Psychology is quite a sensitive field to study, especially if you are doing it in a foreign country. The psychology schools initially following different approaches towards the study of mind, following different psychology masters as a direction offer direction based syllabuses that students might find difficult to choose. In Germany, as in any other developed country there are numerous Universities that provide for quality and innovative study programs concerning the field of Psychology, albeit as in every other country every University takes a stand on which are supposedly the best methods into developing this complex subject. Several criteria need to be met in order for a University to rank in the best position among the best Universities in Germany regarding the study of psychology, and apropos to the predetermined standards offered by Zeit Online, the following criteria are some of the most important and required conditions for any psychology students aiming to get the best out of his/her studies.

1. Citation per Publication – Average number of citations per publication. The number of citations per publications states how often the publications of the scientists of the faculty were on average quoted by other academics, meaning how pivotal the published contributions were to research.
2. International Orientation – International orientation of the course(s), composition of different facts: obligatory stays abroad/joint degree program; percentage of international students; internationality of the scientific staff; percentage of classes given in foreign language. A certain number of points can be gathered from the four areas, with a maximum of 14 points (10 for German language and literature). The top-group is reached with 6 points (4 for German language and literature), the middle group with at least 2 points. With less than 2 points a course assigned to the bottom group. On the faculty/department-level, the result of the best course of the faculty/department is displayed.
3. Contact to Students – Students assessed Co-operation with other students and contacts to other students. An indicator for the atmosphere at the faculty.
4. Research Orientation – Which tertiary institutions are the leading ones according to the opinion of the professors in research? Naming the own tertiary institution was not taken into consideration.
5. Study Organization – Students assessed among other things the completeness of the courses offered in respect of the study regulations, the access opportunities to compulsory events and the co-ordination of the courses offered with the examination regulations.

how to become a clinical psychologist in germany

If you would like to work as a psychotherapist in Germany, you must have a Master’s degree in psychotherapy and an official accreditation, known as “approbation”. This is necessary because the field of psychotherapy is highly regulated.

You can earn a Master’s degree in psychotherapy at public or private universities. The length of these programs is usually four years. While completing your studies, you will gain hands-on experience working with clients under supervision. You will also complete courses on topics related to psychology and mental health treatment.

Once you have completed your education and obtained your degree, you will need to apply for accreditation through the German State Examination Board (Landesprüfungsamt).

NATIONAL REQUIREMENTS GERMANY

• 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.

JACOBS UNIVERSITY BREMEN

For Jacobs University, highest standards in teaching mean strong professor-student interaction, and challenging curricula. Students are encouraged and expected to interact with their instructors and fellow students, discussing material and deepening their understanding of the field while working both independently and in groups. This enables them to push the cutting edge of scientific knowledge. Jacobs University offers a 180 ECTS credit three-year Bachelor of Science program in Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience, which conforms to the guidelines established for an accredited degree. Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience majors at Jacobs University study the structural, functional, and physiological aspects of humans and biological systems. In the first two years, students take a broad range of natural science courses and other electives. Third year students pursue guided research on experimental and theoretical problems in Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience.

BOCHUM UNIVERSITY RUHR

Located in the midst of the dynamic, hospitable metropolitan area of the Ruhr, in the heart of Europe, the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) hosts 20 departments, RUB’s disciplinary institutional units, and its 5,000 employees. There are over 36,500 students from 130 countries that are currently studying at this university.  All the great scientific disciplines are united on one compact campus. The members of the universities teach others and, at the same time, learn from each other – whether in science, studies, engineering, or management. The Faculty of Psychology is an internationally oriented and research-based institute with thousands odf enrolled students. The faculty consists of nine departments each lead by a full professor as well as four assistant professors and about 40 scientists and research assistants. Thus, the entire spectrum of scientific psychology in research and teaching is well represented.

MANNHEIM UNIVERSITY

The Department of Psychology at the University of Mannheim is one of the leading research and teaching institutions in Germany. It focuses mainly on the research areas of Economic Psychology, Social Psychology and Cognitive Psychology. One of the outstanding goals of the department is to connect and expand these research areas by creating new and innovative academic facilities. The Department of Psychology offers both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree programs. The Bachelor’s program (B.Sc. Psychology) conveys knowledge and skills in both basic and applied areas of Psychology, including experimental methods and test theory. The department also offers two Master’s study programs, which have been thematically based on its main research areas: M.Sc. Economic Psychology, which focuses on the areas of Industrial and Organizational Psychology and Consumer Psychology, and M.Sc. Social- and Cognitive Psychology, which focuses on the areas of Social Psychology and Cognitive PsychologyTU

TU DRESDEN

In the current university ranking “Diverse Excellence” by the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE), the psychology of the TU Dresden cuts excellent. The new ranking certifies German universities not only due to excellence in research, but also evaluates standards relating to research, internationality and student orientation. It soon became clear that the strength of the German higher education system lays in the variety and quality offered by its institutions. The Department of Psychology in Dresden University of Technology is one of the few psychology departments in any German University that stands strong and up-to-date within all the dimensions. To get to all four dimensions (research, application reference, and internationality and student orientation) in the top group, it needs the power of a team whose members place equal highest quality standards in research as well as to the doctrine. International and national 5 years university degree in psychology for a professional qualification is required in psychology. The Bachelor of Science prepares students for the Master program.

TU CHEMNITZ

Learning by research – this is one of the main characteristics of studies at Chemnitz University of Technology. A great number of interdisciplinary courses of studies are influenced by several subjects: for example the Bachelor’s and Master’s course of studies “Computational Science” includes elements of mathematics, computer science and natural sciences or media communication for instance which combines technical sciences, economics and journalism. The study system of Chemnitz University of Technology was entirely converted into the two-stage Bachelor’s and Master’s scheme since 2007. Increasing global competitiveness, international compatibility and even more practice-orientation are only some of several reasons for establishing this model of studies within the European Higher Education Area.

Steinbeis University Berlin – Institute of Executive CapabilitiesBerlin, Germany

The M.Sc. degree covers a wide variety of topics and develops the students’ competency in business psychology, diagnostics, organizational consulting, organizational developme … +MScPart-time2 yearsEnglish12 Sep 202001 Sep 2020Online 

M.Sc. Business Psychology

University of Applied Sciences EuropeIserlohn, Germany

Competent and experienced staff is a decisive competitive factor for companies. Executives must be capable of making situation-specific and market-driven decisions in every co … +MSc MScFull-time4 semestersGermanCampusOnline 

One year-MSc Behavioral and Organizational Psychology

ALP Akademisches Lehrinstitut für PsychologieLübeck, Germany

++1 year ++ no campus presence ++ online ++ possible without Bachelor ++ The Master’s program in Behavioral and Organizational Psychology is a one-year distance learning cours … +MSc MScFull-timePart-time12 monthsEnglishSep 202015 Jul 2020Online 

MSc Psychology: Health & Social Psychology

Maastricht University, Faculty of Psychology and NeuroscienceMaastricht, Netherlands

In the specialisation in Health and Social Psychology, you’ll study behaviour and behavioural change using methods from clinical and social psychology.MScFull-timeEnglishCampus 

M.Sc. Business Management specialization: economic and organizational psychology

Steinbeis University Berlin – Institute of Executive CapabilitiesBerlin, Germany +1 More

Efficient managers and project managers are characterized by a good eye for the right employees in order to master economic and organizational challenges. The students develop … +MScFull-time2 yearsGerman16 Sep 202001 Aug 2020Online & Campus CombinedCampusOnline 

1,5 years – MSc Cyber Psychology (of Online Communication)

ALP Akademisches Lehrinstitut für PsychologieLübeck, Germany

++ 1,5 years ++ online ++ no campus presence ++ possible without first degree ++ The content and structure of the Master’s program support a practice-oriented understanding of … +MSc MScFull-timePart-time18 monthsEnglish01 Sep 202015 Jul 2020Online 

MSc Psychology: Legal Psychology

Maastricht University, Faculty of Psychology and NeuroscienceMaastricht, Netherlands

In the master’s specialisation Legal Psychology, you’ll learn how to apply principles from cognitive and – to a lesser extent – clinical psychology to issues in the legal syst … +MScFull-timeEnglishCampus 

MSc in Psychology: Work and Organisational Psychology

Maastricht University, Faculty of Psychology and NeuroscienceMaastricht, Netherlands

In the master’s specialisation in Work and Organisational Psychology, you’ll study how people behave in organisations and why they behave the way they do. The programme combin … +MScFull-timeEnglishCampus 

MSc Psychology: Developmental Psychology

Maastricht University, Faculty of Psychology and NeuroscienceMaastricht, Netherlands

The master’s specialisation in Developmental Psychology will help you understand how certain behaviours and cognitive functions relate to a person’s psychological and biologic … +MScFull-timeEnglishCampus 

MSc Psychology: Cognitive Neuroscience

Maastricht University, Faculty of Psychology and NeuroscienceMaastricht, Netherlands

In the Cognitive Neuroscience specialisation, you’ll study the human brain and how it relates to cognition, perception and behaviour. The programme combines in-depth knowledge … +MScFull-timeEnglishCampus 

MSc Psychology: Neuropsychology

Maastricht University, Faculty of Psychology and NeuroscienceMaastricht, Netherlands

If you choose to specialise in Neuropsychology, you’ll study normal and deviant behaviour in relation to brain structure and function.MScFull-timeEnglishCampus 

MSc in Forensic Psychology

Maastricht University, Faculty of Psychology and NeuroscienceMaastricht, Netherlands

The master’s in Forensic Psychology is a highly challenging programme that operates at the intersection between psychology and the justice system. The programme prepares you f … +MScFull-time2 yearsEnglishCampus 

MSc Behavioral Psychology and Organizational Psychology

ALP Akademisches Lehrinstitut für PsychologieLübeck, Germany

++ 1 year ++ possible without first degree / bachelor ++ online ++ short master ++ no attendance The master’s degree in behavioral and organizational psychology is a one-year … +MSc MScFull-timePart-timeGerman01 Sep 202015 Jul 2020Online 

one year – MSc Psychological Medicine/ Mental Health

ALP Akademisches Lehrinstitut für PsychologieLübeck, Germany

short Master ++ online ++ no campus presence ++ 1 year ++ Mental Health ++ Complementary Medicine++possible without first degree The Master’s Programme is designed for current … +MSc MScFull-time12 monthsEnglishSep 202015 Jul 2020Online 

MSc communication and industrial psychology

ALP Akademisches Lehrinstitut für PsychologieLübeck, Germany

3 semesters ++ online ++ entry possible without first degree / Bachelor ++ The part-time, postgraduate MSc in communication and industrial psychology can be completed without … +MSc MScFull-timePart-time3 semestersGermanSep 202015 Jul 2020Online 

Zeit Online rankings for the year 2013/2014, according to the aforementioned criteria, offer this top ten German Universities list to study Psychology. The criteria are all based on students, alumni, professor judgments as well as facts concerning every institution alike.