Students on campus

Psychology - Work, Education/Development, Law and Health

Information about the Psychology master's programme with a focus on Work, Education/Development, Law and Health
Students on campus
Image: Jan-Peter Kasper (University of Jena)
Key facts
Degree
Master of Science
Admission restriction
with Numerus Clausus (NC)
Duration
4 Semesters
Credits/ECTS
120
Teaching language
German
Tuition fee
None
Semester contribution
€ 272,65
Start of studies
Winter semester
Part-time possible
No
Institutions
Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Institute of Psychology
Application & Deadlines

Programme Content

Building on the B.Sc. Psychology, the M.Sc. Psychology with a focus on Work, Education/Development, Law and Health allows you to consolidate your knowledge in different fields of psychology.

You can choose between the following three areas of specialisation:
(a) Developmental, Educational and School Psychology
(b) Work, Organizational and Health Psychology
(c) Forensic Psychology

Alternatively, it is possible to (d) create your individual area of specialisation by combining the courses you are most interested in.

Your studies are complemented by general modules providing methodological and diagnostic knowledge. These include techniques of systematic analysis, integration and assessment of specialised scientific literature, the development and application of diagnostic tools and hypothesis testing procedures.

Programme Structure

The master's degree will be your second professional qualification. The regular duration of the programme is four semesters during which different types of lessons (e.g. seminar, lecture, practice session) are offered in each module.

The master's programme is worth 120 credits (with each credit equating to 30 hours including in-class time, preparation, follow-up work, coursework and examinations).

The Psychology master's programme with a focus on Work, Education/Development, Law and Health includes a methodological module, a diagnostic module, basic knowledge and applied knowledge in the chosen area of specialisation, a project module, a minor subject (required elective module), an internship and the master's thesis.

This Could Be Your Study Plan

1st Semester 2nd Semester 3rd Semester 4th Semester

Research Methods 1–2
(15 credits)

Minor Subject**
(10 credits)
Master's Thesis
(30 credits)
Diagnostics and Expert Opinions
(10 credits)

Internship
(15 credits)

 
Basic Knowledge I–III*
(15 credits)
   
  Applied Knowledge I–III*
(15 credits)
 
  Project Work I–II
(10 credits)
 

* You can attend the lessons of the Basic Knowledge and Applied Knowledge modules flexibly throughout the respective semesters.
** You can attend the Minor Subject lessons depending on the semester in which they are offered (please note the respective module description).

Why Jena?

  • Excellent research: The Jena Institute of Psychology is particularly strong in researchExternal link. Our Research concentrates on two major areas: Perception and Interaction and Development and Health.
  • Outstanding teaching: In addition to the strong methodological focus, the programme is characterised by modern and internationally oriented teaching, which is also supported by numerous national and international cooperation and evaluation projects.
  • Individual specialisation: Students have the opportunity to deepen their studies individually by selecting profile lines: They can choose between three profile lines (1) Developmental, Educational and School Psychology; (2) Work, Organisational and Health Psychology or (3) Legal Psychology. If one of the three profile lines is chosen, this will be shown as an addition on the Master's certificate.
  • Practical: The combination of first-class research and application projects with internships and theses helps our graduates seamlessly introduced in their targeted professional and research fields.
  • Unlimited Opportunities: Experience internationality! Our university attracts students and academics from all over the world with attractive conditions and shapes Jena's character as a future-oriented and cosmopolitan city. These are ideal conditions for prospective international students.
  • Adventure abroad: You can easily fulfil your dream of spending a semester abroad during your studies. Our university has a worldwide network of partner universities.

Behind the Scenes

Erforschung von psychologischen Einflussfaktoren auf das Risikoverhalten
Taking a Close Look
Full risk? Or rather not? Let's find out! For example, a psychology student studied the effect of safety accessories on risk-taking behaviour in several test subjects.

After Graduation

By combining scientific research and practical issues, the master's programme prepares you for a professional career in different fields.

  • Educational, teaching and research institutions
  • School psychology
  • Companies
  • Associations and non-profits
  • Forensic psychology

Admission requirements

  • Undergraduate degree or equivalent

    For this master's programme, you need a subject-specific bachelor of science degree (minimum 6 semesters/180 ECTS credits) in psychology or a comparable undergraduate degree in combination with a personal suitability for the programme. Your degree must include:

    • 30 ECTS credits in psychological methodology, 10 of which in statistics,
    • 40 ECTS credits of basic knowledge such as General Psychology, Biological Psychololgy, Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology as well as Differential and Personality Psychology,
    • Modules taken in at least two areas of application (e.g. Work and Organisational Psychology, Pedagogical Psychology, Clinical Psychology).

    Altogether, your degree must include lessons or modules in psychology amounting to at least 150 ECTS credits.

  • Selection procedure

    If the number of applicants entitled to admission exceeds the number of available study places, they are admitted according to a ranking list established as the result of a selection procedure of the Faculty. The following criteria are considered:

    • a) final grade of the first undergraduate degree,
    • b) final grade of the higher secondary education certificate,
    • c) the applicant's subject-specific, scientific suitabilty in the chosen area of specialisation (proof of which may be previous professional experience as student or scientific assistant and/or co-authorship of scientific publications).

    For further information about the selection procedure please see the Admission Regulations (under the Download section).

  • Language requirements

    This master's programme requires the following language proficiency from international applicants:

    • German language proficiency at minimum level DSH-2 (or a recognised equivalent)
    • English language proficiency at level B2 (no proof required)

Application documents

  • CV

    Your CV should have a tabular form, containing key information on your school record and academic career.

  • University entrance qualification certificate

    Please upload at the online application system your university entrance certificate/school leaving certificate. Usually, this means the school graduation diploma (German "Abitur"), i.e. the diploma that makes you eligible for studies at an University or other institution for higher education. Be mindful of the fact that here, we do not need any University diploma but a High School diploma! 

  • Previous university degrees earned

    All previous University degrees (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, etc.) if available before the application deadline - if not, please make a note of the anticipated date of issue of your degree certificate. Please upload your University degree or the most actual, detailed transcript of records/ mark sheet of all semesters available to you, should you not hold your degree certificate at the time of application. The main document is the degree/ transcript based on which you apply for the master programme.

  • Corresponding transcripts

    Detailed transcript of records/ mark sheet of your first, subject-specific University degree, with which you apply for the master's programme (minimum requirement is the transcript/mark sheet up to the semester before the last). This trancript MUST contain an overall cumulative grade point average or average mark.

    You need at least 135credits (ECTS) by the time you apply.

  • Proof of subject-specific scientific suitability in the chosen area of specialisation, where applicable

    For example:

    • official letter from a university confirming previous professional experience as scientific assistant at a university of at least 90 hours,
    • letter from the publisher or invitation to review the publication confirming your co-authorhsip of peer-reviewed scientific publications in scientific journals.

Additional application documents for international students

  • Proof of German language proficiency

    For German taught master's programmes, i.e. programmes with (predominantly) German as language of instruction, a sufficient German language proficiency proof is mandatory. Please see the information on the language requirements for the master's programme of your interest on the corresponding website.

    The Friedrich Schiller University Jena accepts the following certificates as German language proficiency proof exclusively:

    • the Goethe-Zertifikat C2 (GDS),
    • the Deutsche Sprachdiplom der Kultusministerkonferenz (DSD II),
    • the TestDaF, minimum TDN 4 in all four parts of the examination,
    • Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH), min. level 2 (= DSH-2),
    • Certificate telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule (min. level "befriedigend"),
    • a German language examination in the framework of an assessment test at a preparatory college.


    Please note: If you do not have the required mandatory German language proficiency proof at the time of applying, you may only apply if you can provide a certificate attesting your German language skills at least at level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) as well as a confirmation that you have either registered for the DSH examination, the TestDaF or an equivalent examination or that you have sat it and are going to receive the results before the end of the current semester.

    There is also the possibility to apply for the (chargeable) "German Language Course Preparing for the German Language Examination (DSH)" at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena. Please note: Prerequisites for the application for the preparatory course are language skills at least at the certificate level B1 / GER (e.g. Goethe-Zertifikat B1, TestDaF at least 4x3 and/or 800 teaching units from a recognized language school). For detailed information on the application and further information, please visit the website of the International Office or contact the International Office directly via Mail.

    Shortly before taking the DSH-2-Examination or after successfully passing it, you are welcome to apply for a German taught master's programme!

    The following applicants are exempted from providing proof of their German language skills:

    • Applicants, who have obtained a German taught bachelor's degree within one of the following countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. This applies only to degrees that were awarded by a university in the relevant country (no satellite campuses or international branch campuses in other countries, no correspondence course degrees, no joint- or double-degrees with institutions in other countries);
    • Holders of a German, Austrian or Swiss (from school where the language of instruction is German) university entrance qualification.
  • Translation of foreign/external application documents

    Every mandatory application document from foreign/external countries must also be available in either English OR German translation. Such a translation has to be conducted by officially acknowledged/ sworn translators or translation offices.

  • Proof of grading system

    External/foreign degree certificates/ transcripts of records must contain information on the grading system (= description of the maximum grade possible and the minimum passing grade) used at the respective University. 

  • Certificate APS

    Applicants with degrees from India, Vietnam or China must submit the original APS-certificate issued by the German Embassy.

  • University entrance exam

    Applicants from the following countries must submit a certificate of their university entrance examination/college entrance examination:

    • Iran (College entrance examination certificate or certificate of pre-university course/year)
    • Republic of Korea/South Korea: SAT (Scholastic Ability Test)
    • People's Republic of China: College entrance examination certificate ("Gaokao")

Contacs

Subject Advisor and Responsible Person for the Programme's Academic Focus - Prof. Dr. Peter Noack
Student Subject Advisor - Johanna Rimpf

Haus 1
Am Steiger 3
07743 Jena

Student Council of the Institute of Psychology
Master Service Centre

Office hours:
We offer consultations and the handling of your concerns in person as well as by Service Desk (ticket system), Zoom, live chat, post and telephone.

Telephone consultation:
Tuesday - Thursday
10 am - 11 am

Personal consultation:
Tuesday - Thursday
2 pm - 3 pm

Live chat:
mondays
10 am - 12 noon

Ticket enquiries via Service Desk at: www.uni-jena.de/service-msz

Postal address:
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Master Service Centre
07737 Jena

Video chat: Zoom – Video chat Videochat ZeitenTuesday - Thursday
3:15 pm - 4 pm
Password Master Data protection informationpdf, 101 kb