Psychosocial Counseling: Life & Social Counseling BPr. - Bachelor's Degree
Throughout their lives, people repeatedly face personal, professional, or family challenges. As a life and social counselor, you help them develop new perspectives, recognize their own resources, and find sustainable solutions for their individual situations. The focus here is not on treating mental illness, but on professionally supporting mentally healthy individuals in their personal development, decision-making processes, and during difficult life phases.
The part-time Bachelor’s Program in Psychosocial Counseling: Life & Social Counseling provides you with the theoretical, methodological, and practical knowledge you need to work responsibly in the field of psychosocial counseling. At the same time, you will continuously develop your own counseling skills through self-awareness exercises, supervision, peer groups, and extensive practical experience. After all, professional counseling always begins with reflecting on one’s own personality.
The Program is offered in cooperation with the Austrian Academy of Psychology (AAP) and concludes with the Academic Degree Bachelor Professional (BPr.). Upon successful completion, you will have the professional qualifications required to obtain a license to practice life and social counseling, opening up a wide range of career opportunities – from counseling centers and companies to your own private practice.
Bachelor Professional & Professional License
By earning a Bachelor Professional (BPr.) Degree, you will acquire the professional qualifications required to practice as a life and social counselor and lay the foundation for your career in psychosocial counseling.
Combine work and study
The Program combines in-person classes with online instruction, making it easy to balance with a full-time job. This allows you to build your professional qualifications step by step while working.
Learning from Experienced Professionals
The Higher Education Program is offered in cooperation with the Austrian Academy of Psychology (AAP). This accredited training institution combines scientific foundations with many years of practical experience in psychosocial counseling.
Make Counseling your Career.
Gain the qualifications needed for professional psychosocial counseling and provide expert support to people facing challenging life situations. With the Bachelor Professional Degree, you’ll lay the foundation for your future career as a life and social counselor.
Special Features of the Program
Professional Counseling requires reflecting on one’s own personality and actions. That is why self-awareness exercises, supervision, and regular reflection are integral parts of the entire Program. In this way, you will develop not only your counseling skills but also your personal approach as a life and social counselor.
Developing Consulting Skills step by step
From the basics of conversation skills to complex counseling processes, you’ll systematically build your skills. Theory, practical exercises, and real-life counseling situations are closely intertwined, providing you with targeted preparation for your day-to-day professional life.
Experience it firsthand instead of just learning about it
Practical training is a central component of the Program. Counseling sessions, peer groups, supervision, and work experience at practices and institutions allow you to apply your knowledge directly and continue to develop your skills.
Bridging the gap between Science and Practice
In addition to psychological and counseling methods, you will also engage in academic research. Your Bachelor’s Thesis offers you the opportunity to explore a topic in the field of psychosocial counseling from an academic perspective and to link it to your practical experience.
Providing Holistic Support to people
Psychosocial counseling takes a holistic view of a person’s life situation. During your studies, you will learn to identify individual resources, guide problem-solving processes, and provide professional support to people in various stages of life – always within the field of life and social counseling.
Details about the Program
Info Box
Qualification awarded
Bachelor Professional - BPr
ECTS Credits
180
Tuition fees
€3,000 per semester, including group self-experience
ÖH (Austrian Student Union) fee
€ 26.20 / semester
Info Box
Study format
Part-time, with on-campus and online teaching
Duration of study
6 Semester
Language of instruction
German
CU Campus
Online and on Campus Klagenfurt - Primoschgasse
Dates Infobox
January 15th, 2027
March 2027
The Bachelor's Degree Program is designed to be taken while working. Classes are held during in-person sessions and via online instruction.
- Semesters 1 - 2: Video conferences twice a week for approximately 3 hours; in-person sessions: 3 times, 3 days each, per semester (Fri - Sun)
- Semesters 3 - 4: Video conferencing twice a week for approximately 3 hours; in-person sessions: 4 three-day blocks (Fri - Sun) plus one intensive week of group self-awareness per semester (Mon - Fri)
- Semesters 5 - 6: Video conferences twice a week for approximately 3 hours; in-person sessions: 5 times, 3 days each, per semester (Fri - Sun)
Depending on your personal situation, various financial aid options are available for the Bachelor's Program.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Relevant professional qualification or
- several years of relevant professional experience
REGISTRATION
To register, we require the following documents:
- Current resume with photo
- Proof of meeting the admission requirements
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the “Psychosocial Counseling: Life & Social Counseling” Bachelor’s Degree
Life and Social Counseling or Psychotherapy?
Life and social counselors support mentally healthy people facing challenging life situations. Psychotherapy treats mental illnesses.
Do I need prior knowledge of Psychology?
No. The psychological foundations and methods of psychosocial counseling are systematically taught during the Program.
What admission requirements do I need to meet?
To be admitted, you need a relevant professional qualification or several years of relevant work experience. Your educational background will be reviewed during the application process to determine whether it meets the requirements.
Book an Online Information Session
Would you like to learn more about the program? In our online info sessions, we’ll introduce you to the program and answer your questions personally.
Klagenfurt Campus Süd
Virtual Campus Tour
Contact
Melina Hierländer, B.A., M.A.
Educational Programs
Coordinator +43 5 90500 4305
m.hierlaender(at)cuas.at
On foot
From Klagenfurt Central Station, you can reach the campus in about 20 minutes on foot (1.7 km). The route takes you east along Bahnstraße and then along Gerberweg to the campus.
By public transportation
From Klagenfurt Central Station, take Line A to the “FH Kärnten” stop operated by Stadtwerke Klagenfurt. From the station building, turn left toward the bus station.
By car
Coming from the west—for example, via the A10 Tauern Autobahn or A11 Karawanken Autobahn—take the A2 Südautobahn to the Klagenfurt/Wörthersee exit. Then follow the Südring for about 7 km and turn toward the city center at the Südring/Gerberweg intersection. After about 150 m, turn right toward the campus.
If you’re coming from the east, take the Klagenfurt-Ost exit on the A2 Südautobahn. Then drive toward Klagenfurt-Zentrum, continue along Völkermarkter Straße, and then turn left onto the Südring. At the Südring/Gerberweg intersection, turn toward the city center and, after about 150 m, turn right toward the campus.
Coming from the south, you can reach the campus via the B91 Rosentaler Straße. At the Rosentaler Straße/Südring intersection, turn onto the Südring and follow it for about 2.5 km to the Südring/Gerberweg intersection. There, turn toward the city center and, after about 150 m, turn right toward the campus.
Coming from the north, drive toward the city center on the B83 St. Veiter Straße until you reach the St. Veiter Straße/St. Veiter Ring intersection. Then follow St. Veiter Ring, then Völkermarkter Ring, and continue on Lastenstraße until you reach Gerberweg. After about 750 m, turn left toward the campus.
By Plane
There are several airports in the area to choose from:
- Klagenfurt: approx. 15-minute drive
- Ljubljana (Slovenia): approx. 1 hour 10 minutes by car
- Graz: about 1 hour and 30 minutes by car
- Salzburg: approx. 2 hours and 30 minutes by car
- Trieste and Venice (Italy): approx. 2 to 3 hours’ drive
- Vienna: approx. 3 hours 30 minutes drive
- Munich: approx. 4 hours 15 minutes travel time
The rest of the journey to the Klagenfurt Primoschgasse campus can then be completed by train, bus, taxi, or car.
Team & Contact
Dr. Dominik Holzer, BSc, MSc
Health & Social
Services +43 (0)5 90500-4233
d.holzer(at)cuas.at
DI Dr. Martin Nechtelberger
Organizational Director
+43 1 406 73 70
office(at)therapieausbildung.at
Andrea Nechtelberger, MBA, M.Ed.
Organizational Director
+43 1 406 73 70
office(at)therapieausbildung.at
Carmen Zernig-Malatschnig, M.A. (Natural Sciences)
Director, FH Kärnten Academy
+43 5 90500 4313
c.zernig-malatschnig(at)cuas.at
Melina Hierländer, B.A., M.A.
Educational Programs
Coordinator +43 5 90500 4305
m.hierlaender(at)cuas.at
Hermann Prader, BSc
E-Learning Coordinator