Nationwide
Psychological counseling for students nationwide
For students, the first place to go is the psychological counseling of the Studierendenwerk (your university’s student services organization) or of your own university. In most of the cities below it is free. The directory of the Deutsches Studierendenwerk shows which service is responsible for your university. Studifit also counsels by video, anywhere in Germany.
21 university cities
For each of these cities we have put together the Studierendenwerk’s counseling, the counseling of the large universities, a university clinic for psychotherapy (Hochschulambulanz) and the training advisors of the chambers. The figures are for the winter semester 2024/25 and come from the analysis by Studis Online of the Federal Statistical Office’s preliminary report, not counting distance-learning universities.
| City | Students | First place to go | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin | 200,339 | studierendenWERK BERLIN: Psychotherapeutische Beratung | Free |
| Munich | 136,538 | Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern: Psychotherapeutische und Psychosoziale Beratung | Free if you have paid the student services fee |
| Hamburg | 97,043 | Universität Hamburg: Psychologische Beratung im Campus-Center | Free |
| Cologne | 96,293 | Kölner Studierendenwerk: Psychologische Beratung | The first five appointments are free, then €2.50 per appointment |
| Frankfurt | 69,406 | Studierendenwerk Frankfurt am Main: Psychosozialberatung (PSB) | Free |
| Münster | 60,287 | Universität Münster: Psychologische Beratung der Zentralen Studienberatung | Free |
| Aachen | 57,638 | RWTH Aachen: Psychologische Beratung der Zentralen Studienberatung | Free |
| Düsseldorf | 50,985 | Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf: Psychologische Beratung | Free |
| Bochum | 50,654 | Ruhr-Universität Bochum: Psychologische Studienberatung | Groups and coaching are free; the page lists no costs for one-on-one sessions |
| Dortmund | 48,424 | Studierendenwerk Dortmund: Psychologische Beratung (PSBE) | Free for students of TU Dortmund, FH Dortmund, FH Südwestfalen and FernUniversität in Hagen |
| Stuttgart | 45,299 | Studierendenwerk Stuttgart: Beratungsstelle für Studierende | Free |
| Karlsruhe | 34,093 | Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe: Psychotherapeutische Beratungsstelle (PBS) | Free |
| Göttingen | 34,450 | Studierendenwerk Göttingen: Psychosoziale Beratung (PSB) | Individual and group counseling free, some courses with outside instructors €20 |
| Bielefeld | 37,422 | Universität Bielefeld: Psychologische Beratung der Zentralen Studienberatung | Free |
| Regensburg | 31,756 | Studierendenwerk Niederbayern/Oberpfalz: Psychologische Beratung | Free |
| Bremen | 32,028 | Studierendenwerk Bremen: Psychologische Beratungsstelle (PBS) | Free |
| Würzburg | 32,587 | Studierendenwerk Würzburg: Psychotherapeutische Beratungsstelle (PBS) | One-time registration fee of €10, no further costs after that |
| Leipzig | 41,524 | Studentenwerk Leipzig: Psychosoziale Beratung | Free |
| Dresden | 35,460 | Studentenwerk Dresden: Psychosoziale Beratungsstelle (PSB) | Not stated |
| Heidelberg | 37,396 | Studierendenwerk Heidelberg: Psychosoziale Beratung für Studierende (PBS) | No fees are charged |
| Erlangen | 30,562 | Studierendenwerk Erlangen-Nürnberg: Psychologische Beratung | Contribution of €10 per counseling session, can be waived if money is tight |
Counseling by video, wherever you study
Not every university has its own psychological counseling. Some Studierendenwerke serve universities in several cities. If the counseling near you is full or you would rather talk from home, a video session works from anywhere. Several Studierendenwerke now also counsel by phone or video, for example in Berlin, Munich and Dortmund.
For apprentices
Apprentices have no Studierendenwerk. For problems at work, with your training or at vocational school, the training advisors of the chamber responsible for your training company can help. Training advice is a legal duty of the chambers (Section 76 of the Vocational Training Act). You find your IHK (Chamber of Industry and Commerce) with the IHK-Finder, your Handwerkskammer (Chamber of Skilled Crafts) in the overview of the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH). If you are struggling emotionally, your family doctor is a good first point of contact; the 116 117 service arranges appointments for an initial psychotherapy consultation.
If things are really bad right now
TelefonSeelsorge 0800 111 0 111, free, 24/7, anonymous, in German. On-call medical service 116 117. If your life or someone else's is in immediate danger: emergency number 112. More on our page In a crisis.
And Studifit?
If you are also looking for someone to talk to: Studifit is psychological counseling by video for students and apprentices, with appointments within a few days. Our counselors have a bachelor's degree in psychology and work under the supervision of licensed psychotherapists, in one-on-one sessions of 50 minutes. Studifit is not psychotherapy and is not covered by health insurance; we do not make diagnoses. What a session costs is on our pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my Studierendenwerk’s psychological counseling?
The Deutsches Studierendenwerk, the umbrella organization of the student services organizations, keeps a directory of the psychological counseling services of all Studierendenwerke, searchable by university location. Where the Studierendenwerk has no psychological counseling of its own, the university’s central student advisory service (Zentrale Studienberatung) usually counsels.
Where do apprentices get help?
Apprentices have no Studierendenwerk. For problems at work, the training advisors of the responsible IHK (Chamber of Industry and Commerce) or Handwerkskammer (Chamber of Skilled Crafts) can help. The appointment service at 116 117 arranges an appointment for an initial psychotherapy consultation. Studifit counsels apprentices just like students.
Can I use Studifit from anywhere in Germany?
Yes. Sessions take place by video, so it does not matter where you live or study. Studifit is psychological counseling, not psychotherapy, and it is not covered by health insurance.
No longer studying and not in vocational training? Psychofit counsels everyone, at every stage of life.