step in their professional careers!

My experience

From day one, the CPE office and staff welcome students with open arms, providing genuine assistance and guidance – which is highly encouraging for an international student who is new to the city and the university! The small-scale nature of the course allows you to develop great friendships with classmates while working together while being taught by (and working alongside) some of the best minds in academia! The quality of the master is unmatched, and this is the perfect course for enthusiastic and motivated students, who want to be challenged and encouraged to reach the next step in their professional careers!

Research project

My research focused on the association between diet and respiratory health outcomes – which I conducted while embedded within the Department of Epidemiology at the UMCG. Within the department, I got the opportunity to work alongside other MSc students, PhD candidates, as well as professors – all of whom show interest in your work, and make a genuine effort to help you in any way they can.

Preparing for your future

I undertook this MSc in the hopes of increasing my career prospects for the future. The CPE programme offers a ‘fast-track’ opportunity to compete for PhD positions as part of the course but also encourages students to explore opportunities outside of academia. As a graduate of the MSc, I have recently accepted an offer to join a professional Data & AI graduate programme within the tech industry – an opportunity I was well-prepared for as a result of both the technical (research methods and statistics) and practical (communication, presentation) skills I learned as part of the CPE programme!

I am so happy that I chose the research MSc in Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology at the University of Groningen, and could not recommend it highly enough!


Cian Mitchell

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Study associations

VIP

VIP is the study association for the Psychology students at the University of Groningen.
VIP organizes study-related and social activities. As a VIP-member, you receive a discount on study books as well as a discount on VIP activities. On this website, you can find more information about VIP, our events, committees, and the book sale.
https://www.vipsite.nl/
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Student profile

Are you highly motivated to become a top-researcher and learn all the scientific methods to get unbiased answers to your questions? Would you describe yourself as curious, critical and inquisitive? Are you an analytical thinker who is able to translate complex problems into 'to the point' and testable hypotheses and do you have an affinity with statistical analysis methods?

In this research master's, we welcome students from a wide range of academic backgrounds including Medicine, health sciences, life sciences and social sciences and more! And by combining their unique perspective we work together on addressing the pressing physical and mental health challenges faced by today's society. There are many reasons why students join our programme, but whatever your motivation and ambition is, if your goal is to play a role in building a healthier society, then CPE is the right fit for you!

Find out which CPE track is the best fit for you: Health Systems and prevention track: https://www.rug.nl/cpehsp Lifecourse Health Development track: https://www.rug.nl/cpelhd

Study support

Each student is assigned to a mentor who is responsible for the evaluation of the student's progress, abilities, and limitations. The mentor and student have at least one scheduled meeting every three months.