FAQs of prospective students

Please note that you do not need to take the study aptitude test BaPsy-DGPs to apply for the bachelor's degree programme in Psychology at the University of Konstanz. We do not take the test into account for the allocation of places in the bachelor's degree programme in Psychology at the University of Konstanz!
Selection criteria at the University of Konstanz continue to be the average grade of the higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) as well as relevant professional, practical, and extracurricular achievements and qualifications that provide special information about the aptitude for studying psychology (see menu items below).

Detailed information on the BaPsy-DGPs and the universities that apply it in the allocation of study places in the bachelor's degree program in psychology can be found on the BaPsy-DGPs homepage.

Please note: The BaPsy-DGPs is a further development of the STAV-Psych and will successively replace it in 2023. Old STAV-Psych certificates from 2022 will remain valid for the Baden-Württemberg universities of Heidelberg, Freiburg, Mannheim, Tübingen and Ulm. The STAV-Psych will also not be taken into account for the allocation of study places in the bachelor's degree program in psychology at the University of Konstanz.

As a rule, you apply with the certificate of your German higher education entrance qualification. You can find all the ways to study on the central pages on application and enrolment in Bachelor's degree programmes at the University of Konstanz.

The following opportunities for improvement can be counted towards the Abitur grade up to a maximum of 0.2 grade points combined:

1. Internships in the social sector (also in-company internships) 
   - Three or more months: improvement by 0.05
   - Six or more months: improvement by 0.1
2. Voluntary social year, civilian service, voluntary ecological year
   - Six or more months: improvement by 0.1
   - Eleven or more months: improvement by 0.2
3. Voluntary work (e.g., youth leader in church/sport/club, mediator, school paramedic, youth political work, practical theatre pedagogy)
   - Twelve or more months: improvement by 0.11
4. Awards (scientific, inter-school, state and national prizes, prizes for nationwide competitions, e.g., Jugend forscht, mathematics, ...)
   - Improvement by 0.05

In addition, completed, relevant vocational training can lead to a further improvement of up to 0.4 grade points. Therefore, a maximum improvement of 0.6 grade points is possible.

Internships, FSJ, awards, language skills and similar (see above) can improve your grade by a maximum of 0.2 grade points overall. Therefore, it is sufficient to send in the sufficient reports and certificates for this purpose. Certificates that go beyond this do not lead to a further improvement of your chances.

No, the work placements for vocational orientation that take place during school education are not taken into account.

No. You must apply with your degree certificate.

No, the school subjects psychology/pedagogy are not weighted separately.

The Fachhochschulreife entitles you to study at universities of applied sciences (formerly Fachhochschulen). In order to still be able to study at a university, you must take the delta examination. 

Important: There is a difference between the Fachgebundene Hochschulreife and the Fachhochschulreife. You can find more information on the university entrance qualification on the central pages on application and enrolment at the University of Konstanz.

The NC describes the final grade of the last person admitted. Therefore, it can only be given after the applications received have been processed and enrolment has taken place. The NCs of previous years are published via the university's online publication system, where you can find the corresponding figures for the winter semester 2021/22 for example.

Instructions for transferring into a higher semester:

1. The change must be made to at least the next higher semester in which you are currently enrolled. Part-time semesters are counted as 0.5 subject semesters.
2. You must observe the semester limits regarding our orientation examination and the basic modules. Information on this can be found in our examination regulations, which can be found under Forms and Downloads.
3. For more information on how to apply, please visit the Central Application and Enrolment Office website.

Applications are generally possible for the winter and summer semester. The application deadline is 15 July (winter semester) or 15 January (summer semester).

The application including all required documents must be received by the University of Konstanz by the specified date (cut-off deadline).

If you are studying at the University of Konstanz and would like to transfer into a completely different study programme, you may request a transfer to a different study programme in order to enrol into the first semester of the new study programme. This applies to both majors and minors. For more information, please visit the website of the Central Application and Enrolment Office.

All in all, knowledge of maths (especially statistics and stochastics) is a plus, but poor maths knowledge does not make studying psychology impossible. Statistics and stochastics are important basic subjects in psychology studies. The basic methods and tools are taught in the course, as well as much about their origin, derivation and purpose. Sample calculations must also be carried out. Nowadays, however, more complex calculations are usually done by statistics programmes. In addition, there are exercises and tutorials in the courses, in which the content can be deepened and which also offer space for questions.

In the first year of study, attendance of the courses Biological Psychology 1 and 2 is planned. In addition, depending on your specialisation and focus, you will repeatedly come across topics in biological or neuropsychology. There is also an overlap with medicine in clinical psychology, for example in the treatment with psychoactive drugs. However, since psychotherapists are not allowed to prescribe medication, the teaching content or focus differs significantly from that of medical studies.

Good knowledge of chemistry is not necessary for the study of psychology, as chemistry is only present to a small extent in this degree programme.

Knowledge of English is vital in psychology studies, but standard school knowledge is sufficient, as you will learn a lot of technical vocabulary in your studies. Almost all of the current research is published in English. Textbooks are also more likely to be available in English in their latest editions. In addition, there are a few seminars and lectures in which the language of instruction is English.

There are courses in German and English. However, a large part of them is in German.

In many seminars, presentations have to be given.

Psychological stability or, for example, a medical history is not recorded and is also not relevant for admission. However, it is not advisable to see the study of psychology as "self-therapy". At https://www.was-studiere-ich.de/ [German], you will find general information on motivation to study.

Due to the highly selective nature of the programme, we have very few students who drop out or fail to complete their studies. There are also many support services that students can take advantage of to successfully complete their studies.

Orientation semesters are offered for refugees. Furthermore, there is the possibility for older pupils and guest auditors to attend courses at the University of Konstanz.

No, there is no monthly fee at the University of Konstanz. All students have to pay a semester fee per semester of study at the University of Konstanz, which is charged at a similar rate by all universities in Germany. Some international students, however, as well as students taking up a second degree programme, have to pay tuition fees.

No, the University of Konstanz does not offer a distance/remote learning program in psychology.

Yes, the Bachelor's programme always begins in the winter semester.

Yes, this is possible. You can find more information in the FAQ on applying to the University of Konstanz linked above.

You will find this information in the overview of the bachelor's programme.

You will find this information in the overview of the bachelor's programme.

The psychology programme is offered as a major subject. Psychology is not offered as an official minor subject at the University of Konstanz. However, you can attend psychology lectures as part of other degree programmes, for example if you are studying economics.

You can find this information under programme structure and organisation.

Police psychology is a branch of legal psychology that deals with practical police issues. Police psychology includes the fields of forensic psychology and criminal psychology, which are often used synonymously.

More information can be found on the pages of the Professional Association of German Psychologists [German].

Forensic psychology is not a focus area in the Bachelor's or Master's programme at the University of Konstanz. However, the AG Forensische Psychologie offers courses on the topic in the Bachelor's degree that you can take. You can obtain an additional certificate in forensic psychology here. In addition, there is still the possibility of completing a continuing education master's degree with a forensic focus.

This and further information can be found on the page on the continuing education master in forensic psychology.

Organisational psychology is not offered as a specialisation. However, you can attend and receive credit for courses from economics in the neighbouring subject supplementary module. In addition, the department of economics offer a specialisation in psychoeconomics in their Bachelor's degree.

Sport psychology is not part of the psychology programme at the University of Konstanz. There is a Chair of Sport Psychology , but it is part of the Sport Sciences. You can attend the courses of this working group as part of a neighbouring subject and thus increase your knowledge in this area.

The teaching subject Psychology does not exist at the University of Konstanz. Feel free to contact the Central Student Advisory Service if you have questions about how to teach the subject of psychology at a Gymnasium.

Here you will find all the relevant information on the degree type Gymnasium teaching profession.