Master’s programme in Psychology

The Master’s programme in Psychology builds upon the Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. It provides more advanced knowledge and skills in psychological research and fields of application in psychology. By acquiring job-specific skills, students learn how to apply psychological knowledge and methods professionally to describe, explain, treat and predict people’s experiences, behaviour and living environments.

The training focuses on clinical psychology and on occupational, organisational and business psychology. The course is in line with the Austrian Psychologists Act (PslG – BGBI I no. 182/2013). 

The Psychology programme offers: 

• Theory-led, research-based teaching 
• Practice-oriented teaching in small groups 
• Working with actor patients 
• Close individual supervision 
• Collaboration with hospitals and businesses 
• Medical fundamentals, diagnostics and intervention theory, with a focus on clinical paediatric and adolescent psychology and health psychology 
• Occupational, organisational and business psychology, with a focus on the application of market and consumer psychology, human resources, change management, etc. 
• Admission requires proof of a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from a recognised higher education institution

Graduates emerge with comprehensive scientific knowledge of psychology and a wide range of specialised methodological skills for solving psychological problems in a wide range of application areas within their subject and in related sciences. They have superb professional, social, communication and decision-making skills that they can deploy in their professional work as psychologists.

Course structure

Teaching takes the form of lectures, exercises and seminars. There is a special focus on practical units. Students acquire knowledge and skills in face-to-face classes and through self-study. A supervised traineeship must be completed during the Master’s degree. The Master’s programme in Psychology is based on the Bologna model and meets the requirements of Section 7, Para. 1(2) of the Austrian Psychologists Act (Psychologengesetz 2013 – PslG).

Traineeship

The degree includes a traineeship of 200 hours, to be conducted at external institutions. We help students look for suitable institutions in Austria and internationally. We also offer traineeships at one of the university hospitals in Lower Austria and other partner institutions of KL.

Degree

Graduates from the Master’s programme in Psychology are entitled to independently practise the profession of psychologist in Austria and in the EU. The degree is also a requirement for further postgraduate training (e.g. in clinical and health psychology, supervision, psychotherapy) and studying for a doctorate.

Graduates go on to work in fields such as: 

• Clinical and health psychology 
• Work, organisational and economic psychology 
• Market and consumer psychology 
• Gerontopsychology 
• Paediatric, adolescent and family psychology 
• Forensic psychology 
• Sports psychology 
• School psychology 
• Trauma psychology 
• Environmental psychology 
• Research and teaching

Student guidance

The student advisory service at KL offers information and individual counselling to clarify study and career aspirations, to deal with individual possibilities and limits, to develop personal career goals, to clarify orientation and decision conflicts as well as questions regarding changing studies.