Psychology, Forensic Psychology Specialization – Master of Science

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Continuing education master's programme for working professionals.

You will develop your expertise in diagnosing forensically relevant psychiatric disorders and acquire a basic knowledge of prison psychiatry and psychopharmacology. You will gain a thorough knowledge of forensic-psychological methods for making risk assessments, with a focus on current research and development. This includes assessing the risk of relapses amongst violent offenders and sex offenders, assessing the danger of actually committing a threatened violent offence, plus developing a subsequent threat management strategy. You will also gain practice-oriented basic skills in preparing criminal responsibility and plausibility expertises. Individual and group therapy skills for offence-oriented interventions are developed in outpatient and in stationary settings.

Our continuing education master's programme Psychology, Forensic Psychology Specialization" is organised by the Akademie für Wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung, the University of Konstanz's continuing education institution.

Overview

Degree Master of Science
Programme start Winter semester & Summer semester
Period of study 4 semesters
Application period 9.5. - 15.9. | 29.11. - 15.3.
Admission restrictions no
ECTS 60

Why study Psychology, Forensic Psychology Specialization in the University of Konstanz?

The Department of Psychology has become one of the most research intensive and successful psychology departments in Germany’s university landscape. You can easily complete our continuing education master's programme alongside your daily work. The courses take place in the form of block seminars from Friday to Sunday. Attendance is required at 2 block seminars per semester during the standard study period of 4 semesters.

Content

Prospects and opportunities

Career prospects

The Swiss Society of Psychology and Law recognises the programme modules within the framework of the further training rules of the FSP – Federation of Swiss Psychologists to gain the specialist title.

You can find out more about career entry in the interview series #dreamjob - Starting a career. Alumni of the University of Konstanz report on their very personal career entry.

Programme structure

Programme start

Winter semester & Summer semester

Academic structure

Students need to acquire in-course academic performance assessment in 4 modules (each 8 ECTS-credits) and write a masters’ thesis (28 ECTS-credits). The programme is structured in such a way that it is possible to write the masters’ thesis parallel to attending courses and continuing professional commitments. All of the teaching takes place in block seminars (Friday through Sunday), so that you can complete your studies alongside your professional work. You will find more information about the contents of the individual modules on the websites of the department.

You can find an exemplary structure of the study programme in this table.

Please check the Exam regulations (partly in German) for more information about the programme structure.

Internship and study abroad

Internships

An internship is not scheduled in this programme.

Study abroad

A study abroad stay is not scheduled in this programme.

Impressions from students and lecturers

Hear from students and lecturers
In our interview series, students talk about their subject, teachers explain the department's research and tell you what topics they cover in seminars and lectures.

Get an impression
Discover online lectures and websites with more information about your prospective subject.

Requirements

What interests and skills should I have?

  • An interest in, or experience with threat management
  • An interest in, or experience with risk reducing intervention in the case of violent offenders and sex offenders
  • The ability to work independently on scientific texts (in the sense of preparing for and following up on seminars)

Language skills

Foreign language skills
You do not have to proof any foreign language skills for this master's programme.

German language skills
International applicants need documentation of their German language skills, level DSH-2 or TestDaF 4. Alternatively, other language tests or school certificates recognized as equivalent can be used as proof of the required German language skills. The University of Konstanz does not offer preparatory German language courses or approved German language exams.

Language(s) of instruction

The language used in class is German.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to this programme you need:

  • a degree from a four-year bachelor's programme in psychology or
  • a completed master’s programme in psychology or
  • a completed 'Facharztausbildung' (specialist doctor training) or equivalent training abroad or
  • a completed 'erstes Juristisches Staatsexamen' (state examination in law) with a study concentration in criminology or
  • an equivalent degree, also from abroad
  • at least one year of professional activity in the area of clinical or forensic psychology or in the field of medicine, jurisprudence or comparable scientific disciplines qualifying for the postgraduate study programme

Tuition fees
Tuition fees are € 2,500 per semester. Since the standard period of study is four semesters, the total programme costs amount to € 10,000.


For details, please see the admission regulations.

Fees

Semester fee

All students enrolled at the University of Konstanz are charged a semester fee each semester, similar to all other German universities. Here you can find the current semester fee and its individual components.

Tuition fees
Tuition fees per semester are 2,500 euros, in addition to the general semester fees (see the link above for costs and their composition). As the standard period of study is four semesters, you can expect your tuition fees amounting to 10,000 euros plus the general semester fees. If you exceed the standard period of study, you will not have to pay more tuition fees, however you will still need to pay the general semester fees.

As the Master's course of study as a continuing education Master's course is subject to fees or charges, no exemption from tuition fees can be granted in accordance the Begabtenbefreiungssatzung (statutes governing the exemption of gifted students). You can find more detailed information here.

Application and application documents

This study programme has no admission restrictions.

An application is possible during the following period: 9.5. - 15.9. (winter semester) and 29.11. - 15.3. (summer semester). There may be other deadlines if you are applying for admission to a higher semester (for instance, if you are changing subjects or universities). For more information please consult the university website.

Application documents

Application documents:

  • documentation of your academic degree
  • documentation of work experience

Important note: Please note the information provided under the tab "Admission requirements"


International applicants:

  • If your documents are not available in German or English, you will need to have them translated. Please submit a German or English translation of your documents along with the original versions.
  • Documentation of German language skills, level DSH-2 or TestDaF 4, or a language test recognised as equivalent;
  • Applicants from China, India and Vietnam: APS certificate (original) issued by the German Embassy of your home country
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