GUIDELINES FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS AND STUDENTS OF PSYCHOLOGY WANTING TO COME TO GERMANY TO STUDY OR TO WORK
STUDENTS COMING TO GERMANYWhere is it possible to study psychology as a major in Germany?
Universities and other speciaíized institutions of higher education are located in the following cities
Aachen, Augsburg, Bamberg, Bayreuth, Berlin, Bernried, Bielefel Bochum, Bonn, Brunswick, Bremen Brühl Chemnitz Darmstadt, Dortmund, Dresden Düsseldorf Duisburg, Eichstätt, Emden, Erfurt, Erlangen, Essen, Esslingen, Flensburg Frankfurt/ Main, Freiburg, Fulda, Gießen, Göttingen, Hagen, Hamburg, Hanover, Heidelberg, Hildesheim, Hohenheim, Homburg, Jena, Jülich, Kaiserslautem, Karlsruhe, Kassel, Kiel, Koblenz, Cologne, Consiance, Landau, Landshut, Leipzig, Ludwigsburg, Lübeck, Lüneburg, Magdeburg, Mainz, Mannheim, Marburg, Mönchengladbach, Munich, Münster, Nuremberg, Oldenburg, Osnabrück Paderborn, Passau Potsdam, Regensburg, Reutlingen Rostock Saarbrücken Siegen Schwäbisch Gmünt Speyer Stuttgard Trier Tübingen, Ulm, Vechta, Wariberg-Werthoven, Weingarten. Wiesbaden, Würzburg and Wuppertal
Detailed information is available at our association´s central office in Bonn (i. e. the number of institutions per city, addresses etc.).
2. What prerequisites must be fulfilled for enrolment?
a) University entrance qualification: examination at secondary school,
b) Admission restrictions (very good grade point average on secondary school leaving certificate)
c) Central Office of Admissions:
Zentralstelle für die Vergabe von Studienplätze (ZVS), Sonnenstraße 171, 44137Dortmund
Tel. *49-231/10810
Who should you talk to/write to?
Central Office of Admisions, Dortmund
3 . What is the duration of the programme and what is the curriculun involved?
a) 10 semesters / 5 years al minimum; but usually 12 semesters
b) Curricula in Clinical Psychology, General Psychology, Developmental Psychology Psycholop of Individual Differences Social Psychology Biopsychology or Phycological Psychology Methodology Educational Psychology, Industrial and Organizational Psychology
The contents,differ from university to university, focal areas in most cases
4. What degree is awarded at the end of the programme?
«Diplom» degree in Psychology
5. Is it possible to transfer from a foreign university to a German university in the field of psychology?
6. Will credit be given for the previous semesters of study and who should you talk to/write to conceming recognition of previous studies?
Previous study at a foreign university must be recognized by the German university where the studies are to be continued
7. What opportunities exist in Gemany for acquiring practicar experience in the field of psychology?
There are possibilities in all fields of psychology for training and practicar experience,
contact:
a) Berufsverband Deutscher Psychologen (BDP), Heilsbachstr. 22, 53123 Bonn, tel *49-228198731-0
b) Bundesvereinigung Deutscher Psychologie Studentinnen und Studenten (address as BDP)
c) all clinics, institutions, authorities in which psychology related activities are carried out
II PSYCHOLOGISTS COMING TO GERMANY
l. Can you use the professional title «Psychologe» or diplom-Psychologe» in Gennany based on a foreign degree, or do special prerequisites have to be fulfilled for this? Do any laws exist on this?
The title «Psychologe» has been protected by law since 1984 (Federal Court of Justice ruling of 4 July 1985 I ZR 14-7183, Section 132 a STGB). Accordingly, only those who have completed a degree programme in psychology can refer to themselves as a «Psychologe».
The title «Diplom-Psychologe» can be used in connection with the name of the.foreign university if the title is recognized by a German state
The title «Psychologe» can only be used after taking a degree in psychology
2. Does a degree in psychology obtained abroad have to be recognized in order to work in Germany as a psychologist? Are there any laws on it?
a) for EU foreigners
Laws of this kind exist only with regard to practising psychotherapy in Germany «Law on Practising Medicine» (a new psychotherapy law for psychological Psychotherapists is currently being formulated). On the other hand, all that is needed to practise psychotherapy is for a psychology, degree to be recognized In accordance with EC Directive 89/48 EC foreigners must be granted recognition of this kind
b) for non-EU foreigners
In order lo work in the field of psychotherapy, psychologists who took a degree in psychology in non-EC country must have their degree recognized. Recognition is provided by the Permanent Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affaws of the states in Germany (Ständige Konferenz der Kultusminister länder in der BR Deutschland Nassestr 8, 53113 Bonn, Tel *49-228/501458).
3. How is an academic training and a degree in psychology obtained abroad recognized in Germany and by whom?
a) A «Diplom-Psychologe» or «Psychologe» title obtained abroad would be recognized by the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Geman state in which the persona in question wants to take a job or open a practice
b) The equivalence of academia training abroad is recognized by the Permanent Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the states in Germany (see addess under 2b).
4. Has Germany implemented EU Directive 89/48 and what examinations or supplementary courses need to be taken?
Germany has not yet implemented EU Directive 89/48 There are neither examinations nor supplementary courses for psychologists.
5. What practical training or observer-status opportunities exist in Germany for psychologists who wish to accumulate experience for a limited period of time?
Practical trainee and observer-status trainee opportunities exist in all areas of the psychological profession, i.e. in clinics, institutions, authorities and companies. Further information can be obtained from the BDP.
6 Additional qualifications:
a) What post-graduate programmes in psychology exist in Germany
In Gennany there is a large number of post-graduate programmes, particularly in the area of psychotherapy, industrial psychology and forensic psychology.
b) Who offers them?
There are more than 50 programmes offered in the field ofpsychotherapy alone, including by the Deutsche Psychologen Akademie (same address as BDP). Further addresses can be obtained from the BDP.
c) What importance do they have?
In the field of psychotherapy post-graduate programmes are of particular importance, since they are usually necessary in order to obtain the necessary professional qualification to practise psychotherapy This is required in persons are to be treated who are insured with the statutory health insurance schemes.
d) In what fields are post-graduate qualifications necessary?
In the field of psychotheraphy
7. What are work opportunities like for psychologists in Germany?
In Gemany there are approximately 5, 000 uneployed psychologists. As such, work opportunities are not particulary good In the new states the situation is considerably better. Here there are still numerous openings for psychologists.
8 What services does the BDP offer its members?
Members of BDP receive the associations journal «Report Psychologie», as well as numerous brochures and services, including free legal advice, professional consulting support in dealing with statutory health insurance schemes, regular information on changes in laws or changes in the fee schedules used by the health insurance companies/schemes.
The full range of services offered by BDP is incated in a brochure Which can be requested from the associations central office.
9. Who can you talk to/write to if you have any futher questions?