Clinical Neuropsychology

Hi! My name is Nienke Buist and I am 26 years old. At the moment, I am working on my PhD research at the University of Groningen and Lentis. My research focuses on improving the daily functioning of people with serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression or bipolar disorder.

During my studies, I was active in student associations, had various part-time jobs—including in hospitality and as a supervisor at Team050— and served as the year representative for the Master's programme. In my spare time I like to cook and try out new dishes, have lots of cheese fondues, go thrift shopping or visit markets, and visit concerts or festivals. In terms of sports, I regularly go running and enjoy spinning classes.

Why the University of Groningen?
The University of Groningen offers a wide range of degree programmes, which makes it easy to combine different programmes. The wide choice of courses also made it easy to do a Master's degree at this university.
I was also familiar with the UG because I grew up in a village near Groningen. The city of Groningen is a very nice place to study: it is small and cosy and many places are within walking distance. In addition, it has a lively city centre thanks to the many pubs, restaurants, unique shops, markets and music venues.

Why I chose Clinical Neuropsychology
Although the Bachelor's programme in Biology was incredibly interesting, I learned that it was not the right fit for me. That is why in 2018, I switched to a Bachelor's in Psychology, also at the University. I have always had an interest in neuropsychology and the brain, and this interest only grew during the Bachelor's programme, which ultimately led to my choice of a Master' s in Clinical Neuropsychology.

Although I never had any doubts about the Clinical Neuropsychology track, I did apply to multiple universities because the Master's programme only has a limited number of openings, and prospective students are selected by a lottery. Unfortunately, I was initially placed on the waiting list, but luckily I was quickly accepted into the Master's programme. Knowing what I know now, I would definitely choose this Master's programme again. The Bachelor's and Master's programmes complement each other well and I was able to take some very interesting courses taught by inspiring lecturers. Experts with a lot of practical experience from various fields shared their knowledge with us during the lectures, which made the lessons extremely relevant.

Changed ambitions
During my Bachelor's I planned to work as a psychologist, which I certainly do not rule out for the future, but my ambition to do a PhD grew during my Master's.
I did my clinical internship in elderly care at a nice place with great supervisors. However, I noticed that there was something missing in that line of work. As part of my Master's thesis, I worked as a research assistant on the DUPARC study at the UMCG, a prospective cohort study into Parkinson's disease. I had a really good time working there. My role involved supervising participants during the research days at the UMCG and conducting and scoring neuropsychological tests. The combination of academic research and getting to know patients really appealed to me. This was something I could see myself doing for a long time to come!

Current job
I saw a vacancy for a PhD position via a LinkedIn post from a lecturer at the University of Groningen. I applied for the position and was able to start in October of 2023. As part of my PhD position at both the UG and Lentis, I am trying to find out whether cognitive remediation therapy and Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation (tDCS) therapy can contribute to improvement of the cognitive and daily functioning of people with serious mental illnesses. This can then help improve a client's recovery. I conduct a clinical trial and also administer the intervention to the participants myself. Talking to the clients is one of the things that motivates me. Their experiences make me realize the value and impact of this research, which gives me a lot of energy and motivation to do my job.

For me, this is the best of both worlds: academic research and practical experience. I think it is great to be able to combine these two aspects so closely, because you learn and see so much in practice.

Insights and advice
One of the most important things I have learned is to do what you really enjoy. If you base your choices on your own interests and passions, it will increase your motivation and make it more fun in the long run. I also have some very straightforward advice: visit the open days and take a look around the city, at the faculty and at student associations. And apply to the register of a housing association, it could help you find a place to live later on. Also, study together with your friends, for example in the University Library. I probably spent the most of my time in coffee corners, because breaks are extremely important to stay focused on your work.
If you have completed a Bachelor's degree at another university and you want to go to the University of Groningen for your Master's —or the other way around— it is important to check in advance whether your study programme meets the Master's admission requirements. It is useful to do this well in advance, so that you also have time to take any courses you may need for admission. Finally: make use of your network! I found out about my current job thanks to my network.

In conclusion
I really enjoyed my time in Groningen and the Master's programme in Clinical Neuropsychology. It not only gave me the knowledge and skills to grow, but also a clearer picture of what I want in the future!

My name is Shannen Will, I am originally from Germany and I am a Master's student of Clinical Neuropsychology. I chose this Master's because I wanted to deepen my understanding of psychological and psychiatric disorders in conjunction with the working of the brain.

I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Groningen and Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Leiden. Once I had my master’s, I wasn’t done studying, and as I really missed Groningen a lot I decided to return.

At the moment I am following the course unit in Neuropsychological Assessment in which we learn how to test and diagnose people with brain disorders. The course unit is quite practical. As well as attending the lectures we have to work on video assignments. Another course unit that I really like is Neuropsychology and Psychiatric Disorders. I am really intrigued to find out more about how all disorders, such as ADHD or eating disorders, are related to the brain.

What I love about studying here is the fact that you can take electives alongside the compulsory curriculum. Since I have broad interests, I also registered for the course unit Health Psychology from the Applied Social Psychology Master’s track. I enjoy studying this topic as well because it focuses on health in general and therefore provides a complementary perspective.

I am happy that the Dutch government supports me financially. As an EU national, I could apply for the tuition fee loan which makes studying more affordable.

Groningen is great. It is a very international city. People here are happy, friendly and accepting. Many good things have happened to me here! Groningen gave me the chance to prove I could become a psychologist.

Shannen Will, master student Clinical Neuropsychology

In my second year, I participated in the Honours Programme and was partnered with a researcher at the UMCG. I was immediately inspired by her research and by neuropsychology in general, and decided to write my Bachelor's thesis about the subject. It seemed like an obvious choice to continue in that field by pursuing a Master's in Clinical Neuropsychology.

After the Master's in Clinical Neuropsychology I conducted PhD research at the neuropsychology department at the UMCG. My supervisor helped me to establish contact with the director of the new Maarsingh & Van Steijn facility in Groningen, and I was invited for an interview.

I work here now as a neuropsychologist. That means that I provide primary mental healthcare for patients suffering from various psychological problems, including depression and phobias. I also provide support to people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases or those recovering from neurological injury. If necessary, I carry out neuropsychological research. In addition, I conduct psychiatric expertise consultations for a firm called WPEX.

My current position mainly involves treating people who are not suffering from neurological problems, so my work is more closely related to the Master´s in Clinical Psychology. However, I think that being familiar with both directions makes me a better psychologist in both fields. Patients with neurological problems are also often somber or phobic, and sometimes have personality problems.

During my Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences/Behavioural and Neurological Sciences, I found the brain particularly interesting. After my Bachelor's phase I wondered which direction to head in, but when I heard of the Master's in Clinical Neuropsychology, the choice was easy. In neuropsychology you examine the relationship between the brain and behaviour in day-to-day functioning.

I thought it would be great to learn more about this and eventually, as a neuropsychologist, to contribute to improving quality of life for patients with cerebral conditions. So then I first took the pre-Master’s and then moved on to the Master’s in Clinical Neuropsychology. 

The programme comprises course units, a placement and a Master’s thesis. You can choose from different course units. I found the course unit in Neuropsychological Rehabilitation particularly fun and interesting as it also included patient presentations. I also followed an integrated placement at the UMCG, whereby the clinical part of the placement was combined with writing my Master’s thesis. I conducted diagnostic activities during the placement and was involved in several research projects with different patient groups (traumatic head injuries, spinocerebellar ataxia, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases). I really enjoyed the great variety in the placement. One day I’d be seeing a patient, and the next I was reading articles and writing.

After the Master’s phase I had the chance to work as a researcher at the Department of Neuropsychology at the UMCG. I was busy administering neurological tests and writing articles. I then got a job as a lecturer at the UG. My main task now is supervising Master’s thesis projects at the UMCG. I also occasionally work as a neuropsychologist and see patients. I’m also researching traumatic head injuries. In Clinical Neuropsychology clinical work and research can easily be combined. The clinical work gives rise to interesting questions, and we then learn more about them through research, thus improving care for patients. I find my work very rewarding and challenging, and I hope I can continue to do it for years to come.

My name is Joost Heutink and I am an Assistant Professor for the Bachelor's degree in Psychology and the Master's degree in Clinical Neuropsychology. Students encounter me for the first time in their second year, for the Introduction to clinical neuropsychology course unit. During the Bachelor's phase, neuropsychology only plays a minor role, but it is an extremely interesting field! I really want to make students enthusiastic about following the related Master's degree.

Within the field of neuropsychology, we investigate the relationship between the brain and behaviour. People with a hereditary or acquired cerebral condition can have problems with perception, language, memory, motor functions, attention span, planning and behaviour. These disorders teach us a lot about how the brain works. We can use this knowledge to help patients cope with their functional impairment as well as possible and to participate in society. That’s what I find so great about my work – the link between academic research and clinical practice, where the patient takes centre stage.

Patients also play an important role in my lectures. I present many case studies, and I invite people with a cerebral condition to tell my students about the problems they experience. The scientific theories I deal with in my course unit help students to understand the problems these people have. At the same time, the patients help us to constantly test our theories and put them in context. Students learn to examine the theories with a critical eye, making them concrete. You see immediate results in actual practice!

Neuropsychology is also very interesting because it’s constantly developing. New things are constantly being discovered about the brain. Research helps us to understand the brain more and better, which knowledge we can then benefit from!