Students on the Master's degree programme in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy and the Psychology Student Council at the University of Wuppertal are calling for legally secured funding for further training in psychotherapy. While the new degree programme has been running successfully since 2023, there is still a lack of prospects for subsequent further training. "The psychotherapy reform of 2019 was a necessary step. But: Hundreds of graduates are already waiting nationwide for further training places; from 2026, around 2,500 more will be added each year," summarises Fabian Illig from the Master's degree programme.

With the discussion on 30 September 2025 at 12 noon with Helge Lindh, Member of the Bundestag for Wuppertal, the students would like to present their individual concerns and highlight the consequences of the lack of funding. "The discussion with Helge Lindh is intended to emphasise how urgently the funding solution promised in the coalition agreement needs to be implemented," says student Fabian Illig.

Broad support

The initiative is supported by the professors of the University of Wuppertal in the field of clinical psychology and psychotherapy as well as the heads of the university outpatient psychotherapy clinics - Prof Dr Alexandra Martin for adults and Prof Dr Aleksandra Kaurin and Dr Anna Ball for children and adolescents. In addition to the students' personal accounts, they emphasise the impact of the lack of funding on psychotherapeutic care and the next generation of academics.

Without prompt political solutions, the initiators of the dialogue are also in agreement with the university management on the threat of further bottlenecks in the extremely tense supply situation. Rector Prof Dr Birgitta Wolff: "I am very grateful to the students and the specialist group for seeking a dialogue with politicians on this important issue on their own initiative." The German Rectors' Conference is also working to find solutions at a political level. "If the introduction of direct studies in psychotherapy at universities is really to achieve the goal desired by politicians of expanding the range of psychotherapy courses on offer in Germany, we believe that what is being called for here is the necessary next step," emphasises Wolff.

Representatives of the press are cordially invited to the discussion with Helge Lindh on 30 September at 12 noon in the lecture hall of the Rathaus Galerie (RG4.01.008a/b). Students are asked to register in advance.