Bachelor Programme – Psychotherapy Science

Does SFU attract international students?

SFU has an international student body, actively attracting students from numerous countries for its English-taught programmes.

Is SFU an accredited university?

Yes, SFU is an accredited university.

How is the Psychotherapy Science programme structured?

• Bachelor studies begin in semester 1
• Propädeutikum completed in semester 4
• Specialisation begins in semester 5 (minimum 3 years)
• Master’s degree + specialisation completed by the end of Master semester 4
• Graduates can apply for entry into the Austrian Psychotherapy Register

Can I start at SFU if I have already completed the Propädeutikum?

Yes, admission normally begins in Bachelor semester 5.

Is the degree recognised internationally for professional practice?

• Yes, the academic degree is internationally recognised.
• However, professional practice is regulated individually by each country: students must review the licensure requirements in the country where they plan to work.

Which psychotherapeutic specialisations are available in English?

Specialisations in English are offered with a minimum of 12 students. In general, Gestalt, psychoanalysis, and systemic family therapy are offered in English. The other specialisations are offered in German:

• Individual Psychology
• Integrative Gestalt Therapy
• Psychoanalysis
• Psychodrama
• Systemic Family Therapy
• Behaviour Therapy

Are academic courses taught in English?

Yes, all lectures and seminars in the international programme are conducted in English.

Are clinical placements available for international students?

Yes, clinical training is available at the SFU Outpatient Clinic and at external projects.

Are there scholarships for international students?

OeAD scholarships for degree studies, research, and short stays: https://oead.at/en/study-research-teaching/overview-grants-and-scholarships

 Are there opportunities to study abroad for a semester?

• Individual semesters can be completed at our branches.
• Erasmus semesters are also possible.
• A semester abroad is usually recommended between the 1st and 4th semester of the Bachelor programme.

What are the tuition fees to study psychotherapy science?

See the following pages:
https://ptw.sfu.ac.at/en/academics/bachelor-programme-psychotherapy-science
https://ptw.sfu.ac.at/en/academics/master-programme-psychotherapy-science

Are all costs included in the tuition fees?

• Tuition covers all coursework, examinations, and university services.
• Not included: individual personal training therapy (Lehrtherapie), which is required during the specialisation and must be paid separately.

When can I apply to study at SFU?

• The next application period opens 1 March 2026 for the winter semester 2026/27.

Where can I get information on applying to SFU?

Please contact our Student Recruitment and Admission Office (SRA) on questions regarding the application process and admission:

Tel.: +43 1 798 40 98 391
Mail: admissions@sfu.ac.at
Web: https://admissions.sfu.ac.at/en

Where can I submit my application and supporting documentation?

Application for the Bachelor study programme is submitted online via the SFU website: https://ptw.sfu.ac.at/en/academics/bachelor-programme-psychotherapy-science

Admission requirements

See the following page: https://ptw.sfu.ac.at/en/academics/bachelor-programme-psychotherapy-science

Required documents

Passport, CV, motivation letter, transcripts

Required level of English

• B2
• Austrian Matura equivalence
• I:B, A levels, high school diploma
• It is necessary to have 2 personal interviews with 2 internal staff members.

Class size & teaching format

• Typical group sizes are between 25 and 35 students.

Where is the campus located?

• Sigmund Freud Private University (SFU) Vienna is located at Freudplatz 1 & 3, in Vienna’s 2nd district (1020), right next to the Prater amusement park and the Messe-Prater U-Bahn station (U2 line) for easy access to the city center and airport.
• Facilities on campus include: library, out-patient clinic, study rooms, cafeteria, etc.

Available support services

• Student advisory service
• Psychological or counselling services
• Academic writing support
• Buddy programme / orientation week

What is the programme workload?

For full-time study at Sigmund Freud Private University (SFU) Vienna, the expected workload is generally 60 ECTS points per academic year, which breaks down to approximately 30 ECTS per semester.

Can I transfer credits from another university?

Yes, credit transfer is possible upon review of the transcripts and comparison with the curriculum at SFU.

How are exams conducted?

Exams are in written form for lectures.

Is attendance mandatory?

Seminars and workshops require a minimum of 80% attendance and completion of assignments (group discussion, presentation, and reflection paper) in order to pass the course.

Residency registration in Austria – what are the requirements for residence registration?

• Visit one of the 19 “Residence Registration Service Centres” (Meldeservice, information in German): https://www.wien.gv.at
• or the Central Residence Registration Service (Meldeservice – Zentrale Meldeauskunft der MA 62, information in German) in person: https://www.wien.gv.at
• More information on visas and immigration to Austria is also available on our admission page: https://admissions.sfu.ac.at/en/visa

Student accommodation in Vienna – what are the possibilities for student accommodation?

• Flats for Students / Student Housing
• Akademikerhilfe options for student accommodation

Application & admission period for the winter semester 2026/27: 1 March to 31 August 2026

Admission Requirements:

The prerequisite for application is a university entrance qualification. The following is required for admission:

a) Proof of a university entrance qualification, such as an Austrian secondary school leaving certificate (Matura), an Austrian vocational certificate (Berufsreifeprüfung), or a foreign equivalent, such as a High School Diploma.

b) Candidates must undergo two admission interviews with two members of SFU’s permanent academic staff.
The heads of the programme then decide on a candidate’s admission.

c) Required level of English: B2

Enrollment fee:

A non-refundable fee of € 550 is required for the enrollment procedure. This fee covers the handling of documents, two interviews, credit transfer procedure for prior training, information talks, etc.

The admission regulations can be found at Regulations & Notifications.

The admission procedure for the winter semester 2026/27 is open from 1 March to 31 August 2026.
If you are already studying / have studied at SFU, please contact the Studies Service Centre before applying.

Step 1: Please register on our Online Application Platform
Step 2: Select the desired study programme
Step 3: Fill in your data and upload the required documents
→ Additional document: Application for the English-Bachelor.doc (part of the online application)
Step 4: Check all your entered data and click on “send application”

We will then contact you and inform you on the next steps (admission interviews etc.).

Step 5: Two admission interviews take place (online or in person)
Step 6: Applicants are informed on admission or rejection by e-mail within 14 days after both admission interviews have successfully been completed. In case of acceptance, the study contract is submitted.

Please note that a a non-refundable enrollment fee of € 550 is charged.

• Join us at our next online information event!

Lateral entry into the 5th bachelor’s semester is possible after completing the preparatory course. The six-semester degree programme (incl. Fachspezifikum) leads to a Master’s degree in Psychotherapy Science with doctoral authorisation. Graduates can be entered on the list of psychotherapists.

Step 1: Online application

As a first step, we ask you to register online: Online Bewerbung – SFU

Step 2: Initial interviews and admissions seminar

After your online application via our application tool, you will receive an email with information on the further course of your admission procedure. Please select a psychotherapeutic method and contact the representatives of the desired method directly to arrange two selection interviews and then the group seminar. (When planning your schedule, please note that the two individual interviews are a prerequisite for admission to the group seminar). The overview of methods, contact persons and dates can be found in the document Methodenseminare-Termine_WS26-27 (PDF, in German).

• The following six Fachspezifika are directly located at the SFU – Faculty of Psychotherapy Science: Individual Psychology, Integrative Gestalt Therapy, Psychoanalysis, Psychodrama, Systemic Family Therapy or Behavioural Therapy.
• Information on our co-operation partners can be found under Therapy Schools | Compulsory Elective Subject – Co-operation Partners.

Step 3: Announcement of the results, transmission of the training contract

You will be informed by email within 14 days of the group seminar whether you have been accepted or rejected for a place. If accepted, the training contract will be sent.

Costs (as of summer semester 2026):

• The total costs consist of 2.5 bachelor’s degree fees of € 7,939 each and 4 master’s degree fees of € 8,969 each.
• Costs of the admission procedure: The fees for the admission procedure and enrolment amount to € 550. These include the processing of the documents, two interviews, participation in a seminar (or three interviews), crediting of previous education, information interviews, etc.

The duration of the Bachelor’s degree programme in psychotherapy science is six semesters. Graduates are awarded the academic degree Bakkalaurea / Bakkalaureus der Psychotherapiewissenschaft (BA.pth.).

Study goal:

This degree programme is a basic study programme. The study programme imparts the scientific fundamentals with regard to healthy and pathological human development, the diagnosis of healthy and sick phenomena, fundamentals of the scientifically founded treatment of experience-related clinical pictures – including psychological, medical, sociological and anthropological dimensions.
The students acquire basic knowledge of research methodology and receive an overview of the legal, economic and social framework conditions. To achieve the study objective, practical knowledge is required through internships which need to be reflected upon, and the reflection and development of the student’s own person.
The first four semesters include the requirements of the psychotherapeutic propaedeutic course (Propädeutikum).

Focal points from the 5th semester:

From the 5th semester onwards, the main aim is the in-depth Master’s degree programme and students are consequently preparing for it. It represents an introduction to the clinical application of psychotherapy. A psychotherapy school must be chosen, which is then taught as part of the elective subject and corresponds to the psychotherapeutic specialisation, which is continued and completed in the Master’s degree programme. There are cooperation agreements with psychotherapeutic training associations that offer their curricula as part of the degree programme.
At this point, two admission interviews take place with representatives of the chosen method as well as an admission seminar. In the Master’s degree programme, the chosen therapeutic school is continued and finalised.

Folder:
Bachelor & Master Study Programme.pdf

Curriculum:
valid as of WS 2013/14: Bachelor Programme – valid as of WT 2013-14.pdf
valid until SS 2013: Bachelor Programme – valid as of ST 2012.pdf

Description of Modules:
Bachelor Programme – Description of Modules.pdf

Completion of the propaedeutic course (first part of psychotherapeutic training), basic scientific knowledge, first experiences with patients.
Well-founded, fundamental scientific training preparing students for the in-depth consecutive Master’s programme.

In Austria, psychotherapeutic training is regulated by law according to the Psychotherapy Act (PthG). The independent practice of psychotherapy requires the completion of a general (psychotherapeutic propaedeutic course) and a special training (psychotherapeutic specialisation) and registration in the list of psychotherapists of the Federal Ministry.

Psychotherapy is an independent health care procedure for the treatment of psychological, psychosocial or psychosomatic behavioural disorders and conditions.

Detailed information on the psychotherapist profession is available on the website of the Austrian Federal Ministry (in German).

Tuition fees (as of summer semester 2026):

Bachelor’s Degree Programme: € 7,719 per semester
(when paid at the beginning of the semester)

Tuition fee covers:

1. lectures, seminars, exercises
2. major part of personality development*
3. internship and practice reflection**
4. internship at the university outpatient clinic
5. examination fees

* From the 5th semester onwards (beginning of the method-specific training), the method-specific personality development (MPE), which you attend externally with training therapists of the method (individual training therapy or personality development in a group setting), is excluded. This differs based on the psychotherapeutic method and comprises 100 – 300 hours.
** Group practice reflection and part of the individual practice reflection (supervision) are included.

Tuition fees are charged for the standard programme duration (Bachelor’s degree: 6 semesters). The total costs of studying at SFU will not increase in case a student’s studies are extended by one year.

Enrollment fee:

A non-refundable fee of € 550 is required for the enrollment procedure. This fee covers the handling of documents, two interviews, credit transfer procedure for prior training, information talks, etc.

Tax deductions:

In line with the Austrian income tax law, students may deduct the total expenses of their study courses from their taxes if the degree programmes are rated as professional reorientation (Umschulungsmaßnahme) or continuing education (Weiterbildungsmaßnahme). Austrian Ministry of Finance (information in German)

Contact Finance & Controlling:

Mail: ptw-accounting@sfu.ac.at
Phone: +43 1 798 40 98 304
Office and telephone hours: Mo-Thur: 10 am  – 3 pm / Fr: 10 am – 3 pm (Fridays by telephone only)
Address: Freudplatz 1, 3rd floor, room 3002

• General payment modalities

Following the applicable criteria, Sigmund Freud University awards scholarships and grants every year.

Application & admission period for the winter semester 2026/27: 1 March to 31 August 2026

• Information event
• Academic calendar
• Timetable
• Graduation

The English Bachelor Programme in Psychotherapy Science was accredited by the Austrian Accreditation Council in 2005. All SFU Accreditation Reports are available in German.

Psychotherapists have the opportunity to complete degree programmes leading to a bachelor’s degree in psychotherapy science and a master’s degree in psychotherapy science.

• More info is available on our German website

Study Programme Head

Application and Admission

For general questions on the application process and admission to this programme, please contact:

Studies Service Centre