Overview Study Programmes – Psychotherapy Science
The full degree program in Psychotherapy Science at SFU offers a course of study that combines research and teaching, imparting theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
The following degree programmes are offered at SFU Berlin (in German):
Bachelor Programme Psychotherapy Science
The Bachelor Programme is a foundation course, i.e. it teaches the basics of psychotherapy science. The course duration is six semesters. Upon successful completion, students earn the academic degree Bakkalaurea / Bakkalaureus der Psychotherapiewissenschaft (BA.pth.).
Master Programme Psychotherapy Science
The Master Programme in psychotherapy science builds on the Bachelor programme and provides in-depth knowledge of theory, methodology, scientific and research methods and clinical competences. The course duration is four semesters. Upon successful completion, students earn the academic degree Magistra / Magister der Psychotherapiewissenschaft (Mag.pth.).
In addition, the following study programmes are offered at the SFU headquarter in Vienna:
Doctoral Programme Psychotherapy Science
The doctoral programme in Psychotherapy Science is committed to methodological and research methodological pluralism. Empirical and hermeneutic papers – also in combination – as well as theoretical and historical papers can be written, including critical examination of existing research directions or schools. The duration of the programme is 6 semesters. The academic degree Doktorin / Doktor der Psychotherapiewissenschaft (Dr. scient. pth.) is awarded.
Study programmes in Psychotherapy Science in English
At SFU Vienna, the Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral programmes in Psychotherapy Science are offered in German and English.
Places of Implementation | Branches
In addition to the faculty’s headquarter in Vienna, you find departments of psychotherapy science in the places of implementation listed below. There the Bachelor and Master Degree Programmes in Psychotherapy Science are offered in the respective local language:
Accreditation/Licensure
According to a special regulation as a five-year, consecutive, full-time program, the PTW Psychotherapy program fulfills both the academic and EU professional requirements for applying for licensure. This means that PTW graduates are entitled to apply for licensure upon completion of their studies at the State Examination Office in Berlin and can take the aptitude test, analogous to the licensure examination. Individual or official intermediate examinations are not required; once admitted to the Bachelor’s program, psychotherapy students at SFU can continue their studies directly into the Master’s program.
The PTW program was reviewed by an external review board commissioned by the Berlin licensing authority. The review confirmed that Austrian professional recognition is granted and that the program is a consecutive university degree in psychotherapy. Practical training is an integral part of the program, in accordance with the German licensing regulations. Graduates of the PTW program are therefore generally entitled to apply for German licensure under Section 12 of the Psychotherapists Act (PsychThG). To compensate for differences with the German licensing regulations, PTW graduates are required to take an examination after submitting their application for German licensure. This examination is comparable to the licensure examination for graduates of German psychotherapy programs (KLIPPs). SFU PTW graduates also complete an examination after applying for licensure, in accordance with the requirements of Section 12, which is then conducted as an aptitude test according to Sections 62 and 68 of the Psychotherapists’ Licensure Regulations (PsychThG). Upon successful completion of the examination, licensure is granted. The “Berlin license” is then recognized in all other German states.