'German Universities of Education: Where to Study Erziehungswissenschaft
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Education in Germany is not a single field with a uniform career path. If your goal is to work as a school teacher, you usually need a Lehramt: the program is structured around the school system, subject areas, the federal state, and the subsequent Referendariat. If, however, you’re interested in education more broadly—such as social pedagogy, adult education, educational organizations, research, training, youth work, or educational project management—then you’ll most often look into Erziehungswissenschaft or Pädagogik.
The list below is not an official ranking, but rather a practical selection of universities offering notable programs in Educational Science (Erziehungswissenschaft) or Pedagogy (Pädagogik) and related master’s programs. Before applying, you should check the language of instruction, the NC, application deadlines (Bewerbungsfrist), German language requirements, and rules for the recognition of prior education on the specific program’s page.
Features of Teacher Education in Germany
Erziehungswissenschaft, Pädagogik, and Lehramt are often confused, even though they are different educational paths.
Erziehungswissenschaft / Pädagogik studies education, upbringing, socialization, adult education, social work, educational organizations, and educational research. Graduates can work in educational institutions, social projects, youth welfare services (Jugendhilfe), continuing education (Weiterbildung), HR training, NGOs, and academic and administrative organizations. Specific job positions depend on the program’s focus, practical experience, language, and employer requirements.
Lehramt—the path to becoming a schoolteacher. In Germany, it is tied to the federal state, the type of school, and the combination of subjects. In some states, the program culminates in the Staatsexamen; in others, the Bachelor of Education/Master of Education system is used, with the Master’s degree often serving as the first state examination. The university phase is usually followed by practical training at a school—the Referendariat—and a subsequent state examination.
Therefore, it is incorrect to choose the “best university for education” without clarifying your specific goals. For a teaching degree (Lehramt), the federal state, school system, subject combination, and recognition of qualifications are more important. For Educational Science (Erziehungswissenschaft), the department’s profile, research focus, practical training, available master’s programs, and career path after the bachelor’s degree are more important.
5 Universities in Germany for Studying Pedagogy and Educational Science
Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena
At the University of Jena, Educational Science can be studied as a major (Kernfach) or a minor (Ergänzungsfach) within a multi-major bachelor’s program (Mehrfach-Bachelor). The program is suitable for those who want to gain an understanding of the theory and practice of education, socialization, and upbringing, and then continue their studies in a master’s program or enter the fields of education and social work.
Jena’s strength lies in the integration of its bachelor’s programs with specialized master’s programs. For example, the M.A. in Educational Science – Social Pedagogy/Social Management focuses on social-pedagogical and organizational issues, management, the analysis of professional practice, and potential academic careers.
What to check before applying:
- the format of the subject combination in the bachelor’s program;
- German language requirements;
- Application deadlines (Bewerbungsfrist) for major (Kernfach) and minor (Ergänzungsfach);
- whether the chosen bachelor’s program is suitable for the desired master’s program.
University of Tübingen
At the University of Tübingen, the field of education is centered at the Institute for Educational Science. At the bachelor’s level, options include, in particular, Educational Science and Social Work/Adult Education as a major and Educational Science as a minor. At the master’s level, the institute offers several tracks, including Education and Upbringing: Culture – Politics – Society, School Research and School Development, Research and Development in Social Pedagogy/Social Work, and Adult Education/Continuing Education.
Tübingen is particularly appealing to those who wish to combine teacher education with social work, adult education, school research, or educational policy. Note that the Lehramt program at the university follows a separate structure through the Tübingen School of Education and depends on the chosen school track.
Ruhr University Bochum
At Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Educational Science is offered as a dual-major bachelor’s program. This means that Educational Science is studied in combination with a second subject. The program covers issues of education, upbringing, and socialization from historical, psychological, sociological, and research perspectives.
At the master’s level, RUB offers an M.A. in Educational Science, which is open to graduates of Educational Science or related programs who meet the credit requirements. The university’s program description lists potential career fields, including educational institutions, government ministries, international organizations, project-based organizations, and research.
Who should consider Bochum:
- for those interested in a double-major bachelor’s degree;
- students who value an interdisciplinary approach;
- For those considering a Master of Arts degree rather than just a teaching degree (Lehramt).
Justus-Liebig University Giessen
At Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, the focus on education is evident in the “Berufliche und Betriebliche Bildung” (Vocational and Corporate Education) track. The bachelor’s programs are offered in cooperation with Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen and lead to a versatile degree: graduates may pursue careers in corporate training, vocational education, and continuing education, as well as transition into a specialized master’s program.
Important: The master’s programs in “Berufliche und Betriebliche Bildung” at Giessen prepare students for a teaching position at vocational schools (Lehramt an Beruflichen Schulen). Therefore, this option is particularly appealing to those interested in vocational schools, vocational education (berufliche Bildung), corporate training, or a university with an applied technical focus.
Before making a choice, be sure to check the specific professional specialization, internship requirements, the option to combine the program with a THM, and the rules for transferring into a master’s program.
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg offers a BA in Educational Science in 180 LP and 90 LP tracks, as well as a MA in Educational Science (120 LP). The master’s program focuses on in-depth educational reflection, theory, research methods, and professional development for teaching practice, leadership roles, or academic research.
At MLU, there is a distinct distinction between the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in Educational Science (Hauptfachstudiengänge) and the Teacher Education program (Lehramt). Lehramt students should contact their respective departments and the Prüfungsamt, while separate rules regarding modules, internships, and exams apply to the Educational Science program.
This university is worth considering for those who need a broad research and theoretical focus in Educational Science, as well as for those who want to understand in advance the difference between a bachelor’s or master’s degree in pedagogy and a school teaching degree (Lehramt).
How to Choose a Program
To start with, it’s better to ask yourself not “which university is the best,” but “what career do I want to pursue?”
| Goal | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Becoming a School Teacher | Teaching Certification (Lehramt), Federal State (Bundesland), School Type (Schulform), Subject Combination, Teaching Practicum (Referendariat), State Examination (Staatsexamen), or Master of Education |
| Working in Social Pedagogy | Educational Science, Social Pedagogy, Social Work, internships, and recognition of qualifications for specific positions |
| Work in corporate training | Adult Education, Continuing Education, Vocational and Corporate Training, HR/Learning & Development |
| Pursue Research | Research-oriented master’s programs, research methods, departments, PhD opportunities |
| Applying After Completing Education Abroad | degree recognition, language requirements, ECTS credits, Uni-Assist, or the university’s own system |
What to Check Before Applying
- Program Name. Erziehungswissenschaft, Pädagogik, Bildungswissenschaften, Sozialpädagogik, and Lehramt can lead to different careers.
- Degrees. Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Bachelor/Master of Education, and Staatsexamen are not interchangeable.
- Federal state. This is critical for teacher training (Lehramt) programs: training and recognition rules vary by state.
- Practicum. In education programs, a practicum may be mandatory, recommended, or integrated into a separate module.
- Language. Most programs in this field are taught in German, and a high level of German is often required.
- Admission Quotas (NC) and Deadlines. Education programs may have limited enrollment (zulassungsbeschränkt), and application deadlines for international applicants vary.
- Career restrictions. Not every education program qualifies you to work in a regulated profession or teach in schools.
Conclusion
If you’re specifically interested in a career in teaching, start with “Lehramt” and the regulations of the state where you plan to work. If you’re interested in education as a social, organizational, or research field, look into “Erziehungswissenschaft” or “Pädagogik” and compare not only the university’s name but also the program’s profile, practical training, master’s programs, and admission requirements.
Jena, Tübingen, Bochum, Gießen, and Halle-Wittenberg offer various entry points into the field of education: ranging from classical Erziehungswissenschaft to social pedagogy, adult education, vocational education, and research programs. The best choice depends on whether you want to work in schools, the social sector, continuing education (Weiterbildung), educational project management, or academia.
