Graduate School in Neuropsychology

The objective of the graduate school of clinical Neuropsychology is to provide students with the scientific knowledge and cultural foundations needed to identify and assess the gravity of cognitive defects, for prognostic, diagnostic, preventive and rehabilitative purposes.
The neuropsychological approach allows the study of changes in cognitive function caused by acquired brain disorders, such as focal and diffuse lesions and congenital or genetic conditions. Therefore, the trainee acquires knowledge of the characteristics of cognitive deficits and their underlying neural causes by studying patients of different ages (children and adolescents, adults and the elderly) with central nervous system damage or dysfunctions. The graduate school enables students to gain theoretical and clinical knowledge of the various cognitive areas (i.e. language deficits, reading and writing disorders; visual-spacial deficits, agnosia; and deficits in memory and attention, planning or rational reasoning) with the aid of an advanced neuropsychological testing method.

The educational offering of the graduate school in neuropsychology aims to offer students theoretical knowledge and practical clinical experience which will enable them to undertake and coordinate neuropsychology activities. These activities include the identification of cognitive deficits, their assessment via psychometric tests, interviews and questionnaires, the analysis of the quantitative results of the investigations using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, also with the aid of IT,
and the organisation of rehabilitation programs for cognitive and cognitive-behavioural deficits and other actions to encourage functional compensation, through the use of the remaining abilities.
The school also teaches students to encourage, undertake and assess psychotherapeutic procedures to assist the recovery of psychosocial wellbeing.

The school issues the qualification of Neuropsychology Specialist.

The School is run by its Director and Council. The School Council comprises all the School's teaching staff, including contract Professors, and three student representatives, elected in accordance with art. 99 of Presidential Decree 382/1980.
To qualify as a specialist in Neuropsychology, the trainee must acquire a total of 300 ECTS-Credits, over a 5-year course.

Candidates for the entrance examination must hold a degree in Psychology. They must also provide proof of a good working knowledge of English. In order to enrol, students must be licensed to practise as psychologists, or acquire this qualification at the first available session of the State Licensing Examination for practice as a psychologist.