Who is the Master’s Distance Learning Programme in Psychosocial Counselling in Social Work Suitable For?

The distance learning programme is aimed at professionals from the fields of social work, education, medical professions, psychology, or health and social management who wish to systematically expand their counselling competence. The Master’s is suitable for anyone who has already gained professional experience in psychosocial, counselling, or educational fields and wants to deepen their qualification in the area of systemic counselling and support for complex life situations. It is especially aimed at individuals seeking prospects in psychosocial counselling, management, or research, or who are aiming for further training – for example, in child and adolescent psychotherapy.

What Formal Requirements Do You Have to Meet?

For admission to the Master Psychosocial Counselling in Social Work (M.A.) one of the following proofs is required:

• Completed Bachelor’s degree (at least 180 ECTS and a final grade of at least “satisfactory”) in a relevant subject area, e.g. social work, social pedagogy, childhood pedagogy, (remedial) education, medical professions, health and social management, counselling or psychology, obtained at DIPLOMA Hochschule or another (university of applied sciences) institution.
• An equivalent foreign Bachelor’s or Diplom degree in a relevant subject field, with a standard period of study of at least six semesters. The grade must also be at least “satisfactory” (pass is not sufficient).
• Applicants with a “satisfactory” final grade must attend an additional placement interview to assess their prospects of academic success.
• Completed Bachelor’s degree in medical professions or health management at DIPLOMA Hochschule entitles admission with supplementary bridge courses for acquiring the required social pedagogical competences.

Applications with a grade of “pass” in the first academic degree will not be admitted.

In addition, you should bring the following personal qualities and competences to the distance learning programme:

• Independent and structured working methods
• Willingness to self-reflect as well as a high level of empathy and social skills
• Good communication and teamwork skills for interdisciplinary work
• Analytical thinking ability and a differentiated power of observation to manage complex counselling processes
• Confident manner in counselling situations as well as resilience and perseverance
• Discipline and self-organisation are necessary to successfully reconcile the demanding distance learning programme with professional and private life

What skills does the Master's programme in Psychosocial Counselling in Social Work teach you?

In the Master's programme Psychosocial Counselling in Social Work, you develop solid expertise and methodological knowledge in systemic counselling as well as in the professional design of counselling processes. You learn to analyse complex social problems, plan counselling processes in a professionally sound manner, and apply targeted interventions. Scientific foundations of Social Work are combined with systemic models and practice-oriented methods. The focus lies on the interrelations between individual biography, social environment, and institutional framework conditions.

• Diagnostics & Research: Analysis of social problems, systematic reflection on counselling processes, planning and evaluation of research projects
• Counselling & Intervention: Structured implementation of professional counselling, application of systemic and solution-oriented conversation and intervention techniques, planning of measures in crisis situations
• Organisation, Team & Professionalism: Systemic work in teams and organisations, development of communicative and organisational leadership skills, reflection on one’s own role
• Social Contexts & Life Situations: Classification of individual concerns within social contexts, understanding of different target groups

You deepen your counselling skills through casework, practice sequences, and reflection phases. The practice-oriented approach enables you to apply what you have learned directly in various professional fields.