University of Hamburg

Master of Science in Psychology

The degree program is primarily aimed at national and international psychology students who wish to pursue a scientific career (doing a PhD thesis), work as a research practitioner, or policy advisor in government institutions, or in the public or private sector where data literacy and the handling and evaluation of statistical data sets is of large importance.

As a research master's student, you can study two subject-specific areas:

Cognitive Neuroscience: How does the brain work? How do we use information and experience to make decisions? What is neuroplasticity? How does stress affect the brain? Selected topics from cognitive neuroscience are taught as part of the basic module in cognitive neuroscience using English-language publications. The focus of all topics is on teaching current neuroscientific paradigms and methods (e.g. imaging techniques and mathematical modelling) that can be used to investigate specific questions.

Social and emotional processes: How do other people influence our thoughts, feelings and behaviour? How do family, school and work environments shape individual characteristics and experiences? And how do these traits, experiences and social dynamics develop over the course of a lifetime? Selected topics in social and emotional processes are taught in the core module Origins of and Differences in Human Cognition and Personality and in the two applied elective modules Social Dynamics of Organisational Behaviour and Socio-Emotional Development and Learning. All topics are considered from an integrative perspective of developmental, social, cognitive, and personality psychology research.
In-depth and comprehensive methodological and statistical skills are taught in all modules. This includes methods of experimental data collection in the laboratory, such as neurophysiological measures (e.g. fMRI, EEG), behavioural measures (e.g. reaction times, eye tracking) and videotaped interactions, as well as methods of data collection in the field (e.g. apps, reports, scan sampling). All modules provide in-depth knowledge of data processing and analysis, including the management and analysis of large repeated measures datasets, the handling of missing data, and the application of various experimental, latent, and cognitive data modelling approaches.

In addition to the research focus and the two complementary subject-specific study areas, the M.Sc. Psychology (Research) includes two other important components: Firstly, we offer our students a systemic coaching training (in accordance with DBVC and ICF standards) that combines theory, empirical research, and practice closely, along with inter- and supervision accompanied by scientific support. Secondly, an internship is planned for the third semester of the program, which can also be combined with a semester abroad. Overall, the teaching formats of the program include various formats such as lectures, seminars, and intensive project seminars. The master's program is a full-time in-person program.

Possible job prospects and professional fields include the vast area of human behaviour, such as counselling, diagnostics, management, educational interventions, professional development, training programs, developmental support, professions with a methodological focus, and data acquisition and processing (except clinical psychology). In particular, the degree enables students to pursue doctoral studies at a high level. For this purpose, the option of a fast-track doctorate that runs concurrently with the master’s degree program is available.