Admission to the master programme in Psychology with a certificate from another university

Detailed information on the entrance exam procedure and the admission procedure to the master programme in Psychology for applicants

with a degree from another university and
German language level C1 or higher

At the time of applying, you should already have completed your bachelor or diploma programme. If you are about to graduate, your study progress will be assessed on a case-by-case basis according to the submitted transcripts. Based on your study progress, it will be decided whether you can participate in the entrance exam or not.

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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 and overview

Application period for the academic year 2025/26: from 3 March to 7 April 2025
Available university places: 50
Entrance exam: 22 August 2025
Administration fee: none
Exam language: German
Exam duration: 45 minutes
Admission period winter semester 2025/26: after the announcement of results to 31 October 2025
Admission period summer semester 2026: from 7 January to 31 March 2026
Semester start: 1 October (winter semester), 1 March (summer semester)

The admission to the degree programme is only possible after having successfully passed the entrance exam procedure, provided you fulfil all requirements for an admission to the master programme in Psychology at the University of Vienna.

Schedule of the academic year

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 C1 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: Download the literature

The literature is available as a free download:

Literature academic year 2025/26

Daumiller, M., & Janke, S. (2019). The impact of performance goals on cheating depends on how performance is evaluated. AERA Open,5(4), 1–10. Retrieved from: https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/eroa/5/4
Daffin, L., & Bridley, A. (2024). Fundamentals of Psychological Disorders. Module 1-5. Retrieved from: https://opentext.wsu.edu/abnormal-psych/
Goetz, T., Bieg, M., Lüdtke, O., Pekrun, R., & Hall, N. C. (2013). Do girls really experience more anxiety in mathematics? Psychological Science, 24(10), 2079-2087. doi:10.1177/0956797613486989. Retrieved from: https://kops.uni-konstanz.de/handle/123456789/25683
Human Development Teaching & Learning Group (2021). Human Development. Units 3, 5, 9, 10. Retrieved from pdx.pressbooks.pub/humandevelopment
Jhangiani, R., & H. Tarry. (2014). Principles of Social Psychology – 1st International Edition. BCcampus. Chapter 1 and 2. Retrieved from: opentextbc.ca/socialpsychology
Open Neuroscience Initiative (2021). Open Neuroscience Initiative. Chapter 1-5. www.austinlim.com/open-neuroscience-initiative
Pekrun, R. (2014). Emotions and Learning. Educational Practices Series-24. UNESCO International Bureau of Education. Retrieved from: https://www.iaoed.org/downloads/edu-practices_24_eng.pdf (Alternativlink: unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000227679)
Poldrack, A. R. (2021). Statistical thinking for the 21st Century. Chapter 1-6. Retrieved from: statsthinking21.github.io/statsthinking21-core-site/StatsThinking21.pdf

Step 4: Entrance exam

At least 14 days before the exam, you will receive your permission to attend and detailed information on the place, time and procedure of the written exam via e-mail. It is not possible to participate in the written exam without your permission to attend. Please take the entire day off and make sure to travel to Vienna a day earlier, if necessary.

At the end of the exam, you will receive information regarding the next steps. The test result and further information will be sent to you via e-mail approximately 14 days after the exam. Students who have successfully passed the entrance exam will be allocated to a specialisation in the master programme.

The admission to the degree programme is only possible after you have successfully passed the written entrance exam and received your admission letter.

Information regarding the entrance exam (in German only)

Step 5: Wait for your admission letter

After you have applied for admission, you have to wait for your admission letter. This takes several weeks. We cannot provide information regarding the status of your application due to organisational reasons.

You will receive your admission letter to the e-mail address you have provided in u:space. Afterwards, you can also find it in u:space > Personal matters > My documents.

The admission can

be granted without any supplementary examinations.
be granted with supplementary examinations from the bachelor programme (max. 30 ECTS), which you have to complete by the end of the second semester in the master programme at the latest.
be rejected due to missing pertinence.

You will receive information regarding any required supplementary examinations in your admission letter. The supplementary examinations are from the bachelor programme in Psychology and compensate fundamental subject-specific differences. You do not have to be admitted to the bachelor programme. You can complete these "subject-specific" supplementary examinations after you were admitted to the master programme.

Having received the admission letter does not mean that you are already admitted to the degree programme, but rather that an admission to the degree programme you have applied for is possible with your previous education. You can only be admitted to the degree programme if you receive one of the available study places in the written entrance exam.

Step 6: Admission

If you have successfully participated in the entrance exam procedure and received a positive admission letter, you can complete the admission procedure.

Book an appointment for online first-time admission within the admission period 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 degree programme. You will receive an e-mail with your student ID number and information regarding further steps.

It is in your own best interest to complete the admission procedure as early as possible, so you do not miss any registration deadlines for courses.

Step 7: Order the u:card and plan your semester

Pay the tuition fee/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.

After admission you can plan your semester and register for courses. The registration deadlines are available in the course directory u:find as well as in u:space.