Bachelor Programme Psychology Berlin

Formal prerequisite for admission to the Bachelor Psychology programme at the Department of Psychology in Berlin is proof of a university entrance qualification such as:

• a secondary school leaving certificate (Matura or Abitur), vocational certificate (Berufsreifeprüfung) or equivalent (foreign) qualifications (e.g. high school diploma); or
• a relevant university entrance qualification examination (Studienberechtigungsprüfung); or
• a subject-relevant study admission examination as regulated in the examination regulations of the Faculty of Psychology under § 12.

Language skills:

If the applicant’s native language is not English, proof of English language skills at a minimum level of C1 (according to IELTS or TOEFL) is required. A completed course of study in English (e.g., high school, or university degree-granting program), can also be submitted as proof.

A minimum German language prociency level is not required for participation in the International Programme. Nevertheless, please keep in mind that Germany is a German speaking country and although it is relatively easy to get by with English, basic knowledge of German is very useful.

The admission regulations can be found at Regulations & Notifications (in German).

For programs starting in October 2025, we strongly encourage international students to apply by 01.08.2025, at the latest. It can take time to make plans for your move to Berlin, especially applying for and receiving a student visa and finding housing. As we are already accepting applications on a rolling basis, we encourage everyone to apply as early as possible to ensure that there are still places available in the program that interests you.

If you would like to apply for the programme,

1. click on the “Apply online” button and register,
2. complete the online application form step by step and upload the required documents,
3. submit your application.
4. Your application will be checked for form and content (this may take 1-2 weeks).
5. If your application is successful, you will be invited to an interview. The interview will take place with a member of the academic staff of the Faculty of Psychology.
6. You will be informed of the result approximately 2 weeks after the interview.

We also offer regular online information evenings or you can visit us in person to get an impression of the University.

Selection procedure:

Once all documents have been received and accepted, you will receive an invitation for an interview. The interview is designed to familiarise applicants with the requirements of the programme, as well as to explore the applicants’ personality, to assess their aptitude for the programme and the profession, and to check if their working knowledge of English is proficient enough for successful participation in the program. 
You will be informed by email approximately 2 weeks after your admission interview whether you have been admitted to the programme. The information and admission interviews will be held until the end of September.
After successful admission and signing of the study contract, students are enrolled.

Required and optional documents for the application*:

1.  (required) Letter of motivation (1-2 pages) (In English)
   
2. (required) Curriculum vitae (CV) (address included)
   
3.  (required) Passport or identity card or other proof of citizenship in conjunction with an official photo ID (copy front & back)
   
4. (required) Proof of higher education entrance qualification (e.g., high school diploma). All documents need to be in English or officially translated into English – German is also acceptable).
   
5. (required) Proof of English competence. All applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency (at least level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, International Baccalaureate. If you are a native English speaker, please include a statement attesting to this here. If you have completed a course of study in English (e.g., high school, or university degree-granting program), please also include this here. A minimum German language proficiency level is not required for participation in the International English-language Programmes at the SFU Berlin. Nevertheless, please keep in mind that while it is relatively easy to get by with English in Berlin, basic knowledge of German is very useful.
   
6.  (required) Photograph (.jpg, good resolution)
   
7.  (optional) University transcripts (these need to be in English or officially translated into English – German is also acceptable).
   
8.  (optional) Additional supporting documents

 *The documents will be used by the application committee to determine your eligibility for the program. (If you are admitted into the program, you will be required to provide official copies of the documents you submit. By submitting the electronic documents below, you attest to their accuracy and truthfulness.)

• Curriculum.pdf
• Module Handbook.pdf

The students acquire competences for the scientific processing of theoretical and practical problems in psychology. They have a sound knowledge of social science research methods, can independently apply scientific working techniques, are aware of the current state of knowledge of the basic sub-disciplines of psychology, have an overview of the epistemological interests and research strategies of individual disciplines bordering on psychology and have developed and expanded their communicative action competences in their own practical modules.
A Bachelor’s thesis is required for successful completion of the degree programme.

The most common fields of activity for psychologists: Health care (clinical psychology, psychotherapy, neuro- or rehabilitation psychology), work, organisational and business psychology (industrial psychology, personnel management, labour market administration, business and personnel consulting, advertising), educational psychology (school psychology, educational counselling centres), university (research, teaching, student counselling) and traffic psychology.

Tuition fees (2025): 

• Bachelor’s Degree Programme (BSc., 6 semesters): € 5.640 per semester (or € 958.80 per month plus a 2% processing fee)
• Signing deposit: € 480
  For students enrolling in Winter Semester 2025, this deposit is to be paid upon signing the enrolment contract and will be counted toward tuition fees owed. In case you resign from your studies before the semester begins, we will retain the deposit.
  

Tuition fees are charged for the standard programme duration (Bachelor’s Degree: 6 semesters, , or 36 months). The total costs of studying at SFU will not increase in case a student’s studies are extended by one year.

Payment models:
Model 1):
Payment of the tuition fee for one academic year in advance (2 semesters) (A discount of 1% is granted)
In the event of premature termination of studies, the remaining amount is refunded (the completed semester is calculated without the discount).

Model 2):
Monthly payment of the tuition fee (plus 2% processing fee)
Quarterly payment of the tuition fee (plus 1% processing fee)

Model 3):
Payment of the entire tuition fee Bachelor in advance (6 semesters). (A discount of 2% is granted)
In the event of premature termination of studies, the remaining amount is refunded (the completed semesters are calculated without the discount).

Additionally you have to pay the mandatory ÖH (Österreichischen Hochschüler_innenschaft) contribution every semester for the Austrian National Union of Students. More information on the current contribution rate and what it is used for: https://www.oeh.ac.at/en/service/oeh-contribution/

Contact Finance and Controlling:
Mail: psy-accounting@sfu.ac.at
Phone: +43 1 798 40 98 304
Opening and telephone hours: Mo-Thur: 10 am–3 pm / Fr: 10 am–3 pm, by telephone only 
Address: Freudplatz 1, 3rd floor, room 3002

The Sigmund Freud Private University offers a limited number of need-based scholarships in the form of a tuition fee reduction for its English-language programme in Berlin.
If you would like to apply for a scholarship, please complete the application form and
send it to psychology@sfu-berlin.de.
The deadline for the submission of scholarship applications is as follows:
– Summer semester 2026: 15 January 2026
– Winter semester 2026: 15 April 2026

In accordance with the specified criteria*, Sigmund Freud Private University awards performance- and merit-based scholarships annually. Further information can be found here
(LINK: https://psychologie.sfu.ac.at/en/academics/students/scholarship-and-funding/ )

Further Information on options for financing your studies you can find here.
(LINK: https://www.sfu-berlin.de/wp-content/uploads/Study-Financing.pdf)

*For citizens of an EEA member state (including Switzerland), or
-when you have equivalent status to Austrian nationals under §4 StudFG. This includes:
-Possession of a “Daueraufenthaltskarte EU” (permanent residence card – five years of uninterrupted residence in Austria)
-Being a family member of an EU citizen who is employed or self-employed in Austria
-Being a family member of an Austrian citizen
-Holding refugee status

The rolling online application process is open now.

If you require a visa to live and study in Germany (e.g., if you come from outside the European Union), please be aware that it can take some time for your visa application to be processed by the German government. If you need such a visa, we encourage you to apply to the SFU as early as possible for the program, and to the German government as soon as possible for the visa.

The programme has been accredited by AQ Austria. All SFU Accreditation Reports are available in German.

Ask us Questions

Whether your questions concern the study programme, the admission process, entry requirements, or organisational matters, here are several ways to get the information you need: 

• Attend an online information session
• Explore the FAQs
• Contact form

Head of the Bachelor Programme in Psychology
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Lucas B Mazur
lucas.mazur@mail.sfu.ac.at

Study Service Centre Psychology Berlin
psychologie.berlin@sfu-berlin.de

Sigmund Freud University Berlin
Columbiadamm 10, Tower 9
12101 Berlin – Tempelhof
E-mail: psychologie@sfu-berlin.de
Tel: +49(0)30 695 797 28-0

Opening hours:
Monday to Thursday 10 am -3 pm

Video: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Lucas B Mazur from the Department of Psychology an the SFU Berlin