PhD Programme Psychology Vienna
Faculty of Psychology
6 Semester / 180 ECTS
PhD in Psychology (PhD)
Information on the Curriculum
Please note that the PhD study programme in Psychology at SFU Vienna is offered in German.
The PhD Psychology programme leads towards a scientific career. The curriculum is divided into two study phases: In the first study phase, which is ideally completed in the first year of study, the focus is on acquiring key competences for organising and independently conducting scientific research or designing research-guided teaching.
Transfer to the second study phase requires the approval of a project proposal following international research funding practices. The second study phase (minimum duration two years) is reserved for further elaborating this individual research project which is approved by a jury consisting of the study programme head and external experts.
Admissions for the winter semester 2025/26 are open until 30 June 2025 (late applications possible until 20 August 2025). If you have questions, feel free to contact us anytime via our contact form.
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements
Application & admission period for the winter semester 2025/26: 1 March 2025 – 30 June 2025
Please note that late applications are accepted until 20th of August, 2025. However, they will take longer to process.
The formal prerequisite for admission to the PhD Psychology programme is a completed full degree in psychology (300 ECTS credits). In addition, degrees from Master’s degree programmes at recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institutions with a social science, cultural studies, humanities or economics orientation can also be recognised.
In order to be admitted to the PhD programme, however, courses relevant to the subject with at least 60 ECTS credits, but especially courses on social and cultural science research methods, are required in such cases. Within the framework of admission requirements, two thirds of the missing ECTS credits (i.e. a maximum of 40 ECTS credits) can be made up in the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes at the Faculty of Psychology at SFU Vienna before entering the second study phase.
In addition, an exposé on the planned research project must be prepared for admission to the PhD programme. The exposé contains a brief description of the topic, the methodological approach and the planned work processes.
Supervision of PhD Theses
Supervision of PhD Theses
A confirmation of supervision is not a compulsory admission requirement for the PhD Psychology programme, but we advise you to plan the exposé for the application with a possible supervisor early enough in advance.
All habilitated staff members of the Faculty of Psychology are eligible to supervise PhD theses at the Faculty of Psychology. A list of available supervisors is linked below. Postdoctoral researchers who do not belong to the Faculty of Psychology can be approved by the head of the degree programme in justified exceptional cases; as a rule, supervision then takes place in tandem with a member of the Faculty of Psychology. Doctoral non-professorial staff members of the Faculty of Psychology can be integrated into supervision tandems in tandem with professorial colleagues at the faculty.
- PhD Thesis Supervisors (PDF, in German)
- List of topics PhD Supervision Psychology (PDF, in German)
Admission Procedure
Admission Procedure
The admission procedure for the winter semester 2025/26 runs from 1 March 2025 to 30 June 2025 (late applications possible until 20 August 2025). The admission 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 in the online application platform.
Online application:
As part of the online application, the following documents must be uploaded via the SFU application tool:
- Proof of Bachelor’s and Master’s degree according to § 20
- CV
- Copy of passport or identity card
- Copy of e-card (if available)
- Exposé( template short exposé )
- Letter of motivation
- Portrait picture
- Residence registration
Selection procedure:
The selection procedure consists of a review of the competences required for the study programme on the basis of the submitted documents, in particular the exposé, by the head of the PhD programme at the Faculty of Psychology and, optionally, an admission interview. It is recommended to plan the exposé together with a possible PhD thesis supervisor (see list under “Supervision of PhD theses”).
Course Structure, incl. Curriculum
Course Structure, incl. Curriculum
Please note that the PhD study programme in Psychology at SFU Vienna is offered in German.
Qualification Profile and Skills
Qualification Profile and Skills
After completing the first study phase, the students have didactic knowledge and practical experience with regard to the independent preparation, implementation and evaluation of university courses and are familiar with the requirements and tasks of supervising student theses (Bachelor’s and Master’s theses). They know about the structure and function of the European higher education system as well as about national and international systems or programmes of (public) research funding and are able to independently prepare corresponding project proposals. In particular, this introductory phase should also qualify graduates for a later professional activity in the context of the management of scientific education and research processes.
After completing the PhD thesis, students have cutting-edge knowledge in the field of research where they have qualified for entering a scientific career.
Occupational Profiles and Career Opportunities
Occupational Profiles and Career Opportunities
Students have the professional authority to work independently on developing their science and contributing to the innovative development of their fields of work in organisations at all levels of the tertiary education sector (administration, research and teaching) – independently and with sustained commitment in leadership positions.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees
Tuition fees (as of summer semester 2024):
- € 5.045,00 per semester
- For SFU graduates: € 4.280,00 per semester
- Costs admission procedure: € 180,00
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 (fridays by telephone only)
Address: Freudplatz 1, 3rd floor, room 3002
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarships and Funding
Following the applicable criteria, Sigmund Freud University awards scholarships every year.
Dates and Deadlines
Dates and Deadlines
Application & admission period for the winter semester 2025/26: 1 March 2025 – 30 June 2025 (late applications possible until 20 August 2025)
- Information event (in German)
- Academic year
- Timetable
- Graduation
Accreditation
Accreditation
The German PhD Programme in Psychology was accredited by the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ Austria) in 2019. All SFU Accreditation Reports are available in German.
Contact us
Contact us

Prof. Dr Ivo Ponocny
Head of the PhD Psychology programme
doktorat.psychologie@sfu.ac.at
more
Psychology Study Service Centre:
Mail: psychologie@sfu.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 798 40 98 500
Opening hours:
Tue: 10 – 12:30 and 13:30-15:30
Wed: 10 am – 12:30 pm
Thu: 10 – 12:30 and 13:30 – 15:30
Questions about admission, general administrative questions: psychologie@sfu.ac.at
General content-related and organisational questions about the PhD programme:
- Dean Prof Dr Gerhard Benetka: gerhard.benetka@sfu.ac.at
- Prof Dr Ivo Ponocny: ivo.ponocny@sfu.ac.at