M.Sc. Psychology: Learning Sciences and Human Development

History

The Psychology Master’s Program in the Learning Sciences and Human Development will welcome its first cohort in October 2025. Its predecessor, the M.Sc. Psychology: Learning Sciences was a well-established study program, which was developed by top researchers in their fields. It first started in the winter semester 2011/12.

International study program with English as language of instruction

The M.Sc. Psychology: Learning Sciences and Human Development has established many strategic alliances with other universities and organisations through joint research projects. The Munich Center of the Learning Sciences maintains a network of more than 30 universities with internationally acknowledged expertise in the field of the Learning Sciences. ERASMUS partnerships are already established with several universities (particularly University of Twente in the Netherlands).

Interdisciplinary approach

Formerly, different academic disciplines tended to investigate particular aspects of learning in isolation. Yet, highly relevant processes and systemic problems, such as dropout rates in educational systems, can be addressed adequately only in interdisciplinary collaborations. The M.Sc. Psychology: Learning Sciencesand Human Development brings together researchers from Psychology, Educational Science, Neuroscience, Economics, Sociology, Biology, Mathematics, Physics,Medicine, and Computer Science who share methodologically an empirical and quantitative orientation.

Excellent training conditions for a select group of students

The M.Sc. Psychology: Learning Sciences and Human Development is a research-oriented program that promotes a select group of highly motivated students to engage in state-of-the-art research in the internationally emerging field of the Learning Sciences. The program encompasses knowledge and skills training in interdisciplinary knowledge, research methods, and transferable skills related to the Learning Sciences. Courses are taught in the form of seminars, classes in small groups, and colloquia, rather than lectures. All courses are taught by leading scientists in their fields.

In our carefully designed curriculum, students acquire expertise in statistics and methodology, as well as innovative methods to optimize learning processes, considering cognitive, emotional, social, motivational, and developmental factors. In addition to subject-specific expertise, students develop key skills such as academic writing, presentation techniques, and teamwork through practical projects.

The MSc Psychology: Learning Sciences and Human Development study programme is structured into 13 study modules consisting of six compulsory (P) and seven elective compulsory (WP) modules:

Find a graphical overview here (PDF, 208 KB)

Compulsory Modules:

• P1: Perspectives on Learning and Development (12 ECTS) focuses on introducing the key theoretical approaches from the fields of cognitive, emotional, educational and developmental psychology as well as machine learning and AI methods.
• P2: Advanced Statistics and Research Methods (12 ECTS) offers students the knowledge and skills needed to plan and implement empirical research as well as to analyse and interpret data.
• P3: Assessment and Diagnostic Methods (12 ECTS) provides students with a comprehensive introduction to the basic principles of assessment and diagnostics as well as the knowledge required for planning and conducting diagnostic interventions.
• P4: Academic and Professional Skill Building (6 ECTS) is designed to narrow the gap between the knowledge students gain in the study programme and their further professional career. Additionally, academic skills will be further developed, including open science practices, academic writing and conference presentation skills.
• P5: Internship Module (12 ECTS) provides students with the opportunity to apply their theoretically obtained knowledge in practice during an internship of min. 350 hours.
• P6: Final Module (30 ECTS) supports students with completing an individual scientific project (writing a Master's thesis) and presenting and discussing it in a colloquium.

Students also have the opportunity to specialise in two out of the four elective compulsory project modules. Each of these modules involves literature review, planning, designing, and conducting an empirical research project, as well as analysing, describing, and discussing its results.

• WP5: Empirical Project Human Development (12 ECTS) deals with different psychological phenomena from the areas of cognition, emotion, learning, or development.
• WP6: Empirical Project in Cognition, Instruction, Learning, and Technology (12 ECTS) deals with questions related to the application of modern instructional methods and digital technologies to learning and teaching processes.
• WP7: Empirical Project in Motivation and Emotion (12 ECTS) deals with factors that predict performance in both school-based and out-of-school learning and teaching contexts.
• WP8: Empirical Project in Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Computational Modelling of Cognition (12 ECTS) deals with the application of AI methods in the field of the learning sciences.

In terms of elective compulsory modules, students can choose between:

• ECM1 Teaching Science Perspectives (6 ECTS): Provides students insights into Math, Biology, Physics, and Medical Education.
• ECM2 Educational Systems Perspectives (6 ECTS): Provides students insights into different educational systems globally and views on educational sociology.
• ECM3 Educational Counselling & Special Education Perspectives (6 ECTS): Provides students insights into counselling in early development, educational contexts and for students with special needs.

The M.Sc. Psychology: Learning Sciences and Human Development prepares and qualifies students for positions in research on learning. Many graduates choose to continue their studies by registering for the MCLS Doctoral Training Program or other Ph.D. degrees in Germany and internationally. Others go on to apply their knowledge in the fields of learning, training or evaluation – in both educational institutions and the business world.

Please note: According to German law (PsychThG), this program does not qualify for the German psychotherapy training. For international regulations, please refer directly to the respective country`s officials.

Examination Regulations:

Exclusively in German since this is the legally binding version.

Please note: The examination regulations are still being finalized and will be uploaded here soon.

Module Handbook:

Please note: The module handbook is still being finalized and will be uploaded here soon.

1. Application Period: In the online application tool from mid January until March 01 2025, 11:59pm (UTC+1)

Deadline for submission of online application: Mach 31 2025, 11:59 (UTC+1)

International Students: Additional application to international office: May 01 2025

2. Interview Phase: End of April until End of May

3. Announcement of admission: Around end of May

Start of the program: October 2025

Note: Typically, around 30% of applicants are invited to an Interview. Out of those applicants, 50% are then admitted to the program.

Program Eligibility

Applicants must hold a Bachelor degree, or equivalent, in psychology, education, or a related field (i.e., Computer Sciences, Human Resources, ...). There are no specific requirements that pertain to the title of the degree. Students who do not yet hold the Bachelor`s diploma can already apply to the program if they can submit proof that their expected date of graduation lies before the start of this program.

We do not account for applicants' GPA. However, applicants need to upload proof that their academic background is sufficient in the following three areas (courses may come from your Bachelor's degree, but any prior experience can be acknowledged):

• Learning Sciences (> 20 ECTS)
• Scientific Research Methods and Statistics (> 20 ECTS)
• Academic Skills (> 10 ECTS)

Fore more details, please open the "Application Procedure" tab.

Language Requirements

There is no German required as our courses are exclusively taught in English. Applicants must provide proof of English proficiency of at least Upper B2 Level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for non-native English language speakers.

STEP 1: Online Application

The application to this program must be submitted through our online application tool (open from mid January until March 01, 11:59pm, UTC+1).

You will need to provide:

1. CV (max. 2 pages)

2. Bachelor's diploma or official proof of expected date of graduation from university

3. Transcript of records

4. motivational essay (max. 500 words). It should address which specific skills, qualifications, and interests qualify you as an applicant to study in our program.

5. Proof of English Proficiency of at least upper B2 according to the CEFR. (IELTS 6.5; TOEFL CBT 211; TOEFL IBT 79; CAE 177; Englisch-Abitur 10 Punkte/B2; Duolingo 105)

6. An elaborate analysis and report of a scientific research question. The task of this analysis is to answer a research question with a dataset that will be provided in the online tool (cannot be accessed earlier).

7. A prior knowledge table (use this template (DOCX, 2.782 KB) and check this example table (PDF, 813 KB)). You can use all courses or work experiences you have - they do not have to come from your Bachelor's program solely. You need to provide sufficient experience in these three domains. Not reaching the ECTS thresholds in any of these three domains will result in a rejection:

• Learning Sciences: Theoretical background, methods, and empirical findings concerning different aspects of learning and teaching in different educational contexts. These aspects encompass e.g. cognition, emotion, development, instruction, training, excellence, achievement, transfer, counseling, education, didactics, neuro-cognitive and clinical perspectives.
  In this field you need to prove at least 20 ECTS (1 ECTS credit equals 30 hours of work - including preparation, in-class time, homework, and examination); 30 or more ECTS credits are recommended for good chances of acceptance
• Scientific Research Methods and Statistics: You should be familiar with elements, key terms and processes of research designs and strategies as well as statistics (descriptive and inferential) and preferably statistical software (e.g. SPSS). Concepts which refer to Descriptive Statistics include Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion, Frequency Distribution, Z-Scores among others. Key Terms which refer to inferential statistics are Hypotheses-testing, One- and Two-Tailed Tests, Bivariate Correlation and Regression, Method of Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), One-Way Independent ANOVA and Factorial ANOVA, t-test and t-distribution and Chi-Square Tests among others.
  Again, you must prove at least 20 ECTS in this field; 30 or more ECTS credits are recommended for good chances of acceptance.
• Academic Skills: Academic skills refer to the skills necessary to find, process, understand, interpret, evaluate, discuss and present research.
  These skills might have been taught in courses explicitly, or might have been obtained in other classes implicitly. Either way, you need to prove at least 10 ECTS in this field; 20 or more ECTS credits are recommended for good chances of acceptance

STEP 2: Interview Phase

After careful revision of the online application, suitable applicants will be invited to an interview. The interview will take place online, takes around 20-30 minutes, and tests your theoretical, methodological, and applied knowledge in the field of the learning sciences.

ADDITIONAL for international Students

International applicants will additionally have to apply to the international office (will be handled by program coordination - see tab below).

When in doubt, please check whether you are considered an international student here.

International students need, additionally to applying to our program, also apply to the international office. They will then also enroll at LMU through the international office.

To avoid complications, please make sure to send your documents for the International Office solely to the Master Program’s office. If you are accepted to our program, we will finalize your documents and forward them to the International Office directly! This ensures fast communication and support by the program. Do not send your documents to both offices either!

What you will need to submit:

Please check all the documents you have to submit on the website of the international office.

Where to submit:

DO NOT submit your documents directly to the international office and do not use the address that is mentioned on their website. Instead, please send the documents to our program coordination:

Master’s Program in the Learning Sciences
c/o Studiengangskoordination (PF 64)
Department für Paedagogik und Psychologie
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen
Leopoldstrasse 13
80802 Muenchen
GERMANY

We will then check your documents before forwarding everything to the international office. This results in a faster communication, smoother registration process, and prevents rejections from the international office due to missing or faulty documents.

You do not need to provide proof for german language proficiency, since these studies are exclusively in German! If you need help with filling out the international office's application form, check this help (PDF, 516 KB) sheet.

When to submit:

Please make sure that your hardcopy documents arrive in the coordination's office until May 31st. In case you cannot send your documents in time, please contact the coordination immediately.

NOTE: This means that you can wait with sending your documents until you received your invitation to the interview phase! There is no need to send any hardcopy documents for the international office before. However, please make sure to prepare all documents so you can send them out as soon as you received your invitation to the interview.