To become a clinical psychologist in Germany, aspiring individuals must undergo a rigorous educational pathway that includes completing a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, a Master’s degree in clinical psychology, and a one-year internship. Additionally, they must pass the state exam for clinical psychologists to be able to practice in the field. The psychologist education system in Germany typically involves a 3-year Bachelor’s program followed by a 2-year Master’s program.
In order to gain admission into a Bachelor’s program in psychology in Germany, applicants must have completed their secondary education and obtained a school leaving certificate. They may also be required to meet certain language proficiency requirements, depending on the language of instruction at the university. For admission to a Master’s program in clinical psychology, candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field, and may need to provide letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and possibly pass an entrance exam or interview.
The admission process for universities offering psychology programs in Germany typically involves submitting an application through the university’s online portal or via mail. Applicants will need to provide transcripts of their previous academic qualifications, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and any additional materials required by the specific program. Once the application is submitted, it will be reviewed by the admissions committee, and successful candidates will be notified of their acceptance into the program.
Steps to Become a Clinical Psychologist in Germany
- Obtain a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology from a recognized university.
- Pass the exam in psychotherapy to obtain a license to practise as a psychotherapist.
- Complete a five-year further training course in inpatient or outpatient facilities.
- Choose a specialist area for further training: psychotherapy for adults, psychotherapy for children and young adults, or neuropsychological therapy.
- Take an oral exam at the end of the further training period, administered by an examiner from the local chamber of psychotherapists.
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Complete a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology at a reputable university in Germany. |
| Step 2 | Pass an exam in psychotherapy to obtain a licence to practise as a psychotherapist. |
| Step 3 | Undergo further training in inpatient or outpatient facilities for five years in one of three specialist areas: psychotherapy for adults, psychotherapy for children and young adults, or neuropsychological therapy. Take an oral exam at the end of the training. |
Can a foreigner be a psychologist in Germany?
You must already have a state licence to practise (Approbation) as a psychotherapist or a professional licence valid in Germany. If your qualification is not automatically recognised, you must prove the equivalence of your professional qualification as a specialist psychotherapist.
In order to practice as a psychotherapist in Germany, professionals must possess a state license known as Approbation or a valid professional license. If your qualification is not automatically recognized in Germany, you must demonstrate the equivalence of your qualifications as a specialist psychotherapist. This process is crucial for ensuring the quality and standards of psychotherapeutic practice in the country.
To meet the admission requirements for proving the equivalence of your professional qualification as a specialist psychotherapist in Germany, you must provide documentation of your existing license and credentials. This may include certificates, transcripts, and letters of recommendation from previous employers or supervisors. Additionally, you may be required to complete additional coursework or training to demonstrate your proficiency in the field.
When applying to a university or institution in Germany for admission to practice as a psychotherapist, you will need to follow the specific guidelines and protocols set forth by the institution. This may include submitting your application, paying any required fees, and attending an interview or assessment to determine your readiness for the program. By adhering to the admission process and fulfilling the necessary requirements, you can work towards obtaining the necessary qualifications to practice as a licensed psychotherapist in Germany.
NATIONAL REQUIREMENTS GERMANY
28-06-2021
Applying for EuroPsy in Germany ? Visit website
- Psychology Education
In Germany the psychologist education follows the format of 3 years BA followed by 2 years MA. Recognition of university education programs as meeting the EuroPsy requirements is undertaken by the NAC.
- Programmes that meet EuroPsy requirements
In Germany, 75 Bachelor’s and 96 Master’s programmes are EuroPsy compatible. The lists are available in a pull-down menue during the online procedure for applying for the EuroPsy. Other programmes need an evaluation by the NAC.
- Supervised practice arrangements (for the EuroPsy Certificate)
A national arrangement only exists for the three-year psychotherapist education which includes one year of supervised practice documented in the “Approbation”. In other professional domains supervision is locally organized within the institution the EuroPsy candidate is affiliated to.
- Arrangements for the training of supervisors
In Germany, in diverse psychological fields, opportunities are available to increase and professionalise one’s competencies as a supervisor. However, most courses are not explicitly dedicated to EuroPsy. The NAC has developed a concept for combining existing trainings with issues related to EuroPsy supervision, including different levels depending on prior experience as a supervisor. Currently, the NAC is searching for cooperation partners in organising and offering such combined trainings. Meanwhile, the NAC checks the supervisors’ qualifications case by case.
- Recognition of title
The professional title “Psychologist” is not legally recognised by law, but protected by a case decision of the Federal Court of Germany (1985). The academic title “Diplom-Psychologe” was exclusively granted through university training and protected by the general German penal code.
- License to practice
A license at the level of law only exists for psychotherapists (requiring a three-year post-graduate education). It is not restricted in time but requires evidence of continuing professional development. Such requirements do also exist in other fields of psychological practice.
- Continuing professional development (CPD)
Requirements for continued professional development exist but differ among fields of psychological practice.
Masters in Psychology in Germany: Complete Course Guide
Masters in Psychology in Germany is a vocational two years post-graduate course that helps you to study human behavior and read the human mind concerning various situations. Available as a mainstream and specialization program, masters in psychology in Germany costs international students around 700-8,800 Euro (total program). A work placement of 3-6 months is often offered as an internship to the students pursuing masters at psychology colleges in Germany.
Masters in psychology is often available as an MS (Masters in Science) or an MA program allowing students to explore specializations like clinical psychology, psychopathology, pedagogic pathology, human resources & organizational psychology, and health psychology. A graduate in psychology from German universities can earn up to 40,000 Euro per month, depending on the specialization and experience of the individual.https://0306473c465b7dbee9b721ebfad7335d.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Why Study Masters in Psychology in Germany
- Around 20 German Universities rank among the top colleges for psychology in the world. This makes Germany the third country with most ranking universities for psychology along with Australia, the top two are the USA and UK.
- Germany is the birthplace that revolutionized the subject of psychology by incorporating a mathematical aspect to it in the 1870s. Prior to this period, psychology was a part of the philosophy subject area.
- Enrollment in a masters degree at a recognized university allows students to become a member of BDP- the association of German professional psychologists.
- A master’s in psychology is considered one of the top-paying degrees in Germany.
*Students must note that the values mentioned are an approximation of the salaries offered in various fields of study to professionals at all the levels (entry and experienced combined).
Masters in Psychology in Germany: Top Colleges
Germany lies amongst one of the favorite study destinations for pursuing psychology degrees. Top universities in Germany offering masters in psychology are discussed briefly in the table below along with the duration of the program, university’s global ranking (psychology rankings QS-2020), and the fees of the course.
| Universities/Colleges | Global QS Ranks | Course | Program Fees (euros) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humboldt University, Berlin | 38 | Master of Science in Psychology (Neurocognitive Psychology/ Psychology of Lifespan/Clinical Psychology/Psychotherapy) Duration – 2years. | 1,200 |
| Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich | 51-100 | Master of Science in Psychology (Learning Sciences). Duration – 2 years. | 716 |
| Freie University, Berlin | 51-100 | Master of Science in Psychology (Clinical & Health Psychology). Duration – 2 years. | 1,248 |
| Ruprecht-Karl-University Heidelberg | 101-150 | Master of Science in Psychology (Developmental Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Organizational Behavior & Adaptive Cognition). The part-time option is also available. Duration – 2 years. | 6,000 |
| University of Mannheim | 101-150 | Master of Science in Cognitive & Clinical Psychology. Duration – 2 years. | 6,760 |
| Albert Ludwig University, Freiburg (Freiburg University) | 151-200 | Master of Science in Clinical Psychology, Master of Science in Neurosciences, Master of Science in Cognitive Psychology, Master of Science in Learning & Working. Duration – 2 years. | 6,000 |
| University of Hamburg | 151-200 | Master of Science in Psychology (Focus on Cognitive Neuro Sciences, Cognitive Developmental Neurosciences, Motivation Psychology, Current Research in Social, Developmental & Personality Psychology). Duration -2 years. | 1,200 |
| Goethe University, Frankfurt | 151-200 | Master of Science in Psychology (Cognitive, Neurosciences, Clinical, Organizational, Education). Duration – 2 years. | 1,480 |
| RWTH Achen University | 201-250 | MSc in Psychology. Duration – 2 Years. | 1,164 |
| Phillips University, Marburg | 201-250 | Master of Science in Psychology. Duration – 1 year (2 semesters). | 8,800 |
Students must note that for most of the German universities, there is no tuition fee that is charged only a semester fee is to be paid.
What is a Masters in Psychology
Masters in Psychology is a course that aims to study human behavior and read the human mind concerning society, work, organization, health, etc. The course focuses on cognition, emotion, human interaction, communication, human resources development, or learning with new media. It is a vocational two years course (generally) which involves plenty of research and fieldwork. After completing the Masters, you can apply for a Ph.D. in a similar field to move completely into the research domain.
- Duration – 2 years, 4 semesters.
- Start of Study – Winter Semester.
- Study Structure – Consists of credits for both specialist studies & Master Thesis.
- Specializations –
- Business Psychology: Applying modern psychological principles to the business world and maintaining a healthy work-life.
- Clinical Psychology: Assessment and treatment of mental health and behavioral problems.
- Psychotherapy: Generally termed as therapy, involves studying human behavioral and mental health issues through conversations on a regular basis.
- Child Psychology: Study of psychological development of children, and implications for policy and practice.
- Evolutionary Psychology: Study of human behavior through detailed exploration of evolutionary theory.
- Ample opportunity for research work through internships and work placements.
Masters in Psychology in Germany: Admissions
When planning to study abroad, international applicants must be familiar with the deadlines, eligibility, admission process, and documentation involved during the whole process. The sections below are a detailed attempt on covering all the important aspects of applying for master’s in psychology in Germany.
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Masters in Psychology in Germany: Deadlines
Given below are the details of the intake seasons offered to masters of psychology aspirants along with the month in which the application deadlines are last submitted for the top universities offering Masters in Psychology in Germany.
| Universities/Colleges | Intake | Winter/ Fall Deadlines | Summer / Spring Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humboldt University | Winter & Summer | May | January |
| Freie University | Winter & Summer | May | January |
| Ludwig-Maximilian University | Winter & Summer | May | November |
| Ruprecht-Karls-University/ Heidelberg University | Winter | July | – |
| University of Mannheim | Fall & Spring | May | November |
| University of Hamburg | Winter & Summer | July or March | January |
Masters in Psychology in Germany: Admission Requirements
The basic requirements to qualify for Masters in Psychology in Germany are:
- Bachelors in Psychology degree required along with transcripts.
- International students may be required to have a minimum of 80-90% in their bachelor’s degree.
- You will need TestDAF, DSH, or Goethe Institut Certificates as a proof for German proficiency.
- English language proficiency proofs in the form IELTS, TOEFL, and CAE scores
- A Valid passport along with a student visa.
- Letter of motivation.
- If you qualify the Test for Academic Studies, then it is an added advantage.
- It is a centralized aptitude test used for comparing ranks of foreign (international) students who wish to study in Germany
- This can improve the chances of admissions, however, it is still not mandatory to have taken this test.
- Any professional recommendations, work experience, and internships will be preferred.
Language Proficiency for Studying in Germany
International applicants are required to fulfill both German and English language proficiency criteria for getting admissions in masters in psychology in Germany. Given below are the scores required for the popular language tests to study in Germany.
| Universities | German Proficiencies | IELTS | TOEFL iBT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humboldt University | TestDAF – 3 points in all 4 parts | 6.5 | 100 |
| Freie University | TestDAF – Level 4 in all 4 parts. German Language proficiency must be C1 as well | 5 | 80 |
| Ludwig-Maximilian University | The language instruction is English, so the German proficiency test is not mandatory. | 6.5. | 79 |
| Albert Ludwig University | German Language Skills are equivalent to the C1 level. | 6.5 | 96 |
| Phillips University, Marburg | German Language skills should be DSH2 | 6 | 72 |
| RWTH Aachen University | DSH2 level, Adequate German Language proficiency from Goethe Institute, and equivalent. | 6 | 90 |
| Heidelberg University | DSH – 2 | 6.5 | – |
Cost of Studying Masters in Psychology in Germany
The cost of studying abroad has three components: Pre-departure Cost, Tuition Fees, and Cost of Living in Germany. Planning the expenses ahead helps an international student to apply for the scholarships available to study in Germany if required. The details of the expenses are as follows:
Pre-Departure Cost
To study in Germany, you will have to bear a certain cost before leaving your country. These include application fees, German student visa fees, exam fees, airfare, healthcare, etc. Some of the estimates are discussed below:
| Expenses | Fee (euros) |
|---|---|
| Visa fees | Schengen Visa – 60 National Visa (Below 18 yrs)-37.5 National Visa (Above 18 yrs) – 75 |
| Health Insurance | 110 |
| IELTS | 229 |
| TOEFL | 204 |
| TestDAF | About 100 |
Tuition Fees for Masters in Psychology in Germany
The overall cost of the complete program is discussed above along with the top universities. The comparison of the annual fees of the top colleges offering the program are as follows:
The annual cost for pursuing master’s in psychology in Germany for an Indian student is roughly around 30,000 INR to 3 Lakh INR. (conversion rate as off June 2020).
Cost of Living in Germany
The cost of living will highly depend on the choice of university, whether a student lives on-campus or off-campus, lifestyle choices, and various other factors. An estimate is given for the following expenses while incurred living in Germany:
| Categories | Average Cost in Euro (per month) |
|---|---|
| Food | 168 |
| Transport | 94 |
| Telephone, Internet, TV License | 31 |
| Work / Study Materials | 20 |
| Accommodation | 300-420 |
| Leisure | 61 |
Masters in Psychology in Germany: Scholarships
As the overall cost of studying ranges anywhere from 35,000 INR to 3 lakh INR annually, students might want to look for funding options to study in Germany. Fundings available for studying in Germany for international students include scholarships and loans. Given below is the list of few scholarship programs available to students pursuing Masters in Psychology in Germany:
| Universities | Scholarships | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Humboldt University, Berlin | DAAD Scholarships | Available to International students covering the study cost of the Master’s program. It includes 850 euros per month, health insurance, accident, travel allowance, monthly rent subsidy & monthly allowance. |
| Freie University, Berlin | Deutschlandstipendium | All international students get financial aid up to 300 euros for two semesters. |
| Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich | Ludwig-Maximilians Scholarships | Funding available up to 650 euros per month for extraordinary international students |
| Albert Ludwigs University, Freiburg | Deutschlandstipendium | All international students get financial aid up to 300 euros for two semesters. |
| BVA (Federal Office of Administration) | Financial aid provided to meritorious international students. Loans range – 1000 to 7,200 euros | |
| Heinrich Boll Foundation Scholarships | It includes a fund of 850 euros to non-EU & International students as individual allowance. | |
| Phillips University, Marburg | DAAD Scholarships | Available to International students covering the study cost of the Master’s program. It includes 850 euros per month, health insurance, accident, travel allowance, monthly rent subsidy & monthly allowance. |
Even though most universities do not ask for tuition fees, the overall cost for pursuing a master’s degree from Germany can be overbearing for international students. Looking for scholarships to study in Germany? Click here to find out more scholarships and how to apply.
Masters in Psychology in Germany: Scope
International applicants are highly encouraged to apply for internships while studying the program. It will not only help you fund yourself (450 Euros per month) but will also help you gain experience which can be utilized in scoring a job relatively easily. Post-study international students can extend their visa by 18 months. Germany offers good salaries for psychologists and related professions. Some of the popular job roles available to psychology graduates in Germany are as follows:
| Job Roles | Average Monthly Salaries (Euro) |
|---|---|
| Clinical psychologist | 13,300 |
| Counseling psychologist | 26,300 |
| Clinical Neuropsychologist | 13,300 |
| Psychologist | 9,300 |
| Chief of Psychology | 37,200 |
| Professor Psychology | 16,900 |
International students can also apply for jobs in various other countries. You can apply for getting a Europsy certificate which allows students to pursue their career across European Nations. Training and professional experience requirements must be met for a student to apply for getting a Europsy certificate.
The average salaries offered to international students in various other countries are 88,000 Euro/year in USA, 77000 Euro per year in Canada, 93000 Euro in UK, and so on. Hence, pursuing a master’s in psychology from Germany can land you in jobs with cushy median salaries in Germany or other popular countries abroad. You can also pursue Ph.D. and research-based work post-completion.
As per the Global Peace Index in 2019, Germany was ranked 22nd. It is way peaceful than many other developed nations. Most universities in Germany are public-funded. Hence most of them will not charge you tuition fees. Thus, the cost of the study is less here. So, if you are pondering on options to study psychology after your Bachelor’s, then you can consider studying Masters in Psychology in Germany.
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