Admission to the master programme in Psychology with a degree from another university
Detailed information on the entrance exam procedure and the admission procedure to the master programme in Psychology for applicants who
- have completed a bachelor/diploma programme
- at another university/university of applied sciences and
- German language proficiency below C1
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Please note:
- Generally speaking you must have completed your degree programme when applying for admission. However, if you are near completion, an individual assessment of your study progress will determine whether you may participate in the selection procedure. No more than 30 ECTS may be left until completion. Please note: you have to complete your degree programme before 30 September (and submit the official higher education degree certificate until then). Please merge your transcript of records into one PDF file. Upload this file in your application for admission, so your study progress can be assessed.
- You must hold an eligible higher education degree of at least three years from a post-secondary educational institution.
- Submit your complete application for admission with easily legible high-quality scans of your documents.
- The processing of your residence permit (if required) by the Austrian embassy/consulate takes time.
Deadlines
Application period for the academic year 2025/26:
- from 3 March to 7 April 2025
Winter semester 2025/26:
- Admission period: from 14 July to 31 October 2025
- Semester start: 1 October
Summer semester 2026:
- Admission period: from 7 January to 31 March 2026
- Semester start: 1 March
Registration at the Preparation Programme
Please note the registration period of the University Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU). You have to consider several things regarding your admission at the University of Vienna while attending the VWU.
Required documents
for the registration in u:space
- your valid passport or personal ID card (front and back!) as JPEG or PNG file
for the application for admission
- Higher education degree certificate(s) and transcripts/diploma supplement (at least 150 ECTS for a bachelor degree with 180 ECTS)
- with the completed subjects including grades and ECTS/semester hours
- with the required legalisation according to the issuing country
- with a sworn translation (if not issued in German or English)
- merged into one PDF file
- note the info about degrees from non-EU/EEA countries
- proof of German language proficiency at level A2 or higher
Your steps in the admission procedure
Step 1: Prepare the required documents
- Scan all required documents and save them in the appropriate format. Make sure that your files are easily readable and provided in high quality.
- Merge multiple pages of the same document into one PDF file using an online tool of your choice (e.g. higher education degree certificate + transcripts/diploma supplement + legalisation + translation).
Prepare all required documents before the beginning of the application period. Thereby, you can apply for admission with complete documents as soon as the application period starts.
Step 2: Apply for admission
- Create your u:account in u:space within the application period. Make sure to remember your login data. You will need your u:account during your studies.
- Log into u:space to complete the registration and select the degree programme of your choice.
- Upload the required documents.
- Check the summary to see if the data you have entered is correct (especially your e-mail address) and choose "submit application".
When the status of your application is "submitted" in u:space > Studies > Apply for admission > My applications, the Admission Office can process your application.
Missing documents delay the processing of your application. Only submit your application once you have uploaded all required documents.
Registration in u:space
Step 3: Wait for your admission letter
After you have applied for admission, you have to wait for your admission letter. The review of your documents by the Admission Office takes several weeks. We cannot provide information regarding the status of your application due to organisational reasons.
You will receive your admission letter via e-mail to the e-mail address you have provided in u:space. You can also find it in u:space > Personal matters > My documents.
The admission can
- be granted without any supplementary examinations, or
- be granted with the supplementary examination in German at the University Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU) and possibly with supplementary examinations from the bachelor programme (max. 30 ECTS), which you have to complete until the end of the second semester in the master programme at the latest.
- be rejected due to missing pertinence
As you did not upload a proof of German language proficiency at level C1, the supplementary examination in German will be prescribed. You have to complete the supplementary examination in German in the VWU, before you can be admitted to the master programme.
You will receive information regarding any supplementary examinations from the bachelor programme in your admission letter. These compensate fundamental subject-specific differences and stem from the bachelor programme in Psychology at the University of Vienna. You do not have to be admitted to the bachelor programme to take the "subject-specific" supplementary examinations. You can only complete these after you have completed the supplementary examination in German at the VWU and were admitted to the master programme.
You have to complete the supplementary examination in German in the VWU first. Then you can participate in the written entrance exam for the master programme. If you were successful in the entrance exam, you can be admitted to the master programme.
Step 4: Register for the University Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU)
If the supplementary examination in German is prescribed in your admission letter, you first have to register for the University Preparation Programme of the Vienna Universities (VWU) and pay the course fee.
Step 5: Admission to the non-degree programme
This is how you complete the admission procedure:
- Book an appointment for online first-time admission by using our appointment-booking tool.
Detailed information on how to book an appointment
As your identity needs to be verified, you have to complete this step in person. Representation by third parties is not possible. - After the online appointment you will be preliminarily admitted to the non-degree programme. During the non-degree programme (= attending the VWU) you are not allowed to start your degree programme, you are only authorised to complete the supplementary examination in German at the VWU. You will receive an e-mail with your student ID number and information regarding further steps after the online-appointment.
Step 6: Pay the Students' Union fee and order the u:card
Pay the Students’ Union fee after your appointment. The admission is complete as soon as the prescribed fee is "received" in u:space > Financial matters > Tuition fee/Students’ Union fee. Then you can also order and validate your student ID card, the u:card.
You can also print your study documents (student record sheet and confirmation of enrolment) in u:space > Personal matters > My documents.
The admission to the degree programme is only possible, once you have completed the supplementary examination in German.
What comes next, after the VWU?
Take the supplementary examination in German at the VWU and contact the Admission Office via the Servicedesk (no later than 4 July 2025). State that you would like to participate in the written entrance exam. Attach a scan of your successfully passed supplementary examination in German to your message.
Afterwards you will receive an e-mail with further information regarding the entrance exam.