Bielefeld School of Education - BiSEd
Bielefelder Lehrer*innenbildung
Theory-in-practice courses abroad
Dare to look beyond your own nose? Why not do an internship at a school or an extracurricular educational institution abroad?
On this page you will find information about internship opportunities abroad: time periods, internship formats and financing options.
When is the right time?
But also within the framework of the theory-in-practice course with aptitude reflection (OPSE) between the 1st and 2nd semester of the Bachelor, internships at schools abroad are possible.
It is particularly suitable for student teachers to take part in the occupational practice studies (BPSt) abroad. (BPSt) abroad. This can take place in or out of school. The BPSt usually takes place in the 5th or 6th semester of the Bachelor's degree.
However, you can also complete additional internships abroad in the period between your Bachelor's and Master's degrees or after your Master's degree and before your traineeship.
Please note that you cannot count the three-month study-related stay in an English-speaking foreign country provided for in the subject English as an occupational practice studies at the same time. However, you can follow your four-week theory-in-practice course with the three-month stay.
- Practical studies for professional orientation with aptitude reflection abroad
You have the possibility to do the theory-in-practice course for professional orientation with aptitude reflection (OPSE) abroad. The OPSE usually takes place in the 1st year of the bachelor's degree. Since the Winter semester 2016/17, the BiSEd offers a cross-subject and cross-teaching seminar to prepare and accompany the OPSE abroad.
If you would like to complete the OPSE abroad, you must go through the registration procedure of the BiSEd internship placement office. Furthermore, a registration of the OPSE abroad as well as a counseling interview in the BiSEd working area internationalization with Nadine Auner are necessary.
Further information about the OPSE abroad procedure can be found in the following information sheet.
- Occupational practice studies abroad
A particularly suitable internship abroad is the occupational practice course (BPSt) is particularly suitable as an internship abroad. This can be completed in or out of school. The BPSt usually takes place in the 5th or 6th semester of the Bachelor's degree.
The BPSt can be completed either as a block format or during a semester, for example in combination with a semester abroad.
Since Summer semester 2015, the BiSEd has offered a cross-subject and cross-teaching seminar to prepare and accompany the BPSt abroad . In order to take into account the different forms of internships abroad, this seminar combines face-to-face appointments with individual counseling and e-learning modalities.
- Practical semester with preparatory training abroad
Since 2020 you have the possibility to spend your practical semester with preparatory training abroad. The implementation of the practical semester abroad is closely based on the practical semester in the region and is open to students of all subjects and school types. There are 8 places available per round during the pilot period for which students can apply. The basic structure of the subject-specific preparation, supervision as well as the study and examination achievements in the VRPS Modules remain the same in their subject-specific characteristics. As an additional element, a (teaching and interdisciplinary) semester-long preparatory and reflection seminar with a focus on differentiation-sensitive and international professionalization must be attended to prepare participating students for the practical semester with preparatory training abroad. The training elements of the ZfsL (introduction, accompaniment, practice consultations and BPG) remain in place.
Internship schools will be searched for independently by the students, however, the selection will be made in close accompaniment and consultation with the BiSEd working areas of internationalization and theory-in-practice courses to ensure that the practical semester abroad meets the existing requirements and competency goals for the practical semester according to the framework (LZV 2016, Rahmenkonzeption 2010/2016, Leitkonzept 2011).
A mandatory information event is offered every semester. If you have any questions about this or about the practical semester abroad with preparatory training in general, please contact Nadine Auner.
Financing options
There are various funding programs with which you can (partially) finance a theory-in-practice course abroad. For detailed advice on funding options for your stay abroad, please contact the offices listed here.
Lehramt.International: The new DAAD [German Academic Exchange Service] funding line is aimed at student teachers of all subject combinations and all types of schools. You can apply for a scholarship for self-organized internships (1 to 6 months) at school and university institutions abroad. The PASCH network, cooperation and partner schools of the German Universities abroad are available for this purpose. The internship can be both a compulsory internship and a voluntary internship and is aimed at student teachers, but also at graduates who would like to complete internships between 6 and 12 months before their traineeship. Further information can be found here.
PROMOS: If you are planning an internship outside the EU with a project duration of 6 weeks to 6 months, you can apply for the DAAD [German Academic Exchange Service] partial scholarship PROMOS. The application is done through the International Office (Karin Kruse or Weltbüro) at Bielefeld University.
ERASMUS+ Internship: For internships within the EU with a project duration of 2 to 12 months. The application is made through the International Office of Bielefeld University. Information for an internship abroad via ERASMUS+ can be found here.
Rectorate scholarships: Rectorate scholarships support internships within and outside the EU with a project duration of 6 weeks to 2 months. The application is made through the International Office (Karin Kruse or Weltbüro) at Bielefeld University.
Scholarships for prospective teachers: The German-French Youth Office (DFJW) awards scholarships to prospective teachers who complete a school internship in France. Further information about the program and the application can be found on the DFJW site.
Other funding opportunities: You can also search for scholarship opportunities in the DAAD [German Academic Exchange Service] scholarship database and the BMBF scholarship pilot. If you are unable to obtain financial aid through a scholarship or if you need additional financial aid, you can finance your stay abroad with the help of the educational loan program.
Apart from this, you will find information on specific internship programs that include financial support under the information on school and extracurricular internships.
Current news
Here you can find current news about internship programmes or scholarships:
Scholarship Announcements International Office
The International Office announces PROMOS scholarships and scholarships of the rectorate for stays abroad:
Application deadline 15.01.: for internships, research stays, final theses in the period 01.02. and 31.07.
Deadline for applications 31.05.: for study stays, internships, research stays, final theses, language courses in the period 01.07. and 28.02.
Deadline for applications 31.10.: for study stays, internships, research stays, final theses, language courses in the period 01.01. and 31.07.
Further information can be found here.
Foreign Language Assistantship (Pedagogical Exchange Service)
Pupils can gain practical teaching experience at a school or universities abroad as a Foreign Language Assistant (FSA) for six to eleven months. The internship abroad is sponsored by a scholarship. Further information can be found here.
Schoolward
For an internship (8-16 weeks) incl. stipend (2000-3000€) for the school year 2024/25, student teachers can apply for one of their desired countries (see website for list). Before, during and after their internship, the scholar, stipendiaries will be accompanied by a combination of face-to-face seminars and digital offers. They are personally supervised by the SCHULWÄRTS! team at the Goethe-Institut headquarters, the contacts at the Goethe-Institut abroad, and a supervising teacher at the school. More information about the project can be found here.
Going abroad as a student teacher?
Of course! This is what Bielefeld student teachers say who have completed a study-related stay abroad:
- I have become aware that communication is the crucial factor to better understand other people, no matter what culture they belong to. Moreover, it now seems more important than ever to me to question and reflect on oneself and one's beliefs and behaviors. - Ines, theory-in-practice course in China
- I am sure that if I had done an internship in Germany, I would not have developed to the same extent as I have here. The entire internship situation was very challenging for me, but in the end it also gave me a lot back. Today, I feel even freer when I stand in front of a foreign class and can better assess situations in the classroom. - Julia, school internship in Ghana
- I recommend student teachers to do an internship at a school abroad because it is a wonderful experience. It promotes the development of one's own teaching personality and one discovers advantages and disadvantages of one's own and the other's educational system. - Donata, school internship in England
Further impressions and experience reports
The DAAD [German Academic Exchange Service] has collected experience reports from student teachers who have been abroad under "studieren weltweit- ERLEBE ES":