FAQ for MA Studies

General informations

• How long will my master’s studies take?

  You will probably need between four to five semesters to validate your master program. If you have an adjustment program to validate, this may extend your studies by one or two semesters. According to the Faculty rule, minimal duration is three semesters, the maximal duration 12 semesters.

• Can I start during the spring semester?

  Yes, it is possible, but it will probably extend your studies (at least one semester). This is mainly due to the conditions for starting a master thesis (see Master Exam on that page).

• How much are the semester fees?

  You can find this information on that page:
  https://www.unifr.ch/studies/en/organisation/administrative-services-unifr-students/university-fees/

• What financial support is available?

  Please have a look on that page
  https://www.unifr.ch/campus/en/support/financial-support/

• I have special needs. Can I benefit from some adjustments?

  You will be asked about your special needs during the online application procedure. Accommodation will be decided at university level.

Admission

• What are the admission criteria?

  You can find them on that page:
  https://www.unifr.ch/psycho/en/studies/master/admission-requirements.html.

• I have / will have a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Fribourg

  You have to “apply” for a change of study course on MyUnifr as soon as all 180 ECTS are validated (see Point 3 of “MyUnifr” guide FR – DE). You can find the deadlines for this change on this page (FR – DE) under “Master consécutif” / “Konsekutiver Master”.

• I have a bachelor’s degree but not from Fribourg

  Please ask the service for Admission and Registration to know whether your degree is recognised by the University:
  https://www.unifr.ch/studies/en/admission/contact-team/contact-forms/.

  You can find the admission procedure to the University of Fribourg on the following page:
  https://www.unifr.ch/studies/en/admission/admission-master/.

• I failed another master program in Psychology, can I be admitted?

  You can be admitted 5 years after the failure of the previous program (see art. 8 of Regulations concerning the admission and registration of students and auditors at the University of Fribourg):
  https://webapps.unifr.ch/legal/fr/document/1427544

• Do I need a proof of language proficiency to be admitted?

  No, but you should have at least a B2 level for the language in which the teaching units are given (see this page).

• When is the admission deadline?

  If your bachelor's degree is not from Fribourg, you find the deadline per semester on this page under application periods.

Complementary or prerequisite programme

• What is a complementary programme?

  You have to validate some classes at the bachelor's level. You can validate them at the same time as classes at the master’s level. The validation of this programme is mandatory to complete the master’s programme and to start the master’s thesis.

• What is a prerequisite programme?

  You have to validate some classes at the bachelor's level (up to 60 ECTS), usually over an academical year. You have to complete it before starting the master’s programme.

• What have I to do?

  Around the start of your first semester, you will receive the list of classes you have to validate to complete your complementary programme. On MyUnifr, you will find a third programme with some classes you can take. You have to validate only the list you received. Check the section “Classes” of the FAQ to learn more about the class registration.

• What happens if I fail this programme?

  A failure to this programme implies the exclusion from the master’s programme.

• When should I validate my complementary programme?

  You should validate it as soon as possible for two reasons. First, you must have validated it before starting your master’s thesis. Second, a failure to this programme implies a failure to the master’s programme.

Anticipated master

• I am finishing my bachelor studies at UNIFR. Can I already attend some master’s classes?

  You need to have validated at least 150 ECTS from you bachelor’s program to make a request for an anticipated master. This can be achieved by clicking on a specific button (“Anticiper un Master” / “Vorgezogenes Masterstudium”) in MyUnifr under “Cursus” / “Studien” (see p.3 of the guide MyUnifr FR / DE). You can find the deadlines for this procedure on this page (FR – DE) under “Master consécutif” / “Konsekutiver Master”.

Classes

• Are there classes to attend during a particular semester?

  No, you are responsible to pick up the classes you want to attend during a particular semester. There are however some mandatory classes that should be attended. It is recommended to validate at least two classes of the module “Methods in Psychology” during your first fall semester to be able to start your master thesis during the following spring semester.

• How many classes should I take per semester?

  It depends on you, but it is generally recommended to take about 30 ECTS per semester.

• Can I work part-time?

  Yes, since you choose which classes you want to attend each semester (except for the research colloquium). That provides you flexibility to combine your studies with a part-time job. Furthermore, you have up to 12 semesters to obtain your master's degree.

• How do I register for classes?

  You can register for classes each semester via MyUnifr.ch. The procedure is described under Point 4 of the MyUnifr-guide (FR / DE). You should use the field “Structure des études” / “Studienstruktur” to filter the classes corresponding only to your option (90-ECTS-program). This filter also allows you to select classes by module (see Figure 1 below).

  

  You should also use this filter when registering for classes of your specialisation program (30 ECTS-program) (see Figure 2 below).

  

• When do I register for classes?

  You can find the registration period by semester on the following pages:

  FR: https://www.unifr.ch/lettres/fr/etudes/cours-et-examens/inscription-aux-cours-et-examens/

  DE: https://www.unifr.ch/lettres/de/studium/kurse-und-examen/kurs-und-examenseinschreibung/

• Teaching units with a limited number of seats

  The “first come, first served” rule is applied. Be ready before midnight to register right after midnight. The seats are taken within the 5-10 first minutes after the opening of the registration period (see links below). If you did not obtain a seat, you will be on the waiting list. If someone cancelled his/her registration, this seat will be offered to people according to their position on the waiting list.

  FR: https://www.unifr.ch/lettres/fr/etudes/cours-et-examens/inscription-aux-cours-et-examens/

  DE: https://www.unifr.ch/lettres/de/studium/kurse-und-examen/kurs-und-examenseinschreibung/

• I do not want to attend a class anymore. What should I do?

  You have to unregister for this class during the cancellation period (see links below). If you forgot to unregister for a class on time, you have to validate it.

  FR: https://www.unifr.ch/lettres/fr/etudes/cours-et-examens/inscription-aux-cours-et-examens/

  DE: https://www.unifr.ch/lettres/de/studium/kurse-und-examen/kurs-und-examenseinschreibung/

• Can I miss sessions of the block course?

  You are allowed to miss a maximum of 20% of a block course.

• I cannot register for any classes. What can I do?

  Please check whether you paid your semester fees. You can find invoices and reminders at your unifr email address and on MyUnifr (see this page). Please expect some delay (i.e., some days) between the day of the payment and the access to class registration.

   

• I am from another Swiss University, and I wish to attend some classes in Fribourg. What to do?
  1. Check whether the classes are open to mobility students. You can find the classes for the next semester on that page. You may have to wait until May to know the classes of the fall semester.
  2. Register as a guest student.
  3. When registered, write an email to the secretary for the master studies indicating the classes you wish to attend during the period for classes registration [FR / DE]. Guest students cannot register to classes.
  4. Do not forget to register to the exam session during the dedicated period [FR / DE] to validate the classes.
  5. Ask the dean office [FR2 / DE2] for a transcript of records once the classes are validated.

Exams

• How does it work?

  You have two attempts to validate a class. The class has to be validated within four exam sessions after the end of the class, see table below for an example. That means that you have to register for the exam on MyUnifr.ch in the exam session(s) you wish to validate a class. The procedure is described under Point 5 of “MyUnifr” guide (FR / DE). You find the exam registration period on that page (FR / DE).

  End of the class	Exam session 1	Exam session 2	Exam session 3	Exam session 4
  Fall semester 2021	Winter 2022	Summer 2022	Fall 2022	Winter 2023
  Spring semester 2022	Summer 2022	Fall 2022	Winter 2023	Summer 2023

• I cannot participate to (an) exam(s). What should I do?

  You can unregister for exams during the cancellation period (see links below). If you cannot participate to the exam(s) for medical reasons, you have to provide a medical certificate to the department up to 7 days after the date of the exam(s), see art. 19 of the rules for obtaining a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the Faculty of Humanities. If your request is accepted, it will be counted as a “justified absence”. The attempt will not be counted, and you will have an additional exam session to register for.

  FR: https://www.unifr.ch/lettres/fr/etudes/cours-et-examens/inscription-aux-cours-et-examens/

  DE: https://www.unifr.ch/lettres/de/studium/kurse-und-examen/kurs-und-examenseinschreibung/

  Faculty rules: https://webapps.unifr.ch/legal/fr/document/2454944

• Is there any grade compensation possible?

  No, you have to pass each class you are registered for.

• Can I fail the master program?

  Yes, you can for any of the following reasons:

  • A mandatory class or two non-mandatory classes of the 90-ECTS main program is not validated
  • A class from any compensation program is not validated
  • You failed at two specialisation programs
  • You did not obtain your diploma within 12 semesters
• How can I obtain a transcript of records?

  You have to contact the faculty:

  FR: https://www.unifr.ch/lettres/fr/faculte/contact.html

  DE: https://www.unifr.ch/lettres/de/fakultaet/kontakt.html

Practical experience

• What is expected from me?
  • Duration: min. 320 hours
  • Possibility to split (for example 4 months at 50%)
  • Supervised by academically trained psychologists
• What do I have to do for this module?

  You can find all information regarding the practical experience on this page (see links below). For questions on this topic, please contact the coordinator of practical experiences.

  FR: https://www.unifr.ch/psycho/fr/etudes/stages/

  DE: https://www.unifr.ch/psycho/de/studium/praktika/

ECTS outside Fribourg

• I validated some ECTS at a master level before starting in Fribourg. Can they be recognised?

  You can submit a written request (letter) for credit recognition to the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Humanities (see point 2 in links below). If it is accepted, the department will contact you regarding the further procedure.

  FR: https://www.unifr.ch/lettres/fr/etudes/cours-et-examens/faq.html

  DE: https://www.unifr.ch/lettres/de/studium/kurse-und-examen/faq.html

• Can I validate classes from another Swiss university?

  Yes, please follow the instructions in the section Outgoing > Single classes on the mobility page.

• I wish to study one semester abroad. What should I do?

  Please check the section “Outgoing” of the mobility page for more information. The procedure needs time, please start it as soon as possible.

Validate ECTS in Fribourg for external students

• I wish to study a semester in Fribourg. What should I do?

  Please check the section “Incoming - Long stay” of the mobility page for more information:

  https://www.unifr.ch/psycho/en/studies/mobility/

• I wish to validate some ECTS in Fribourg. What do I have to do?

  Please check the section “Incoming - Single classes” of the mobility page for more information:

  https://www.unifr.ch/psycho/en/studies/mobility/

Break in studies / prolonged absence

• I cannot be there during one semester. What should I do?

  You can request a sabbatical semester by following the instructions on this page (see links below). If your request is accepted, you will be “out” for a semester. It means:

  • This semester and its exam session(s) will not be counted (fall semester: winter exam session; spring semester: summer and fall exam sessions). You will not “lose” a semester nor exam session(s).
  • You cannot register, nor validate classes, nor defend works during this semester
  • You will still be student since you will pay the ground fees (no “hole” in the résumé)
  • You do not have to inform the teaching staff about your absence. To facilitate the validation of the master colloquium, it would be greatly appreciated if you inform your thesis supervisor about your absence.

  FR : https://www.unifr.ch/studies/fr/organisation/prestations-admin-etudiants/demande-de-conge.html

  DE : https://www.unifr.ch/studies/de/studienorganisation/admin-dienstleistung-unifr-studierende/urlaubsgesuch.html

  EN : https://www.unifr.ch/studies/en/organisation/administrative-services-unifr-students/break-in-studies.html