The German-taught bachelor’s program in Psychology (B.Sc.) teaches students general psychological principles, research methods, and selected applied psychological subjects. With your bachelor’s degree, you have various career options: You can, for example, start your career in business or you can continue studying in a master’s program to pursue a career in academia. With a master’s degree you can also take over a responsible position in HR, decide to become a school counselor or start training as a psychotherapist (Psychologischer Psychotherapeut) in accordance with the German legislation on psychotherapy (Psychotherapeutengesetz).
Studying Psychology at the University of Mannheim was the right choice for me. From the third semester onwards, you can choose your own specializations which give you an insight into the different areas of Psychology. My personal highlight is the ability to spend a semester abroad at one of the world’s leading universities. Thanks to the numerous exchange programs, you don’t have to pay the tuition fees, which can be really expensive, and anyone can study abroad.
Have you always wanted to know what factors influence human behavior? Why do people change their opinion when they are in a group? Is intelligence a coherent concept or does it have multiple manifestations? What causes psychological disorders and how are they diagnosed? These and other questions will be addressed during the bachelor’s program in Psychology.
In modules focusing on the planning of studies, you will learn how to carry out experiments yourself whereas modules in psychological assessment teach you how to develop and apply tests and modules in statistics how to analyze data. Courses on general psychology explore the basic principles of thought, language, learning, memory, motivation, emotion, and perception, which will help you understand how we process and cope with our surroundings. You will also acquire a solid foundation in the fields of developmental psychology, which deals with changes people undergo throughout their lifetime, and social psychology, which studies the behavior of people in groups. Furthermore, you will be introduced to differential psychology, which looks at personality and intelligence – two dimensions that set us apart from each other.
Are you interested in process optimization in a company or in product development and marketing? Or have you always dreamed about becoming a psychotherapist? Or would you like to work as a school counselor in an educational environment? By choosing three out of four applied subjects, Work and Organizational Psychology, Consumer Psychology, Clinical Psychology, or Educational Psychology, you can tailor the degree program to your individual interests.
Students in their fifth and sixth semester will choose a minor in a related discipline. Psychiatry and Business Administration are among the most popular subjects – you should opt for the first if you plan to pursue a career in psychotherapy and for the second if you would like to work in an organization. However, there is a range of other subjects you can choose from, such as Sociology, Political Science, Philosophy, Informatics, and more. You decide!
It is possible to complete the twelve-week mandatory internship either during the lecture period (in addition to your regular courses) or during the semester break or during a period of leave of absence – the decision is up to you. You can intern in any psychological field. The Internship Office will be happy to support you in finding a suitable internship. It also regularly informs all students at the School about vacancies (internships, part-time student jobs) in its newsletter and internship database.
The bachelor’s program in Psychology starts every fall semester on September 1. The University of Mannheim accepts applications every year between May 15 and July 15. You need to apply online. Click here for comprehensive information on the application process. If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact the Admissions Office.
The selection process takes into account the grade average achieved in your higher education entrance qualification (= Abitur or equivalent qualification) along with other activities and achievements relevant to the program. For the application year 2020, the test result of the voluntary student aptitude test STAV-Psych is also taken into account. Applicants receive points for these criteria and are ranked accordingly. A maximum score of 120 points can be earned. The total score is calculated as follows:
1. The grade average achieved in your university entrance qualification is converted into points:
2. Up to 5 points are awarded for other activities and achievements relevant to the degree program if you can prove that you dedicated at least four weeks to them (28 days with at least 30 hours per week). The admissions committee decides whether they can be considered relevant to the program and how many points you will receive.
3. By taking the voluntary student aptitude test STAV-Psych, you may earn up to 40 additional points in the selection process of the application year 2020. You can find information about the voluntary student aptitude test STAV-Psych here.
You can read more about this topic in the selection statute (only available in German). The latest version of the selection statute can be found on the central website of the University of Mannheim under Psychology.
Any relevant professional or practical extracurricular activities such as vocational training, part-time jobs, and internships in the following fields: | |
IT |
e.g. software development, IT consulting and support, data analysis, database development and maintenance, programming, business informatics |
Journalism/ |
e.g. communications and public relations |
Teaching |
e.g. tutoring, language lessons |
Management |
e.g. corporate strategy and corporate philosophy, corporate management, change management, leadership, corporate culture, project management |
HR/ organization |
e.g. personnel recruitment, planning and deployment, personnel support, personnel marketing, personnel management and development |
Social work/ health services |
e.g. care for the elderly and the sick, work with disabled people, young people, and refugees, development cooperation |
Business |
e.g. marketing and sales, market research and analysis, advertising and sales promotion, product development and management, controlling, managerial accounting |
Social commitment | |
School |
e.g. school newspaper, homework supervision, leadership roles at the class or school level, mediator/ |
Social sphere |
e.g. care for the elderly and the sick, work with disabled people, young people, and refugees, development cooperation |
Public sphere |
e.g. associations and clubs, volunteer fire department |
Political sphere |
e.g. active involvement in a party, local or youth council, youth parliament, government simulation game, NGO and/ |
Cultural sphere |
e.g. theater companies, sports clubs, music societies |
Church |
e.g. youth work, altar server |
| Voluntary work | |
| e.g. voluntary social year (FSJ), military and civilian service, comparable service in the health care, social or business sector | |
Stays and internships abroad | |
| e.g. high school exchange, time spent as an au pair, work and travel | |
Please note that the test STAV-Psych is only a part of the regular selection process. This means that applicants outside the EU/
The Student Selection Process of Psychology (Studierendenauswahlverfahren Psychologie) STAV-Psych is a psychology-specific aptitude test that measures general cognitive abilities and prior knowledge relevant for a degree in Psychology.
Taking the student aptitude test STAV-Psych is voluntary. According to the selection statute (in German), you may earn up to 40 additional points in the selection process.
The testing date is Saturday, May 16, 2020. Registration has already closed for the application year 2020. A subsequent registration is not possible.
You will have another chance to take the test in the application year 2021. The testing date is Saturday, May 15, 2021.
You can find all the information about the voluntary student aptitude test STAV-Psych on the website of the STAV-Psych coordination office.
Prior to taking the voluntary student aptitude test STAV-Psych, you should complete an online self assessment (OSA-Psych). With the OSA-Psych, you can inform yourself about the curriculum of the bachelor’s degree of Psychology and test if it matches your expectations. Good to know: The OSA-Psych is a mandatory part of your application for 2020.
Please note that the test STAV-Psych is only a part of the regular selection process. This means that applicants outside the EU/
Information for applicants of fall semester 2020/21
The Federal Council passed the law reforming the training in psychotherapy (Gesetz zur Reform der Psychotherapieausbildung (PsychThGAusbRefG)) on November 8, 2019.
In order to become a psychotherapist, you have to enroll in a polyvalent bachelor’s program in Psychology (B.Sc. in Psychology) to start your studies as before. If you are interested in psychotherapy, however, you need to deepen your knowledge on clinical psychology in particular. This is the only way you can apply for a master’s program in Psychology with a focus on Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy and get an approbation to practice psychotherapy at the end of your studies.
In Mannheim, we plan to launch a modified polyvalent bachelor’s program in Psychology in fall semester 2021/22. The modified program will meet the requirements of the new study regulations. Especially concerning the first semesters, the Mannheim bachelor’s program in Psychology is very close to the new study regulations already.
All the students enrolling in the bachelor’s program in fall semester 2020/21 will have a well feasible opportunity to obtain post-qualifications or they will have a chance to shift to the updated study regulations.
The German Psychological Association (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie) answers FAQs concerning the legal reform.
Students transferring to the University of Mannheim from another university or changing their degree program can apply for admission to an advanced semester. They can join the program in the fall semester (lecture period starts at September 1). The University of Mannheim accepts applications every year between May 15 and July 15. You need to apply online. Click here for comprehensive information on the application process. If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact the Admissions Office.
Admission to semester |
Required coursework and examinations |
|---|---|
2 |
Quantitative Methods 1 (4 credit hours + four-hour exam, 6 ECTS credits; or equivalent) |
At least 20 ECTS credits that are eligible for recognition* | |
3 |
Quantitative Methods 1 (4 credit hours + four-hour exam, 6 ECTS credits; or equivalent) |
At least 30 ECTS credits that are eligible for recognition* | |
| 4 | Quantitative Methods 1 (4 credit hours + four-hour exam, 6 ECTS credits; or equivalent) |
Quantitative Methods 2 (4 credit hours + four-hour exam, 6 ECTS credits; or equivalent) | |
At least 70 ECTS credits that are eligible for recognition* | |
| 5 | Quantitative Methods 1 (4 credit hours + four-hour exam, 6 ECTS credits; or equivalent) |
Quantitative Methods 2 (4 credit hours + four-hour exam, 6 ECTS credits; or equivalent) | |
At least 90 ECTS credits that are eligible for recognition* | |
Completion of at least 25 courses (with an exam or coursework), whereby the courses must correspond to those stipulated in the examination regulations for the bachelor’s program in Psychology at the University of Mannheim. The number of outstanding courses must not exceed 15. |
*Eligible for recognition means that the courses and ECTS credits to be recognized must correspond to those stipulated in the examination regulations for the bachelor’s program in Psychology at the University of Mannheim (only available in German). If you have completed more courses or obtained more credits in a previous program, this cannot be taken into account. Please note: It is not possible to recognize a bachelor’s thesis that has already been completed. Please see the module catalog for more information about the contents and requirements of the individual modules in the bachelor’s program in Psychology.
Your application for admission to an advanced semester will only be considered if you follow the formal application process and if there are study places available. We will not make any preliminary statements as to whether or not you may be admitted to an advanced semester. To be able to determine the semester in which you can begin your studies we need you to fill in the form on the recognition of coursework and examinations in the bachelor’s program in Psychology (only available in German) and enclose it with your application. If you are admitted to the program, the semester in which you can begin your studies is provisional to begin with. Once you have enrolled at the university and have submitted proof of all examinations and coursework completed thus far, the respective examination committee will confirm the advanced semester in which you can join the program in Mannheim.
If you wish to change your degree program, you should apply for admission to the second semester of the new program. If you are applying for a study place in the third semester of the new program or later, you must include proof that you have sought advice with your application. You can seek academic advice at any German university that offers a bachelor’s program in Psychology. In Mannheim, the program managers are responsible for advising students on all aspects of changing their degree program.
If you have any questions on your degree program (course contents, program structure, stays abroad), don’t hesitate to contact our program managers. For questions relating to the application process, please contact the Admissions Office.
