Psychology – Bachelor of Science
Undergraduate study programme leading to a first degree and providing qualifications and skills for future employment.
Psychology is the science dealing with human behaviour and experience, as well as their causes and effects. On the one hand, psychology records and explains behaviour and experience, on the other hand it develops suggestions and action guidelines to achieve the best possible psychological conditions.
Psychology is an empirical science. For this reason a large part of your studies will be devoted to empirical and experimental methods as well as practical psychological work. In addition to this you will acquire practical skills, such as psychological techniques in conducting conversations, experimental methods and systematic observation, and you will employ social-scientific survey methods.
Overview
| Degree | Bachelor of Science |
|---|---|
| Programme start | Winter semester |
| Period of study | 6 semesters |
| Application period | 9.5. - 15.7. |
| Admission restrictions | yes |
| ECTS | 180 |
| Obligatory minor subject | no |
| Number of places | 112 |
Why study Psychology in the University of Konstanz?
- 3-year bachelor’s degree, in accordance with the licensing regulations of the new Psychotherapists Act, provided completion of the psychotherapeutic internship and the capacity-limited elective module "Psychotherapy".
- Opportunity to qualify for attractive master´s programmes, including the M.Sc. Psychology with Focus on Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (planned from WS2023/24) granting access to further training in psychotherapy.
- Broad spectrum of methodological training (methodology, statistics, test theory and diagnostics) and research-oriented experimental internships in small work groups
- Modern fields of application, including Clinical Psychology and Psychology of Health
- Professional or research-oriented internships in the 4th semester
- Possibiliity to gain an additonal certificate in forensic psychology
Content
Prospects and opportunities
Career prospects
The bachelor’s degree qualifies to enter the work market immediately. Typical fields of work for psychologists include:
- Therapeutic-clinical fields, counselling services
- Educational / school sectors
- Scientific research, diagnostics, evaluation
- Market research, opinion research, advertising research
- Personnel and organisation development
Working as a psychotherapist requires a master´s degree in Psychology with Focus on Psychotherapy, followed by a five year training in psychotherapy.
You can find out more about career entry in the interview series #dreamjob - Starting a career. Alumni of the University of Konstanz report on their very personal career entry.
Graduate studies
The University of Konstanz offers the following Master's Programmes:
- From WS 2023/24:
- M.Sc. Psychology (2-year programme)
- M.Sc. Psychology with Focus on Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (2-year programme)
- M.Sc. Psychology (1-year programme)
- M.Sc. Psychology with Focus on Forensic Psychology (2-year programme)
Programme structure
Programme start
Winter semester
Academic structure
The study programme covers 6 semesters including one semester for your bachelor’s thesis (View the study plan).
During the first 3 semesters you will become acquainted with the different areas in psychology and you gain insights into the methods. In the 4th and 5th semester you deepen the basics and intensively address the applied fields of Clinical Psychology and Psychology of Health.
You complete your internship in the 4th semester, depending on your interests in clinical-psychotherapeutic or other occupational or research-related areas. In addition, you choose as supplementary courses in the 5th semester
- ieither the module "Neighboring Subject", which offers a wide range of non-psychological courses
- or the capacity-limited module "Psychotherapy", which, together with the clinical-psychotherapeutic internships, fulfills the requirements of the licensing regulations of the new Psychotherapists Act and qualifies for the consecutive master´s programme with a focus on psychotherapy, which is prerequisite for further psychotherapeutic qualifications
For details on the study programme and more information visit the department website. In addition to this you will study non-psychological elective subjects. The overview you will find here: Non-psychological elective subjects.
Please check the Exam regulations (partly in German) for more information about the programme structure.
Internship and study abroad
Internships
You complete a 10-week internship in the 4th semester, depending on your interests in clinical-psychotherapeutic or other occupational or research-related areas.
Study abroad
You can spend semesters abroad at numerous European and non-European universities. The university promotes study abroad via the ERASMUS programme and numerous other exchange programmes.
Impressions from students and lecturers
Hear from students and lecturers
In our interview series, students talk about their subject, teachers explain the department's research and tell you what topics they cover in seminars and lectures.
- Three Questions to Robert, B.Sc. Psychology
- Three Questions to Lisa, B.Sc. Psychology
- Students Report: Anna Arauner, B.Sc. Psychologie
- Incoming Exchange Students Report: Evandro Fonseca, Paris VIII
Get an impression
Discover online lectures and websites with more information about your prospective subject.
Requirements
What interests and skills should I have?
- A general interest in the areas of psychological work
- A strong motivation to learn methods of empirical and experimental basic research
- Very good knowledge of mathematics
- Good English skills
Language skills
Foreign language skills
You do not have to proof any foreign language skills for the bachelor's programme. However, as large parts of the research literature are written in English, good English skills are highly recommended.
German language skills
International applicants need documentation of their German language skills, level DSH-2 or TestDaF 4. Alternatively, other language tests or school certificates recognized as equivalent can be used as proof of the required German language skills. The University of Konstanz does not offer preparatory German language courses or approved German language exams. For this reason, you must submit accredited proof of your German language skills along with your application.
Language(s) of instruction
German and English
Admission requirements
General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) or equivalent.
You will find the current regulations for the selection process in the admission regulations.
Documentation Orientation Test
When applying for admission at universities in the state of Baden-Württemberg you have to take an orientation test. The Baden-Württemberg orientation test is the most widely used test. Please send in your certificate of participation together with your application papers.
Fees
All students enrolled at the University of Konstanz are charged a semester fee each semester, similar to all other German universities. Here you can find the current semester fee and its individual components.
Tuition fees for first degree studies for certain international students
Since winter semester 2017/18, the state of Baden-Württemberg has required some international students to pay tuition fees for their first degree studies. The following students are not required to pay tuition fees: citizens of a country within the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), doctoral students and certain “Bildungsinländer” (e.g. non-EU citizens with a German “Abitur”). More detailed information can be found here.
Each year, the University of Konstanz grants exemptions to a limited number of particularly gifted international degree-seeking students in accordance with the university’s “Begabtenbefreiungssatzung” (statutes governing the exemption of gifted students). More detailed information can be found here.
Tuition fees for second degree studies for all students
All students are required to pay tuition fees for their second degree studies. More detailed information can be found here.
Application and application documents
An application is possible during the following period: 9.5. - 15.7. (winter semester). There may be other deadlines if you are applying for admission to a higher semester (for instance, if you are changing subjects or universities). For more information please consult the university website.
Application documents
During the online application process, you will need to enter various kinds of information (school grades, attendance periods, etc.) and upload various PDF documents.
Please make sure that you have the relevant documentation ready. This may include:
- your Abitur certificate (German general higher education entrance qualification)
- documentation of any volunteering you may have done (FSJ, FÖJ, etc.)
- any documentation about vocational training you may have completed
- any other required documents (medical certificate, etc.)
An electronic assistant will guide you through the application process. Required fields are marked by an asterisk (*).
Application Guide
The PocketGuide Application will guide you as you take all the steps towards submitting a successful application to your first-choice study programme at the University of Konstanz.
