Studying for a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree
You will first study for a subject-specific Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Cologne, with a specialization in your preferred teaching and school form. You will then expand on your teacher education degree programme with the Master of Education degree.
You must apply for both degree programmes.
At the University of Cologne, student teachers learn to be learners, questioners, thinkers, empathizers, carers, planners, cooperators, creators, researchers, reflectors, ... So that they can become very good teachers.
Programme structure
Bachelor of Arts
First you’ll obtain a Bachelor of Arts for a specific type of school. You’ll study several subjects. The Bachelor contains subject-specific, educational science, and practical school modules, and is an initial professional qualification.
In addition to academic content, the degree programme also teaches skills that provide the foundation for other professions outside of school.
Master of Education
You will then study for a Master of Education, which is an in-depth degree programme. As part of this, you will define subject-specific didactic and educational science focal points in the type of school you are studying.
Completion of this degree programme is the prerequisite for the teacher traineeship (Referendariat).
Practical internships
The teacher education degree programme has an extensive practical component that familiarizes you with practical work as a teacher at an early stage and helps you to examine your career choice.
The university will prepare and support you throughout all of the practical internships.
During the five-week aptitude and orientation internship at the beginning of your Bachelor’s degree programme you will get to know the teaching profession and the school as a workplace. You will also learn more about the core tasks of a teacher.
The next, four-week professional internship, which takes place during the Bachelor’s programme as an extracurricular internship, broadens your experience to include other professions.
During the five-month practical semester, which takes place during the second semester of the Master’s degree programme, you will lay the foundations for the teacher traineeship and start shaping your teaching style. For example, you will plan, conduct and evaluate lessons. You will also combine theory and practice by carrying out a study project at the school.
Legal requirements
Teacher Training Act (Lehrerausbildungsgesetz, LABG)
- The LABG governs the training iduring the degree programme and the preparatory service in NRW, with the aim of qualifying graduates to work as teachers at a state school.
- It covers, for example, the types of schools, the standard period of study, the qualifications and which practical phases are planned.
- View the LABG
Admission regulation for the teaching profession (Lehramtszugangsverordnung, LZV)
- Based on the LABG, the LZV regulates which teaching subjects are offered at North Rhine-Westphalia universities and their possible combinations.
- It also specifies the requirements for admission to the preparatory service, i.e. which academic achievements must be completed, which competencies must be acquired and which knowledge must be evidenced during the degree programme.
- View the LZV
Examination regulations (GPO)
- The Joint Examination Regulations for Teacher Training Programmes (GPO) govern study and examinations at the University.
- It defines the degree programme structure in modules and determines the coursework and examinations.
- It applies both to the entire degree programme in all types of schools and to the specific provisions for each subject, which can be found in the appendices.
- To the examination regulation
More detailed information
Online self-assesment
Is this degree programme right for me?
Use the online self-assessments to determine whether your expectations and skills match the requirements and content of the teacher education degree programmes and subjects.
Your path to university
What to expect during your studies
In the teacher education degree programme, you will develop your scientific and academic skills with the goal of becoming a teacher scientist.
You will learn through research and will benefit from the strong combination of research and teaching at the University of Cologne. This will train you to take a research-based approach to your own professional practice and will enable you to systematically combine and further develop teaching and school processes with scientific findings.
Acquiring scientific skills
The teacher education degree programme will provide you with in-depth specialist knowledge and will help you develop analytical skills for method-oriented and theory-based research.
This will also open up other career opportunities for you once you have completed your degree.
You’ll receive in-depth practical preparation for a career in teaching during your teacher traineeship, after your studies at the university.
During your studies, you will read specialized scientific literature. You will independently research the information you need, give presentations during seminars, listen to lectures, and write academic texts. You will take regular oral and written examinations on your coursework.
Developing a research mindset
During your studies, you may reach a point where you ask yourself whether you will ever need such in-depth academic education later on in your teaching career. The answer is yes, you will!
You need this academic qualification to develop an investigative mindset, with fundamental patterns of thinking and acting that enable you to familiarize yourself with new topics on your own. This mindset will drive you to consistently strive for new insights.
This is the only way you can continue to teach effectively, even years after graduating.
At the same time, you will model this attitude to your pupils and help them find solutions to the pressing issues of their time.
Professional and pedagogical training
Accordingly, you will receive an education that is geared towards current research.
You will also specialize in subject-specific didactics and pedagogy.
You will study alongside students who are not studying to become teachers. The teacher education degree programme is not isolated, but integrated into the university.
Getting involved and trying new things
Your studies are a great time in your life to try new things out and to think outside the box.
You can broaden your horizons by studying abroad, doing internships, and getting involved in social or political activities.