Study Psychology in Rwanda

The University of Rwanda is the only public institution that offers a training of psychologists, especially clinical psychologists, in addition to the private University of Kibungo. The department of Clinical Psychology at the University of Rwanda is one of the departments that compose the School of Medicine and Pharmacy, within the College of Medicine and Health Sciences.

The department of Clinical Psychology offers a Bachelor's degree (BSc with honors, 4 years), a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology and Therapeutics (MSc, 2 years) and a Doctoral Program in Psychology (PhD by research, 4-5 years). To date, the University of Rwanda have graduated 932 BSc, 51 MSc and 1 PhD in Clinical Psychology. The same, the University of Kibungo counts 1128 graduates in Clinical Psychology.

Career

A rapid survey of the employment of Clinical Psychologists showed that apart from the Ministry of Health where they serve in district hospitals and other clinics (SCPS, CARAES), Clinical Psychologists are serving in several other social ministries in the country. Clinical Psychologists are also serving in the Ministry of Justice (e.g. Rwanda Public Prosecutor Authority), the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), the Rwanda Defence Force (e.g. Department of Mental Health at Rwanda Military Hospital; the Peace Keeping Mission in Sudan), the National Police (e.g. Isange One Stop Centre), the Ministry Education (e.g. Secondary schools handling Trauma issues), the Ministry of Internal Security (e.g. National Prison Service), Ministry of Youth (e.g. IWAWA Rehabilitation Centre), national and international organization (Ibuka, AERG, AVEGA, Handicap International, Hope and Homes for Children,Partners in Health, WE-ACT, Haguruka, Agahozo Shalom, etc), etc.

The scope of work, as published in Official Gazette Number 06 of 08/02/2016 determining the Medical Services provided at each level of health facilities in Rwanda as per MINISTERIAL ORDER NUMBER 20/39 OF 29/02/2016 (pp. 60-61), Clinical Psychologists working in health care facilities are expected to address a number of psychological and mental diffiulties, which include (not limited to), personal and family relationship problems (e.g. family conflicts/violence/Intimate Partner Violence/child abuse and neglect, couple and marriage problems,etc), sexual dysfunctions and disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, etc.