What you can expect in our master's program

In the Master of Education in Chemistry, you will deepen your subject-specific and didactic knowledge and prepare yourself specifically for the preparatory service for the teaching profession. You will learn how to teach chemistry in a safe and understandable way, how to plan, carry out and evaluate complex experiments and how to design chemistry lessons in a technically sound and methodologically varied way. You will deal with all core areas of chemistry - organic, inorganic and physical chemistry - and reflect on the subject content in the context of teaching.

In the Master of Education, you will continue your two main academic subjects. In each subject, you will take 27 ECTS credits in subject-specific science and subject-specific didactics. The program is supplemented by the Pedagogical Additional Subject (33 CP) and the 12-week school practice semester (16 CP) as well as the master's thesis (17 CP).

As soon as you have completed your bachelor's degree, you can start a third subject (complementary subject) - either parallel to your master's degree in the two main subjects or at a later date.

In the Chemistry major, your modules are:

You can find an overview of all available modules in the module handbook. 

Sample study plan

Start of studies in winter term

Pedagogical Additional Subject

In the Pedagogical Additional Subject, you will deepen your professional skills. The content covers, among other things, the educational, psychological, sociological, ethical, and political foundations of education.

You will learn to plan and implement age-appropriate and inclusive lessons, take media education and diversity-oriented aspects into account, and further develop your personal skills. You will also practice working with parents, promoting intercultural competence, and providing targeted support to learners.

The accompanying educational studies program consists of the following modules: 

• Psychological Foundations (4 CP)
• Basics of Didactics and Methodology (4 CP)
• School Structures (6 CP)
• Research Methods (4 CP)
• Module for Personal Competence (4 CP)
• Basic Studies in Ethics and Philosophy 2 (6 CP)
• Inclusion (5 CP)

Sample study plan Pedagogical Additional Subject: 

School practice semester

The 12-week school practice semester (16 CP) provides you with practical insights into working in schools. You will observe, assist and teach independently under professional supervision and reflect on your experiences in accompanying seminars and a portfolio. You can complete the school practice semester at general secondary schools and vocational schools in Baden-Württemberg. It is also possible to complete part of it abroad.

The school practice semester usually takes place in the winter semester and is recommended at the beginning of the master's degree program. Exceptions apply for students of music. Registration takes place the semester before. You can register if you are either enrolled in the Master of Education or are at least in the 6th semester of the Bachelor of Education in both subjects and have achieved a total of at least 140 CP.

Make your studies international

During your teacher training studies, you can gain experience abroad and intercultural encounters and thus acquire valuable skills for your future teaching career. You can spend a semester abroad through ERASMUS or other international partnerships, do an internship at a German school abroad or work as a foreign language assistant. International networks such as EUCOR or EPICUR also offer special programs for student teachers. Especially if you are interested in a longer stay abroad, it is advisable to obtain information from the Center for Teacher Education or the International Students Office at an early stage.

Master's thesis

At the end of your studies, you will complete your master's thesis (17 CP), an academic paper that allows you to apply and deepen the knowledge and skills you have acquired. It is completed in one of your two major subjects or in the Pedagogical Additional Subject and deals with a specific topic that requires independent research, analysis and the preparation of a written paper. The master's thesis takes 6 months to complete. You can start it as soon as you have achieved 20 CP in the relevant academic major or the accompanying educational studies program.

After completing the university teaching degree (Bachelor of Education and Master of Education) and the subsequent preparatory service, you can teach at general secondary schools, community schools and vocational schools. As a prerequisite for the preparatory service, a 4-week social, company or association internship must be completed, depending on the subject studied, which should preferably be completed during the course of study. There are various opportunities outside of school, for example in foundations and associations, in adult education, at universities, publishing houses and advice centers. A doctorate is also possible.

Characteristic features of Secondary School Teaching at KIT

• Center for Teacher Education (ZLB) as a central point of contact for student teachers for interdisciplinary topics, school internships and teacher training as well as an interface to institutions involved in teacher training
  
• diverse subject combinations
  
• additional practical relevance through student and teaching-learning labs
  
• research-oriented teaching
  
• contacts with EUCOR universities enable stays abroad, e.g. in Basel or Strasbourg
  

What KIT has to offer

• central campus close to the city forest and right next to the city center
  
• 24-hour library offering single and group working places
  
• wide range of inexpensive catering options (dining hall, cafeteria, Koeri and Pizzawerk)
  
• numerous interdisciplinary offers for personal and professional development, e.g. Lernlabor, Schreiblabor and Perspektivenlabor
  
• study abroad, e.g. via Erasmus
  
• excellent university sports facilities with a large selection of sports
  
• comprehensive cultural offerings with university orchestras, choirs and theater groups
  
• extensive support for career entry and self-employment
  
• internationally oriented degree programs and diverse exchange programs
  
• modern laboratories and practical teaching methods
  
• Lernraum app
  
• diverse student initiatives, clubs and opportunities to actively participate in campus life
  
• stay in touch after graduation via the alumni network
  

Admission requirements

The prerequisites for admission to the major subject Chemistry in the master's degree program Secondary School Teaching Degree are based on the current admission regulations:

• bachelor's degree
  a successfully completed bachelor's degree (or at least an equivalent degree) in the major subject Chemistry of the bachelor's degree program in Secondary School Teaching Degree (or a program with essentially the same content). The course of study in the teaching-related bachelor's degree program must include study components of two major subject, subject didactics, educational science and practical school studies. The program must have been completed within a standard period of study of at least three years and with a minimum number of 180 ECTS credits.
• admission with a subject-related bachelor's degree
  in exceptional cases, admission to the master's program can also be granted with a subject-related bachelor's degree (not a teaching degree) if
  • teaching-related elements are included in the degree program and
  • a maximum of 50 credit points (CP) from a teaching-related bachelor's degree program are missing.
    Missing credits must be completed by the time of registration for the master's thesis.
• proof of personal aptitude as a future teacher:
  • participation in the Karlsruhe Individual Aptitude Check for Teachers (KAiAC-T) or an equivalent aptitude, advisory or support program.
  • proof can be submitted at a later date up to the end of the first semester.
• minimum knowledge and minimum achievements in the following areas
  • Chemistry totaling 62 CP of which
    • General Chemistry: 15 CP
    • Inorganic Chemistry: 14 CP
    • Organic Chemistry: 15 CP
    • Physical Chemistry: 18 CP
  • at least 30 % of the credit points in the major subject Chemistry must have been earned through practical components (laboratory courses)
  • depending on the subject combination additionally:
    • Mathematics or Applied Chemistry or Physics: 8 CP each
  • subject didactics to the extent of 7 CP

Language requirements and certificates

You need sufficient knowledge of German for the master's degree program in Secondary School Teaching. Your German language skills must correspond to at least level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Important: you must provide proof of the required language skills regardless of your citizenship and by the end of the enrollment period at the latest, but preferably at the time of application.

In what form do I have to provide the language certificates? Please read the following chapters on this website carefully. If you have any further questions, please contact

• Students Office if you are applying as a German, German national or a person with German equivalent status
• the International Students Office if you are a non-EU national

Proof of sufficient German language skills

As proof of your German language skills, your university or master's entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur, university degree or a professional qualification that entitles you to study) is sufficient if you have acquired it at a German-speaking institution with German as the language of instruction.

In concrete terms, this means that you do not have to submit additional proof of German if you

• have obtained your Abitur at a German-speaking school in Germany or abroad,
• are a graduate of a bilingual secondary school in Germany or abroad and have passed a bilingual German examination, such as the AbiBac or the Gemischtsprachiges International Baccalaureat (GIB) or
• you graduated from a foreign school, but there is another official agreement with the respective country regarding the recognition of your school-leaving certificate or language certificate as proof of language proficiency for university studies in Germany.

A complete list of foreign school-leaving qualifications and language certificates that are recognized as proof of sufficient German language skills can be found on the website of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Laender (KMK) in the Federal Republic of Germany.

If you have already completed a German-language degree at a German university, this can also count as proof of German language proficiency - but only if the diploma supplement, transcript of records or degree certificate clearly states that German was the sole language of instruction and examination.

If, on the other hand, you did not obtain your higher education or master's entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution with German as the language of instruction, you must provide proof of German language proficiency at least at DSH-2 level. This corresponds to CEFR level C1.

Only the following certificates are accepted in accordance with the KIT admission and enrollment regulations:

• passing the German section of the Feststellungspruefung (assessment test)
• passed German language test for university admission (DSH) with overall result DSH-2
• passed the Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF) with level 4 in all four parts of the exam
• German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs - second level (DSD II)
• Goethe certificate C1 or higher
• passed telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule exam
• Austrian Language Diploma C1 or higher

Note: The tests mentioned are accepted as proof of language proficiency for an unlimited period of time, even if the provider specifies an expiration date.

What if I cannot provide suitable C1 proof of German at the time of application?

If you are unable to provide any of the C1 certificates listed above for your German language skills by the application deadline, admission is still possible if you can present a provisional document proving that you have at least B2 language level. Proof of B2 level only includes

• passed German language test for university admission (DSH) with an overall result of DSH-1
  
• passed Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF) with level 3 in all four parts of the exam
  
• passed telc German B2 exam

But please don't forget: you still have to submit the C1 certificate by the end of your enrollment period at the latest, which is stated in your admission letter.

Therefore, check early on whether you can provide the necessary language certificates by the deadline and, if necessary, plan to take a recognized language test.

In justified cases, you can apply for an extension of the enrollment deadline to provide proof of your language skills, but this extensvion can only be granted up to the day before the start of the lecture period. Please contact the Student Office or the International Students Office - depending on who is named as your point of contact in your letter of admission.

Weitere Ansprechpersonen:

• KIT-Fakultät für Chemie und Biowissenschaften
• Zentrum für Lehrkräftebildung
• Fachstudienberatung
• Vorsitzender des Prüfungsausschusses Lehramt - Fachvertreter der Chemie
• Informationen zum Auslandsstudium
• Fachschaft ChemBio

Teaching calendar

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• Course catalog current term
• Course catalog current term PDF (English)
• Archive of previous catalogs