International Psychoanalytic University Berlin
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master: Social Psychology of TransformationDURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
30 Jun 2025*
EARLIEST START DATE
Oct 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 1,200 / per month **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* The Uni-Assist application portal will be open from 10 November 2024 to 25 January 2025 for applicants seeking SPOT scholarships. Note that no second call for scholarship applications will be issued. For non-scholarship applicants, the application portal will remain open until 30 June 2025. However, we recommend that international applicants requiring a German study visa complete their application by 30 April 2025 to allow ample time for visa processing.
** 1200 EUR ; Non-EU citizens | 800 EUR ; EU Citizens
Key Summary
Introduction
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master: Social Psychology of Transformation – Understanding and Mastering Social Change
The Social Psychology of Transformation (SPOT) Joint Erasmus Mundus Master Programme invites you on an exciting two-year journey through Europe. We are excited to offer you a unique opportunity to study at several leading European universities (ultimately earning a joint European degree) and to benefit from the expertise of all seven partner universities through a co-teaching approach integrated across the entire curriculum.
Join our unique Erasmus Mundus Master Programme and become pioneers of the future!
Through this programme, you will be trained as part of a new generation of psychologists—both practitioners and researchers—developing expertise in transformative leadership, conflict and cooperation, and environmental psychology. You will have the chance to immerse yourself in dynamic academic environments across Germany, Portugal, Italy, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, and Estonia, gaining valuable international experience while engaging with contemporary social challenges.
How Does SPOT Work?
SPOT offers you the chance to explore Europe’s diverse cultures and societies, from Lisbon to the Balkans, alongside a cohort of top students from around the world. Our programme is built on open communication, inclusivity, and a supportive community. You will engage in unique opportunities such as a self-organised summer school, participation in SPOT conferences, and involvement in quality control through the Student Advisory Board.
The programme covers three key areas:
- Transformative Leadership: Focus on changing work relationships from an organisational and psychosocial perspective.
- Conflict and Cooperation: Learn psychodynamic approaches to understanding and navigating the unconscious dynamics of conflict.
- Environment and Sustainability: Explore social psychology theories and methods for fostering socially and environmentally sustainable relationships.
In your final semester, you will choose an internship location and write your master’s thesis under the guidance of a professor from our consortium. Internships in Bosnia-Herzegovina or Serbia are guaranteed, but you may choose any location that suits your goals.
SPOT offers you the unique opportunity to become a pioneer of change.
The program is offered by the following universities:
ISCTE - University Institute of Lisbon, Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1649-029 Lisboa, Portugal
Universitá degli Studi die Padova, Via 8 Febbraio, 35122 Padova, Italy
Tallinn University, Narva mnt 25, Tallinn 10120, Estonia
University of Nis, Universitetski trg 2, 18106 Nis, Serbia
University of Banja Luka, Bulevar vojvode Petra Bojovica 1A, 78000, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
University of Sarajevo, Obala Kulina bana 7/11, 71000 Sarajevo, Federation, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
SPOT Erasmus Mundus Scholarships
A maximum of 15 scholarships are available each year for outstanding students worldwide (from EU and non-EU countries, whether associated with the programme or not).
SPOT IPA III Scholarships (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance)
One special scholarship is available for the academic year 2025/2026, and another for 2027/2028. These scholarships are designated for students from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.
SPOT NDICI Scholarships (Neighbourhood, Development, and International Cooperation Instrument)
Four scholarships are available for 2025/2026 and 2027/2028, and five for 2026/2027 and 2028/2029. These are designated for students from the following regions:
- Eastern Neighbourhood: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova
- Southern Neighbourhood: Lebanon, Palestine, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan
SPOT Scholarship Amount
Recipients of any of the scholarships will receive €1,400 per month for up to 24 months (the full duration of the programme).
The consortium may offer a pre-payment of €2,400 to cover travel and settlement costs, followed by a monthly grant of €1,300 over 24 months.
These merit-based scholarships are awarded to high academic achievers. However, the consortium reserves the right to distribute fewer scholarships if applicants do not meet the required academic standards.
Special Provisions for SPOT Scholarship Holders
The following expenses will be fully reimbursed:
- UniAssist application fees
- Visa application fees
- Residence permit fees
The following fees will be waived:
- Participation fee (including tuition and insurance fees)
- Administrative fees
Diversity and Inclusion Allowances
Additional funding is available for students with special needs or those requiring inclusive mobility support. This funding covers special accommodation, assistance during travel, adaptive learning materials, specialised equipment, or an accompanying person.
Curriculum
Curriculum Summary
The Social Psychology of Transformation (SPOT) programme is a two-year, 120 ECTS course focusing on "Transformative Leadership," "Conflict and Cooperation," and "Environment and Sustainability." It involves mandatory study periods at IPU Berlin (Germany), ISCTE (Portugal), and the University of Padua (Italy), along with a 20 ECTS internship, preferably in Serbia or Bosnia and Herzegovina. The curriculum consists of 10 modules, including a student-organised summer school.
Semester 1 (IPU Berlin)
Focuses on foundational concepts across 3 modules and on practices of scientific research in a 4th module:
- Transformative Leadership I (Societal Transformations | Ethical Dilemmas | Leadership & Sustainability)
- Conflict and Cooperation I (Psychoanalysis & Conflict Dynamics or Epistemology & Subject Theory | Social Psychology of Violence or Social Influence | Action-oriented Interventions I)
- Environment and Sustainability I (Environmental Psychology | Digital Transformation & Sustainability)
- Advanced Research Methods (Research Workshop | Qualitative Research Design | Cross-cultural Methods or Multivariate Statistics)
Semester 2 (ISCTE Lisbon)
Focuses on the driving forces behind socio-environmental conflicts and their transformation towards sustainability while building on the knowledge gained in the 3 basic modules:
- Transformative Leadership II (Community Psychology | Social Intervention Programs)
- Conflict and Cooperation II (Social Trauma | Action-oriented Interventions II or Intergroup Conflicts)
- Environment and Sustainability II (Environment, Justice and Health | Social Psychology & Environment)
Semester 3 (University of Padua)
Focuses on cross-cultural psychology and includes 1 module:
- Cultural Diversity in Organizational Psychology (Cross-Cultural Issues in Personnel Psychology | Human Rights or Psychology of Inclusion and Social Sustainability)
Summer School
Students organise an online summer school on "Digital Transformation and Sustainability," selecting speakers and designing the programme. The process is supported by partner universities, with financial and organisational backing.
Internship
A 20 ECTS internship in Serbia or Bosnia and Herzegovina, supervised by professional psychologists, offers hands-on experience in post-conflict societies amid democratisation processes, focusing on psychosocial support and community interventions. Students are guaranteed placement within a diverse network of NGOs and civil society organisations in these countries. Alternatively, students may fulfil the 20 ECTS requirement through an internship at an organisation or in a country of their choice, provided that the internship meets the standards and conditions set by the SPOT programme.
Thesis
After completing the internship, students write a master’s thesis under supervision from two partner universities, with an oral defence required for graduation.
Program Outcome
Learning Outcomes & Skills
The SPOT programme aligns with European standards (ESCO, EuroPsy) and equips you with:
- the ability to distinguish leadership styles within psychodynamic processes
- understand conflict and cooperation in the context of social change
- promote sustainable social environments amidst digital transformation
- master mixed research methods,
- assess psychosocial problems in diverse settings
- apply community-intervention tools
- explore the social, psychological, and health impacts of environmental policies
- develop cross-cultural and diversity management skills for real-world challenges