A new German law might make it impossible for psychology students at Radboud to become psychotherapists in Germany. For many German students in Nijmegen, this is a disaster. ‘There is a lot of uncertainty.’

There are two constants at Radboud University: if there is an election, the campus votes left and if you meet a German student, chances are high that they are in the psychology programme. Hundreds of German students (see box) cross the border every year to escape the tough entry requirements for the psychology bachelor in their home country – many with the intention to return to Germany after their studies to become psychotherapists. But a new German law might render this impossible in the future.

The reason is a reform of the German psychotherapy system. The reform, which went into effect in 2020, introduced new requirements for students to qualify for a German psychotherapy master: in order to start on the psychotherapist trajectory in Germany, bachelor students have to take a psychotherapy bachelor or a psychology bachelor with an extended clinical focus. Psychology bachelors following the old model – such as the psychology bachelor at Radboud – are therefore unlikely to fulfil the requirements. Affected are all students who have started their studies after the 1^st of September 2020. (For more information, see the summary by the Köln-Bonn Akademie für Psychotherapie and the official statement by the Bundesministerium für Gesundheit ed.)

Affected students

‘I am quite disappointed’, says Anna Brinckmann, a German second-year psychology student at Radboud. ‘But mostly, I’m angry at myself for not looking closer into the law when I started my studies at Radboud University. I knew that there was a change before I applied, but no-one really understood the impact this would have on us.’ Despite the issue, Brinckmann doesn’t regret her studies at Radboud. ‘I really like the psychology programme. But my whole family lives in Germany, so I would like to move back sooner or later.’

‘No-one really understood the impact this would have on us’

Brinckmann tries to remain positive about the future: ‘Some days, I’m optimistic and hope that things will work out. But realistically speaking, I think it will be difficult to become a psychotherapist in Germany with my degree. Maybe outright impossible.’ For now, Brinckmann, like many of her fellow students, is trying to make sense of the situation. ‘There is a lot of uncertainty about the consequences of the law. I think we need to stand together and raise more awareness of the issue. Especially for prospective students, so they know that there might be a future issue.’

University response

According to Maartje Zijlmans, study coordinator of Radboud’s psychology programme, the university has been aware of this problem for quite some time now. (See here if you’re reading this on a university computer.) ‘At the beginning of 2021, we had several meetings with other universities in the eastern part of the Netherlands to see what these changes would mean for our current and prospective students.’

According to Zijlmans, it remains unclear whether the changing requirements to become a psychotherapist in German will have an effect on enrolment numbers in the long-term. For now, numbers have remained stable: ‘We have received questions about this issue during the bachelor’s open day, but there is no indication that the enrolment numbers have decreased for the upcoming year.’ One reason for that, says Zijlmans, might be the other possible job opportunities a psychology bachelor still offers.

Collective action

The German second-year psychology students at Radboud University are already coming together to share their information in a WhatsApp group. One of the students responsible for a lot of the communication is Valerio La Mendola: ‘We are currently around 70 people in the group who are all trying to find some answers. There is quite a lot of defeatism, but we are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.’

‘We are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst’

As an EU citizen, La Mendola also questions the decision taken by Germany: ‘The goal of the Bologna Process was to ensure that students could move freely in the EU. If Germany suddenly does not allow foreign psychology students to transfer their degree, it would be very discriminatory.’ While La Mendola does not believe that Radboud University carries a responsibility for helping Germans to go back home, he has asked the study advisors for help: ‘If we are allowed to take some free electives at a German university next year, we might have a chance to be admitted to the German master. But it is still uncertain if Radboud will allow it.’

However, explains Zijlmans, a lot of uncertainty about the new German law and what it means for Radboud students remains. The university is currently informing students about developments on their website (see link above) and in information sessions. And when it comes to the future of psychology in Nijmegen? Zijlmans: ‘We will keep an eye on the developments in the psychotherapist trajectory and inform students accordingly.’