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Who this German-taught M.Sc. suits – and what you need to get in
This programme targets experienced and aspiring professionals in addiction care who want to combine evidence-based therapy with real-world practice in Germany. It particularly fits: practising social workers or social pedagogues in counselling, rehabilitation or community services who aim to qualify for recognised addiction therapy roles; psychology graduates on a clinical path who want structured training in addiction treatment and research; and medical doctors seeking a behavioural-therapy oriented specialisation in addiction medicine alongside work.
Admission requirements
You need a relevant, first university degree plus suitability confirmed in a selection interview. The programme is taught in German and delivered in Berlin in compact weekend blocks with additional online lectures.
- First degree: a professionally qualifying, relevant higher-education degree is required.
- DRV recognition track (addiction therapist in medical rehabilitation): one of the following is required:
- Bachelor’s in Social Work/Social Pedagogy (in Germany: with state recognition), or comparable international degree qualifying for professional social work practice;
- Master’s in Psychology (in Germany: with eligibility for psychotherapist training/approbation) or a Diplom in Psychology;
- Completed medical training as a physician.
- Practice requirement during studies: for the DRV recognition track you must be employed at least 50% of a full-time position in an outpatient, day-care or inpatient rehabilitation facility for addiction for the duration of the programme. Applicants without relevant employment complete a supervised practicum of defined duration in such a setting.
- Selection: personal suitability is assessed in an approx. 30-minute interview.
- Recognition of international qualifications: foreign university degrees are accepted if they are equivalent in level and subject relevance to the degrees listed above. Official transcripts and translations are required; equivalence is determined in the university’s admissions process.
- Language: teaching language is German. You must provide proof of advanced German proficiency suitable for graduate study. The programme is not offered in English.
- Study format and presence: part-time, 5 semesters; up to six on-campus block seminars per semester (Fri 13:00–Sun 13:15) in Berlin; individual sessions may take place in Neuruppin.
- Accreditation/state recognition: programme accreditation 2026–2034 (AHPGS); the university is state-recognised; the programme is certified by the German Pension Insurance (DRV) for addiction therapist qualification.
Personal requirements
Success in this part-time master’s hinges on disciplined self-study between block weekends, steady case work and reflective practice. You should be comfortable working in German with scientific texts and clinical documentation, and able to apply behavioural-therapeutic methods under supervision. Plan realistically around six intensive on-campus weekends per semester in Berlin, plus regular evening or weekend study for online lectures, reading and assignments. If you live abroad, factor in travel time and costs for every block seminar and ensure your employer supports a 50% position (DRV track) or that you can secure the required practicum. High self-organisation, resilience in emotionally demanding settings, and clear communication with multiprofessional teams are essential.
What will you study in the Addiction support (M.Sc.) at Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane?
The programme is taught in German. You need advanced German skills suitable for graduate study (typically around C1). Formal proof of German proficiency is required during enrolment; the university defines which certificates are accepted.
This 120 ECTS Master’s degree over 5 semesters builds your scientific and therapeutic competence across the full care pathway of addiction services. You cover foundations in medicine and psychology, legal and organisational frameworks, research methods and, most extensively, evidence-based addiction therapy.
Foundations of addiction and health: You work through medical and psychological basics, from diagnostics and psychopharmacology to comorbidities and theories of addiction. Prevention concepts and early intervention are introduced to position treatment within public health and community contexts.
Law, society and management: You learn the legal and social basis of addiction work, including documentation standards, social participation and entitlement frameworks, and the essentials of management in service providers: organisation, labour law, leadership and quality management in addiction services.
Research literacy and application: You are trained in empirical research methods, qualitative and quantitative designs and statistical analysis. A strong applied element takes you from research idea to practice, including engagement with the current research landscape (e.g. congress participation) and the design of your own study project.
Evidence-based addiction therapy: Core modules cover behavioural therapy for substance use disorders and behavioural addictions, therapeutic alliance building, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, cognitive-behavioural methods, group therapy and exposure. You address frequent comorbidities (e.g. trauma, anxiety, personality disorders, depression) and specialised formats such as couple therapy and vocationally oriented treatment.
Professional reflection and supervised practice: Two modules are devoted to supervision and professional self-reflection, where you apply what you learn to your own cases, analyse your therapist profile, and develop personal self-management. A dedicated professional activity module anchors your learning in an ambulatory, day-patient or inpatient rehabilitation setting, including the production of qualified discharge reports.
Electives: The curriculum focuses on a defined, therapy-oriented pathway. Choice comes primarily through your applied research project, your supervised case work and the focus of your Master’s thesis, allowing you to tailor the degree to specific populations, settings or modalities.
Special features: Teaching includes practical therapy exercises with simulated patients. The Master’s thesis concludes the programme with a defence (colloquium). Brandenburg Medical School (MHB) is state-recognised (staatlich anerkannt) in Germany, and this degree programme is recognised by the German Pension Insurance (DRV) as a qualifying curriculum for addiction therapists in medical rehabilitation when combined with the required professional background and employment (details under Careers). Programme accreditation is in place through AHPGS.
How does studying in the Addiction support (M.Sc.) work?
Teaching language: German – you need advanced proficiency
All teaching, exams and on-site seminars are in German. You should plan for C1-level academic German to follow lectures, contribute in seminars and write assignments. Formal proof of language proficiency is required for enrolment; accepted tests and scores are set by the university.
Study model: part-time with on-site blocks in Berlin
The programme runs in part-time mode over 5 semesters. It combines online lectures with up to six block seminars per semester, scheduled Friday 13:00 to Sunday 13:15 in Berlin (salus ambulanz). Individual sessions can take place at MHB in Neuruppin by arrangement. This compact format lets you study alongside work, with a continuous focus on practice in rehabilitation settings.
Learning format and personal development
Lectures are delivered online to reduce travel time. You consolidate content at home using written learning control questions, individually or in study groups. On-site weekends are highly interactive and include skills training and therapy simulations. Supervision and structured self-reflection are integral, linking theory and your own case work throughout the degree.
Assessments and the Master’s thesis
Assessment follows the therapy-and-research profile of the programme. You document applied diagnostics and treatment concepts, engage in supervised case discussions, and demonstrate research competence from study design to analysis. The programme ends with a written Master’s thesis and an oral defence in a colloquium.
Working professionals and practical pathways
The curriculum is explicitly designed as an optional work-integrated pathway. If you aim for the DRV recognition as individual and group therapist in medical rehabilitation, you complete at least 50% employment during your studies in a suitable rehabilitation setting. If you are not employed in the field, you complete a structured internship of the required length in an accredited rehabilitation facility.
What does the Addiction support (M.Sc.) cost?
Tuition is €15,000 in total for the full 5-semester programme. This covers the academic curriculum including online teaching and on-site block seminars in Berlin and, where scheduled, Neuruppin. Travel and accommodation for block weekends are not included and should be budgeted separately.
How you pay depends on the university’s current arrangements; international transfers are commonly possible, and many German private universities offer instalment plans. Ask early about payment schedules from abroad and any one-off administrative fees so you can plan wiring costs and deadlines well ahead of semester start.
Living costs: Berlin is one of Germany’s larger and more dynamic cities and tends to be pricier than smaller towns. As an orientation, international students often budget roughly €1,000–€1,400 per month for rent, food, health insurance and local transport, depending heavily on neighbourhood and housing type. Because teaching uses compact weekend blocks, some students reduce costs by short stays near the seminar venue while living elsewhere in Germany.
What careers and recognition does the Addiction support (M.Sc.) offer?
The Master’s degree awards 120 ECTS within the Bologna framework, enabling international comparability and mobility in Europe. Brandenburg Medical School is state-recognised in Germany, and the Addiction support (Suchthilfe) programme is programme-accredited by AHPGS through the German Accreditation Council (current period 2026–2034). Accreditation signals that curriculum, staffing and quality assurance meet national higher-education standards.
For practice in Germany’s rehabilitation system, the programme is recognised by the German Pension Insurance (DRV) as a qualifying curriculum for individual and group therapists in medical rehabilitation of people with addiction disorders. To gain the personal DRV recognition, additional conditions apply outside the study programme, notably a relevant prior degree and qualifying employment during the programme; the degree provides the curricular foundation.
Career paths include leadership and specialist roles in:
- Inpatient, day-patient and ambulatory addiction rehabilitation services (therapy, case leadership, treatment coordination)
- Hospitals, psychiatric clinics and integrated care providers focusing on dual diagnoses and comorbidities
- Public health, prevention and early intervention programmes in municipalities and NGOs
- Quality management and service development in providers and insurance-funded settings
- Applied addiction research, evaluation and doctoral study in health and social sciences
Salaries vary by employer type (public, charitable, private), federal state and your base profession (e.g. psychology, medicine, social work). Leadership and specialist therapy roles with DRV recognition typically command higher pay bands than generalist positions in counselling or social services. The 120 ECTS Master’s also opens the route to doctoral studies and academic careers.
Who is the Addiction support (M.Sc.) right for – and who not?
This programme suits experienced and aspiring professionals who want to combine scientific depth with hands-on therapy training in the German rehabilitation system. It is designed for people ready to study in German, attend intensive weekend blocks in Berlin and develop their clinical practice under supervision.
- You want an applied Master’s that integrates evidence-based therapy, supervision and self-reflection.
- You aim for roles in medical rehabilitation of addiction, quality assurance or leadership in service providers.
- You value a part-time format with compact block seminars and online lectures alongside work.
- You plan a research-active career, including the option to pursue a doctorate after graduation.
- You already work in a relevant setting or can organise the required employment/internship to anchor your learning in practice.
At the same time, the programme has clear boundaries so you can decide quickly if it is not for you.
- You do not speak German at an academic level. All teaching and assessment are in German, and on-site learning expects fluent interaction.
- You cannot travel to Berlin for six weekend block seminars per semester or arrange time for on-site participation.
- You seek a low-fee option comparable to public universities. As a private, state-recognised institution, MHB charges higher tuition than most public providers.
- You need a pathway to state licensure as a psychotherapist (Approbation) in Germany. This Master’s focuses on addiction therapy in rehabilitation and does not replace regulated psychotherapy training.
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