Dr. Els Van Der Ven

Associate Professor

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Biography

Els van der Ven is an Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center. Her research interests focus on the social determinants of mental health, particularly in the context of psychotic disorders. She investigates the incidence and prevalence patterns of psychosis among ethnic minority populations in Europe and the U.S., aiming to understand the underlying cognitive, behavioral, and neural mechanisms through a combination of epidemiological and experimental study designs. Her work also addresses global mental health issues, particularly interventions aimed at reducing mental health inequities in low- and middle-income countries. Projects she is involved in include the Veni project on psychosis risk among ethnic minorities and the EU4Health initiative for promoting mental health in vulnerable young adolescents. Additionally, she teaches courses at both the bachelor and master levels at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, including Psychopathology and Global Mental Health. Van der Ven is also engaged in various ancillary activities within mental health organizations, contributing to her commitment to improving mental health services and research.

Research Interests

Courses

Psychopathology Global Mental Health Neuropsychological Interventions Emotion, Cognition & Behaviour

Requirements for Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
IELTS
Listening
Required:6.5
Reading
Required:6.5
Writing
Required:6.5
Speaking
Required:6.5
Overall
Required:6.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:22
Reading
Required:24
Writing
Required:24
Speaking
Required:25
Total
Required:100
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field 12 ECTS in Research Methods/Statistics 12 ECTS in Clinical Diagnosis/Assessment
Application Checklist
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Official Transcripts
  • Motivation Letter
  • Proof of English Proficiency
Specialization Notes

Administered under the Department of Clinical Psychology for Master's in Clinical and Developmental Psychopathology.