Rankings

KU Master’s degree program in Psychology scores top position in CHE ranking 2019

Students of the Master’s degree program in Psychology are very satisfied with the study conditions at the KU. This is the result of a new ranking for Master’s degree programs compiled by the Centre for Higher Education (CHE) in which the subject of psychology was also taken into account for the first time in a national comparison.

KU Master’s students who took part in the CHE survey stated that the “lecturers’ supervision”, the “support during the studies”, the “study organization”, the “transition to postgraduate studies”, the “scientific connection”, the “support provided for semesters abroad” and the “general study situation” were very good. Furthermore, the degree program also achieved top rankings in the category “Completion of the program within reasonable time period”.

Detailed evaluation of the survey results showed that fellow students appreciated, amongst other things, the quality of the study organization, the coordination of the content of various courses and the social climate between students and lecturers. As far as the scientific connection of the course of study was concerned, those questioned amongst others evaluated the imparting and consolidation of scientific thinking, the introduction to methodological fields as well as the relation to current research result to be “very good”. This is particularly relevant because, as CHE points out, “there is a particular focus on science in Master’s degree programs and students should come into contact with top-class research”.

In general, students experience the transition from the graduate to postgraduate area as being “transparent” and feel that they receive comprehensive support when starting into their Master’s studies. Participants also answered questions concerning the preparation and advice provided in connection with semesters abroad.

The Master’s degree program in Psychology at the KU has an applied approach that covers all areas of psychology. Students gain knowledge and acquire key methodological skills that are required for the main areas in which psychology is applied as well as for selected research topics. The course of study has three main focus areas: In the “Clinical Psychology” specialization field, students acquire knowledge and skills in diagnosing, treating, and conducting research into psychological disorders. In the “Economics and Work” specialization, students acquire knowledge and skills in fields such as personnel psychology, organizational psychology, mediation, occupational rehabilitation, ergonomics, and health psychology. The specialization in “Development and Cognition” offers students in-depth knowledge of basic research on cognition and neuroscience and the associated methods, and provides an insight into theoretical and practical topics in applied developmental psychology. Further information on the degree program is available at www.ku.de/ppf/psychologie/studium/master.

According to the CHE, their university ranking is the most comprehensive and detailed evaluation in German-speaking countries, with more than 30 subjects and more than 300 universities and universities of applied sciences being evaluated and more than 150,000 participating students. In addition to facts on studies, teaching and research, the ranking also takes a closer look at how students assess the study conditions at their university. The results of the evaluation are categorized in three groups: a top group, a medium group and a bottom group.

Check out the Master’s degree program ranking at ZEIT CAMPUS ONLINE: www.zeit.de/masterranking