Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology

FAQ: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Master Education Sciences and Psychology (EBPP)

What does studying “Education Sciences and Psychology” actually mean?

Empirical Educational Research
When it comes to education, everyone can speak from personal experience. However, what is often missing in discussions about schooling and education is reliable, data-based knowledge—also called evidence. This is precisely what empirical educational research and educational psychology are about: understanding how learning and teaching work, how our education system could be improved, and what role individual factors play in learning. This shifts educational debates away from intuition and anecdotes toward empirical evidence.

The Program
The Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology offers academic training from the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels through to the PhD and preparation for a professorship. Students learn key concepts from psychology, education, and related disciplines, combined with the most advanced quantitative research methods available today. They learn to investigate practice-relevant questions by collecting and statistically analyzing data in order to obtain the most reliable and meaningful results possible. These insights can then be used to improve learning processes and advance education.

Career Opportunities
Graduates are in demand wherever teaching and learning play a role—such as in educational administration and policy, school development, continuing education, diagnostics and support, foundations, and educational publishing. The program also provides excellent preparation for a research career.

Which previous degrees qualify me for the Master’s in EBPP?

The typical entry route is a Bachelor’s degree in Empirical Educational Research and Educational Psychology, a polyvalent Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Bachelor’s in Psychology with a focus on Teaching and Learning, a Bachelor’s in Empirical Educational Research, or a comparable degree in a related field.
Whether a degree is considered comparable is decided case by case by the admissions committee after the application deadline. The committee checks whether applicants have the necessary prior knowledge (e.g., sufficient training in quantitative and statistical research methods). Minor gaps may be addressed during the program (as part of the elective area), but 9 ECTS credits in quantitative research methods/statistics are a mandatory admission requirement and cannot be made up after enrollment.

Do I meet the admission requirements for the Master’s in EBPP?

Your eligibility depends primarily on whether—and to what extent—you have completed courses in quantitative research methods and statistics during your previous studies. You must provide proof of at least 9 ECTS credits in these areas. These credits cannot be earned during the Master’s program and must be fully completed at the time of application. Additionally, you must have a Bachelor’s degree grade of 2.5 or better (German grading scale).

How can I earn missing ECTS credits in quantitative methods/statistics before applying?

If you lack the required ECTS credits, you may be able to make them up on your own initiative before applying—for example, by taking quantitative methods courses from other programs or departments, or through distance-learning universities.
It does not matter which department offers the courses or whether the degree program in which they were completed has been finished; what matters is that the courses were successfully completed and covered quantitative research methods/statistics.

What if my Bachelor’s degree certificate is not yet available?

If you do not have your final Bachelor’s certificate by the application deadline, you can still apply using a provisional certificate issued by your university’s examination office. You must also include an up-to-date Transcript of Records with your application. The final certificate must be submitted as soon as possible once it becomes available.
 

Where can I find information about course content and classes?

  • Information about the program structure and course content can be found in the Module Handbook (available in the download section).
  • Details about individual courses are listed in the alma-Portal under the tab “Studienangebot” (Course Offerings) → “6 Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Empirische Bildungsforschung / Empirische Bildungsforschung und Pädagogische Psychologie – Master of Science”.

Are there special requirements for international students?

Information and advising for international students can be found here.

This includes details about language courses and the application process for international applicants.
Since most courses in the EBPP Master’s program are currently taught in German, good to very good German language skills are required.

Contact for questions about applications and admissions for international students:
Laura Daza Enciso – Email: laura.daza-encisospam prevention@verwaltung.uni-tuebingen.de 

Is it possible to study the EBPP Master’s program part-time?

The program is designed as a full-time course of study. Depending on individual flexibility, it may still be possible to combine studies with part-time work.

However, please note that courses are held on all weekdays, and there are both weekly and block sessions. If you miss required courses in a given semester, you may have to take them the following year, which could delay your progress.

What is the “Application Day”?

Applicants who meet the admission requirements may be invited to an interview held in person at the Hector Institute of Educational Research in Tübingen. During this day, you can get to know the institute, your future classmates, the student association, and the city of Tübingen. Please reserve this date when submitting your application. The current dates are listed on the Application Day page.

How do the selection interviews work?

The purpose of the interview is to learn more about your motivation for the program and to discuss your previous knowledge (e.g., in statistics). The interview lasts about 25 minutes and takes place during the annual “Application Day” at the Hector Institute in Tübingen.
Up-to-date dates can be found on the Application Day page.

What are the language requirements for the Master’s in EBPP?

The language of instruction and examination in the EBPP Master’s program is German, although some courses and exams may be conducted in English. Most of the academic literature in Empirical Educational Research and Educational Psychology is in English, so students must have sufficient English proficiency. English skills at least at level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) are recommended.