MSc Psychology: Learning Sciences and Human Development Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

The interdisciplinary MSc Psychology: Learning Sciences and Human Development programme is offered by the Munich Center of the Learning Sciences (MCLS). It combines fundamental skills and expertise from the fields of psychology and education and has a clear focus on learning, research, and human development. The programme includes the following core themes:

• Human Development
• Cognition, Instruction, Learning, and Technology 
• Motivation and Emotion 
• Machine Learning, AI, and Computational Modelling of Cognition

The Munich Center of the Learning Sciences maintains a network of more than 30 universities with internationally acknowledged expertise in the field of learning sciences.

Interdisciplinary approach
Multiple academic disciplines investigate learning. In the past, they did so each in isolation. Yet highly relevant processes and systemic problems, such as drop-out rates in educational systems, can be addressed adequately only through interdisciplinary collaborations. The MSc Psychology: Learning Sciences and Human Development programme brings together researchers from psychology, educational science, neuroscience, biology, mathematics, medicine, and computer science who methodologically share an empirical and quantitative orientation.

Supportive environment
Orientation support is provided in our "Welcome Week" at the beginning of the semester. Additional tutoring is provided for specific courses, e.g. for statistics. General and academic advising is provided by the coordinator, the programme instructors, and guest professors.

Excellent training conditions for a select group of students
The MSc Psychology: Learning Sciences and Human Development is a research-oriented programme that promotes a select group of highly motivated students to engage in state-of-the-art research in the internationally emerging field of learning sciences. The programme encompasses training in interdisciplinary knowledge, research methods, and transferable skills related to learning sciences. Courses are taught in the form of seminars, small classes, and colloquia, rather than lectures. The programme uses innovative approaches to teaching and learning, such as problem-based learning and peer-to-peer teaching. We therefore emphasise the importance of in-class discussions and exchange between instructors and students.

The MSc Psychology: Learning Sciences and Human Development study programme is structured into 13 study modules consisting of six compulsory (P) and seven elective compulsory (WP) modules:

P1: Perspectives on Learning and Development focuses on introducing the key theoretical approaches from the fields of cognitive, emotional, educational and developmental psychology as well as machine learning and AI methods. 

P2: Evaluation and Research Methods offers students the knowledge and skills needed to implement empirical research as well as to analyse and interpret data.

P3: Assessment and Diagnostic Methods provides students with a comprehensive introduction to the basic principles of assessment and diagnostics as well as the knowledge required for conducting diagnostic interventions.

P4: Skill Building is designed to narrow the gap between the knowledge students gain in the study programme and their further professional career. Additionally, academic skills will be further developed, including open science practices and conference presentation skills.

P5: Internship Module provides students with the opportunity to apply their theoretically obtained knowledge in practice during an internship of min. 350 hours.

P6: Final Module supports students with completing an individual scientific project (Master's thesis) and presenting and discussing it in a colloquium.

Students also have the opportunity to specialise in two out of the three elective compulsory project modules. Each of these modules involves literature review, planning, designing, and conducting an empirical research project, as well as analysing, describing, and discussing its results.

WP5: Human Development deals with different psychological phenomena from the areas of cognition, emotion, learning, development.

WP6: Cognition, Instruction, Learning, and Technology deals with questions related to the application of modern instructional methods and digital technologies to learning and teaching processes.

WP7: Motivation and Emotion deals with factors that predict performance in both school-based and out-of-school learning and teaching contexts.

WP8: Machine Learning, AI, and Computational Modelling of Cognition deals with the application of AI methods in the field of the learning sciences.

In terms of elective compulsory modules, students can choose between:

ECM1 Teaching Science Perspectives: Provides students insights into Math, Biology, Physics, and Medical Education.

ECM2 Educational Systems Perspectives: Provides students insights into educational systems globally and views on educational sociology.

ECM3 Educational Counselling & Special Education Perspectives: Provides students insights into counselling in early development, educational contexts and for students with special needs.

Students must complete an internship of 350 hours (ten weeks, 12 ECTS credits) in a research or educational institution or an organisation/business related to education and/or psychology. The internship should provide students with practical experience and key skills in relevant fields.

Admission to the programme is granted based on a two-step eligibility procedure.
First, eligibility is assessed based on the following documents:

1. Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with credits in psychology, education, or in a related field and the corresponding transcript of records
2. Prior knowledge and experience in the following three fields:

• learning sciences (minimum of 20 ECTS*, 30 ECTS or more recommended for good chances of admission)
• scientific research methods and statistics (minimum of 20 ECTS, 30 ECTS or more recommended for good chances of admission)
• academic skills (minimum of 10 ECTS, 20 ECTS or more recommended for good chances of admission)

*ECTS = European Credit Point System, 1 ECTS corresponds to a workload of 30 hours (including in-class time and activities related to the courses that are performed outside of class)

3. Short test on scientific understanding and reasoning 
4. Motivation letter
5. CV – curriculum vitae with up-to-date information

The second step of the eligibility procedure is the participation in a selection interview.

97 Euro administrative fee per semester

Living costs (including accommodation and health insurance) in Munich range from 1,000 to 1,200 EUR per month.

Many Master's students choose to work as student or research assistants within the university. Others work in companies as working students.

You can find some helpful information on housing here: https://www.lmu.de/en/workspace-for-students/student-life/housing/index.html.