Sigmund Freud University

As the first university in the world to organize study programmes in the field of psychotherapy, Sigmund Freud University in Vienna sets new standards of education in this field, stressing the relevance of practice and academic exchange between different schools of psychotherapy and research institutions.
Modern scientific psychotherapy originated about 300 years ago, and for the past 100 years efforts to conceptualize and complete the psychotherapy as a scientific discipline have been intensified, wherein Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) played a crucial role. Since Freud’s time, psychotherapy developed in different directions, based on a variety of methodological approaches and innovations. In the meanwhile many similarities between different currents in psychotherapy had been taken notice of, thousands of studies and inquiries have proven the efficacy of psychotherapeutical treatment.
For the last 20 years, experts from all around the world have oriented their work and research towards establishing psychotherapy as a special scientific research discipline and independent profession. In that sense, events taking place in Austria played extremely important role, especially in relation to the Law on Psychotherapy in 1990 passed by the Austrian parliament. Provisions of this law define psychotherapy as an independent profession with its own standards and regulations, and also methods of training and education based on scientific findings.
Accordingly, the Sigmund Freud University recognized the importance of organizing psychotherapy training with regard to the standards of university education, and so in result on this university primary and master studies are held in the fields of psychology and psychotherapy, as well as numerous scientific researches in these fields. In its work the Sigmund Freud University combines three basic principles of psychotherapy training: self-awareness, practical training under supervision and theoretical input.
 
The primary studies last for three years. The master studies last for two years. Afterwards, a student receives his/her degree form the Sigmund Freud University in Vienna.