Study Psychology in Europe: Admission, Fees and the Path to Practice
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
Psychology is one of the most requested degrees in Europe, and in some countries one of the hardest to get into. Our catalogue lists 351 programmes at 296 universities in 7 countries.
How selective is it?
- Spain. 61 four-year degrees. At public universities the last admitted student had between 8.69 and 11.4 out of 14. Psychology in Spain.
- Portugal. 31 programmes, closing between 151 and 174 out of 200. Psychology in Portugal.
- Germany. 111 programmes, almost all with a grade limit. Where we hold official figures, the limit sits between 1 and 1.3 on a scale where 1.0 is the best mark, so only top school-leavers get in directly. Psychology in Germany.
- France. 70 bachelor's programmes on Parcoursup. Most are formally non-selective, but demand exceeds capacity at many universities and applicants are then ranked. Psychology in France.
- Italy. 52 three-year degrees, usually with locally limited places and a test. Psychology in Italy.
- Czechia. 14 programmes with faculty entrance exams and many applicants per place. Psychology in Czechia.
- Switzerland. 12 programmes. Psychology in Switzerland.
A bachelor's degree is not enough to practise
In all seven countries the bachelor's degree is the first stage. The protected title of psychologist normally requires a master's degree, around five years of study in total. Clinical work and psychotherapy need more: a specific health psychology master's or specialist training in Spain, a master's and a professional internship in Portugal, a qualifying master's in Italy, and a dedicated psychotherapy track in Germany that starts with a bachelor's degree designed for it. When you compare programmes, check that the bachelor's degree gives access to the master's you will need.
What it costs
Typical fees for EU students at public universities: €842 a year in Spain, €697 a year in Portugal, €178 a year in France, €2,425 a year in Italy before income-based reductions, and no tuition in Germany. Non-EU students typically pay €4,500 a year in Portugal and €2,902 a year in France.
Language
Only 8 programmes in the catalogue are taught in English. Psychology is a language-heavy subject and practice placements are with local clients, so studying in the national language is the normal route.
Recognition
Psychologists are not covered by automatic recognition in the EU. Each country assesses a foreign qualification against its own requirements, and the differences in clinical training are large. Plan the whole path, including the master's degree, in the country where you expect to work.
Where to look next
Official sources
- Parcoursup
- hochschulstart.de: coordinates applications for many restricted German programmes
- DGES
- EU regulated professions database
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.