Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural StudiesPsychology in Research and Application – Master’s Course
Students at the department of psychology deal with human experience and behaviour. Based on empirical research, they will attempt to describe, understand, and predict human behaviour in all situations of life, as well as to derive implications for psychological interventions from this.
Facts & Formalities
| Degree | Master of Science |
| Type of programme | Consecutive |
| Start of programme | Winter semester only |
| Standard period of study | 4 semesters |
| Language(s) of instruction | Mainly German, partly English |
| Fees and contributions | 151.05 € / Semester |
| Application procedure | Consecutive master’s programmes with admission restriction |
| Application deadlines | Information about deadlines can be obtained after you have put together a degree program. |
| Part-time option | Yes |
Course Content
The Master’s degree programme Psychology in Research and Application will give students a broad theoretical, methodological, as well as practical knowledge of human experience, understanding, and behaviour. The following basic and applied subjects will be studied in depth, building on the polyvalent Bachelor’s degree in Psychology: cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, (neuro-) biological psychology, social psychology, differential psychology, diagnostics, methodology, educational psychology, industrial and organisational psychology, and health psychology.
Students in Heidelberg will acquire a broad expertise in psychology, qualifying them for a wide variety of professional fields: e.g., for internal and external university research, human resources, organisational consulting and development, school psychology, work in counselling centres, or health management. However, they can also set their own particular special fields, among other things in one of the areas of lifelong development, self-regulation, diagnostics, and support. All of these are used in a number of professional fields.
Course Structure
Students will learn about the different professional fields of psychology beyond psychotherapy at the very start of their courses of studies in the Master’s programme Psychology in Research and Application. They will also acquire advanced knowledge in diagnostics and methods. Their academic communication skills will be improved as well. The content of different basic courses (e.g., methods, general, developmental, biological, ageing, and social psychology) and applied subjects (e.g., educational psychology, health psychology, industrial and organisational psychology) are mainly taught in seminars and small groups with elective options. This also applies to project seminars, where students can perform their own psychological research and practical projects on specific topics under the guidance of experts. Furthermore, attendance at events of other subjects is planned in the “free peak”. All in all, the study programme is targeted at sound education in research and application of psychology. Students are to be able to choose their own content focus in order to best prepare themselves for the career goal of their choice.