Master's Degree in Clinical and Health Psychology

Program Description

What does this course offer?

The master's degree in Clinical and Health Psychology offers specialized, professional training for graduates in Psychology or Psychological Sciences. In line with the principles of the Bologna Process and the European Diploma in Psychology (Europsy), the aim is to prepare students for the professional practice of psychology in a clinical and health context. This training responds to a need for qualified professionals in this field.

According to the Data and Statistics of Higher Education Courses (Infocursos), the FFCS Psychology degree stands out for its high levels of employability (98.5% - average from June to December 2018). According to the latest data from the Employability Observatory of the Portuguese Psychologists' Association (2017), 35% start their career immediately and 45% start their career within 6 months.

What are the objectives?

Deepening and specializing skills in the area of clinical and health psychology, based on solid compliance with the code of ethics. The classes will therefore be theoretical and practical in nature:

In-depth skills in the areas of psychological assessment of diverse populations, intervention in clinical and health contexts, as well as evaluation of the results of interventions;
Research skills applied to this area of knowledge.

Structure of the study cycle:

The 1st year involves attending five curricular units (CU) in each semester (e.g., Advanced Research Methodologies I and II, Assessment and Intervention in Adults, Neuropsychology applied to Clinical and Health Sciences). Of the ten CUs that the student attends during the 1st academic year, two are chosen from a range of optional CUs (e.g., Psychogerontology, Trauma, Violence and Health, Deepening Relationship Skills).

The 2nd year includes two curricular units: Internship and Dissertation.

The curricular internship takes place in institutions that have a protocol with the FFCS, although internship candidates can submit their own proposals to the coordinating committee. The internship experience is guided by a psychologist at the internship site (internship supervisor) and supervised by a UCP lecturer (internship supervisor), and these supervisions take place on a weekly basis.

Some of our internship partner institutions are: Hospital de Braga, Casa de Saúde do Bom Jesus, Hospital da Misericórdia de Vila Verde, Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Barcelos, ARS Norte (health centers in Braga, Barcelos/Barcelinhos, Santo Tirso/Trofa, etc.), Projecto Homem, AIREV, Instituto Monsenhor Airosa, Oficinas de São José, FACes, etc.

In the Dissertation UC, students develop their research project within the research lines of the lecturers, in accordance with the strategic plan of the Center for Philosophical and Humanistic Studies (a research center funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology). The dissertation supervisor supervises the student on a weekly basis.

Our lecturers invest heavily in supervising their internship and dissertation students. Work-study students have specific rules regarding their status.

Career opportunities

It allows you to register and complete a professional internship supervised by the Portuguese Psychologists' Association, which is compulsory for practicing the profession. Once the professional internship has been completed, career opportunities include: hospitals, primary health care (health centers), Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSSs), clinics and psychological consultation centers, higher education institutions and research centers.