Psychology

Abstract

Students who are interested in the human experience and behaviour are on the right track with a course of study in psychology. Here, we study how feelings, experiences, education and motivational factors affect us and what role the cultural and social environment plays. At bachelor level, particular emphasis is placed on always letting the students confront their theories of everyday life with the insights of scientific psychology.
During the three-year study programme, they become acquainted with the fundamental professional knowledge, the working methods used in research, the various areas of application of psychology and the basic competencies of psychological diagnostics and counselling. Two months of internship and a written thesis crown the bachelor studies.
In addition, the bilingualism of the course of studies is a unique feature of the studies in psychology at the University of Fribourg: Here, the programmes are offered in German, French or in a combination of both languages.

  • Show the study programme profile

    Profile of the study programme

    The study of psychology introduces the students to the science of psychology, which deals with human experience and behaviour. They thereby study the motivational, emotional, cognitive and psychomotor processes which occur within a cultural and social context and are more or less directly rooted in human biological makeup.

    Psychological practice is based on the constituent parts of this scientific knowledge and on psychologists' theories of everyday life. During the studies, great importance is attached to ensuring that individual student compare their theories of everyday life with those of scientific psychology.

    This course of study leads to a Bachelor of Science degree and imparts, among other things, fundamental knowledge of psychological activities in the areas of diagnostics and counselling.

    The bilingualism of the course of studies is a unique feature of the studies in psychology at the University of Fribourg. The Department of Psychology offers courses of study in German and French as well as bilingually.

    Contents and basic structure of studies
    In the initial period of study (foundation phase = first year of study), the emphasis is on getting an overview of the area of study and acquiring a grounding in the various principal fields of psychology, especially cognitive, developmental and clinical psychology. In addition to this, students' knowledge of methodology and statistics, as well as their research skills, are systematically developed.

    The second period of study (advanced phase = second and third years of study) builds on this methodology and knowledge base and introduces students to the fields of application of psychology. The students are familiarised with academic work methods and taught the basic practical skills of psychological diagnosis and counselling. Basic subjects and fields of application are explored in greater depth. Students then apply and consolidate what they have learned by doing a two-month internship and conducting and writing a research work (bachelor thesis).

    Career prospects and further education
    The bachelor programme in psychology prepares students for the following areas of employment: diagnostics, counselling, psychological intervention, such as prevention or psychotherapy, and scientific research in these fields.

    The main areas of activity are health care, the educational system and the working environment.

    Within most professions, professional work as a psychologist requires a master's degree in addition to a bachelor's degree and sometimes an additional practical qualification. The most important psychological occupational fields are clinical psychology, industrial psychology, organisational psychology, market research and advertising, educational psychology, environmental psychology, traffic psychology and media psychology.

    After the master's degree, doctoral studies are provided as the main offer of further education for even better research qualifications, for example, for professional activities at the university.

Studies organisation

Structure of studies

180 ECTS credits, 6 semesters

Curriculum

Admission

The following Swiss school-leaving certificates grant admission to bachelor programmes at the University of Fribourg:

  • Swiss academic Maturity Certificate
  • Federal vocational or specialised Baccalaureate + supplementary examination of the Swiss Maturity Commission (passerelle)
  • Bachelor Degree from a Swiss university, from an accredited Swiss university of applied sciences (HES/FH) or from a Swiss university of teacher education (HEP/PH)

A complete list of all further recognised Swiss school-leaving certificates is to be found on the webpages of swissuniversities (in French and German only): https://studies.unifr.ch/go/fr-admission-swisscertificates; https://studies.unifr.ch/go/de-admission-swisscertificates
Foreign upper secondary school-leaving certificates are recognised only if they correspond substantially to the Swiss Maturity Certificate. They must qualify as general education. Foreign school-leaving certificates are considered to be general education if, among other things, the last three years of schooling include at least six general education subjects, independent from each other, in accordance with the following list:

  1. First language
  2. Second language
  3. Mathematics
  4. Natural sciences (biology or chemistry or physics)
  5. Humanities and social sciences (geography or history or economics/law)
  6. Elective (computer sciences or philosophy or an additional language or an additional subject from category 4 or 5)

The general admission requirements to the bachelor programmes at the University of Fribourg for holders of foreign school-leaving certificates as well as the admission requirements for individual countries are to be found on the webpages of swissuniversities: https://studies.unifr.ch/go/en-admission-countries
In addition, foreign candidates must present proof of sufficient language skills in French or German.
All guidelines are available at (only in French and German): https://studies.unifr.ch/go/adm-guidelines

The assessment of foreign school-leaving certificates is based on the «Recommendations for the Assessment of Foreign Upper Secondary School-Leaving Certificates» adopted by the Chamber of universities of swissuniversities on 11.11.2021 (https://studies.unifr.ch/go/swissuniversities21fr; https://studies.unifr.ch/go/swissuniversities21de). The admission requirements are valid for the respective academic year. The Rectorat of the University of Fribourg reserves the right to change these requirements at any time.

Alternatives

Also offered as a minor study programme (60/30 ECTS credits).

Key points

Degree conferred

Bachelor of Science

Languages of study

Possibility to study in French, in German or in French and German. Some courses are offered in English.

Options

For information on the optional award of the distinction «Bilingual curriculum, French/German», please contact the relevant Department (see Contact).

Commencement of studies

Commencement of studies only in the Autumn Semester (September)

Access to further studies

Master

Contact

Faculty of Humanities
Department of Psychology
Dr Laurent Rossier (French)
laurent.rossier@unifr.ch
Dr Stefan Pichelmann (German)
stefan.pichelmann@unifr.ch
http://studies.unifr.ch/go/en-psychology