This two-year Master of Science program trains students to promote healthy, positive development in children by combining rigorous research training with hands-on, applied work. Small cohorts allow close interaction with faculty, practical research projects, and internship opportunities. The curriculum deliberately bridges basic science and real-world practice so graduates can translate current evidence into interventions and supports for children and families.
The degree is built around three core areas: Research, Research–Practice, and Policy. The Research strand provides clinical-developmental theory and quantitative and analytical methods for studying childhood development and interventions, preparing students for doctoral study or for designing and conducting research in academic, non-profit, government, or industry settings. The Research–Practice modules teach strengths-based, evidence-informed assessment, prevention, and intervention techniques to support children’s social-emotional development across settings such as schools and ambulatory care. The Policy component trains students to convert research findings into accessible guidance, materials, and recommendations for parents, educators, clinicians, and policy makers at local, national, and international levels.
Offered entirely in English, the program covers a wide range of topics that support both academic and applied career paths. Graduates leave prepared for roles in counselling and intervention design and evaluation, for positions running knowledge-transfer initiatives in social or political institutions, or for further research training (PhD). The curriculum emphasizes empirical methods alongside science communication and public outreach to ensure research has impact beyond academia.
Key facts and curriculum highlights
For specific admission requirements, application procedures, fees, and deadlines, consult the university’s official program page or contact the admissions office.
Overview
This 120‑credit Master’s curriculum combines advanced coursework with applied research experience to prepare students for interdisciplinary work in child development. Teaching draws on perspectives from educational science, developmental psychology, clinical‑developmental psychology, and philosophy to bridge theory, research, and real‑world practice. A compulsory four‑week applied research internship gives hands‑on exposure to research settings, and the programme culminates in an independently written Master’s thesis.
Curriculum focus and learning outcomes
Courses are designed to develop the ability to integrate multiple disciplinary perspectives when investigating developmental questions and when translating research into practice or policy. By completing the taught modules, the internship and the thesis, students will gain experience in empirical research methods, critical evaluation of developmental science, and the practical application of findings in clinical, educational or policy contexts. Instruction is delivered by lecturers specialising in the programme’s core areas, ensuring rigorous academic grounding alongside practical relevance.
Requirements (curriculum structure)
This program requires that applicants have already completed a first academic degree and possess foundational knowledge of research methods and statistics. These are the central academic prerequisites for admission and form the basis of the faculty’s review.
When you apply, the faculty will assess whether your prior degree and your methodological/statistical background meet the programme’s standards. After this assessment they will issue an official notification confirming whether the requirements have been satisfied.
That official notification is the formal proof that you meet the admission criteria. International applicants should be prepared to submit documentation (e.g., diplomas, transcripts or course descriptions) that demonstrates both the first degree and the relevant methodological/statistical coursework when requested.
Winter Semester (International)
30 April 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
31 May 2026
Graduates are prepared for doctoral research in child development and mental health as well as for applied roles designing, delivering, and evaluating interventions in academic, non‑profit, governmental, or industry contexts. Typical employment settings include schools, ambulatory care centres, counselling services, research institutes, and organisations involved in child and family policy.
The policy and communication components additionally qualify graduates for knowledge‑transfer positions where they translate research findings into practice guidelines, educational materials, or policy recommendations for stakeholders at local, national, and international levels.
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