Type : Master’s
Format: Full time
Duration: 2 years
Next intake: September 2026
Level: Bac +5 (State-recognised qualification)
Language: French
Location: Lille
Degree with rectoral jury
Understanding, preventing and providing support
Presentation Master’s degree Health Psychology
Presentation of the Master’s in Health Psychology
The Master’s in Psychology, specialising in Health Psychology: the individual, their loved ones and the healthcare system, is designed to train psychologists capable of meeting the challenges of modern healthcare. It combines a clinical (particularly cognitive-behavioural) and psychosocial approach to enable future psychologists to analyse a variety of healthcare situations with nuance, and to select the tools and interventions best suited to the context.
This Master’s programme primarily addresses three key issues in health psychology:
- the identification of biological, psychological and social determinants that may influence health-related issues (e.g. habits, social inequalities, emotional regulation, use of healthcare services, etc.),
- the implementation of preventive and/or health promotion measures to address these determinants (e.g. awareness campaigns, behaviour change interventions),
- support for people experiencing specific health issues (e.g. addictions, obesity, chronic pain, ageing) as well as their close relatives and carers.
The Master’s programme includes, in particular, a 40-hour specialised training module in Patient-Centred Therapeutic Education (PCTE), enabling students to work with patients or informal carers, both in one-to-one sessions and in therapeutic groups.
At the same time, the Master’s programme encourages research in collaboration with the PSyCOS laboratory, enabling some students to go on to pursue a PhD. The programme is underpinned by a strong commitment to human ethics and personalised support throughout the course and work placements (500 hours).
Professionals and academic staff
Work-based training placements
Personalised support
Program Master’s degree Health Psychology
Program
The Master’s in Health Psychology focuses in particular on developments in professional practice, and thus incorporates a robust ethical component necessary for the level of responsibility required in the field of health psychology:
- Theories and models in health psychology
- Social determinants of health behaviours and inequalities
- Behavioural change tools
- Conducting assessment- or motivation-focused interviews
- Therapeutic Patient Education
- (Emotive-)cognitive-behavioural therapies (e.g., diagnostic and trans-diagnostic approaches in psychopathology)
- Specialist care for various health issues (e.g., addiction, obesity and eating disorders, end-of-life care)
- Design, implementation and evaluation of interventions
- Carers and patient partners
- Science communication
- Ethics
Master's Program, Year 1
Core curriculum
Course title: Techniques and practices of individual assessment
Number of hours: 28h
Course title: Research training
Number of hours: 25h
Course title: English
Number of hours: 24h
Seminars (organised by research teams)
Number of hours: 36h
Specialist training
Course title: Fundamental Theories and Models in Health Psychology
Number of hours: 27h
Course title: Health behaviours: psychosocial determinants and public health issues: EC 1: Social psychology of health and inequalities
Number of hours: 22h
Course title: Health behaviours: psychosocial determinants and public health issues: EC 2: Introduction to public health and prevention
Number of hours: 12h
Course title: Principles and Foundations of Cognitive Behavioural Therapies
Number of hours: 22h
Course title: Key players in the care pathway: carers and patient-partners
Number of hours: 15h
Course title: Science Communication Workshop
Number of hours: 10h
Master's Program, Year 2
Core curriculum
Course title: Statistics and Computing
Number of hours: 30h
Work placement
Number of hours: 24h
Study and Research Project (TER)
Specialist training
Course title: Applied Social Psychology in Healthcare: Tools for Behavioural Change
Number of hours: 29h
Course title: Health Psychology Interviews: Assessing, Analysing and Conceptualising Learning Outcome 1: Clinical Interview: Diagnostic Assessment and Case Conceptualisation
Number of hours: 27h
Course title: The health psychology interview: assessing, analysing, conceptualising
Number of hours: 12h
25
Students per intake
28h
Weekly classes
500h
A two-year work placement
Skills Master’s degree Health Psychology
Key skills
- To be familiar with the main health issues and the associated challenges (e.g., access to care, adherence to treatment, oncology, chronic pain, addiction, obesity, insomnia, etc.).
- Be able to assess and analyse the biological, psychological and social factors influencing the health issues encountered, placing them in their wider context (e.g. beliefs, emotions, habits, social support, socio-structural context)
- Be able to develop, implement and evaluate a range of interventions to adapt to the needs of the situation and provide the best possible support to the people involved (e.g. awareness-raising campaigns, motivational interviewing, work on emotional regulation, communication, change planning, etc.)
- Be able to build trust, demonstrate empathy and work collaboratively with the people they are supporting, as well as with the various stakeholders within the healthcare system (e.g., family carers, healthcare professionals)
Teachers Master’s degree Health Psychology
Some of your future teachers
At the FLSH, lecturers play a key role in students’ success. They are professionals and/or researchers who pass on their knowledge with passion.
Léo Toussard
Dr in psychology and co-coordinator of the Master’s in Health Psychology
Nicolas Kaczmarek
Dr in Clinical and Social Psychology and co-director of the Master’s in Health PsychologyP
Olivia Beauprez
Dr in Psychology – Associate Dean (Psychology), Academic Director of the Second-Year Psychology Bachelor’s Program
Henry Clety
Dr in Occupational Psychology, Head of the University Diploma in Occupational Health
Anthony Piermattéo
Profesor in Social Psychology – Deputy Head of School (Psychology) Programme Director for the Master’s in Social and Occupational Psychology
Julio Guillen
Professor and Doctor of Psychopathology and Clinical Psychology
Bruno Lenne
Profesor in Psychology, specialising in Neuroscience
Sarah Amar
Clinical psychologist and lecturer
Isabelle Blairy-Savard
Design Engineer specialising in Well-being at Work / Innovation
Béatrice Degraeve
Dr in Neuropsychology, specialising in Neuroscience
Delphine Fleurion
Dr in Psychology, specialising in Neuroscience
Pierre Flandrin
Research Engineer in Social and Occupational Psychology
Carole Pinel
Dr in Psychopathology and Clinical Psychology; Head of Teaching for the First Year of the Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
Sandrine Schoenenberger
Dr in Occupational Psychology
Stéphane Ranfaing
Lecturer and Researcher in Neuropsychology
Careers Master’s degree Health Psychology
Careers
In practical terms, the course promotes learning through cross-disciplinary projects and the analysis of real-world case studies.
A number of practising professionals deliver lectures in the first and second years.
500 hours of work placements are compulsory to complete the Master’s degree and, upon completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, to qualify as a psychologist.
Career opportunities
- Health psychologist working in the hospital sector and specialist centres (addiction, obesity, pain management, oncology, palliative care, etc.), in medical and social care settings (residential care homes for the elderly, long-term care units, supported living homes, etc.), or in private practice.
- Project manager in public health, prevention and/or health promotion within health agencies (e.g. ARS, Santé publique France), health and prevention consultancy firms, local authorities, or within the voluntary sector.
- Researcher and lecturer in psychology (with the possibility of pursuing a PhD), in academic settings, hospitals or research institutes (INSERM, CNRS, INCa, etc.), with a view to pursuing a PhD
Careers
Health psychologist
Public Health Project Manager
Lecturer and researcher in psychology
Projects Master’s degree Health Psychology
Student Projects
During the two-year Master’s programme, a wide range of events are organised for students:
partenaires et institutions
FAQ Master’s degree Health Psychology
Ready to join us? We’ll answer your questions
Staff
Administrative contact
Yann Herman
Program directors
Dr Nicolas KACZMAREK
Co-coordinator of the Master’s in Health Psychology
Dr Léo TOUSSARD
Co-coordinator of the Master’s in Health Psychology
Is this Master’s programme offered as a work-study programme?
No. This Master’s degree is a regulated course of study with compulsory clinical placements in healthcare settings.
What is the pace of the course?
Full-time face-to-face training with compulsory clinical placements in healthcare settings (hospitals, clinics, organisations).
How much are the tuition fees?
Tuition fees are means-tested. Scholarships from CROUS and the faculties are available. An online fee calculator is available.
Am I eligible for CROUS grants?
Yes. CROUS grant holders benefit from a rate tailored to their grant tier.
What are the selection criteria for this Master’s degree?
Application and interview. A degree in Psychology is required. An interest in health, chronic illness and health prevention is an advantage.
Does this Master’s degree qualify you to practise as a health psychologist?
Yes. This Master’s 2 programme qualifies graduates to practise as health psychologists, provided they have successfully completed the compulsory placements.
What career opportunities does this Master’s degree offer?
Health psychologist working in hospitals, oncology, palliative care, occupational health, health promotion or research.
