The Master Programme in Psychology offers a scientific education preparing students for professional practice. The curriculum consists of a core study programme and various emphases: in the German-language programme in Clinical Psychology, Psychological Diagnostics & Intervention and in Social Psychology & Clinical Psychology; in the English-language programme in Business & Economic Psychology and in Clinical Psychology & Public Mental Health. The degree entitles the holder to use the title of psychologist in Austria in accordance with the Austrian Psychologists Act (together with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology).
Online applications for the winter semester 2025/26 are possible from 1st February 2025 – 31 August 2025 (for non-EU Citizens until 16 June 2025). If you are already studying / have studied at SFU, please use your academyFIVE Community access data (your student identification number / matriculation number and password) to log into the online application.
Admission Requirements
Application & admission period:
For the winter semester 2025/26: 1st February 2025 – 31 August 2025
- Application deadline for non-EU Citizens: 16 June 2025
- Application deadline for EU Citizens, holders of EU residence permits or the citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland: 31 August 2025
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.
Required grade point average: ≤ 2.0
The admission regulations can be found at Regulations & Notifications (in German).
Admission Procedure
Admission Procedure:
The admission procedure consists of the online application and the selection procedure. If the admission procedure is passed, a study place will be allocated subject to the availability of places.
Important: 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:
As a first step, register on our Online Application Platform. We will then send you an access code to your registered e-mail address (please also check your spam folder). You can then log in any time, make changes to your data or upload additional documents. Please 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 (€ 180,- when applying online; € 300,- after the admission procedure has been completed).
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.
Course Structure, incl. Curriculum
In the Master’s degree programme, students can choose between the following emphases:
in English:
in German:
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychological Diagnostics & Intervention
- Social Psychology & Clinical Psychology
- Individual Combination of Subjects
Curriculum & Module Handbook:
Qualification Profile and Skills
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.
Occupational Profiles and Career Opportunities
Completing the Master’s programme provides the prerequisite for further postgraduate training (e.g. doctoral studies, psychotherapy training, training to become a clinical psychologist and health psychologist, occupational and organisational psychologist). Graduates are introduced to the independent implementation of psychological diagnostics as well as responsible and scientifically sound counselling and intervention, e.g. in clinical, educational, health, occupational and organisational psychological contexts as well as in social or personal crisis, conflict and decision-making situations.
Acquired competences also enable professional activities in the human science-oriented fields of work related to psychology, such as health care, human resources management, labour science, technology development, administration, market and media research, crisis and security management.
Tuition Fees
Tuition fee (as of summer semester 2024):
- Master’s Degree Programme (MSc., 4 semesters): € 7.800,00 per semester
- Costs admission procedure: € 480,00
€ 180,- when applying online; € 300,- after the admission procedure has been completed. 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
Scholarships and Financing
Following the applicable criteria, Sigmund Freud University awards scholarships every year.
Dates and Deadlines
Application & admission period for the winter semester 2025/26: 1st February 2025 – 31 August 2025
Accreditation
The English Master Programme in Psychology was accredited by the Austrian Accreditation Council in 2018. All SFU Accreditation Reports are available in German.
Contact
Studies Service Centre:
Marilena Rozanitis, MSc
Mail: marilena.rozanitis@sfu.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 798 40 98 532
Programme Head:
Ass.-Prof. Thomas Ditye, MSc MRes PhD
Mail: ipp.psychology@sfu.ac.at