Master Programme Psychology Vienna

Are there scholarships available?

Unfortunately, we do not have a scholarship scheme set up yet. Merit-based scholarships are available to second and third-year students. A general reduction of the tuition fee for freshmen is not possible.

• Scholarship Page

Can I start studying in the summer semester?

It is not possible to start in the summer semester. There is one intake per year and that is in September for the winter semester.

Can I transfer credits?

SFU Vienna welcomes credit transfer applications. After being admitted to the study programme, students can then submit the credit transfer application to our Study Service Center. Please do not forget to attach your relevant transcripts and course descriptions. For more details, contact the Study Service Center.

Do I need to submit proof of my English proficiency if I’m a native speaker?

If you have completed your most recent studies (in the last two years) in English or are a native English speaker you don’t need to submit further English proficiency proof.

Can you process my application without the admission fee?

Unfortunately not. All applicants have to upload the required documents in the online portal and pay the processing fee as a final step to have their application submitted for review.

What is a letter of motivation?

The letter of motivation is an important part of your application, which will help us learn more about your goals and reasons for wanting to study psychology, as well as helping us to get an idea of who you are as an individual. Your letter of motivation must be written in English, and should be approximately one page in length.

Some important points to consider are: educational and personal background, motivation for psychology studies, career plans, etc.

Can I apply without my final diploma and transcript?

Yes, in the beginning you may apply with your most recent transcript of records. If accepted, we will offer you a ‘conditional acceptance’, which means that a place in the programme is reserved for you. This place will become definite once you submit your certificate to us, latest by the beginning of the academic semester on 1^st September.

Can I apply without the English test results?

We can review your application if you can provide evidence that you have already booked your English exam date.

If accepted, we will offer you a ‘conditional acceptance’, which means that a place in the programme is reserved for you. This place will become definite once you submit your certificate to us, latest by the beginning of the academic semester, on 1^st September. Kindly note that part of the interview will be assessing your English speaking and comprehension skills.

Please also note that students who need a visa to study in Austria cannot receive a Conditional Acceptance Letter if the proof of English proficiency has not been provided!

Do I have to be in Vienna for the interview?

All interviews are conducted online through MS Teams.

Also, our campus buildings are open for visitors. If you want a tour of our campus before applying, please reach out to admissions@sfu.ac.at to schedule a visit.

What should I expect from my admission interview?

The interview lasts approximately 30 minutes. The interviewer will ask you about your motivation, your background, your documents and other information based on your application. It is important to be yourself. The interview is our chance to get to know you, so we want to get insights into your personality and your potential. It is also a chance for you to ask any questions you might have about the programme.

How do I confirm my spot in the programme?

Upon receiving the admission offer and study contract, please ensure the return of the signed study contract within two weeks of receiving it, in order to secure your placement in the programme. If you do not submit your signed contract within two weeks, your spot may be offered to another candidate.

When will the timetable for the first semester be available?

You will find a copy of the timetable on our website after the 15^th of August: https://psychologie.sfu.ac.at/en/academics/students/timetable

Can I attend both the Clinical Psychology and Public Mental Health, and Business and Economic Psychology curriculum?

Not really. We are offering one Master’s programme with two separate emphases. If you are interested you can take up to X ECTS of courses from the other emphasis without extra tuition charge, but it will only count as additional courses in your transcript.

Am I a clinical psychologist after completing the masters with CPPMH emphasis?

The Austrian law regulates the postgraduate training and professional practice of clinical psychology. In order to be a clinical psychologist you need to complete the Clinical Psychology post-graduate training. At this time, the postgraduate training for clinical psychology is offered in German only.

Application & admission period:

• Application deadline for non-EU Citizens: 1 February 2026 – 15 May 2026
• Application deadline for EU Citizens, holders of EU residence permits or the citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland: 1 February 2026 – 31st August 2026
  

The formal requirement for admission to the Master Psychology programme at the Faculty of Psychology in Vienna is a proof of university entrance qualification such as:

• a Psychology Bachelor Programme degree earned at the SFU Faculty of Psychology or
• a related and equivalent Austrian or international Bachelor degree in Psychology earned at a post-secondary educational institution or
• a Bachelor’s degree from another recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution with a social science, cultural studies, humanities or economics orientation. In order to be admitted to the Master’s degree programme in Psychology, however, the faculty management may impose conditions in which the completion of additional subject-relevant courses from the Bachelor’s degree programme in Psychology is required. In terms of professional law, however, completing the Master’s degree programme in Psychology without completing a relevant Bachelor’s degree programme in Psychology does not entitle the holder to use the title of psychologist.

Language requirements:

All applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of their English proficiency level C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages through one of the following tests taken within the last two years:
– TOEFL
– IELTS

All details on the language requirements for the Master programme in German are available here.

Desired grade point average: ≤ 2.0 (referring to Austrian Grade 2.0)

The admission regulations can be found at Regulations & Notifications (in German).

The admission for the winter semester 2026/27 starts on 1 February 2026 and consists of the online application and the selection procedure. If the admission is successfully completed, a study spot will be allocated subject to availability.
If you are already studying / have studied at SFU, please contact the Studies Service Center before creating a new account on the online application platform.

Online application:

Please register on our Application Platform and select the desired field of study. Then provide the following documents with your online application:

• Certificate of your completed Bachelor Degree
• University entrance qualification certificate, i.e., secondary school leaving certificate (Matura, Abitur) or foreign equivalents such as a high school diploma or an IB diploma of an international high school with English as the main language
• Transcript of records (including official grades in English)
• CV
• Proof of English proficiency (also see “Admission Requirements”)
• Motivation letter
• Passport copy or identity card
• Copy of Austrian e-card (if available)
• Picture
• Payment confirmation of the administrative fee of € 480,-

Selection procedure:

Once all documents have been received and accepted, you will receive an invitation for an interview. The interview is designed to familiarise applicants with the requirements of the programme, as well as to explore the applicants’ personality, and assess their aptitude for the programme and the profession.
You will be informed by email approximately 2 weeks after your admission interview whether you have been admitted to the programme by the admission committee. The information and admission interviews will be held until the end of September.
After successful admission and signing of the study contract, students are enrolled.

In the Master’s degree programme, students can choose between the following emphases:

in English:

• Clinical Psychology & Public Mental Health
• Business & Economic Psychology

in German:

• Klinischer Psychologie
• Psychologischer Diagnostik & Intervention
• Sozialpsychologie & Klinische Psychologie
• Individuelle Fächerkombination

Curriculum & Module Handbook:

• Curriculum – Master Psychology.pdf
• Module Handbook – Master Psychology.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 emphasis. The acquisition of theory goes hand in hand with the 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, students start preparing for the scientific thesis; the Master’s thesis is then realised in the fourth semester.

The students are capable of independent scientific work, they have sound professional knowledge in their chosen emphasis and can apply their scientific expertise in practical professional contexts.

Completion of the Master’s programme provides the prerequisite for further postgraduate training (e.g. training as a clinical psychologist and health psychologist). The master’s programme in psychology provides in-depth competencies in psychological diagnostics and case history taking, enabling a nuanced assessment of individual, group-based, or organisational contexts. On this foundation, targeted interventions and counselling processes are developed in alignment with professional and ethical standards.

Graduates are equipped to identify psychologically relevant needs for change and to foster developmental potential based on theoretical and methodological principles – both in clinical and in economic, social, or societal contexts. The ability to collaborate across disciplines and to work in a scientifically grounded manner ensures applicability in a wide range of professional fields (such as clinical practical fields, human resources, market research, marketing, coaching, or within the public and non-profit sectors, as well as in development cooperation, humanitarian aid in international contexts, or trauma and crisis counselling). It also enables reflective and responsible psychological practice, even in complex areas of application.

Tuition fee (as of winter semester 2026/27):

• Master’s Degree Programme (MSc., 4 semesters): € 8,349 per semester
• Costs admission procedure: € 550
  This administrative fee is a one-time fee and not refundable in any circumstances.

Tuition fees are charged for the standard programme duration (Bachelor’s Degree: 6 semesters, Master’s Degree: 4 semesters). The total costs of studying at SFU will not increase in case a student’s studies are extended by one year.

Contact Finance and Controlling:

Mail: psy-accounting@sfu.ac.at
Phone: +43 1 798 40 98 304
Opening and telephone hours: Mo-Thur: 10 am–3 pm / Fr: 10 am–3 pm, by telephone only
Address: Freudplatz 1, 3rd floor, room 3002

• General payment modalities

Following the applicable criteria, Sigmund Freud University awards scholarships every year.

Application deadline for non-EU Citizens: 1 February 2026 – 15 May 2026
Application deadline for EU Citizens, holders of EU residence permits or the citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland: 1 February 2026 – 31 August 2026

• Next information event
• Academic year
• Timetable
• Graduation

The English Master Programme in Psychology was accredited by the Austrian Accreditation Council in 2018. All SFU Accreditation Reports are available in German.

Application and Admission

For general questions on the application process and admission to this programme, please contact:

Programme Head

Studies Service Centre

Studies Service Centre (SSC) – Office Hours:

Tuesday: 10:00 – 12:30 and 13:30 – 15:30
Wednesday: 10:00 – 12:30
Thursday: 10:00 – 12:30 and 13:30 – 15:30

Address: Freudplatz 1, 5th floor, 1020 Vienna
Tel: +43 1 798 40 98 532
Email: psychology@sfu.ac.at