Certificate in School Psychology

Applicants must hold both a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Psychology (180 ECTS credits) and a master’s degree or equivalent (120 ECTS credits) in Psychology. Professional experience in the field of education is an additional advantage. Language competences (according to CEFRL): German, French and English at level B2.

At the end of the programme students are able to:

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of key theories in child and adolescent development, legal and ethical foundations, and proficiently conduct psychological assessments to identify and evaluate pupils’ psychological challenges.
• Develop and implement preventive measures and evidence-based interventions to support pupils’ mental health and address diverse psychological issues, ensuring the effectiveness of these strategies through regular evaluation.
• Critically evaluate principles of inclusive education, develop inclusive practices, and advocate for policies that address diverse learning needs, while maintaining ethical standards and cultural sensitivity in all professional interactions.
• Exhibit strong communication skills for effective collaboration with pupils, parents, teachers, and other stakeholders, and employ ethical guidelines in handling sensitive information and decision-making processes.
• Synthesise theoretical knowledge and practical skills to analyse and address real-life challenges in school settings, developing comprehensive, evidence-based solutions and demonstrating readiness to act as effective school psychologists

The certificate is organised on a part-time basis over 2 semesters, with the flexibility for students to spread the courses over up to 4 semesters. The program is structured in three modules: In the first module “School Psychology – Theory” students will engage in a deep exploration of the foundational theories and concepts underpinning child and adolescent development, learning, behaviour, and mental health. The second module “School Psychology – Application” consists of five application seminars from which students must select and attend two. Here, students will learn to bridge the gap between theory and practice by focusing on practical skills and strategies that they can apply in real-world educational settings. The final module, “School Psychology - Case project”, is the culmination of the students’ learning journey. Here they will integrate their theoretical knowledge and practical skills into a comprehensive case study dealing with a real-life problem that School Psychologists often face. The total number of ECTS credits for the certificate is 20, with 16 acquired through course validation and an additional 4 ECTS credits obtained through the validation of a case project.

The School Psychologist’s primary goal is to help pupils succeed both academically and personally by addressing a wide range of psychological and developmental challenges that may impact their learning experiences. Therefore, specialised advanced graduate preparation that includes coursework and practical experiences, as covered in this certificate, is highly relevant. Consequently, the certificate’s educational profile and curriculum integrates theoretical concepts and evidence-based practices to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how theoretical knowledge translates into practical applications.

University Certificate