Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Master of Science

Admission Requirements

The degree programme is consecutive and requires a successfully completed Bachelor's degree in Psychology that includes all the knowledge and practical requirements necessary for the licensing examination. Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree according to the old system may have to complete modules for the "new Bachelor" at MHB.

A professional recognition of the Bachelor's degree must be present, anticipated, or achievable through supplementary qualification by the competent health authority of the federal state.

International applicants also require proof of their German language skills at level C1. A foreign university entrance qualification must have been recognised by a certificate recognition authority (school authority).

Application for the Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Programme at MHB

Apply without NC and be admitted to the Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy programme at MHB regardless of your Bachelor's grade: The multi-stage selection process makes this possible.

The application procedure for the Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy programme at the Medical School Brandenburg consists of three steps and is based on the principle “Personality instead of NC”. Instead of a numerus clausus, motivation, experience, and personal suitability are the focus.

In the first step, the online application takes place about five months before the application deadline. The following documents must be submitted in a single PDF file (max. 4 MB):

• Certificate for professional recognition of your Bachelor's degree
• Application for professional recognition for the State Examination Office Brandenburg
• Motivation letter (max. two DIN A4 pages, Times New Roman, 12 pt)
• Detailed tabular CV without a passport photo
• Proof of university entrance qualification
• Current certificates and evaluations (e.g. internship certificates, trainings, degree certificates)
• If applicable, proof of German language skills

The file must be named following the pattern “LastName_FirstName_Application_Clinical_Psychology_and_Psychotherapy”. Submission of missing documents afterwards is excluded.

In the second step, it will be checked whether the application documents are complete and meet the formal requirements. Then an individual content assessment is carried out by reviewers. Applicants will then receive an email informing them whether they are invited to a selection day.

The third step consists of the personal selection procedure in Neuruppin. On this selection day, applicants go through several stations and meet members of the faculty as well as students. The aim is to get to know motivation, personality, and attitude. After the selection day, a prompt response via email will inform applicants of their acceptance or rejection for a study place.

Where You Study Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy at the MHB

The MHB does not have a central large campus but is regionally networked with four study locations in Brandenburg. The main sites Neuruppin and Brandenburg an der Havel are complemented by facilities in Bernau near Berlin and Rüdersdorf. Each location offers its own focus areas and contributes to practical training.

• Neuruppin: The MHB headquarters is located on the campus of the Ruppin-Brandenburg University Hospital. Here are the executive board, administration, dean’s office, as well as the central facilities for study and teaching. Most teaching in human medicine (preclinical semesters) and in the psychology bachelor’s degree takes place here. The equipment includes modern seminar rooms, laboratories, a learning and communication centre with library, as well as a skills lab for clinical training. Several medical-scientific institutes support research and teaching. Neuruppin itself offers a high quality of life with lake access, leisure opportunities and a family-like student life. Accommodation is comparatively affordable; the university helps find suitable housing if needed. Berlin can be reached in about an hour.
• Rüdersdorf: In Rüdersdorf, the MHB operates a university hospital together with Immanuel Diakonie covering a broad medical spectrum. Especially relevant here are psychiatry, psychosomatics and health services research. The Institute for Health Services and Health System Research as well as the Institute for Clinical Pharmacology are based here. Parts of the master's degree programme in Health Services Research take place on site. Medical students also use this location for practical placements. Accommodation is available on the hospital campus.
• Lindow: The Salus Clinic Lindow is one of the MHB’s cooperating clinics. Lindow lies north of Berlin, around 15 km from the Neuruppin campus, and is part of the MHB’s practice-oriented regional study structure. The clinic treats a wide range of mental illnesses, primarily addiction disorders and psychosomatic conditions. Here, students of the Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy can gain practical experience, for example, in the second and third semesters. They receive close supervision and can also collect data for their Master’s thesis during these practical placements.

Funding Options & Scholarships for Studying at the MHB

Studying at the MHB involves financial investments but is made affordable for many students through targeted funding offers, repayment models and regional cooperations. The MHB offers various ways to finance the study costs:

• Instalment payments and clinic loans: Fees can be paid in monthly or semester instalments. Clinics in the partner network offer so-called clinic scholarships (loans up to €80,000), which are waived in case of subsequent employment at the hospital – a frequently used model.
• Reverse generational contract (UGV): Students pay little or nothing during their studies and make income-dependent repayments after graduation. The cooperation is usually via CHANCEN eG. Payments are only made if a sufficient income is earned later.
• Scholarships: The MHB awards Deutschlandstipendien (€300 monthly, performance-independent), its own MHB scholarships as well as specialised scholarships (e.g., for addiction or Parkinson’s research). Additionally, MHB students are eligible to apply to all state and church scholarship foundations. In cases of hardship, a social fund provides grants or interest-free loans.
• BAföG and study loans: The MHB is eligible for BAföG. However, BAföG usually only covers living expenses. For tuition fees, additionally state-subsidised loans (e.g., KfW) or bank loans are possible. The MHB provides suitable contacts on request.

The MHB actively supports financial planning. The study advisory service informs about individual options already during the application process and assists in combining funding sources – such as BAföG, scholarships and clinic loans.