Master’s degree in psychotherapy in Graz: applications open from March

Graz is set to become a hub for psychotherapy: From 2026, the University of Graz and the Medical University of Graz will jointly offer the new Master’s programme. Registration for the admissions process for the 140 places opens in March. 

Current studies estimate that around 700,000 people in Austria have a need for and are willing to undergo psychotherapeutic treatment. However, in 2022, only just under 200,000 people were able to be accommodated in fully or partially funded places. One reason: there are around 10,000 active psychotherapists in Austria, of whom around a third are already over 65 years old. Current studies therefore show that psychotherapeutic care in Austria does not meet demand.

The modernisation of qualifications is intended to remedy this situation. Until now, this has been organised exclusively by private associations. From 2026, universities will take over part of the training. In Graz, the Master’s programme in Psychotherapy is offered in cooperation between the University of Graz and the Medical University of Graz – combining academic depth with practical relevance.

Registration for the admissions process for the inaugural cohort of the Master’s programme in Psychotherapy opens on 2 March and remains open until 7 April. As part of the application process, candidates must complete an online self-assessment and pay the fee of 110 euros. The entrance exam will take place on 6 July 2026 in Graz. 

Entry requirements

Psychotherapy is an interdisciplinary field, and this is precisely reflected in the entry requirements. Admission to the Master’s programme is therefore open to those who have completed relevant Bachelor’s degree programmes or relevant training at Bachelor’s level. A school-leaving certificate is also a prerequisite for admission.

Details of the various prior qualifications can be found here: https://www.medunigraz.at/aufnahmeverfahren-psychotherapie/teilnahmevoraussetzung

A hub for psychotherapy

With the introduction of the Master’s programme, Graz is becoming a hotspot for psychotherapy. This is because more than a quarter (specifically: 140) of the 500 places available across Austria for the Master’s programme in psychotherapy are offered in the Styrian capital. The two universities focus their training on their respective strengths. 

At the Medical University of Graz, students acquire a grounding in medical fundamentals and gain an insight into practical work in a clinical setting. Specialisation in psychoanalysis and psychodynamic approaches also takes place here. At the University of Graz, trainee psychotherapists learn about the psychological aspects of the profession and can specialise in humanistic, systemic or behavioural therapeutic approaches. At the newly established Centre for Psychotherapy, they can gain practical experience in psychotherapeutic treatment. 

“The first-ever academic integration of the psychotherapy degree programme in Austria is an important step for quality and care provision. Through the close cooperation between the University of Graz and the Medical University of Graz, and the links to the Medical University of Graz’s teaching hospitals, we can draw on many years of expertise and ensure that theory and practice are closely intertwined from the very start,” says Erwin Petek, Vice Rector of Studies and Teaching at the Medical University of Graz.

Cathrine Walter-Laager, Vice-Rector for Studies and Teaching at the University of Graz, adds: “With the joint Master’s programme in Psychotherapy offered by the University of Graz and the Medical University of Graz, we are making Graz a centre of excellence for psychotherapy training in Austria. By combining the core strengths of the University of Graz on the one hand and the Medical University of Graz on the other, students receive a top-level education and make a significant contribution to psychosocial care in Austria.”

The Master’s programme is followed by a third stage of training in cluster-specific methods at specialised training institutions.

Further information on the admissions process can be found at: https://www.medunigraz.at/aufnahmeverfahren-psychotherapie

Further information on the programme can be found at: https://www.uni-graz.at/de/studium/masterstudien/psychotherapie/