Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Faculty of Life Sciences - Department of Psychology

Welcome to the Student Academic Advisory Service page!

 
The Student Academic Advisory Service offers advice from a student’s perspective.
I’m happy to answer any questions you may have about:

• Bachelor’s programmes,
• Master’s programmes (Master of Psychology – “MOP” and Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy – “KliPP”),
• starting your degree,
• the course of study,
• part-time study, dual degree programmes,
• applications & admission to psychology programmes – including via the BaPsy DGPs academic aptitude test,
• high stress, feeling overwhelmed or anxieties regarding your studies,
• the student perspective on studying
   
  I’d be happy to offer advice in a personal consultation in a confidential setting in my office (R 1'104), via video call, by email or over the phone. For in-person or video consultations, you can book an appointment by email or phone – feel free to leave a message on my voicemail!
   
  If you are not yet studying at HU, please have a look at the “Starting your studies” section on this website! 
  In urgent cases, you can always contact the central counselling service compass or the student representative body (FSI). 

Important documents

 
Bachelor’s degree
- Subject-specific entry and admission rules (ZZR), here (link)
- PsyFaKo weighting table for BaPsy DGPs, here (link)
- NC threshold table for the 2024/25 winter semester, here (link); 2025/26 winter semester, here (link)
- Bachelor’s degree in Psychology without A-levels, here (link); which qualifications are considered relevant, here (link); NC threshold table for professionally qualified applicants, Winter Semester 23/24, here (link); Winter Semester 24/25, here (link); Winter Semester 25/26, here (link)
- B.Sc. in Psychology as a second degree, here (link); NC threshold table for second degrees, Winter Semester 24/25, here (link)
- AI-generated tool to calculate your total selection points (A-level grade + BaPsy standard score), here (link)
 
M.Sc. Psychology
- Application overview document for MOP (ZZRs and all relevant ZSP-HU appendices): here (pdf)
- Access and Admission Regulations (ZZR) and relevant appendices (unofficial translation!), here (pdf)
 
M.Sc. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
- Overview document for KliPP applications (ZZRs and all relevant ZSP-HU appendices): here (pdf)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

FAQ is currently being updated! (as of March 2026)

 
Bachelor’s programme

How heavily does HU Berlin weight the BaPsy DGPs?

- In the AdH quota, which accounts for 60% of study places, the BaPsy is weighted at 48.5% (85 out of 175 selection points)
- You can check how other universities in Germany weight the BaPsy in the PsyFaKo weighting table. 

How do I convert my BaPsy result into selection points?

A standard score of 130 = 85 selection points
A standard score of 72 or lower = 0 selection points; see the last page here
 
Here you will find a small Claude-AI tool to calculate your total selection points by entering your A-level grade and your BaPsy standard score. Your total score will then be compared with the score from the last application round that was accepted.
 

How many places are available for the BSc in Psychology?

- In the winter/spring semester 24/25, there were 130 places; see the cut-off score/NC table 
 

Applying for a higher semester

- Unfortunately, this is not permitted, so it is not possible. 
 

Psychology as a second degree

- General information on second degrees can be found here.
- 4% of the available places are reserved for second-degree programmes
- In the winter/spring semester 2024/25, there were 5 places for second-degree students on the BSc in Psychology, out of 149 applications (see the NC table here.)
 

Studying Psychology without A-levels

Can I study Psychology at all without A-levels?

- In short: Yes, you can! 
- General information from HU Berlin on this can be found here: https://www.hu-berlin.de/studium/vor-dem-studium/bewerben/studieren-ohne-abitur#c9474 
- The length of the course (one, two or three years?) and its relevance to psychology are important factors

What are my ‘chances’ of securing a place (‘NC/GPA’)?

- A quota of 8% per degree programme is reserved for those with vocational qualifications. In the winter semester 2024/25, this amounted to 10 places on the B.Sc. in Psychology (see here). You will only be competing within this quota, i.e. against other applicants with vocational qualifications. 
- If more applications are received than there are places, a ranking list is drawn up within the quota based on the grade of your vocational qualification (not waiting semesters).
 

Which training courses or qualifications (e.g. further training) are considered ‘relevant to the subject’?

- Overview (link)
- Furthermore, there are many qualifications (approx. 69) that allow free choice of undergraduate degree programmes, as they are recognised as a general university entrance qualification under Section 11(1) of the Berlin Higher Education Act (BerlHG)

Master’s programmes

How do I find the programme-specific entry and admission requirements (ZZR)?

- Search for the programme here, then click through and download
 

Application for M.Sc. Psychology (MOP)

What level of English is required & how can I prove this?

- See General Appendix to the Entry and Admission Regulations for the ZSP-HU - Appendix 1.4.2 
- Minimum level: C1 
- Certificate: e.g. IELTS (7.0), TOEFL (95), UNIcert® IV certificate -> please have a look at Appendix 1.4.2, as a wide range of possible certificates are listed there!
 

What level of German is required and how can I prove it?

- See programme-specific admission and enrolment regulations (ZZR)
- Minimum level: A2
- Certificate: e.g. Goethe Certificate
 

What is the NC?

- Winter Semester 25/26 (45 places): 1.18 or 2 waiting semesters, see here
- Winter Semester 24/25 (60 places): all admitted, see here

Application for the M.Sc. in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (KliPP)

What is the entry requirement?

- Winter/Spring semester 2025/26 (60 places): 1.33, see here
- Winter/Spring semester 2024/25 (45 places): 1.33, see here

Can I study the M.Sc. KliPP with a foreign B.Sc. in Psychology?

- Overall, I cannot make a legally binding statement on this matter. 
- The PsyFaKo states the following:
"Our conclusion: From a legal perspective, it is in principle possible to transfer into the new German system with a foreign Bachelor’s degree, but in practice this is often difficult. This is because the Bachelor’s degree must be recognised as meeting the requirements for the KLiPP Master’s degree and be recognised under professional law, or you will need a certificate of a so-called ‘equivalent degree’ from the relevant authority (depending on the federal state). However, a great many regulations must be met for this, which must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Overall, the process appears to be very lengthy and complicated. However, there are already Bachelor’s students from Austria and the Netherlands who have been admitted to the KLiPP Master’s programme. It should be borne in mind that admission to the KLiPP Master’s programme does not automatically mean admission to the licensing examination, as these are granted by different bodies: namely, the university (admission to the Master’s programme) and the state examination office or the relevant authority (admission to the licensing examination). For this reason, many students from abroad switch to a professionally recognised Bachelor’s degree in Germany whilst still studying for their Bachelor’s.”