FAQ for International Students at the SFU Berlin

 What career opportunities do I have after completing my bachelor’s degree in psychology at the SFU?
The SFU bachelor’s programme in psychology is designed to introduce students to the breadth and diversity of contemporary psychology. Students learn about the theoretical foundations of psychology, different research methods, the academic principles of the field, and are taught about different fields of psychological practice. The bachelor’s programme is not designed as vocational training per se but provides a broad foundation and preparation for later specialization in the master’s programme.

Our study program is structured to support students  to make an informed decision about how they want to proceed with their careers. Most graduates of the programme choose to pursue a master’s degree in psychology with a specialization that matches their interests (e.g., clinical, business, counselling, research, etc.).

Which master’s programmes can I apply to with a bachelor’s from the SFU?
The SFU is a private university officially accredited in Austria, and all degrees are awarded in accordance with Austrian law. The structure of the programme is based on the principles of the European Union’s 1999 Bologna Declaration. Therefore, all graduates of our faculty can apply to any master’s programme which acknowledges a (3-year/180 ECTS) bachelor’s of psychology that follows the principles of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). However, it should be noted that many universities have specific entry requirements for their master’s programmes, such as ECTS credits in certain areas, internships, and other criteria. We therefore recommend finding out about the entry requirements for Master’s programmes as early as possible before finishing the bachelor’s programme.

What options do I have if I want to continue my studies at the SFU after completing my bachelor’s degree?
Our department of psychology currently offers three specializations at the master’s level:

  • Clinical Psychology and Public Mental Health (English): Find out more about this specialization here
  • Business and Economic Psychology (English): Find out more about this specialization here
  • Sozialpsychologie und Klinische Psychologie (German): Find more about this specialization here.

Graduates from the SFU’s faculty of psychology can apply to any of these programs. Graduates from SFU Berlin can also apply to continue their studies in Vienna.
Further information about the application process in our English Master’s can found here.

Is it possible to apply for a master’s programme outside of the SFU? Do I need to be proficient in German to do so?
In principle, you can apply to any institution in the European Higher Education Area that requires a bachelor’s degree in psychology as an admission requirement. However, you should always check the specific entry requirements of the university in question. This also applies to language skills, which are required for many, but not all, master’s programmes.

Is it possible to work as a licensed psychotherapist in Germany after the English-language bachelor’s in psychology?
If you want to work as a licensed psychotherapist in Germany, it is essential that you understand and speak German well. For practical and legal reasons, we therefore recommend doing your bachelor’s degree in our German programme  if you want to pursue this career track.
The German approbation regulation in psychotherapy requires several clinical subjects and internships which are not included in the English bachelor’s programme. If you are considering switching to our German programme, we are happy to provide you with further information via psychologie@sfu-berlin.de.

Due to a recent change in Austrian law, it will soon be possible to transfer directly from a bachelor’s degree in psychology to a master’s degree in psychotherapy at the SFU. The conditions under which the German license for psychotherapy can be obtained through this combination of studies are currently being reviewed. We will inform you about the results as soon as possible.

Is it absolutely necessary to obtain a license as psychotherapist to work as a psychologist in a clinical context in Germany?
No, there are many other areas of work for psychologists outside of state-licensed psychotherapy. For example, psychologists work in prevention, rehabilitation, counselling, care and diagnostics. Our master’s specialization in Clinical Psychology and Public Mental Health is tailored precisely to these fields and enables students to work clinically outside the field of psychotherapy.

Can I also pursue an academic career at the SFU?
Yes. Beyond collaborating in one of our current research projects, you can also enter our 3-year PhD-programme which is organized by the Faculty of Psychology in Vienna. More information about this program can be found here.