Psychology with a focus on teaching, learning and competence development
Degree profile
All the information you need about starting your studies in October 2026 and our special programme for the Student Orientation Days:
Course content for the Psychology degree programme
The Master’s programme in Psychology, specialising in Teaching, Learning and Skills Development, enables students to engage in-depth with the scientific foundations of psychology and its non-clinical applications.
The programme focuses on imparting in-depth knowledge and practical skills in the areas of learning, teaching and competence development. It builds on a relevant background in psychology equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree, supplements this with in-depth subject-specific and methodological knowledge, and expands upon it by teaching practical problem-solving skills. Choosing a specialisation area allows students to specialise in different fields of knowledge, research and application.
With its specialisation areas, the Master’s programme in Psychology relates to the research fields of the university’s priority area of Education – Teaching, Learning and Media Socialisation – and offers the opportunity, subject to suitability and academic performance, to progress to the relevant PhD programmes.
At the University of Erfurt, the Department of Psychology focuses primarily on issues relating to teaching and learning, and in particular on the individual, social, developmental and organisational contexts and implications of teaching and learning processes.
Attractive career prospects
Our psychology graduates are experts in the following professional fields:
- Human resources and organisational development (e.g. Management, team development)
- Applied research (in companies, public authorities and institutions)
- Diagnostics (in educational, public sector and workplace contexts)
- Research & academia (universities, institutes, projects)
Details of the Psychology degree programme
Structure of the master's programme in Psychology
Duration of the Master’s programme
The duration of the master's programme in Psychology with a ‘specialisation in Teaching, Learning and Competence Development’ is normally four semesters (two academic years).
Structure of the Master’s degree programme in Psychology
The Master’s degree programme in ‘Psychology’ comprises a three-semester study phase and one semester for writing the master's thesis. The Master’s programme comprises a compulsory component and a compulsory-elective component:
Compulsory module
- Complex Research Methods and Analytical Methods
- Learning and Teaching
- Development, Diagnosis and Support
- Design, Implementation, Evaluation
Compulsory elective module
- Teaching and learning competences
- Language skills
- Decision-making and problem-solving skills
- Supporting Development in Childhood and Adolescence
- Potential development in adulthood
Please note: The MA programme in Psychology does not fulfil the requirements for postgraduate further education under the Psychotherapists Act.
Research at ErfurtLab
Erfurt Laboratory for Empirical Research
The Erfurt Laboratory for Empirical Research provides a professional research environment for all areas of empirical behavioural research at the University of Erfurt. In addition to the technical and spatial infrastructure, we also offer comprehensive support for the planning, design and implementation of empirical studies in various contexts.
The ErfurtLab’s primary task is to provide and continuously expand professional research facilities that meet the highest scientific standards. To this end, 15 rooms covering over 400 square metres are available for laboratory experiments, questionnaires, group interviews and other forms of data collection. The West Laboratory and the Central Laboratory together offer over 40 interview stations in computer booths. In addition, the ErfurtLab is equipped with instruments for eye-tracking and for measuring heart rate and skin conductance. Further rooms are fitted with the necessary equipment for observing and recording group discussions or one-to-one interviews.
Studying abroad: gaining international experience
Psychology International
Take the opportunity to gain international experience! Thanks to numerous partnerships with universities abroad, you have the chance to spend a semester or a year abroad whilst you are studying. Such a stay not only broadens your academic horizons, but also strengthens your intercultural and language skills. To help you prepare, the University of Erfurt offers free language courses at the Language Centre.
The International Office will be happy to assist you with organising your stay abroad.
Open Day
Open Day
A wide range of information and advisory services offer you the chance to see for yourself what studying and living in Erfurt are like at our Open Day. Join a guided tour to explore the leafy campus and the beautiful historic city centre. Information on the programme: Open Day
Order or download information materials
Would you like to have a copy of the course brochure? Then request our free information pack with no obligation. You’ll receive it by post directly to your home in just a few days.
Order your information pack now!
Don’t want to wait? Then download the leaflet now from the download centre.
Similar degree programmes
Entry requirements for a degree in psychology
Entry requirements for the Master’s in Psychology
- A degree in a relevant subject area with a grade better than 2.4
- The following are considered relevant fields of study: degree programmes in psychology, as well as other degree programmes containing psychological components equivalent to six semesters of the major in Teaching, Learning and Training Psychology at the University of Erfurt, subject to assessment on a case-by-case basis.
- Six semesters of the Bachelor’s major in Teaching, Learning and Training Psychology correspond to a study load of 90 LP, i.e. approximately 40 SWS of psychology and methodology courses or 2,700 working hours (workload). In terms of content, they correspond to knowledge of general and differential psychology, developmental and social psychology, psychological assessment and methodology, statistics, and empirical psychological research.
- Independent empirical research project (e.g. bachelor's thesis)
Further information can be found in the examination regulations for the Master’s in Psychology
Language requirements for the Master’s in Psychology
Language Centre
The Language Centre offers around 140 language courses each semester in 16 modern and classical (foreign) languages.
It helps you to acquire new language skills and build on your existing ones.
www.uni-erfurt.de/sprachenzentrum
To help you get off to a smooth start with your studies and get to know your fellow students right from the outset, special Student Orientation Days are organised for the master's programme in Psychology. There is also a ‘Moodle room’ for students, containing answers to all questions about the programme, as well as an information session on elective modules.
What our psychology students have to say
The Master’s programme in Psychology offers in-depth insights into areas of educational psychology. However, by choosing a specialisation from the second semester onwards, it is also possible to explore other areas of psychology, such as developmental psychology or decision-making psychology.
The seminars thrive on a lively exchange between students and lecturers. Small group sizes create a very pleasant working atmosphere and ensure good support from the lecturers.
The option to choose a specialisation gives you the chance to work on a project for 1.5 years and, at the end of that, to write your master's thesis based on it. You can choose from five different specialisations – so the range of options is very broad.
What’s more, there are excellent research opportunities and interesting seminars that thrive on plenty of interaction.
For anyone interested in fields beyond clinical psychology, this degree programme comes highly recommended. What’s more, Erfurt is a lovely university town.
This degree programme helps you begin to understand the world around you and, on top of that, teaches you to critically examine research and claims from a scientific perspective. With this knowledge, I can not only help myself to protect against fake news and understand myself better, but also gain a better understanding of other people’s actions.
I’m particularly impressed by how well students are looked after at the University of Erfurt. The university lecturers are there for you if you have any questions about your studies. There are even courses that guide and support you through your Bachelor’s and master's theses.
Seize this opportunity and apply for the master's programme in Psychology, specialising in Teaching, Learning and Competence Development! The application period for the master's programme in Psychology for the winter semester runs from 1 January to 15 September.*
Information on application deadlines, application procedures, admission and enrolment:
subject advice and counselling
Downloads
Leaflet: Studying at the University of Erfurt (pdf)
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