Psychology (one year) – Master of Science

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Our Master's Programme in Psychology (one year) is strongly research-based and builds on four-year Bachelor's Programme in Psychology.

Psychology is the science dealing with human behaviour and experience, as well as their causes and effects. Psychology’s task on the one hand is to record and explain behaviour and experiences, i.e. to establish the conditions prevailing in the environment and in the organism upon which the various manifestations of behaviours and experiences depend. On the other hand, the task is to develop suggestions and guidelines on how to create the best possible psychological conditions, and to contribute towards their realisation.

In this master’s programme you will acquire comprehensive knowledge in the applied subjects (work and health psychology, clinical psychology, clinical neuropsychology) as well as in-depth knowledge in basic subjects. You can individually combine your subjects. Furthermore you will acquire key qualifications for working as a psychologist, such as psychological techniques of conversation and counselling.

Overview

Degree Master of Science
Programme start Winter semester & Summer semester
Period of study 2 semesters
Application period 9.5. - 15.6. | 29.11. - 15.1.
Admission restrictions yes
ECTS 60

Why study Psychology (one year) in the University of Konstanz?

  • Case study seminars and research practice seminars in the applied subjects
  • Deepening of knowledge in the basic subjects
  • Excellent qualification for ongoing academic activities (doctoral programmes)
  • Fulfilment of requirements for training as a psychotherapist

Content

Prospects and opportunities

Career prospects

There are very many different professional openings for psychologists with a master’s degree, depending on your focus area of studies.

Possible working areas are:

  • Clinical-psychologists' offices, psychotherapists' offices, psychological services with public authorities, regional authorities, with judicial authorities, police administration services and youth offices, school psychological services at the regional and local level
  • Psychological counselling services run by local communities, churches or independent bodies, hospitals, sanatoriums, rehabilitation facilities
  • Homes for the disabled, homes and institutions for social education and special education, retirement homes
  • Teaching and research facilities, adult education institutions, schools and preschool facilities
  • Large companies, e.g. in an industrial psychology service, in the personnel sector, in a company’s internal education and further training section
  • In the public service domain, e.g. the Federal Labour Office, local authorities
  • Market and public opinion research institutes, advertising agencies, publishers


You can find out more about career entry in the interview series #dreamjob - Starting a career. Alumni of the University of Konstanz report on their very personal career entry.

Programme structure

Programme start

Winter semester & Summer semester

Academic structure

During the two semesters you will choose four modules and complete academic performance assessments worth 8 credits for each module. Additionally, you will write a master’s thesis (28 credits) within a period of six months. You can choose four out of the following nine modules:

  • Module 1: Cognitive and affective neuroscience, 8 cr
  • Module 2: Psychology of action, 8 cr
  • Module 3: Health and work 1, 8 cr
  • Module 4: Health and Work 2, 8 cr
  • Module 5: Advanced research methods and diagnostics, 8 cr
  • Module 6: Diagnostic methods of clinical psychology, 8 cr
  • Module 7: Psychotherapeutic techniques, 8 cr
  • Module 8: Practical interventions, 8 cr
  • Module 9: Neuropsychological diagnostics and rehabilitation, 8 cr
  • Master’s thesis, 28 cr
  • Total: 60 credits


Please check the Exam regulations (partly in German) for more information about the programme structure.

Internship and study abroad

Internships

An internship during your studies is not mandatory, but if you are interested in gaining practical experience, the staff of our department and the university’s Career Service are here to help you find a suitable placement.

Study abroad

Generally, you can include a study abroad stay in your master's programme. The university promotes study abroad via the ERASMUS programme and numerous other exchange programmes.

Impressions from students and lecturers

Hear from students and lecturers
In our interview series, students talk about their subject, teachers explain the department's research and tell you what topics they cover in seminars and lectures.

Get an impression
Discover online lectures and websites with more information about your prospective subject.

Requirements

What interests and skills should I have?

  • General interest in psychological work
  • Readiness to learn methods of empirical and experimental basic research
  • Very good knowledge of mathematics
  • Good English skills

Language skills

Foreign language skills
You do not have to proof any foreign language skills for the master's programme. However, as large parts of the research literature are written in English, good English skills are highly recommended.

German language skills
International applicants need documentation of their German language skills, level DSH-2 or TestDaF 4. Alternatively, other language tests or school certificates recognized as equivalent can be used as proof of the required German language skills. The University of Konstanz does not offer preparatory German language courses or approved German language exams. For this reason, you must submit accredited proof of your German language skills along with your application.

Language(s) of instruction

The language of instruction and examinations usually is German. Some individual courses are held in English.

Admission requirements

  • A degree from a four-year bachelor's programme in psychology with a minimum grade of 2.5
  • A completed six-month internship in an area relevant for psychology

Fulfilling these requirements does not guarantee you admission, as we can only accept a certain number of students into the master's programme.

Fees

Semester fee

All students enrolled at the University of Konstanz are charged a semester fee each semester, similar to all other German universities. Here you can find the current semester fee and its individual components.

Tuition fees for first degree studies for certain international students
Since winter semester 2017/18, the state of Baden-Württemberg has required some international students to pay tuition fees for their first degree studies. The following students are not required to pay tuition fees: citizens of a country within the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), doctoral students and certain “Bildungsinländer” (e.g. non-EU citizens with a German “Abitur”). More detailed information can be found here.

Each year, the University of Konstanz grants exemptions to a limited number of particularly gifted international degree-seeking students in accordance with the university’s “Begabtenbefreiungssatzung” (statutes governing the exemption of gifted students). More detailed information can be found here.

Tuition fees for second degree studies for all students
All students are required to pay tuition fees for their second degree studies. More detailed information can be found here.

Application and application documents

This study programme has admission restrictions.

An application is possible during the following period: 9.5. - 15.6. (winter semester) and 29.11. - 15.1. (summer semester). There may be other deadlines if you are applying for admission to a higher semester (for instance, if you are changing subjects or universities). For more information please consult the university website.

Application documents

Please upload and submit the following documents along with your online application:

1. If you have completed or are currently completing a four-year BA programme in psychology at the University of Konstanz:

  • Provide documentation of your academic degree.
  • If you have not received your examination certificate by the application deadline, please submit documentation of the coursework and performance assessments you have already completed and those that are still pending (§ 1 para. 5 admission regulations for the master's programme in Psychology from 10 January 2014 (MA 10.6)). The examination certificate has to be submitted no later than two months after the start of the semester that you applied for. Admission and enrolment can be granted with the provision that applicants document, within this time limit, that they have completed their qualifying degree.
  • Submit a grade printout and list of courses from ZEuS: You will need to download these documents yourself. You do not need to submit a transcript of records issued by the exam administration.
  • Please provide documentation of a completed internship: Your grade printout must include the note: “Praktikum erfolgreich” (internship completed). No additional documents are required.
  • Submit a current certificate of enrolment or proof of exmatriculation – please also indicate your “Fachsemester” (semesters enrolled in the study programme) and “Hochschulsemester (total number of semesters enrolled).

2. If you have completed a degree in psychology or a similar subject at another university:

  • Submit a current certificate of enrolment or proof of exmatriculation – if you have studied at a German university, please also indicate your “Fachsemester” (semesters enrolled in the study programme) and “Hochschulsemester (total number of semesters enrolled).
  • Provide documentation of your academic degree. If you have not received your examination certificate by the application deadline, please submit documentation of the coursework and performance assessments you have already completed and those you must still complete. The examination certificate has to be submitted no later than two months after the start of the semester that you applied for. Admission and enrolment can be granted with the provision that applicants document, within this time limit, that they have completed their qualifying degree (§ 1 para. 5 admission regulations for the master's programme in Psychology from 10 January 2014 (MA 10.6)).
  • Please provide relevant documentation of the internship completed which meets following requirements:
    • The internship must consist of six months of full-time work (26 weeks, approx. 40 hrs./week). Please calculate the corresponding internship period.
      • It is possible, however, to split the internship into two periods of three months (2 x 13 weeks).
      • Another option is possible, e.g. completing a compulsory internship at the University of Tübingen (20 weeks of full-time work) along with an additional full-time internship lasting six weeks.
      • Important: It is not possible to work part time during an internship. 
    • Supervision: Internship supervisor who holds a Diplom or master's degree in psychology (at least two hours of support each week).
    • Job discription: List of your psychology-related responsibilities during the internship.

    The most current information is available on the departmental website on compulsory internship.

    International Applicants:
  • If your application documents are not available in German or English, you will need to have them translated. Please submit a German or English translation of your documents along with the original versions.
  • Provide documentation of German language skills, at the level DSH-2 or TestDaF 4 or higher, or another language test recognized as equivalent.
  • Applicants from China, India and Vietnam: APS certificate (original) issued by the German Embassy of your home country
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