Master Programme Psychology

Admission/enrolment period
Winter semester 2021/22: 01 March 2021 – 30 September 2021

No numerus clausus, the decisive factor is personal suitability for the respective field of study, which is clarified in an individual admission interview. You can register here (German page). A letter of motivation must be submitted before the interview.

The formal requirement for admission to the Master’s programme in Psychology is a Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.Sc.) in Psychology or in degree programmes with a psychological focus. In the latter case, a case-by-case examination is carried out to determine whether admission is possible.

Language skills: If the native language of the applicants is not German, German language skills of at least level C1 (according to CEFR) must be proven for the degree programme in German. For all applicants, English language skills of at least level B2 (according to CEFR) are also required.

The first step is to register for an admission interview (German page). You are welcome to get a more detailed picture of the university beforehand at information evenings or at the open day. You can also talk to our students.

Once you have made an appointment for your admission interview, you must submit the following documents by e-mail (.pdf):

• Letter of motivation
• Curriculum vitae
• Passport or identity card or proof of citizenship in conjunction with an official photo ID (copy front & back)
• Proof of university entrance qualification (certified copy, if possible)
• Bachelor’s degree certificate, if already available (certified copy, if possible), otherwise please send the current Transcript of Records (TOR)
• Health insurance card (copy front and back)
• Photograph (.jpg, good resolution)

During the admission interview, we will clarify once again whether the prerequisites for the degree programme are met and whether the goals you are pursuing can be achieved through the degree programme. The aim is to get to know you and to introduce you to us as a university.
After the interview, the documents you have gathered will be assessed and, if you are suitable, you will be offered a place at the university.

Module 1: Theoretical foundations of clinical and psychosocial practice

• Paradigms of clinical psychology
• Psychopathology: Causes and genesis of mental disorders
• Cultural psychological perspectives of clinical practice I and II
• Historical perspectives of clinical psychological practice

Module 2: Specialisation (choice of a specialisation)

Option 1: Psychotherapeutic intervention

• Developmental psychopathology I and II
• Specific disorders I and II

Option 2: (Inter-)National counselling and psychosocial intervention

• Psychosocial problem areas and intercultural communication I and II
• Conflict theories and psychological practice
• Organisational psychology, institutional analysis and social processes

Note: Regardless of which specialisation is chosen, the requirements for admission to training as a psychological psychotherapist under the old law are fulfilled.

Module 3: Research methods

• Research Methods and Evaluation – Quantitative Methods I and II
• Research Methods and Evaluation – Qualitative Procedures I and II

Module 4: Framework conditions

• History and ethics of applied psychology
• Legal framework of psychological practice

Module 5: Action competences

• Anamnesis and psychosocial assessment
• Introduction to group processes and group dynamics
• Counselling: coaching and supervision
• Diagnostics
• Assessment

Module 6: Practice

• Internship at home or abroad
• Internship supervision

Module 7: Research project

• Seminar in preparation for the Master’s thesis
• Research workshop
• Master’s thesis
• Master’s examination

If you have chosen International Business and Economic Psychology as your specialisation, you will take modules 2, 3, 6 and 7 in Berlin. Clinical subjects can be taken on a pro-rata basis if you are interested. All other modules are offered to you in English in Vienna:

1st Term | September – February: 23 ECTS
1st Paradigms in Economic Psychology (VO: 3 ECTS)
2. work psychology (VO: 3 ECTS)
3. organisational psychology (VO: 3 ECTS)
4. consumer and market psychology (VO: 3 ECTS)
5 Behavioural Economics (ILV: 3 ECTS)
6. personnel psychology (ILV: 4ECTS)
7th Elective Course (in student’s national language at home site)

2nd Term | February – July: 23 ECTS 
1. personnel selection (UE: 3 ECTS)
2. market research (UE: 3ECTS)
3 Coaching Psychology (UE: 3 ECTS)
4. work psychology (UE: 3 ECTS)
5 Conflict resolution in organisations (SE: 3 ECTS)
6. service psychology (ILV: 4ECTS)
7. elective course (in students’ national language at home site)

Download: 
Folder Master PSY Berlin (pdf)
Modulhandbuch Master PSY Berlin (pdf)

In the core programme, which is compulsory for all students, the first year of study initially focuses on further deepening the training in social science research methods. At the same time, students acquire the corresponding subject-specific competences in their chosen specialisation. The acquisition of theory goes hand in hand with practical testing of the knowledge to be acquired. The second year of study provides for a professional internship of at least four months as part of the curriculum in the core studies. From the third semester onwards, preparation for the scientific thesis begins, and the Master’s thesis is carried out in the fourth semester.
The students are qualified for independent scientific work, they have sound professional knowledge in their chosen specialisation and can also apply their scientific expertise in practical professional contexts.

Completion of the Master’s programme provides the prerequisite for further postgraduate training (e.g. doctoral studies, psychotherapy training under the old law, health psychologist, occupational and organisational psychologist). Graduates are introduced to the independent performance of psychological diagnostics as well as responsible and scientifically sound counselling and intervention, e.g. in clinical, educational, health, occupational and organisational psychological contexts as well as in social or personal crisis, conflict and decision-making situations.
Acquired competences also enable professional activities in human science-oriented fields of work related to psychology, such as health care, human resources management, labour science, technology development, administration, market and media research, crisis and security management.

Tuition fees (valid from summer semester 2024):

€ 6.145/semester or € 1.044,65/month (24x instalments incl. 2% processing fee) for four semesters regardless of the length of study – i.e. regardless of the actual length of study, only 4 semesters or 24 months have to be paid.

In accordance with the specified criteria, merit and funding scholarships are awarded annually at Sigmund Freud University.
We will be happy to advise you personally about other possibilities for financing your studies (scholarships, Bafög, student loans, etc.) at psychologie@sfu-berlin.de.

• Information Event (in German)
• Academic Year
• Timetable

The Master Psychology programme was accredited by the Austrian Accreditation Council in 2009.
All SFU Accreditation Reports are available on the website of SFU Vienna.

Head of the Master Programme in Psychology
Prof. Dr. Meike Watzlawik
meike.watzlawik@sfu-berlin.de

Study Service Centre Psychology
Sassan Yassini
Sassan.yassini@sfu-berlin.de