Biopsychology – UP Famnit

Programme information

Curriculum

Course description

Presentation of the study

The master’s study programme Biopsychology is conducted in Slovenian language.

The study programme is designed as an advanced and in-depth level of study, enabling students to gain a broader and more specialised understanding of the human mind. It focuses on a deeper understanding of the interplay between biological and psychological factors and offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of mental processes. The programme integrates theoretical and applied knowledge from psychology, neuroscience, and healthcare, with an emphasis on understanding the functioning of the brain, the nervous system, and modern diagnostic procedures.

The programme includes content from health and clinical psychology and develops practical skills for work in the fields of mental health, counselling, and prevention. Graduates acquire competences for independent professional work, interdisciplinary collaboration, research activities, and continuation of studies at the doctoral level in Slovenia or abroad. The programme promotes critical thinking, the use of scientific methods, and the integration of contemporary natural and social science approaches in understanding individual and group behaviour.

Programme information

Programme name: Biopsychology

Type of programme: master’s study programme, 2nd cycle

Degree awarded: “magister biopsihologije” equiv. to a Master’s degree in Biopsychology

Duration: 2 years (4 semesters)

ECTS-credits: 120

Mode of study: full-time

Language of instruction: Slovene

Place of study: Koper, Izola (partly)

Accreditation: the programme is accredited in accordance with the Higher Education Act and is officially recognised.

Admission to the 1st year shall be granted to applicants who:

a) have completed the first-cycle study programme in the study field of biopsychology or psychology;

b) have completed a first-cycle study programme in other study fields, provided that they have also completed the academic requirements (of up to 60 ECTS credits) deemed essential for continuing their studies. Candidates can complete these additional requirements during their undergraduate studies, in training programmes, or by passing the exams (courses) prior to their enrolment in the Master’s degree programme. Individual applications shall be considered by the Committee of Academic and Student Affairs of UP FAMNIT;

c) have completed an equivalent training abroad and have been, in the process of recognition of their qualification and in line with the Recognition and Evaluation of Education Act, granted the right to continue their studies in the Master’s degree programme in Biopsychology.

In the case of enrolment limitations, applicants shall be selected on the basis of the average grade obtained in the undergraduate studies (one of their academic requirements is also the Final Project Paper completed during their undegraduate studies).

Candidates who are required to complete additional requirements for admission to the master’s study programme attend bridging courses that are part of the undergraduate study programme in Biopsychology at UP FAMNIT. These bridging courses are carried out within the regular study process, meaning that candidates join regular classes together with undergraduate students. At the beginning of each course, candidates receive all necessary information regarding the course structure, requirements, literature, and other relevant details. Most courses also include compulsory forms of work (exercises and/or seminars), for which at least 80% attendance is required. As the timetable is designed for first-cycle students, candidates are advised to contact the course instructors in advance in case of scheduling conflicts and agree individually on arrangements for participation.

“Transfer between study programmes” refers to a situation in which a student enrolled in a particular study programme does not complete it (i.e. discontinues education in the enrolled programme) and directly enrols into a higher year of a new study programme, whereby both the previous and the new programme must belong to the same Bologna cycle (level). When considering the possibility of transferring to a new study programme, the comparability of the programmes and the student’s completed study requirements in the previous programme are taken into account.

Admission to the 2nd year of the master’s study programme in Biopsychology on the basis of the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes is granted to candidates, provided that the following conditions have been met:

the candidate fulfils the requirements for admission to the study programme in Biopsychology;
completion of the first study programme which the candidate is transferring from ensures the acquisition of comparable competencies as those envisaged by the study programme in Biopsychology; and
other conditions in accordance with the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes have also been met (a comparable course structure, course requirements completed).

Individual applications for transfer shall be considered by the Committee for Study and Student Affairs of UP FAMNIT. Apart from comparability between both fields of study, the committee shall also consider the comparability between the study programmes, in accordance with the Criteria for Transferring between Study Programmes. The Committee may also assign bridging exams to the candidate.

A candidate transferring from a related study programme abroad may also be admitted under the transfer criteria, provided that, in accordance with the law, they have been granted the right to continue their studies in the master’s study programme in Biopsychology through the recognition procedure of foreign education.

In the event of limited enrolment, candidates are selected based on the average grade of all completed study requirements in the study programme from which the candidate is transferring.

A student may progress to the next year if they accumulate at least 48 ECTS credits from the enrolled year.

In special cases involving individual circumstances (such as illness or extraordinary situations), a student may be allowed to progress to the next year even with a lower number of ECTS credits. In such cases, the decision on enrollment is made by the Committee for Study and Student Affairs of UP FAMNIT.

A student who has not completed all the requirements specified by the study programme for progression to the next year may repeat a year once during their studies. If a student repeats a year, they are not entitled to absolvent year, and their student status expires at the end of the 2nd year.

By progressing or repeating a year, a student retains student status and, consequently, the rights and benefits defined by law. In accordance with the law, a student may apply for an extension of student status, but for no more than one year.

In the 1st year of study, students select one internal or external elective course, while in the 2nd year they select two internal or external elective courses.

As internal elective courses, students may also choose courses from the master’s study programme in Psychology (provided they are not compulsory courses of the Biopsychology programme) and the course Computational Social Science (offered within the master’s study programme in Computer Science).

More information on elective courses and study tracks is available in the document “Curriculum” (see above).

In the 2nd year of studies, students are required to complete compulsory practical training in the workplace (traineeship), which is assigned a total of 15 ECTS credits and comprises 200 hours of work (typically 5 weeks of 40 hours, or less if conducted over a longer period of time).

The purpose of the practical training is to transfer theoretical knowledge into practice in companies, non-governmental organisations, or public institutions. Each student is assigned a mentor from the relevant field, and the choice of institution is approved by the coordinator. Upon completion of the training, the coordinator reviews the report and evaluates the student’s work.

Students usually arrange their practical training independently, while a list of organisations that have previously hosted students is available from the practical training coordinator.

General competencies

Willingness for continuous professional development and self-reflection.
Ability to integrate scientific and professional knowledge with related disciplines.
Ability to think abstractly and critically, and to translate theoretical concepts into practice.
Orientation towards interdisciplinary research.
Development and evaluation of interventions targeting individuals, groups, or society.
Application of acquired knowledge in practical situations.
Ability to apply acquired knowledge and skills in research and professional work.
Formulation of a personal professional strategy for problem-solving.
Problem-oriented approach to addressing various issues.
Searching for and selecting relevant literature.
Searching for, selecting, adapting, or developing methods, techniques, and instruments.
Preparation of written outputs: situation analyses, intervention plans, and research reports.
Presentation of research findings.
Communication skills.
Commitment to continuous personal and professional development.
Ability to evaluate one’s own knowledge in relation to achieving set objectives.
Development of ethical responsibility in counselling individuals and groups.
Identification of needs and definition of goals in biopsychological assessment.
Analysis, identification, and evaluation of key characteristics of individuals and groups.
Development of appropriate theory-based interventions.
Planning and implementation of interventions.
Evaluation of implemented interventions in practice and formulation of recommendations.
Ability to observe, gather information, and critically assess problems.
Knowledge of learning theories, types of memory, and the neurobiological basis of these processes.

Subject-specific competencies

Knowledge of different quantitative and qualitative research designs and data collection methods.
Understanding of the purpose and application of research methods in the natural and social sciences, with emphasis on neuroscience, psychological science, ethology, genetics, and behavioural genetics.
Ability to integrate scientific disciplines in an interdisciplinary manner (psychology, mental health, psycho- and sociopathology, neuroscience, etc.).
Understanding theory through applied examples.
Ability to transfer methodological knowledge and apply it independently in research.
Ability to analyse and compare different research designs and methods in relation to a research problem.
Ability to creatively design research and combine research methods.
Awareness of the limitations of research methods and ethical dilemmas, and the ability to critically reflect on biopsychological research.
In-depth knowledge of basic (univariate and bivariate descriptive and inferential) statistics, as well as advanced multivariate statistics.
Understanding the purpose and application of individual multivariate statistical techniques.
Ability to independently perform (multivariate) statistical analyses using established statistical software.
Ability to compare different multivariate analysis techniques and select the most appropriate for a specific research problem.
Understanding of the interaction between genetics and environment in shaping behavioural patterns.
Knowledge and understanding of techniques and strategies used to determine the genetic basis of behavioural patterns in humans and animals.
Ability to define certain behavioural disorders and diseases and relate them to the activity of specific genes or gene sets, while also considering environmental influences.
Understanding the transmission of genetic information in diseases and disorders to explain resulting behavioural responses.
Knowledge and understanding of the causes and development of central nervous system disorders.
Knowledge of basic methods of treatment and research in the field of central nervous system diseases.
Knowledge and skills for diagnostic assessment of the central nervous system and identification of biological markers of disorders.
Understanding of fundamental theoretical models in clinical psychology.
Knowledge and differentiation of basic characteristics of various mental disorders.
Ability to apply ethical principles in clinical psychology and the broader field of psychology.
Ability to demonstrate empathy, active listening, and conduct psychological interviews.
Knowledge of fundamental models of psychological counselling.
Knowledge of different types of interviews, with emphasis on the psychological interview.
Understanding and critical analysis of interview implementation in relation to client needs and assessment purposes.
Definition of interview objectives and evaluation criteria based on those objectives.
Planning of activities and interventions based on information obtained through interviews.
Ability to establish a counselling relationship and define goals.
Competence in applying fundamental psychological counselling skills.
Evaluation of the appropriateness of planned interventions (planning, measurement and analysis, validity, reliability).
Ability to critically evaluate and analyse scientific and professional knowledge in the field of health psychology.
Ability to apply theoretical knowledge and implement interventions in applied settings/field work.
Ability to plan therapeutic activities and interventions.
Critical understanding of different approaches to interventions for individuals and groups.
Ability to integrate theoretical knowledge acquired during studies with practical work experience.
Ability to collaborate with professional colleagues in a real working environment.
Knowledge of contemporary approaches in neuropsychological research and methods in neuropsychology and biopsychology.
Understanding of human perception of space/environment.

The education of graduates offers a wide range of career opportunities in government services, the service sector, entrepreneurship, non-governmental organisations, research and development activities, and more. The study programme is designed to be comparable with similar programmes abroad and aims to ensure the employability of graduates both nationally and in the international environment. It enables students to further develop and expand their knowledge of fundamental psychological principles, brain functioning, and the laws of human behaviour through master’s studies, within which they develop competences for a confident entry into the labour market.

Given the content of the study programme, graduates may find employment in healthcare and social welfare, where competences related to psychological counselling, knowledge of mental health disorders, and mental health prevention are highly valued. Employment opportunities for Master of Biopsychology graduates can also be found in numerous non-governmental organisations involved in the promotion and strengthening of mental health, counselling, and support for various vulnerable groups.

In addition to the aforementioned positions, more specialised roles may also be available to biopsychologists, given their specific understanding of the influence of biological factors on human mental functioning. They may find employment in the field of sports, wellness centres, and similar sectors where physical and mental activity intersect, in the pharmaceutical sector (e.g. drug development), in the integration of nutrition and psychology, and in non-governmental organisations such as associations addressing specific groups (e.g. people with diabetes, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, etc.).

In the corporate environment, biopsychologists can, due to their in-depth understanding of physiological processes, contribute to consultancy work for companies or other economic entities where employees are exposed to physical strain, or where knowledge of personality and mental health, as well as other physiological characteristics, is particularly relevant.

The programme also enables graduates to continue their education, particularly by further specialising through doctoral (3rd cycle) studies at Slovenian or foreign universities offering related or complementary study, professional training, and research opportunities.

The study of biopsychology also provides fundamental knowledge and skills necessary for further specialist education in the field of psychotherapy.

Application and Enrollment

Brochure

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