Bielefeld School of Education - BiSEd
Bielefelder Lehrer*innenbildung
Study after foreign university degree
If you already have a foreign university degree and would now like to become a teacher in Germany, there are various options. Take a look at the chart (PDF) to see which options are available to you.
- with qualification as a teacher
Recognition of foreign teaching qualifications
You can have your foreign teaching qualification recognized by the responsible district government. You can find out from the responsible district governments whether your application for recognition would have a chance of success. If you have acquired your teaching qualification within the EU or the EEA, please contact the Arnsberg district government.
If you have acquired your teaching qualification outside the EU or EEA, contact the Detmold District Government.
If you have already received recognition from the district government, you can find further information under adaptation course.
Side entry
If your foreign teaching qualification is not recognized, an in-service preparatory service is conceivable if the requirements for lateral entry are met. The Ministry of Education of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia is responsible for lateral entry.
Study
If your foreign teaching qualification is not recognized, it is possible to take up teacher training at Bielefeld University. Academic achievements that you have already achieved in your previous studies and that are also required for the teacher training program at Bielefeld University do not have to be completed again in this case. If you have already acquired the approval requirements for the Master of Education, you can apply directly for the Master of Education at Bielefeld University. Your previous academic achievements will automatically be taken into account. If your previous qualifications are not sufficient for direct Master access, you can apply for the Bachelor course. Please note the information on studying without a German university entrance qualification. If you have successfully applied for a study place in the Bachelor's program, you can have academic achievements already achieved recognized and be placed in a higher subject related semester.
For Further information, e.g. on the application for the Bachelor's degree or the language requirements for studying at Bielefeld University as a foreign student, please contact the Student Office, International Students.
- Adaptation course
Within the framework of teacher training, the district governments issue notices certifying the recognition of professional qualifications in the area of teaching. If qualifications are still lacking in comparison to teacher training in NRW, these can be made up for within the framework of a so-called adaptation course. As a rule, the adaptation course also includes academic studies and examinations, which must be taken at a university. In order to complete the supplementary academic achievements at Bielefeld University and to be admitted as an occasional student to the sub-study course of adaptation, consultation with BiSEd is necessary. Please contact Kristina Purrmann (internationale-lehrkraft@uni-bielefeld.de) for this.
Further information on the adaptation course can be obtained by clicking on the interactive diagram:
- without qualification as a teacher
Side entry
On the one hand, a part-time preparatory service is conceivable if the requirements for lateral entry are met. The Ministry of Education of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia is responsible for lateral entry.
Study
The second option is to take up the teacher training program at Bielefeld University. Academic achievements that you have already achieved in your previous studies and that are also required for the teacher training program at Bielefeld University do not have to be completed again in this case. If you have already acquired the approval requirements for the Master of Education, you can apply for the Master of Education at Bielefeld University. Your previous academic achievements will automatically be taken into account. If your previous qualifications are not sufficient for direct Master access, you can apply for the Bachelor course. Please note the information on studying without a German university entrance qualification. If you have successfully applied for a study place in the Bachelor's program, you can have academic achievements already achieved recognized and be placed in a higher subject related semester.
For Further information, e.g. on the application for the Bachelor's degree or the language requirements for studying at Bielefeld University as a foreign student, please contact the Student Office, International Students.
