’Appropriate pay for graduates’

A change in the law means that training as a psychotherapist will be tied more closely to universities and comparable academic institutions. WWU - Brigitte Heeke Psychology courses and psychotherapists' training at the University of Münster were reformed in the winter semester of 2020/21 as a result of an amendment to existing legislation. Prof. Guido Hertel , Dean of the Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science at the University, discusses in this interview with Kathrin Nolte the new features and their significance. What does the amendment involve? The most important change consists in the fact that students now have the possibility to finish their Psychology course with a licence to practice as a psychotherapist. This means that their degree has the same status as a degree in Medicine or Pharmacy - which is not unimportant for their careers. Even more important is the fact that Psychology graduates who work as psychotherapists receive appropriate pay for their work immediately after completing their studies - and not only after a lengthy period of further training. The requirement for it is the successful completion of a recognised bachelor's degree course in Psychology - as here in Münster - and a subsequent master's degree in Psychology, with a Focus on Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. This master's course will be starting up here in Münster, in line with the new law, as soon as the first graduates from the bachelor's course reach that stage - which means the winter semester of 2023/24. And what are the new aspects relating to the Psychology degree course?