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Research Master
Child Development and Education
Vergelijk

Open day

Want to know whether this really is the right programme for you? The information and activities on this page can help you find out.

What is this programme about?

Find out what the Research master's Child development and education is about in this video with student Sara Iyi and programme manager Annette van Maanen.

Download the PPT

Did you miss the information sessions during the UvA Master's Week? Or would you like to review the PowerPoint presentation at your own pace?

A day in the life of CDE student Isabelle

In this vlog Isabelle Krüter takes you along on her day and tells you how she experiences the Research Master's Child Development and Education (CDE), studying and student life.

Statistics in the Research Master's programme

Dr. Terrence Jorgensen PhD gives an overview of the Methods and Statistics education in the Research Master Child Development and Education programme.

Mini lecture Iatrogenic intervention effects

In this mini lecture Prof. Dr. Geertjan Overbeek tells us more about iatrogenic intervention effects in research.

Explore your campus

Want to see where you will be studying? Explore the campus in our virtual map, or plan a visit and experience it yourself using the interactive app.

Frequently asked questions

  • Why would I follow a research master’s programme, rather than a regular master’s programme?

    If you have an active interest in research, are looking for a challenge, value an international and highly interactive programme, are motivated to learn more about how to conduct research in the field of child development and education and have the ambition to become a researcher, possibly combining it with other (clinical) tasks, the research master is the right programme for you.

  • My previous study was not in the field of child development and education. Can I still apply for the research master’s programme?

    Students with a university level bachelor’s degree in a related field can also apply. Whether you are eligible to apply depends on to what extent your previous education contained courses in the field of child development and/or education, (developmental) psychology, and methods and statistics of social science research. If you are unsure about your eligibility, please contact us before submitting a full application file.

  • Can I be admitted to the research master’s programme with a pre-master’s programme (instead of a regular bachelor’s programme)?

    Yes, a pre-master’s programme in the field of child development or education also gives access to the research master’s programme. However, the selection procedure still applies.

  • Is the clinical route in the research master also accessible for international students?

    The clinical route is only open to Dutch-speaking students with a bachelor that includes sufficient clinical elements, as this route qualifies for the continuation courses for clinical professions in the Netherlands and prepares you to work in the Dutch clinical practice. The clinical route therefore also consists of some courses in Dutch (the diagnostics and treatment practicals). Also, the clinical route is not very relevant to international students, as in other countries other requirements apply for working in clinical Practice. However, international students can still follow the clinical research master courses ‘Developmental and parenting problems’, ‘Learning and social-emotional disorders in educational contexts’, and ‘Criminal behaviour of juveniles’, and can choose clinical subjects for their thesis work.

  • What research topics are covered in the research master programme?

    In the research master, topics in the broad field of child development and education are addressed. Some examples of research lines with regard to child development are: child development and parenting in traditional and non-traditional families, the role of the father, the relation between temperament and parenting, the quality of professional child care, aetiology of abnormal child development (including anxiety, deficits in moral development, and juvenile delinquency), preventive and curative interventions targeting child-rearing problems and psychopathology.

    Examples of research lines related to education are: social outcomes of education, instruction, learning processes and learning disorders, domain-specific learning (e.g. literacy, history, arts, mathematics, science), innovation in education, motivation and learning, philosophy of education, school segregation, student-teacher relationships, vocational education, educational policy.

    Dependent on the courses you choose, these are topics you may encounter in the research master and you can choose these (or related) topics for your research internship and thesis.

  • How do I choose a topic for my research internship and thesis?

    In the introductory meeting of the Research Internship that will take place in September, researchers from the department will present their research lines and possible topics you can choose for your research internship or thesis. In addition, it is also possible to come up with your own topic if you already have a specific idea about what you would like to research. In that case, the thesis coordinator will help you to find a supervisor who has expertise on this topic.

  • I am interested in both child development and education. Do I have to choose between the two?

    No, you can choose disciplinary courses from both fields, and you could choose a research topic in the field of child development for your research internship and a research topic in the field of education for your thesis, or vice versa. There are also topics that are in the overlap of the two fields. So it is definitely possible to combine the two fields.

  • Are there other career options than a PhD after the research master?

    After finishing the research master, you are qualitied to apply for a PhD position and to conduct PhD research. In fact, many of our alumni indeed become PhD researchers either at the University of Amsterdam, another university in the Netherlands, or abroad, but it is also possible to work in a research position outside the university. However, you are also in a good position to apply for other vacancies, such as for policy adviser, data scientist or any other positions related to the field of child development and education.

    For students who have followed the clinical track, many alumni choose for positions in clinical practice, often in combination with doing research, and work as a science practitioner.

  • I am an international student from outside Europe. Is there a possibility to apply for a scholarship?

    International students can apply for a scholarship to cover their studies at the UvA. The University offers scholarships for exceptionally talented students from outside Europe. For more information, please check this website.”

Copyright: Tasos Psychogyiopoulos
'My decision to choose this research master’s programme was based on two desirable characteristics: international environment and research orientation. From the first days of the programme, even during the COVID-19 crisis, I received a feeling of professional intimacy and trust. That was the time I realised that I had made the best choice! Building on that warm environment and taking into account the plethora of research areas, every student is able to focus on a project of their interest. I am following the regular route and currently working on a fascinating project about intelligence in the Methods and Statistics department. The opportunity to work closely with a supervisor is unique, and I am looking forward to communicate our research findings to the scientific community!' Student Tasos Psychogyiopoulos

Keep me informed

In autumn and in spring you can attend live Meet & Ask sessions.  Do you want us to keep you informed on news and upcoming events?