Applied Family Sciences

This Master’s degree course features:

• an interdisciplinary view of topics from family sciences and their analysis
• closely interrelated academic and practical elements
• opportunities for students to link up their existing professional knowledge and experience with current insights and innovative academic methodologies
• the chance to gain enhanced research experience on practice-related projects
• an internationally recognised Master of Arts (M.A.) degree
• the opportunity to proceed to doctoral study if desired (subject to the regulations of the higher education institution then joined)
• an accredited degree course
• flexibility thanks to significant self-study elements
• in-person attendance in blocks of several consecutive days rather than weekly sessions
• the opportunity for non-graduates to access a Master’s degree programme via entrance examination

This continuing education degree course, studied part-time over five semesters, is targeted towards professionals experienced in the field of working with families who wish to update their academic and research knowledge in family sciences and advance their careers by aiming for academic and/or management positions. You should be interested in pursuing a professional career working with families and exploring the associated issues. You’ll do best if you’re open to new academic discoveries and willing to reflect upon your own family situation.

Family sciences encompass a wide range of fields and roles, largely centring around the provision of advisory, support and education services to families. Potential roles include delivering advice, working in inpatient units and community paediatric mental health services, hospitals and outpatient practices, for third-sector organisations, schools, childcare providers, family support centres, in parenting education, and in community and continuing education centres. Other areas of work for graduates in family sciences might include public authorities, professional and special interest associations, political parties, religious organisations, businesses, training providers, and higher education and research institutions or foundations.

Families are at the heart of all the questions the course’s curriculum explores. On the basis of an interdisciplinary structure, the course examines historical, cultural, economic, political, clinical, psychological, legal and sociological aspects of the family, teaching academic and theoretical content and professional skills in continuous reference to professional practice. In acquiring a methodological toolkit containing empirical techniques, students investigate and come to understand issues around family development, behaviours, structures and problems. Applied modules give them the opportunity to translate their new knowledge and skills into practice. There is a particular emphasis here on management, leadership and advisory competencies.

The course’s modules revolve around:

• Key aspects of applied family sciences
• General psychology of the family
• Sociology of the family
• Clinical psychology of the family
• Family cultures
• Political, legal and economic aspects of the family
• Migration and the family
• Master's thesis, accompanied by a research colloquium

Applied modules explore:

• Academic methods and good academic practice
• Applied research skills (qualitative and quantitative methods in empirical social research)
• Applied skills in advice provision
• Applied leadership skills

You will need to submit, or provide proof of, the following:

1. A relevant first degree (Bachelor’s, German Diplom or Magister, German 2. Staatsexamen in a relevant subject or subjects, or equivalent) worth at least 210 credit points
2. OR a relevant first degree worth 180 credit points, along with other relevant qualifications, certificates or experience equivalent to a further 30 credit points
3. OR an appropriate higher education entrance qualification and successful completion of an entrance examination (see below)
4. At least one year’s relevant professional experience; the requirement is at least five years if you are applying via entrance examination (without a first degree)
5. A letter of motivation
6. A CV, setting out your personal and professional development to date
7. Proof of any courses or examinations taken at a higher education institution, converted into credit point values (original documents or officially certified copies)
8. Written references from previous/current employers and/or proof of professional experience to date (original documents or officially certified copies)
9. Any certificates or confirmation of attendance from continuing education courses taken (original documents or officially certified copies)
10. International applicants (those who did not achieve their first degree at a higher education institution in a German-speaking country) are required to submit the original, or an officially certified copy, of proof of having passed an internationally recognised test of proficiency in the German language, at DSH 2 level or higher

An admissions committee considers all applications and takes decisions on recognition of qualifications and achievements and on exceptions from the criteria set out above, as well as administering the entrance examination for non-graduate applicants. Further details are provided in the Admissions Policy for this course.

N.B.: Applicants whose Bachelor’s degrees are equivalent to 180 credit points are required to attain a further 30 credit points, which may be from examinations taken before commencing the degree course or from recognition of professional or other achievements. More details are provided in the Admissions Policy. Your academic course contact listed below will be happy to respond to any further queries on this topic. 

The next intake is for summer semester 2024, and the start date is 1 April 2024. Applications can now be submitted. The deadline is 30 November 2023.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact us: familienwissenschaften(@)haw-hamburg.de

If you wish to apply, please submit the following documents by email:

• A letter of motivation
• A CV, including a recent photograph
• School-leaving and degree certificates, certificates for continuing education courses attended, proof of professional experience/placements, etc.
• If required, proof of successful completion of a test of German language proficiency

Your application will be considered by our admissions committee, which may then invite you to interview and/or to take the entrance examination as appropriate.