From the 2026/27 winter semester, the University of Graz and the Medical University of Graz will be offering the Master’s programme in Psychotherapy jointly for the first time. A total of 500 places are available across Austria, 140 of which are in Graz. This will make the Styrian capital the largest centre for psychotherapy training in Austria.
The programme combines medical, psychological and practice-oriented training content. Students will attend courses at both universities and benefit from their respective specialist areas. Whilst the Medical University of Graz focuses on medical fundamentals, clinical practice and psychodynamic and psychoanalytic approaches, the University of Graz concentrates on psychological fundamentals and specialisations in humanistic, systemic and behavioural therapeutic methods. Practical training takes place, amongst other places, at the newly established Centre for Psychotherapy. 215 people have applied for places and are registered for the entrance exam on 6 July 2026.
Joint programme with a broad disciplinary basis
“The joint Master’s programme in Psychotherapy demonstrates how well the cooperation between the universities in Graz works. Through close coordination, we have succeeded in developing a scientifically sound and practice-oriented curriculum. This provides our students with the ideal foundation for their future careers,” says Peter Riedler, Rector of the University of Graz.
“With this joint programme, we are creating a training programme that combines medical, psychological and psychotherapeutic skills at a high academic level. The close collaboration between the two universities enables practice-oriented training whilst simultaneously strengthening the provision of psychotherapeutic care for the future,” says Andrea Kurz, Rector of the Medical University of Graz.
This collaboration makes it possible to combine different professional perspectives in the training and to closely align theory and practice. The Master’s degree is a prerequisite for the third stage of psychotherapy training, which is provided by the respective professional associations.
High demand for psychotherapeutic care
The demand for psychotherapeutic care in Austria remains high: according to estimates, around 700,000 people require such treatment, whilst the number of available places is significantly lower. At the same time, some of the psychotherapists currently practising are approaching retirement, making the training of the next generation even more important. The first students will begin their Master’s degree in Graz at the start of the 2026/27 winter semester.
Although the application period for the psychotherapy programme has already closed, the University of Graz offers several courses in the fields of health and fitness.