Testimonials
The Master's brought me specialised knowledge on social psychology and influence techniques, and valuable skills for my career.
- Previous education
- Bachelor of Psychology (Radboud University)
- Nationality
- Italian
- Programme
- Behaviour Change
- Country of previous education
- Netherlands
- Study end date
Sara Gastaldo was a Master's student in the Psychology specialisation Behaviour Change.
What knowledge and skills did you learn during your Master’s that are really useful to you now?
The Behaviour Change Master's programme offered me specialised knowledge on social psychology and influence techniques, and it also provided valuable skills for my future career. Managing the demanding coursework, reading required literature, and submitting assignments while juggling personal commitments taught me essential time management and organisational skills. I realised early on in the programme that strict scheduling was necessary to keep up with the workload. This differed greatly from my experience during the Bachelor's, where I felt my schedule could be a bit more lenient and subject to improvisations.
Moreover, given the relatively small size of the programme and the weekly group assignments, I was in constant contact with other students. Collaborating on group projects helped me develop strong teamwork skills, and being close to other students helped me whenever I felt discouraged or overwhelmed by an incoming deadline.
Lastly, because of the nature of the assignments and exams, the master emphasized the importance of critical thinking and problem-solving, encouraging me to question assumptions, evaluate evidence, and come up with psychological interventions built upon well-reasoned and substantiated arguments. This emphasis on analytical thinking has refined my approach to tackling challenges, both inside and outside the academic realm.
What did you find most challenging in your Master’s programme? Did you encounter any obstacles?
The fast pace of the programme and the numerous deadlines were the most prominent challenges during my master. The intensity of the coursework and the need to balance academic responsibilities with personal commitments demanded a high level of dedication and time management skills. To keep up, I had to adapt to a study routine and remain focused on the learning objectives.
Additionally, the frequent deadlines for assignments required me to be highly disciplined. Juggling multiple tasks simultaneously was at times overwhelming, and it forced me to prioritise tasks and allocate time efficiently.
Do you have any tips/suggestions for prospective students?
As a former student, my biggest suggestion for prospective students would be to organise study sessions with peers. This approach proved incredibly beneficial during my academic journey, and I believe it could enhance anyone's learning experience. Studying in a group setting provided me with the opportunity to exchange ideas and gain fresh perspectives on course materials and complex concepts, deepening my understanding of the course material.
Secondly, it helped me maintain focus and discipline, making it easier to stay on track with coursework and assignments.
Lastly, in addition to academic benefits, study groups were a great source of motivation and support for me. When facing academic challenges or feeling discouraged, being close to my study group encouraged me and helped me overcome obstacles.
I am proud to see the students putting their knowledge into practice as an intern and thrilled to see where they end up in their careers!
- Programme
- Behaviour Change
Daniela Becker is an Assistant Professor at Radboud University.
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Daniela Becker and I am originally from Germany. I followed the Bachelor's degree in Psychology in Wales, Cardiff to be exact. After a one-month internship in Amsterdam, I didn't want to leave there: I took a Research Master's at the UvA, focusing on social psychology. I also did my PhD there, on self-control in eating behaviour.
During my PhD, I hardly ever taught, but now I have gotten the hang of it. For seven years I have been setting up and developing education and, of course, teaching. Within the Master's specialisation Behaviour Change, students know me from the courses Models of Behaviour Change and Psychology of Behaviour Change: Theories and Interventions. I am also involved in supervising internships and theses.
Why did you choose to study/work in this field? What makes this field so interesting?
I always found it interesting to explain behaviour. Why do people do certain things? Why don't do people certain things exactly? As a social psychologist, you look at how people influence each other, but my interest also lies in individual regulation.
What are you currently doing your own research on?
My research focuses on self-regulation, motivation and decision-making. Whereas before the focus was mainly on optimisation (how can you make 'the right' choice? For example eat healthy or exercise?), I am now looking specifically at feelings: what makes a choice fun? I find the pleasure aspect of decisions incredibly interesting.
Within the Master's, there are also so-called peer groups. Here students support each other on a personal and professional level. Do they have tips on study-life balance? How can they help each other with their resume? My research shows that fun is super important. So in my study groups, students also set goals that focus on that. Studying comes with a lot of challenges, but it's definitely good to focus on fun things. The most successful students make good plans for their studies, but also find a good balance with their leisure activities. This is what I try to show and teach them as well: have fun!
What advice do you have for students choosing a Master's programme?
Only when there is friction is there learning and progress. Not everything has to be right the first time, for both student and teacher.
What is the best part of being a lecturer?
As an Assistant Professor you have a teaching appointment as well as a research appointment. I enjoy both talking about research and doing research myself, so it's a good combination! In the Master's I teach a course in which I have loads of contact with the students. My experience is that students in the Behaviour Change Master's programme get the feeling that they can cope with the challenges. Another advantage of this Master's is the connection to the work field. During the internship, you learn a lot about the content, about yourself and about the field. Secretly, I am sometimes a little jealous of students for being allowed to do internships. It's very cool to learn from students and see what they all go through in practice. I am proud to see the students putting their knowledge into practice as an intern and thrilled to see where they end up in their careers!
The internship allows you to apply the knowledge you've gained to a real-world case study that interests you.
- Previous education
- Bachelor Psychology (Radboud University)
- Nationality
- Dutch
- Programme
- Behaviour Change
Master's student Ermie Mulder is studying the Psychology specialisation Behaviour Change.
What do you like about the Master's program, and why?
What I like about this Master's programme is the opportunity to independently conduct research for my internship company. This allows you to apply the knowledge you've gained in the first semester to a real-world case study that interests you. You have to find a company for your internship yourself but the university is willing to help. This gives you the opportunity to decide the direction of your research. I'm interested in sports psychology and wanted to find a sport-related internship, which I was able to do. I really enjoyed this freedom and it prepares you better for your working life. I also like the way the Master's study programme is set up. You have to work together with other students for a lot of assignments, which allows you to get to know each other well in a short amount of time. This makes for a very friendly atmosphere, and everyone is willing to help each other.
What do you think of the atmosphere in class?
The atmosphere is great. You have to work together with your fellow students a lot, and that makes for a strong bond. Since this programme isn’t very large, you can get to know every student by name. The small scale makes it easier to reach out to each other and socialize. Lecturers are very approachable. They want the best for every student and are always willing to talk if you’re struggling with something. During lectures there is room for jokes, creating a pleasant and eager-to-learn atmosphere so that you, as a student, feel comfortable asking questions. You’re also challenged to think carefully about every step you take, which teaches you to critically evaluate your own work.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s? Have you encountered any obstacles?
Combining the exam week with deadlines for written assignments was quite challenging. Because there is only one examen week you have to plan carefully so you don’t find yourself with a ton of work to do at the end of the semester. You have to stay on top of everything, then it’s manageable. I’ve spent a lot of time studying with fellow students. That worked really well, because everyone is driven to pass all the exams.
What can you tell us about your internship and/or thesis?
I’m doing my internship at VeiligheidNL and for my thesis I’m researching injury prevention among runners. In my research I’m trying to encourage runners to warm up more often before running, in order to reduce the number of knee injuries. I have made several videos featuring various behaviour change techniques. I want to distribute the videos among runners and measure whether people have actually warmed up more often before running. I have reached out to several running clubs for distribution and am currently in discussions with an organisation.
Why is it important to have people with this Master’s degree? And what do you plan to do with it after finishing the Master’s programme?
Behaviour plays a role throughout society and can sometimes be harmful, such as being unable to quit smoking, failing to separate trash, or skipping a warm-up before exercising. Changing certain behaviours can have a significant impact on areas such as climate or healthcare. These changes impact society as a whole, which is why I believe that everyone benefits from people having this Master's degree. Personally, I want to do a second Master’s first, since I’m not done studying yet and want to delve deeper into psychology surrounding safety issues. I hope that I get the chance to focus on behaviour in my career, because I find it really enjoyable to research this topic and develop interventions to change specific behaviours.
The excitement of this field lies in the ability to combine psychology, creativity, and science to make a meaningful impact.
- Previous education
- Bachelor of Psychology (Erasmus University Rotterdam)
- Nationality
- Dutch
- Programme
- Behaviour Change
- Country of previous education
- The Netherlands
- Study start date
- Study end date
Master's student Luca Smans is studying the Psychology Master's specialisation Behaviour Change.
What do you like about this Master's specialisation and why?
The Master's in Behaviour Change taught me to apply scientific methods to real-life problems. In this one-year programme, we dove deep into the psychological theories of behaviour change, the DRIVE method, and how to be a behaviour change professional. This knowledge helped me not only in the internship and thesis period, but gave me the tools I will need for my future career. For me, the excitement of this field lies in the ability to combine psychology, creativity, and science to make a meaningful impact.
What do you think of the atmosphere in class?
The small class sizes and close contact with the teachers was one of the biggest differences from the Bachelor's. I was used to big lecture halls and never really speaking to the professors. However, in this Master's there is a much smaller gap between student and teacher which made contact feel more accessible. Additionally, the emphasis on small group collaboration, allowed me to be in closer contact with the other students as well. The learning experience has therefore felt more personal and interactive.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s? Have you encountered any obstacles?
The most significant challenge has been the pace of a one-year programme. There is a steep learning curve, especially when diving into specialized topics right from the start. However, I’ve found that the setup of the program has allowed me to become more disciplined with my time and has accelerated my ability to grasp complex concepts quickly.
Why do you think it is important that there are people with this degree? What are your plans once you have received your Master's degree?
The value of this degree, for me, lies in its ability to translate social psychological theory into actionable solutions for complex societal issues. The knowledge gained from this degree will hopefully allow me to create science-based interventions that will lead to lasting, positive change in fields such as sustainability and public health.