Consultation hours Student Office
Questions about study course
MA full-time:
Kathrin Lüning
Stromstr. 3b
Tel.: +49 30 300 117-546
E-Mail: kathrin.luening(at)ipu-berlin.de
MA part-time:
Almuth Jung
Stromstr. 3b
Tel.: +49 30 300 117-542
E-Mail: almuth.jung(at)ipu-berlin.de
Questions about application
Marius Digel
Stromstr. 3b - Room 0.40
Tel.: +49 30 300 117-543
E-Mail: marius.digel(at)ipu-berlin.de
Clinical psychology on a psychoanalytical basis is the focus of the Master's programme in Psychology. This way you will get to know the broad range of psychological interventions in a practical and research-oriented way. You will deal with all common orientations such as cognitive-behavioural therapy and systemic psychotherapy methods, you will gain insights especially into psychodynamically founded therapies and above all psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
Through the psychoanalytic perspective you will get to know the cultural-theoretical, subject-scientific and socio-psychological aspects of this modern, transdisciplinary field at the intersection of humanities and science. This is the quality and distinguishing feature of the IPU's Master's in Psychology from the predominantly behavioural science-oriented courses at public universities.
In terms of methodology, we provide you with empirical, statistical and qualitative methods that are particularly suitable for recording and mapping the process and outcome of psychoanalytic treatments. In addition, your studies always relate to practice. Many of the teachers are clinically experienced and practicing psychoanalysts.
With the Master's degree in Psychology at the IPU, you fulfil the requirements for access to training as a psychological psychotherapist under German law. Due to its strong practical relevance, the IPU is well prepared for the planned legal changes in the training of psychotherapists.
The programme comprises 120 credit points, which you can earn in four semesters of full-time study or eight semesters of part-time study. The credit points are distributed more or less evenly over the semesters, with the Master's thesis being written in the last semester. If you want to study part-time as a foreigner or employed person, the attendance times are divided into four weekends and one block week per semester. The subject areas of the courses are divided into five areas of study, which are detailed in the sample course plan. In addition, there is a compulsory elective subject, which is intended to give you the opportunity to focus on an academic subject of your own interest. An internship is also obligatory.
The prerequisite for admission is a Bachelor's degree in psychology from a university. If you have completed other social science courses (e.g. medicine, education, theology, sociology), you must have a solid background in psychology of at least 60 credit points according to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), which you obtained in a previous university course. The examination of these preliminary achievements takes place during the admission interview. The Examinations and Admissions Committee evaluates your previous achievements. It can impose bridging courses of 5 ECTS each in clinical psychology and/or psychoanalysis. The IPU strives for a personal selection procedure via interviews with all applicants. The relevant factors are the overall impression of your application: your career choice motivation and interests, your previous experience and your social commitment. The majority of applicants will be invited for an interview. This interview leads to a recommendation to university management, which decides on admission or rejection. Bridge courses must be completed before the start of the Master's programme. We ask you to apply early so that admission requirements can be clarified and you can complete possible bridge courses before the start of your studies.
The IPU strives for a personal selection procedure via interviews with all applicants. The relevant factors are the overall impression of your application: your career choice motivation and interests, your previous experience and your social commitment. The majority of applicants will be invited for an interview. This interview leads to a recommendation to university management, which decides on admission or rejection.
Current application deadlines can be found here.
As a graduate, you will be able to work independently as a clinical psychologist with a psychoanalytic orientation. You can then apply for training as a psychological psychotherapist according to the Psychotherapeutengesetz (PsychThG). You are free to choose one of the psychotherapeutic orientations recognised by the PsychThG (behavioural therapy, depth psychology, psychoanalysis). This applies without restriction if you start your Master's programme after a Bachelor's degree in psychology.
As a graduate of the programme, you also have the best prerequisites for interdisciplinary research and further scientific qualification. It is to be expected that as a graduate you will be particularly well prepared for the contents and goals of a psychoanalytically and/or depth-psychologically founded training due to your experience in the application-related courses (initial interview seminars, case presentations, casuistic seminars).
Through the International Office, the IPU is networked with numerous universities in Europe and around the world. All registered students are invited to do an internship or a whole semester at one of our partner universities abroad. The recognition of credit points achieved in the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is already contractually regulated.
On top of these fees, all full-time students currently will be charged an additional € 298.80 per semester, which means that students can use the services of the Studierendenwerk (Students’ Union). This also includes the semester ticket, which entitles students to use all public transport in Berlin. Please note that this additional semester fee is subject to change. The fees for the two-month bridging courses for lateral entrants without a previous academic degree in psychology amount to a maximum of € 2,000; if proof of previous performance is provided, this sum is reduced accordingly.
The IPU participates in the Deutschlandstipendium programme, a scholarship programme funded by the German government and open to applications from all students. The most important criteria for receiving this scholarship of € 300 per month are previous performance, social commitment and a possible financial need.
In addition, the IPU offers discussions with Chancen eG. With their “reversed generational contract”, you can finance your studies on credit, but only have to begin the repayments as soon as you actually earn enough money.
And most recently in 2019, the IPU has become a member of the Studentische Darlehenskasse Berlin e.V. (DAKA). This means, that as an IPU student you get a loan with some of the best conditions in the whole of Berlin.
Course of Studies | MA Psychology |
Head of the course of studies | Prof. Dr. Simone Salzer |
Degree | Master of Arts |
Types | Full-time course of studies or part-time course of studies extra-occupational |
Credits | 120 credit points |
Duration | 4 semesters (full-time) or 8 semesters (part-time) |
Number of students | approx. 60 per academic year (full-time) |
Teaching formats | Lecture, seminar, research workshop, e-learning |
Teaching language | German or English |
Study location | International Psychoanalytic University Berlin |
Prerequisite | General higher education entrance qualification or subject-related university entrance qualification according to § 11 Berlin Higher Education Act (BerlHg) |
Cost | payment semesterly € 5,600 (part-time: € 3,100), monthly € 970 (part-time: € 540) or in advance € 21,400 (part-time: € 22,200) |
Start of studies | winter semester |
Study Course Flyer
Course Catalogue
Examination Regulations
Study Regulations 1 April 2017
Study Regulations 26 March 2016
Study Regulations from 01.10.2018
Work-placement Training Regulations
Work-placement Training Application Form
Work-placement Training Confirmation Form
FAQ Work-placement Training
Descriptions of Modules from 01.10.2018
Descriptions of Modules 1 April 2017
Descriptions of Modules 1 April 2016
Study Plan (part-time)
Study Plan (part-time) from 1st Oct. 2018
Course Plan MA Psychology (German Track, part-time), summer term 2021
Course Plan MA Psychology (German Track), 2nd semester, summer term 2021
Application for Registration of the MA Thesis
Application for Registration of the MA Thesis (part-time)