Psychology

General information

Name of the programme: Psychology
Type of programme: Master's degree programme, 2nd Bologna cycle
Degree awarded: “magister psihologije” equiv. to a Master’s degree in Psychology
Duration: 2 years (4 semesters)
ECTS-credits: 120
Programme structure: 15 courses (90 ECTS), practical training (15 ECTS), Master’s Thesis (15 ECTS)
Mode of study: full-time
Language of study: Slovene

Programme Coordinatortop

Coordinator: asist. dr. Urša Mars Bitenc

For information regarding application, enrolment and other administrative procedures please contact Student Services.

About the programmetop

The purpose of the programme is to train and develop top-level professional psychologists, whose knowledge, skills and proficiencies will enable them to work independently in fields that require familiarity with the complex determination of individual and group behaviour, and the ability to apply this knowledge to solve contemporary problems in society, groups and individuals, specifically in the fields of (mental) health, a healthy work environment, education, individual development, etc.

Educational and professional goalstop

The main objectives of the programme are:

• To educate Master’s-level psychologists whose qualifications will be in compliance with the EuroPsy Certificate. This objective is met by developing professionals whose knowledge, skills and proficiencies  (upon the fulfilment of other conditions) will qualify them to work independently in psychological practice. As part of the Master's degree programme, students gain in-depth knowledge and develop advanced skills that enable them to understand, interpret and tackle various issues and problems in contemporary applied fields of psychology. The Master’s degree programme provides its graduates with the knowledge that will qualify them to engage in research and to transfer their findings into practice.
• To provide students with in-depth knowledge and skills in the field of psychology and the ability to apply these in various domains. Students will gain an understanding of the functioning of an individual and the impact of various kinds of interventions on an individual, understand the functioning of the brain, the nervous system and their associated pharmacology, and become familiar with cutting-edge diagnostic procedures, which will allow graduates to have a deeper and clearer insight into the determinants of human behaviour. Graduates will be able to participate in fields such as promotion of a healthy and productive way of life and work, prevention of mental disorders, strengthening of (especially) mental health as well as in all other professional and technical areas that are of interest to psychologists. These issues are relevant in the context of influencing individuals, groups and society as a whole. Graduates will acquire the knowledge, skills and proficiencies that will enable them to participate in interdisciplinary planning for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation in various risk groups. Graduates of the Master’s degree programme will be able to actively participate in the creation of policies and practices in the field of mental health.
• To familiarise students with findings from various fields of applied psychology, neuroscience, behavioural genetics and psychotherapy, and consequently to enable them to further develop their knowledge in the wider European and global research area and thus engage directly in current multi- and interdisciplinary challenges pertaining to interpretation and prediction of the behaviour of individuals and groups. It is this objective that gives the study programme a competitive advantage and makes it particularly attractive to students.
• To develop graduates’ fundamental knowledge, skills and proficiencies in a way that will enable them to engage in lifelong learning and critical thinking, to adopt a problem-solving approach and to use basic methodological and subject-specific knowledge and skills in dealing with various social science and interdisciplinary problems. The programme also stresses ethical responsibility and ethical conduct of graduates.

Admission requirementstop

Admission to the Year 1 of the programme shall be granted to applicants who:

• have completed a Bachelor’s (first-cycle) degree programme in the field of psychology or biopsychology that complies with the requirements of the EuroPsy Certificate, earning at least 180 ECTS credits; or
• have completed a first-cycle degree programme of at least 180 ECTS credits from the field of biopsychology, having also completed academic requirements of 10 to 42 ECTS credits that are deemed essential for the continuation of their studies, namely from the list of courses in the following subdisciplines: educational psychology, work and organizational psychology, developmental psychology, clinical psychology, research methods, differential psychology and (bio)psychology of motivation and emotions. Upon examination of the candidate’s previous study programme, the competent academic committee of UP FAMNIT shall define each candidate’s additional academic requirements on a case-by-case basis. The additional study requirements may be completed during the candidate’s undergraduate studies, in training programmes or by passing exams before enrolling in the Master's degree programme; or
• have completed another first-cycle (Bachelor’s) degree programme, provided that the programme covered at least 120 ECTS credits in topics from the field of psychology and that prior to enrolment the candidate has completed additional academic requirements essential for further studies to the total of 30 to 60 ECTS credits. Suitability of the completed study programme, and consequently the possibility of enrolment in the present programme, is decided upon by the competent academic committee of UP FAMNIT, which reviews the submitted undergraduate study programme the candidate has completed and any other evidence of the proficiencies the candidate has acquired. Having established that the completed study programme potentially allows the candidate to enrol in the Master’s degree programme, the committee then determines the additional academic requirements the candidate must complete, depending on the disciplinary field of the candidate's previous studies. Candidates may complete these additional academic requirements during their undergraduate studies, in training programmes, or by taking exams before enrolling in the Master's degree programme; or
• have completed an equivalent training abroad and have been, in the process of recognition of their qualification and in line with the Recognition and Evaluation of Education Act, granted the right to continue their studies at the Master’s degree programme in Psychology.

In the case of enrolment limitations, applicants shall be selected on the basis of the average grade obtained in their undergraduate studies (one of their academic requirements is also the Final Project Paper completed during their undergraduate studies). The grade-point average of applicants who have completed a study programme under Paragraph 2 or 3 of the conditions for admission to the programme also includes the grades of their additional academic requirements (bridge exams).

Continuation of studies according to the transfer criteriatop

Transfers between study programmes are possible on the basis of the Higher Education Act, Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes and in accordance with other regulations of this field.

The transition between study programmes is the enrolment in the higher year of the study programme, in case of leaving the education at the initial study programme and continuing the study process at another study program of the same degree. The transition takes into account the comparability of the study programmes and the completed study obligations of the candidate in the initial study program.

Access to Year 2 of the Master’s programme of Psychology on the basis of the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes is granted to candidates, provided that the following conditions have been met:

• the candidate fulfils the requirements for admission to the study programme of Psychology;
• completion of the first study programme which the candidate is transferring from ensures the acquisition of comparable competencies as those envisaged by the study programme of Psychology; and
• other conditions in accordance with the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes have also been met (a comparable course structure, course requirements completed).

Individual applications for transfer shall be considered by the relevant committee of UP FAMNIT. Apart from comparability between both fields of study, the committee shall also consider comparability between the study programmes, in accordance with the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes. The applicant may also be required to complete differential exams as defined by the relevant Faculty committee.

Enrolment on the basis of the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes is also open to candidates of a related study programme abroad who have been, in the process of recognition of their studies abroad, legally granted the right to continue their educational training in the study programme of Psychology.

In the case of limited enrolment, applicants shall be selected on the basis of the average grade obtained during the study programme they are transferring from.

Advancement requirementstop

Advancement Requirements: To progress to the next year of study it is necessary to earn at least 48 ECTS credits from the courses and exams in the current year of study.

In exceptional cases, the academic committee of the Faculty may permit students who have not fulfilled all their academic requirements for the current year to enrol in the next year of study. The student must submit a formal written request to the academic committee. Advancement to the next year may be approved if there are justifiable reasons for not completing all academic requirements.

Students may repeat a year only once during the study period.

To obtain a Master’s degree, students must successfully complete all the required elements of the programme and defend their Master’s thesis. In order to register their Master’s thesis, students must fulfil all the academic requirements of Year 1 of the programme. Students must complete the remaining academic requirements prior to the submission of the thesis. Students write their Master’s thesis under the guidance of their supervisor (thesis advisor). The thesis must demonstrate the candidate’s expertise in the chosen field, a critical understanding of the related theories and specialized concepts and principles, as well as originality and creativity in the application of knowledge and an ability to tackle a specific problem and to propose appropriate solutions.

Course structuretop

During their studies, students are required to take a total of 16 courses (14 compulsory and 2 elective courses) and practical training. They must also prepare and defend their Master’s thesis.

Brief descriptions of courses are available HERE.

The table below outlines the structure of the study programme and its compulsory and internal elective courses.

Legend:
L = lecture, SE = seminar,  T = tutorial
ECTS = ECTS-credits

Elective coursestop

The elective courses are divided into internal and external elective courses.

Students choose their internal elective courses from those offered by the programme. The list of internal elective courses is outlined in the Course Structure section. Within the scope of internal elective courses, students may also choose other courses from the disciplinary fields of biopsychology and neuroscience. Internal elective subjects are worth 3 or 6 ECTS credits.

Students can choose their external elective courses from those offered by accredited study programmes of higher education institutions in Slovenia or abroad, namely, depending on the student’s previous study programme, from the fields of biopsychology, psychology and science. One elective course can be chosen from the field of humanities (especially anthropology, philosophy and cultural studies). Detailed provisions regarding elective courses are adopted by the Senate of UP FAMNIT.

Students may also choose a course from the set of internal elective courses as an external elective course.

In the chapter Course Structure you can only find the elective courses that are offered in the last two academic years. The list of all elective courses is available in the chapter Course Structure - short description of courses.

Every academic year, the Faculty offers a different selection of elective courses from the internal elective courses listed. The Faculty tries to meet student interests within the limits of the Faculty’s resources. The final selection of elective courses for the next academic year is published in July. The coordinator will help guide students when choosing their  elective courses.

Practical training in the workplacetop

Practical training is based on the standards for supervised practice, which are developed within the framework of the Psychologists' Association of Slovenia and based on the EuroPsy guidelines.

In their 2nd year of studies, students are required to complete compulsory practical training in the workplace (traineeship), which is assigned a total of 15 ECTS credits and comprises 280 hours of work (typically 7 weeks of 40 hours, or less if conducted over a longer period of time).

The purpose of the traineeship is to transfer theoretical knowledge into practice, which the student carries out in the workplace or in organizations such as institutions of public education, social and health services, primary health care institutions, non-governmental organizations, private companies or other educational and research institutions.

Within the chosen institution, each student is assigned a mentor responsible for the supervision and direction of the practical training. The mentor for the practical training must hold a Bachelor's or a Master’s degree in psychology (awarded upon completion of a second-cycle study programme in psychology) and possess at least one year of work experience as a psychologist or in another relevant position other than an internship. The mentor must be involved in the work of the organization in which the student performs practical training. The mentor may perform, inter alia, clinical, educational, school counselling practice, practice related to human resources or research. These conditions must be met in order for the student to perform practical training under adequate supervision.

At the beginning of the academic year, after an initial meeting with the coordinator of the practical training at the Faculty, students choose the organization in which they would like to undertake their practical training. Students should contact their preferred organization and arrange the practical training themselves.

Before the beginning of the practical training students should know all procedures defined in the INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDENTS ABOUT THE PRACTICAL TRAINING (only in Slovene).

All procedures goes through ŠIS, also all form are available in ŠIS. The key steps in the procedure are listed below:

• student submits the application for the training; it is mandatory to attach the Statement of the institution for accepting the student for practical training;
• the coordinator of the practical training at the Faculty decides about the application;
• after the approval, the student prints 3 copies of the traineeship cooperation agreement and submits them at Student Services; he/she saves all other forms as he/she will need them during the training;
• student begins with the training only after the approval of the application and the agreement is signed;
• at the end of the training student submits a report; all mandatory forms that need to be attached are listed in the Instructions;
• the coordinator of the practical training at the Faculty decides about the report;
• after the approval of the report, the student is invited to complete a survey about the training.

If a student needs the Student traineeship cooperation agreement in English (due to the practical training abroad), he/she must inform the Student Services as soon as he/she is informed that his/her application for practical training has been approved by coordinator.

Graduates' competenciestop

General competencies:

General competencies

• Commitment to continuous professional training and self-reflection;
• The ability to integrate research and professional findings in the field with those of related disciplines;
• The skills of abstract reasoning, critical thinking, and developing theoretical concepts, and the ability to transfer these into practice;
• Interest in interdisciplinary research;
• The ability to apply acquired knowledge in practical situations
• The ability to use acquired knowledge and skills in research and professional work
• The ability to develop a personal professional strategy for addressing a problem
• The ability to use a problem-based approach in addressing various problems
• The ability to conduct a quality literature search and to select relevant published sources
• The ability to search, select, develop or adjust relevant methods, techniques and instruments
• The ability to produce written assignments: situation analysis, interventions planning and research reports
• The ability to present research findings
• Communication skills
• Concern for continuous personal professional development
• The capacity to evaluate one’s own knowledge of the topics studied with regard to meeting the set objectives
• Development of ethical responsibility in the field of counselling for individuals and groups
• The development of appropriate interventions based on theoretical findings
• Preparation and implementation of interventions
• Evaluation of interventions carried out in practice and provision of relevant recommendations based on this evaluation
• Autonomy in reaching decisions in problem situations
• Interdisciplinary team work
• Creative thinking skills

Subject-specific competencies:

• Familiarity with various quantitative and qualitative research design and data collection methods;
• A firm understanding of the purpose and application of the research methods used in natural and social sciences, with a focus on the scientific disciplines of neuroscience, psychology, ethology, genetics and behavioural genetics;
• The ability to integrate various scientific disciplines (psychology, mental health, psycho- and sociopathology, neuroscience, etc.);
• A sound understanding of theory based on examples of use;
• The ability to transfer methodological knowledge and apply it in independent research;
• The ability to analyse and compare various research plans and methods appropriate to the specific research problem;
• Creativity in planning research procedures and the ability to effectively combine various research methods;
• Awareness of the limitations imposed by individual research methods and ethical dilemmas, and the capacity for critical reflection on bio-psychological research;
• An in-depth knowledge of basic (univariate and bivariate descriptive and inferential) statistics and knowledge of advanced multivariate statistics;
• Understanding of the purpose and application of the various techniques of multivariate statistical analysis;
• The ability to independently conduct a (multivariate) statistical analysis using one of the established computer programs for statistical analysis;
• The ability to compare various techniques used in multivariate analysis and to select the most appropriate one for solving a specific research problem;
• A sound understanding of the practical significance of the relationship between the influence of genetics and the environment on patterns of behaviour;
• A good knowledge and understanding of the techniques and strategies used for determining the genetic basis of behaviour in humans and animals;
• The ability to define certain behavioural disorders and diseases, and the ability to assign them to the activity of a particular gene or set of genes, while at the same time determining the degree of environmental impact;
• Understanding of the transmission of genetic information in diseases and disorders, and using this to interpret behavioural responses;
• Knowledge and understanding of the causes and development of central nervous system disorders;
• Knowledge of the basic methods of treatment and research in the field of study of diseases of the central nervous system;
• The knowledge and skills necessary to perform a diagnostic assessment of central nervous system disorders and to detect biomarkers;
• Knowledge and understanding of the fundamental theories, notions and concepts pertaining to organizational and personnel psychology;
• The ability to conduct an analysis of the needs and problems related to an organization (performance, innovation, flexibility) and to identify necessary and possible improvements through changes in the organizational structure, culture and management;
• Selection and application of methods, techniques and instruments appropriate for the analysis of individual, group and organizational perceptions, attitudes and behaviour in relation to organizations, practices, structure, culture and management;
• Development of solutions and products: questionnaires for employees, programmes of change;
• Depending on the situation observed in the organization, preparation of a plan of intervention focused on the individual, group or organization as a whole (e.g. training in the field of management, team formation and development, changing the organizational culture);
• The ability to assess the adequacy of the planned interventions (design, measurement and analysis, validity, reliability);
• Familiarity with the different types of interviews, with particular emphasis on the psychological interview;
• Understanding and critical analysis of the implementation of psychological interviews in relation to client needs, and purposes of their application;
• Development and evaluation of interventions targeted at the individual, group or society;
• Understanding and critical analysis of the performed interview in accordance with the needs of the client and the purposes of psychological treatment;
• The ability to define the objectives of the interview and set the criteria for the evaluation of performance in relation to the objectives of the interview;
• The ability to plan activities and interventions on the basis of the information obtained in the course of the interview;
• The ability to critically assess and analyse scientific and professional knowledge in the field of health psychology;
• The ability to apply theoretical knowledge when conducting interventions in the actual environment / on the ground;
• The ability to plan therapeutic activities and interventions;
• A full and critical understanding of different approaches to the implementation of interventions performed so as to assist individuals and groups;
• The ability to integrate the theoretical contents of the study programme with practical specificities in the work environment;
• The ability to use psychological procedures in clinical psychological practice;
• The ability to collaborate with professional associates in the actual work environment, applying the findings of organizational psychology;
• The ability to conduct a constructive dialogue with different sectors of the public, in conjunction with public health interventions;
• The ability to lead interdisciplinary teams in public health interventions;
• The ability to substantiate expert opinions in clinical psychology practice;
• The ability to explain and demonstrate professional and scientific findings to various stakeholders (non-professionals) in public health interventions;
• The ability to empathise with others in clinical psychology practice;
• Familiarity with the basic areas and methodology of educational psychology;
• Knowledge of various theories of learning, motivation and intelligence;
• Familiarity with the concepts of academic achievement, transfer, creativity and the concept of self in the context of educational psychology;
• An understanding of the role of cognitive, emotional, personal and social factors of learning;
• Familiarity with the scope of work of school psychologists and with the elements of pedagogical interaction;
• The ability to efficiently use the acquired knowledge in the work of a school psychologist;
• The use of pedagogical and psychological skills in planning the learning and teaching process for different groups of individuals;
• The ability to apply acquired knowledge in the prevention of behavioural and learning difficulties in the school environment;

Employment opportunities for graduates top

The Master's degree programme follows the guidelines of current and future recruitment needs in the professional practice of psychologists, both in the private and public sector.

The graduates – holders of a Master’s degree in Psychology – will be qualified for employment as psychologists in the public sector, in particular in health care, education (upon the fulfilment of additional requirements, namely a completed pedagogical training for learning and adult learning worth 60 ECTS credits, upon harmonization of the legal bases in the field of education and training), social care, justice, defence etc. They will also be able to seek employment in all other areas of the public sector, where psychologists have long been one of the key professional members, for example in non-profit organizations (e.g. in the fields of psychological prevention, rehabilitation, surface treatment, psychosocial care) and in the private sector (e.g. in therapy, counselling).

Within business enterprises, holders of a Master’s degree in psychology are qualified to work in the fields of human resources, marketing, and public relations, especially in the field of work with human resources, and in the fields of coaching, psychological counselling and work with teams.

In addition to these areas of employment, graduates of the Master’s degree programme in psychology will also have employment opportunities in other posts that are not specifically related to psychology, but require a broader education in the social sciences (e.g. in the fields of politics, media, research, administration).