• Profile
• Mission
• Rankings
• Organisational structure
• Staff
• FPN Media
• Contact
• Complaints Committee

Profile

Founded in 1995, Maastricht University’s Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN) has a distinctive profile in terms of the content of its education and research, as well as its education methods. Education and research at the faculty emphasise two contemporary, important angles in psychology: cognitive psychology and biological psychology. Our programmes revolve around Problem-Based Learning. We consider this form of teaching an excellent vehicle in order to create a qualitatively excellent coherence between education and research. In addition, the we have a strongly international outlook in the sense that we offer our education in English.

Research

The faculty's policy is designed to spur on both fundamental and applied research. Its unique research infrastructure – including a hypermodern 9.4-Tesla MRI scanner starting 2012 – allows for groundbreaking research into the brain and behaviour. Its applied research considers socially important themes like dyslexia, eating disorders, ageing, AIDS prevention, the effect of medications on driving ability, and the value of witness statements. Scientific research into such themes requires partnerships with other faculties as well as care institutions and companies; forging such partnerships is thus a main aim of the faculty's policy.

International character

The Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience has an international character, which is thanks in part to its large number of international staff members (30% of the total staff in 2010, with more than 11 different nationalities). In addition to the student exchanges, academics from other institutions are also regularly invited to teach and conduct research at the Faculty for an extended time, for instance during a sabbatical period. What’s more, faculty employees regularly spend time working at other research and education institutions, often abroad.

Facilities

Our faculty is housed in a modern building at an excellent location, in the immediate vicinity of the Randwyck railway station. The building accommodates various facilities that support its education, such as the University Library, modern computer facilities, rooms for practical sessions and laboratories (including the MRI scanner). In 2012 a new building will be completed that will house three MRI scanners. One of them will be the hypermodern 9.4 tesla scanner.

Success

The Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience has been highly successful in its acquisition of indirect government and thrid party funding, in the findings of review committees, and in its scores in national education rankings. It was also the first Dutch faculty to achieve a strong result in the rankings of the German Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE) in cooperation with Die Zeit weekly. The faculty’s distinctive profile has undoubtedly contributed to this success.