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Deutsch Requirements and Target Audience
The Master's programme in Psychology (M.Sc.) at the Fachhochschule des Mittelstands is aimed at graduates with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Social Sciences, or Social Work who wish to systematically deepen their knowledge. It is especially intended for those who want to qualify for fields such as Clinical Psychology, Work and Organisational Psychology, Research, Counselling, or Human Resources Development. The programme is relevant for anyone who intends to work later in clinical, socio-educational, occupational psychology, or research-oriented fields.
What are the admission requirements?
To be admitted to the Master's in Psychology, you need to provide the following evidence:
- A completed Bachelor's degree in a psychological or social science programme, in the field of Social Work or a comparable academic qualification (e.g. Magister or Diplom).
- If you do not have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, you must demonstrate at least the following achievements within your first degree programme:
- At least 6 ECTS credits in Clinical Psychology
- At least 6 ECTS credits in Statistics
- The Fachhochschule des Mittelstands offers special bridging courses for missing achievements.
- The application must include:
- Tabular curriculum vitae
- Proof of university entrance qualification (e.g. school leaving certificate)
- Proof of first degree (Bachelor's certificate or equivalent)
- Admission is granted without Numerus Clausus (no NC).
You should be able to think analytically, enjoy academic work, and have an interest in applying psychological theories and methods in practice. Communication skills, empathy, and a professional approach to sensitive topics are essential for later professional practice in clinical, counselling, or scientific contexts. Resilience as well as the willingness to acquire knowledge independently will facilitate successful study progression.
Course Content in the Master’s Psychology Programme: What Awaits You?
In the Master’s degree programme in Psychology (M.Sc.) at the University of Applied Sciences of the Mittelstand, you deepen your scientifically based knowledge of key areas of psychology. The focus is on Clinical Psychology and Work and Organisational Psychology. You engage intensively with the development, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders and learn how psychological counselling and interventions are designed.
- Clinical Psychology: Diagnostics, therapeutic approaches, dealing with selected disorder patterns.
- Work and Organisational Psychology: Human behaviour in companies, personnel selection, workplace health promotion.
- Gerontopsychology: Psychological development in old age and its challenges.
- Applied Social and Personality Psychology: Social psychological processes, personality models and their practical significance.
- Psychological Diagnostics: Test procedures, interview techniques and report preparation.
- Research Methods: Multivariate analysis methods and the fundamentals of empirical research.
- Evaluation Research: Planning and assessment of intervention programmes.
The programme is research-oriented and includes an empirical research project as well as a research internship. In addition, you acquire skills in psychotherapeutic interventions and practise scientific working methods – supported by the FHM’s competency model (Professional Skills, Management Skills, Smart Skills).
How the On-Campus Study Is Organised
The Master’s in Psychology is designed as a full-time degree with a standard period of study of 24 months (four trimesters, 120 ECTS). FHM relies on a combination model: on-campus sessions are complemented by virtual live lectures, and individual modules are completed independently via e-learning.
- Face-to-face phases take place at the respective campus, allowing personal exchange with lecturers and fellow students.
- Live online lectures offer you local flexibility and enable participation from your home office.
- Self-study via the online campus, supported by digital learning materials, assignments and tutorials.
- Project work as well as an empirical research project are integral parts of the course progression.
- In the final study phase, you write your master’s thesis on a practice-related scientific question.
The programme start date is in October. The lectures follow a structured timetable and fixed deadlines for examination requirements. Small study groups and close personal supervision make learning easier for you.
Diverse Career Opportunities After the Master’s in Psychology
With the Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Psychology, numerous professional fields are open to you. The qualification is broad and is oriented towards the recommendations of the German Psychological Society (DGPs).
- Clinics and rehabilitation centres: work in diagnostics, counselling or psychotherapeutic intervention.
- Companies: deployment in human resources departments, aptitude diagnostics, health management and organisational development.
- Assessment centres and authorities: expert assessments for driving aptitude (MPU), work with police, judiciary or youth welfare offices.
- Research institutions and universities: working in research projects or as a basis for doctoral studies (PhD title).
- Advisory centres, crisis intervention, supervision and coaching.
- Educational specialist services as well as further education and training institutes.
- Self-employment, for example in coaching or as a supervisor.
In several federal states, the programme also offers access conditions to the psychotherapist licensing training under certain conditions (Bachelor’s admission before 1.9.2020). Taking on specialist and leadership roles in the health, social and education sectors is also possible.
FHM Locations: Where You Can Study Psychology
The Master’s degree programme in Psychology (M.Sc.) is offered at three locations of the University of Applied Sciences of the Mittelstand:
- Bielefeld
- Hannover
- Rostock
All locations have centrally located, modern campus buildings with good public transport connections. The atmospherically familiar campus environment supports exchange between students and lecturers. In addition, the online learning platform facilitates location-independent work on learning content. Presence phases and exams are completed on site; virtual components offer flexibility.
Costs and Financing Options: What You Need to Plan For
The total cost of the programme is 15,380 euros. The tuition fee is composed as follows:
- 24 monthly instalments of 620 euros each
- Final examination fee: 500 euros
Financing options include:
- Support through the Advancement BAföG (subject to meeting the requirements)
- KfW study loan for financing the tuition fees
- Scholarship programmes of the FHM as well as local and nationwide foundations
- Advice on further financing options, such as employer support or educational funds
The price includes all lectures, digital teaching materials as well as access to the learning platform. FHM provides individual advice on further funding opportunities and offers information events on study financing.
Advisory Service
Have questions about Academic Programs Psychology? Ask your question here, even anonymously. An employee of the institution FHM University of Applied Sciences or the editorial team will answer you.
Hi Max,
a US High School Diploma on its own is in most cases not treated as the equivalent of the German Abitur, so it will usually not be enough for direct admission. For FHM's B.Sc. Psychology it is the general higher education entrance qualification that is required, and for foreign certificates that means an equivalence check. One thing to sort out before you plan around this page: FHM runs several psychology degrees, and the Psychology (B.Sc.) with the focus on Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy is the one set up as a dual degree with the University of Gloucestershire: https://www.privathochschulen.net/en/courses/social-sciences/psychology/16571
How the entrance qualification question actually works
Germany does not ask "is this a good diploma", it asks whether the certificate opens the door to university study in the country that issued it and whether it is comparable to the Abitur. For US certificates the usual answer is that the diploma alone is not, and that something has to be added to it. The routes that are commonly accepted:
a set of Advanced Placement exams with scores of 3 or better. Depending on the route and your subject area this is typically four to five exams, covering mathematics, a natural science, English, a foreign language and one further subject.
college-level coursework instead: several separate general education subjects plus a substantial part of a bachelor's degree, roughly junior standing or two years of study.
if neither applies, a Studienkolleg with the Feststellungspruefung. That gives you a subject-specific entrance qualification, not a full Abitur equivalent.
The exact combination differs between federal states and universities, and the binding decision is never ours: it is made by the university's admissions office or the responsible Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle. The KMK's anabin database is where German institutions look up how a US diploma is classified, and FHM's admissions team can confirm your individual case before you file a formal application. We are the editorial team of a comparison portal, not FHM's admissions office, so please treat all of this as orientation rather than a decision.
Two requirements at FHM that are easy to miss
English: for the B.Sc. Psychology, FHM asks for English at B2/C1 evidenced on the high school diploma. Alternatively a TOEFL with at least 72 points or a Cambridge Certificate at B2, C1 or C2, and you can also sit FHM's own English test in advance. Coming from a US high school, that part should be the easy one for you.
German: our data lists the programme as German-taught, while the dual degree description says the two degrees are earned in both English and German. So do not assume you can do this in English only. Ask FHM which modules run in which language and which German certificate they expect.
Key facts from our database: 36 months, 180 ECTS, winter semester start, campuses in Bielefeld, Bamberg, Hannover, Rostock and Berlin, from 20,120 EUR in total. Be careful with that figure: FHM describes a separate fee structure for the Gloucestershire dual degree, so get the fee for your intake in writing. Provider profile: https://www.privathochschulen.net/en/universities/north-rhine-westphalia/fhm-university-of-applied-sciences
One more thing worth knowing early: a psychology bachelor by itself never leads to German psychotherapist licensure. That always requires an appropriate university master's plus the state examination, and admission to those master's programmes is a separate and competitive step. FHM's regular psychology bachelor is explicitly not the psychotherapy pathway. If licensure is not your goal and psychology is meant to strengthen your HR career, that takes a lot of pressure off the decision.
Programmes built for exactly your starting point
These are English-taught and accept a school leaving certificate from your home system, so the diploma question becomes much simpler:
Psychology (B.A.), Touro University Berlin. English-taught, Berlin campus, 6 semesters, 180 ECTS. The admission text states explicitly that a recognised high school leaving certificate granting university access in your home system is sufficient and that you do not need a German Abitur. From 4,500 EUR per semester, from 39,500 EUR in total: https://www.privathochschulen.net/en/courses/social-sciences/psychology/16214
Applied Psychology (B.Sc.), IU. English-taught distance programme, 6 semesters, 180 ECTS, no numerus clausus, rolling start, foreign certificates verified via anabin, English proof IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80. From 259 EUR per month, from 15,063 EUR in total. The obvious option if you want to keep your HR job: https://www.privathochschulen.net/en/courses/social-sciences/psychology/16973
Integrated Social and Cognitive Psychology (B.A.), Constructor University Bremen. English-taught, on campus, strongly methods- and research-oriented. From 10,000 EUR per semester, from 60,000 EUR in total: https://www.privathochschulen.net/en/courses/social-sciences/psychology/16420
Business Psychology (B.A.), Karlshochschule Karlsruhe. English-taught, on campus, with an internship in the third year, closest to the HR and people side. From 550 EUR per month, from 28,440 EUR in total, application deadline for non-EU applicants 15 July: https://www.privathochschulen.net/en/courses/economics/business-psychology/17885
Are you planning to move to Germany for an on-campus degree, or do you want to study from the US while staying in your HR job?