Master’s Program in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy

Degree: Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Standard period of study: 4 semesters (2 years)

ECTS credits: 120

Language: German, English

Language requirements: You must submit proof that your German language proficiency is equivalent to level C1.

Program start: Fall/winter semester (September) 
Academic calendar

School: School of Social Sciences

The master’s program in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy implements the regulations for master’s programs according to the licensing regulations of psychotherapists (Approbationsordnung für Psychotherapeutinnen und Psychotherapeuten) from 4 March 2020 and is the perfect preparation for a job in psychotherapy. The focus is on acquiring an extensive and broad knowledge of psychotherapy as well as of psychotherapeutic research methods and diagnostics. The psychotherapy curriculum also includes a module in health psychology in which students get an overview on subjects like health prevention and health intervention.

The degree program is very practice-oriented so that the students are required to participate in psychotherapeutic treatments in (partially) inpatient as well as outpatient settings during their studies. Cooperations with psychotherapeutic institutions, whether in (partially) inpatient or outpatient care, ensure the quality and the access to suitable internship positions. The Otto Selz Institute for Applied Psychology (Otto-Selz-Institut für angewandte Psychology (OSI)) as the University of Mannheim’s clinical center for research and education is at the core of the outpatient training phase.

Contributing to ongoing research projects is an important part of your studies and prepares you for your master’s thesis. The focus will probably be on psychotherapy research but projects in the fields of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy Research, Cognitive Psychology, Neuropsychology, Clinical Assessment, or Health Psychology may also be possible.

With its focus on the research areas in Cognitive Psychology and Clinical Psychology, the Department of Psychology at the University of Mannheim  is one of the leading higher education and research institutions in Germany.

With the psychological outpatient clinic (psychologische Hochschulambulanz) of the University of Mannheim, the Otto Selz Institute of Applied Psychology (Otto-Selz-Institut für angewandte Psychologie), a clinical center for research and education is available to you during your studies. The institute combines research, teaching, and therapy on the highest scientific level with the continuous improvement of psychotherapy. Patients, whether they are children, adolescents, or adults, benefit from treatments with a focus on behavioral therapy based on the current state of research.

Students in our master’s programs benefit from our excellent conditions for studying: The degree structure is rather strict, due to the regulations set forth in the licensing regulations for psychotherapists. However, we offer you the greatest flexibility possible, in particular during the intensive and time-consuming practical phases of the program. In the courses, you are working in small groups on current topics in psychotherapeutic research and practice. The modern infrastructure boasts newly renovated seminar buildings with good computer equipment and libraries with long opening hours. The program and internship managers are happy to support you during your studies.

With a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, graduates are exceptionally well qualified for a job in the following fields:

• clinical-therapeutic institutes, health care institutions
• counseling centers or independent counseling
• psychotherapy research and teaching

After passing the licensing exam, graduates have the job title “psychotherapist”. In the post-graduate continuing education phase of five years, you focus on the treatment of children and adolescents, or on the treatment of adults, or on neuropsychology and on at least one form of psychotherapeutic therapy (behavioral therapy, depth psychology-based psychotherapy, analytic psychotherapy or systemic therapy).

After you completed the post-graduate continuing education, you can also work as an independent psychotherapist. You are then, for example, a psychotherapist for adults (behavioral therapy) (“Fachpsychotherapeutin bzw. Fachpsychotherapeut für Erwachsene (Verhaltenstherapie))”.

Students of the master’s program in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy should

• be interested in psychotherapy and psychopathology of people of all ages as well as neuropsychology,
• have analytical skills and very good observation skills,
• have excellent communication skills and be very empathetic,
• be very tolerant,
• be able to distance themselves from patients and to set boundaries,
• have profound knowledge of diagnostics and research methods,
• be very proficient in English.

Module catalog
The module catalog gives you an overview of the courses and their content.

Practical work
Extensive practical work in (partially) inpatient as well as outpatient care are an integral part of the master’s program in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. The Internship Office of the School of Social Sciences helps students with organizing the internship.