Education is a cornerstone of economic, social, personal and societal development – with psychological aspects always playing a central role. Quality of life, lifestyle and health – these aspects are more important in our society than ever before. Yet conditions such as depression, back problems and burnout still occur. The cause: the pressure to constantly achieve more.
On the M.Sc. Applied Psychology, you will acquire the know-how and practical skills to apply and put your psychological expertise into practice in your day-to-day professional life across various fields, such as health promotion, coaching, supervision and many more.
You will also have the opportunity to specialise as an expert in this field by choosing one of the following specialisations:
- Educational Psychology
- Health Psychology
The Master's deggree programme in Applied Psychology opens up a wide range of career prospects in various fields at the intersection of psychology, education, health, Advisory, organisation and digitalisation. Depending on your chosen specialisation, you can tailor your profile to suit your specific needs and prepare for roles that align with your professional interests and goals.
In the Educational Psychology specialisation, you will explore the psychological processes involved in learning, teaching and personal development. This will equip you for careers in educational institutions, advisory, human resources, as well as in research and evaluation.
Possible career fields include, for example:
Education, University of Applied Sciences and schools
Graduates can work in educational institutions, Universities of Applied Sciences, schools, academies or further education centres. Possible roles include the Study Advisory Service, school development, adult education or educational management.
Human resources, HR and organisational development
Knowledge of educational psychology is also in demand in the field of human resources, for example in staff development, recruitment, coaching or talent management. Here, you will support organisations in professionally facilitating staff’s learning and development processes.
Advisory and Coaching
This specialisation also prepares you for advisory work, for example in career guidance, youth or parental counselling, vocational guidance or motivational coaching. The focus here is on individual development pathways, learning processes and personal resources.
Research, Evaluation and Diagnostics
Further career opportunities arise in educational research, the evaluation of educational programmes, questionnaire development or psychological testing and assessment. Graduates can contribute to the scientific investigation and further development of educational processes.
Digital Education
The increasing digitalisation of the education sector is also giving rise to exciting fields of work centred on digital learning resources. These include, for example, the development of learning apps, the user-centred design of learning platforms, and the use of gamification in teaching.
In the Health Psychology specialisation, you will explore the interplay between psychological, social and emotional factors, as well as their significance for physical and mental health. This opens up career opportunities in prevention, health promotion, Advisory, research and digital health.
Possible career fields include, for example:
Occupational health management
In occupational health management, graduates help companies create working conditions that promote good health. Possible roles include health manager, HR health specialist or stress management trainer.
Prevention and health promotion
Another career field involves the development and implementation of measures for prevention and health promotion. These include, for example, health campaigns, addiction prevention programmes or initiatives to promote health-conscious behaviour.
Hospitals, rehabilitation centres and health centres
Graduates can also apply their skills in health psychology in clinics, rehabilitation centres or health centres. Possible tasks include patient education, behaviour change programmes or counselling services as part of rehabilitation.
Advisory, coaching and self-employment
This specialisation also provides a foundation for advisory or coaching roles, for example in the areas of resilience training, burnout prevention or nutritional counselling. Self-employment in health-related advisory and coaching fields is also a possibility.
Research, academia and evaluation
Furthermore, there are opportunities in academic work, such as in health studies or the evaluation of prevention programmes. Here, graduates help to review health-related measures and develop them further on an evidence-based basis.
Digital Health
With regard to digital health services, additional fields of work are emerging in the area of digital health. These include, for example, the design and further development of health apps, digital behaviour-tracking services or motivational applications to support health-related behavioural changes.
Specialise and become an expert in ‘your’ field of applied psychology! On the Master's deggreeprogramme in Applied Psychology at HSD Hochschule Döpfer, you can choose from the specialisations listed below from the second semester onwards, allowing you to tailor your studies and training precisely to the area in which you wish to develop.
Education is a cornerstone of economic, social, individual and societal development – with psychological aspects always playing a central role.
On the Master's deggree programme in Applied Psychology with a specialisation in Educational Psychology at the HSD, you will develop an understanding of the psychological mechanisms that influence developmental and learning processes. You will combine the disciplines of psychology and education, broaden your expertise and lay the foundations for responsible and challenging careers. You will also gain a deeper understanding of personality development, interpersonal communication and the identification of individual learning needs.
Quality of life, lifestyle, health – these aspects are more important in our society than ever before. Yet conditions such as depression, back problems and burnout are still on the rise. The cause: the pressure to constantly achieve more.
On the Master's deggree programme in Applied Psychology with a specialisation in Health Psychology at HSD Hochschule Döpfer University of Applied Sciences, you will gain expert knowledge of the interplay between emotional, psychological and social factors, as well as their impact on physical and mental health.
You will acquire the expertise to develop concepts, for example, for the prevention of illnesses, for analysing the psychological effects of conditions such as chronic illnesses, and for applying research methods, amongst many other things.
On the Master's deggree programme in Applied Psychology at HSD Hochschule Döpfer, you will develop the ability to adapt your professional expertise to the changing demands of the education and healthcare sectors and to work in a scientific and evidence-based manner in line with international standards. For example, you will gain a deeper understanding of personality development, interpersonal communication and the identification of individual learning needs.
During the first semester, all students study the same content from areas such as general psychology, developmental psychology, psychological research methods and empirical data collection. From the second semester onwards, students take modules from a range of compulsory-elective modules, thereby setting their own specialisations in the fields of health psychology or educational psychology.
The course content is rounded off by a practical module in which theoretical knowledge is applied in a professional setting.
Admission to the Master's deggree programme in Applied Psychology requires a first university degree (180 ECTS) and at least one year of relevant professional experience.
The first university degree must be in a field closely related to the programme’s specialisation. This includes, amongst others:
- Nursing
- Therapeutic sciences
- Medicine
- Social work
- Education
- Natural Sciences
Are you unsure whether you meet the Entry requirements, or do you have general questions about them? You are welcome to contact our Study Advisory Service at any time.
Please note: Detailed provisions regarding university entrance qualifications can be found in Section 10(2) of the Brandenburg Higher Education Act (BbgHG); HSD Hochschule Döpfer, along with all its campuses, is subject to the Brandenburg Higher Education Act.
Language of instruction: German
Type of programme: Distance learning (online), full-time or part-time (flexible model)
Start of programme: Spring semester, Winter semester
Standard duration of study: 4 semesters full-time (It is possible to complete the programme in a shorter time – please contact us!)
Degree awarded: Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Credits: 120 ECTS credits
Number of students: approx. 30 per semester
Tuition fees: €430 per month for 24 months. This includes all fees associated with the programme.
If you have any questions regarding fees, discounts, funding or finance, please feel free to contact our Financial advisory serviceat any time.
If your studiestakelonger than expected, additional fees may apply; however, individual arrangements can be made in special cases.
Organisation: Distance learning (online). The programme comprises both asynchronous and synchronous learning phases.
- During the asynchronous learning period, you will receive multimedia resources for self-study. These include, amongst other things, instructional videos, lecture notes, podcasts, as well as assignments to be submitted and other assessments of learning progress (such as quizzes).
In addition, there are supplementary materials (extras) that enable you to explore the content in greater depth in a personalised and interest-driven way.
The materials are made available to you centrally via a learning platform.
- In addition, there are synchronous study phases during which you meet virtually with your fellow students and lecturers in what are known as live sessions. These are designed to be interactive and provide opportunities for discussion, feedback and joint practice (for example, case studies).
Virtual support is primarily provided via forums. Here, you can discuss questions or receive regular feedback. However, you also have the option of contacting lecturers directly, for example during virtual consultation hours, via email or video calls.
Transfer your credits: At HSD Hochschule Döpfer, you have the option to have examination results you have already achieved at other universities recognised. You can submit an application for recognition online.
Partnerships: Through a partnership between HSD Hochschule Döpfer and your employer, both you as a student and your employer as our partner can benefit from a range of advantages. You can find an overview of our partner organisations online.
