What you can expect in our master's program

In the master's degree program in Pedagogics at KIT, you can deepen the academic qualifications you acquired in your bachelor's degree by intensively studying content from the fields of vocational pedagogy, educational research and research on teaching and learning. The standard period of study is 4 semesters and you will earn 120 ECTS credits.

It is compulsory to attend the modules in Applied Educational Research in the areas of Staff and Competence Development, Research on Teaching and Learning, VET Research and Scientification. Each of these modules comprises 2 to 3 courses and includes an examination in the form of a term paper or oral examination. You can find out which courses are offered in the individual modules in the module handbook. You will also plan and carry out your own Study Project and take part in the Master's Colloquia to prepare for the preparation and defense of your master's thesis.

With your master's degree, you can work in various pedagogical fields, whereby the master's degree program in Pedagogics at KIT prepares you in particular for fields of work in vocational training and adult education.

Program structure

Internship

The study program does not include a compulsory internship. You can complete a voluntary internship during your studies. If it serves the objectives of your studies and covers at least half of the lecture period, you can apply for a semester off (leave of absence). Such an internship offers you valuable experience outside the university and can make it easier for you to start your career later on.

Make your studies international

You have various options for integrating a stay abroad into your master's degree course. For example, you can study at a foreign university of your choice for one or two semesters via Erasmus+ or as a freemover. You can also do an internship abroad. In addition, selective mobility is possible via Eucor - The European Campus: KIT students can flexibly attend individual courses in addition to courses at KIT or study full-time for an entire semester or year at an Eucor partner university.

The EPICUR University Alliance also offers low-threshold international experience via a virtual campus, sometimes on site or in blended learning.

Further information can be obtained from the contact persons responsible for stays abroad at the KIT Department or at the International Students Office.

Master's thesis

At the end of your studies, you will complete your master's thesis (30 CP), an academic paper that allows you to apply and deepen the knowledge and skills you have acquired. It deals with a specific topic from your field of study and requires independent research, analysis and the preparation of a written thesis. The master's thesis takes 6 months to complete. You can start it as soon as you have achieved 60 CP. Upon request, the master's thesis can also be completed in a company or at another KIT Department. The master's thesis also includes a presentation of your results.

With your master's degree, you can work in various educational fields: in personnel development in various organizations and contexts, in continuing vocational training, skills development, adult education, teaching-learning and vocational training research as well as in market research. Traditionally, the focus is on researching, planning, organizing and designing educational processes with different groups, learning occasions and problems. There is also a need for internal and external knowledge transfer in cultural institutions, associations and companies. If you have academic ambitions and a good master's degree, it could also be interesting to pursue a doctorate and a subsequent career at a university or research institution.

Characteristic features of Pedagogy M.Sc. at KIT

• diverse content from the fields of vocational education, educational research and teaching-learning research
• research-oriented and practice-oriented studies with own study projects
  
• close supervision and support for students throughout their studies up to their master's thesis
  
• wide range of course options
  
• integration into the EUCOR university network enables participation in courses at the universities of Freiburg, Basel, Strasbourg, Colmar and Mulhouse
  

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 requirements for admission to the master's degree program in Pedagogics are based on the current admission regulations:

• bachelor's degree
  a bachelor's degree (or at least an equivalent degree) in pedagogics or a degree course with essentially the same content, which contains at least 50% educational, social science or humanities content, from a university, university of applied sciences, university of cooperative education or a university of cooperative education or a foreign university. The course must have been completed within a standard period of study of at least three years and with a minimum number of 180 ECTS credits.
  
• minimum knowledge and minimum achievements in the following areas
  • empirical-social science and humanities research methods amounting to at least 16 CP
    
  • education, social sciences or humanities amounting to at least 90 CP
    
  If minimum achievements amounting to a maximum of 16 CP are missing, admission may be granted on condition that these achievements are made up in addition to the curriculum before registering for the master's thesis.
  
• approx. 30-minute selection interview to provide evidence of sufficient and necessary academic background in order to be able to complete the coursework and examinations within the standard period of study. Possible topics of discussion are
  • philosophical, scientific-theoretical and pedagogical-psychological foundations of pedagogy
  • vocational education
  • international comparative educational research
  • empirical research
  • teaching-learning research
  • pedagogical media research
  • educational sociology
  At the end of the interview, the members of the admissions and selection commission assess aptitude and open-mindedness for the master's degree program in Pedagogics and the desired profession on a scale of 0 to 30 points. The interview meets the requirements as soon as at least 16 points are achieved. The following are scored
  • up to 15 points for your ability to relate the content of your academic education to questions and objectives of pedagogy and pedagogical research
  • up to 5 points for your ability to relate the content of your practical experience (through internships and/or work experience) to questions and objectives of pedagogy and pedagogical research
  • up to 10 points for your motivation and study planning

Language requirements and certificates

For the master's degree program in Pedagogics, you need sufficient knowledge of the German language. 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 higher education 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:

• passed German section of the Feststellungspruefung (assessment test)
• passed German language test for university admission (DSH) with overall result DSH-2
• passed 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 above-mentioned tests 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 demonstrating your German language skills by the application deadline, you may still be admitted if you can provisionally demonstrate at least B1 language proficiency. Proof of B1 level is provided by a recognized language certificate or other certification from a language or other educational institution that clearly shows that B1 level has been achieved.

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 Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften
• Institut für Berufspädagogik und Allgemeine Pädagogik
• Fachstudienberatung
• Prüfungsausschuss
• Informationen zum Auslandsstudium
• Fachschaft GeistSoz

Teaching calendar

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