Sociology – Social and Economic Psychology, Master of Science

The MSc Sociology – Social and Economic Psychology programme at the University of Cologne is unique in its interdisciplinary orientation and combination of different subjects. It is also characterised by its well-balanced composition of theory and practical application. In addition, this programme, with its limited number of places (a maximum of 25), offers you the opportunity to actively engage in discussions with lecturers and fellow students and to intensively work together in small groups. We give you the chance to complete your Master’s degree entirely in English. You will receive training from the internationally renowned Institute of Sociology and Social Psychology (ISS). The ISS has been ranked as Germany’s top department in sociology (Shanghai Ranking 2018, 2019, 2020), and it is known for linking sociology and psychology. Furthermore, the two chairs of Social and Economic Psychology take on a leading role within the programme: Professor Dr Fetchenhauer has gained international recognition as a result of his research focus on social trust, economic lay theories and evolutionary psychology, and Professor Dr Hölzl is an expert on economic decisions, affective forecasting and cognitive judgement errors. From basic knowledge to your own personal expertise: You will receive advanced training in sociology and become an expert in economic and social psychology: You will be introduced to psychometric methods, learn about strategic interactions, collective actions, social norms, organisational culture and job satisfaction as well as personal, situational and social influences on consumer behaviour. You will also gain practical research experience within the research seminar – one of the highlights of the programme. In addition, you will be presented with valuable opportunities to further develop your profile and prepare you for the labour market. You can choose modules from different areas of business administration and economics as well as from other social sciences. Three basic courses in sociology equip you with state-of-the-art knowledge on contemporary societies and how to use sociological theory to understand the social world. You will also learn and practice advanced methods for analysing cross-sectional data. With your Master’s thesis, you will complete your studies by applying the knowledge and skills you have acquired throughout the programme. You will then be ready to continue your career as an expert in your field. PDF Download

Course details verified 09 Sep 2026 — intakes, entry requirements and course facts · official source

1. Winter semester

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English

E.G. TOEFL iBT (since 2026): 4 Reading: 4 Listening: 4 Speaking: 4 Writing: 4 IELTS Academic: 5.5 Cambridge English Qualifications: B2 First

Prerequisites

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in the respective field (worth at least 180 ECTS) and an overall grade point average of at least 2.7 (German grade) Applicants must meet the following requirements: at least 18 ECTS credits in the fields of Psychology, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Economics, and/or Political Science – from this at least 6 ECTS in the field of Psychology at least 12 ECTS credits in the fields of Statistics and/or Methods in Quantitative Social Sciences, and/or Applied Quantitative Empirical Social Research Please find more information and a full list of requirements here.

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