Englisch 
Deutsch Who benefits from the Bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology at DHGS?
The distance learning programme in Applied Psychology is aimed at anyone who wants to specifically prepare for psychological professional fields in counselling, companies, or social institutions. The degree course is particularly suitable for school leavers with an interest in people, social contexts, and practical work, but also for professionals from the healthcare or educational sectors who want to qualify academically. Career changers with relevant professional experience, who want to access higher education via alternative routes, also benefit.
What formal qualifications are required for admission?
For enrolment, either the general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur), the advanced technical college entrance qualification (Fachhochschulreife) or a comparable foreign educational certificate is required. Alternatively, you can be admitted without (advanced) school leaving certificates if you provide evidence of relevant vocational training and professional experience – this is based on §11 Berlin Higher Education Act. Applicants from non-German-speaking countries must provide proof of German language skills.
Personal prerequisites include empathy, communication skills, the ability to listen, and assertiveness. Also important are mental resilience, interest in other people’s problems, as well as openness to statistics and empirical research work. It is advantageous if you have already gained practical experience in the social, health, or educational sector or if you are enthusiastic about interdisciplinary work.
What content and skills does the Bachelor's degree in Applied Psychology impart?
In the Bachelor's degree programme Applied Psychology at the Deutsche Hochschule für Gesundheit und Sport, you acquire broad, application-oriented knowledge of psychological theories, methods, and practical skills. The curriculum covers fundamental disciplines of psychology such as General Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Biological Psychology, Personality Psychology, Educational Psychology, Social Psychology, and Health Psychology. A special focus is on the connection between empirical research and the practical application of psychological findings in various contexts.
- Core modules: Introduction to Psychology, psychological professional ethics, methodology, statistics, diagnostics and test theory, cognitive-affective neurosciences
- Specialisations: From the fourth semester onwards, you specialise in one of the focus areas: Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Child and Adolescent Psychology, Intercultural Psychology or Addiction Psychology
- Practical orientation: As early as the 3rd semester, you complete an orientation internship. The fifth semester is organised as a practical semester and includes career-oriented practice modules
- Methodological and research competence: You learn qualitative and quantitative research methods, acquire knowledge in empirical research as well as applied diagnostics, and develop your problem-solving skills
- Therapeutic basics: Communication skills, basic principles of different therapy forms, health psychological prevention and rehabilitation as well as interdisciplinary supplementary subjects
- Application in the “Social Impact Project”: Here you work on practice-relevant issues in a team and strengthen your project and communication skills
After completing your studies, you will be able to apply psychological knowledge in a practice-oriented manner in counselling, health, social and business sectors and independently plan, implement and evaluate psychological interventions.
What does the course and structure of the distance learning degree look like?
The degree is designed for six semesters full-time (corresponding to 180 ECTS credits) and can alternatively be completed part-time, alongside work or in the cooperative model. The course starts on 10 March or 10 September each year. Thanks to the semi-virtual study model, you combine flexible online learning units via a digital learning platform with regular in-person phases (once per module) at one of the numerous locations or entirely online.
- Course structure: The first four semesters focus on fundamentals and methods; in the fifth semester the focus is on specialisation modules and a practice-related activity. In the sixth semester you engage with research methods, prepare your bachelor's thesis and choose application-oriented seminars
- Learning concept: The online phases allow you to work independently, while the on-site workshops focus on dialogue, case work and application of what has been learned
- Internship: An orientation internship takes place in the third semester; the practical semester in the 5th semester can be credited with relevant professional experience
- Specialisation choice: From the 4th semester onwards, you take three specialisation modules as well as one supplementary subject outside your focus area
- Degree completion: The bachelor's thesis and oral exams complete the course
Personal support takes place in compact seminar groups and through individually approachable lecturers. Students benefit from close exchange with teaching staff and fellow students – both virtually and in person.
What career options does the Bachelor in Applied Psychology open up for you?
With the Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Psychology, you qualify for diverse professional fields where psychological knowledge is in demand. The programme emphasises applied activities outside classical psychotherapy, as a university degree is required to train as a psychological psychotherapist.
- Fields of work:
- Health and social services: work in counselling centres, addiction prevention, family or youth services, workplace health promotion
- Business and companies: personnel management, organisational development, human resources, change management, marketing and advertising psychology
- Public service: work in authorities, employment agencies and social offices
- Educational and research institutions: project work, evaluation, academic assistance
- Freelance activities: business coaching, life counselling, stress management, communication training
- Media and communication: market research, media psychology, specialist journalistic contributions
The degree provides access to advanced master’s programmes such as the Master Applied Psychology or Master Positive Psychology & Coaching at the DHGS as well as to master’s degrees at other universities.
What are the costs of the degree and what financing options are available?
The tuition fees amount to 540 euros per month. In addition, one-off registration and examination fees apply. The total cost of the course, based on a standard period of study of seven semesters, is approximately 22,680 euros.
- Payment models: The fees can be paid in monthly instalments. Adjustments due to increases in value are possible according to the study conditions.
- Cooperative study: In the cooperative model, companies cover the entire tuition fees; in addition, you may receive remuneration.
- Tax advantage: Tuition fees are generally tax-deductible as business expenses.
- Further funding: Employer contributions, scholarships or education loans are available depending on individual circumstances.
The flexible fee model is designed to meet the needs of part-time students and enables solid planning of training costs.
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