Bielefeld School of Education - BiSEd
Bielefelder Lehrer*innenbildung
Further qualification
- Continuing education and training
- Acquisition of an additional subject
Information on studying an extension subject (teaching degree) at Bielefeld University
If you have completed a teacher training programme or are already enrolled in at least the third semester of a teacher training programme at Bielefeld University, you can begin studying a further subject (extension subject) for the teaching profession at Bielefeld University (see list below).
The degree programme is divided into a Bachelor's and Master's phase, for which a corresponding enrolment is required and which is completed with a separate certificate in each case.
Prerequisites
We distinguish between the following cases:
A. You are studying at Bielefeld University in a Bachelor's degree programme intended for the teaching profession, wish to study another subject in the same teaching profession and have completed at least the first two semesters of your teaching degree programme with the expected grades;
B. You are studying at Bielefeld University in a Master of Education courses and wish to study another subject in the same teaching profession;
C. You have a Master's degree that gives you approval for the preparatory service in NRW and want to study another subject in the same teaching profession;
D. You have a teaching qualification in NRW and want to study another subject in the same teaching profession.
Subject-specific approval requirements (Latin, Art, Music) may apply for individual subjects. Please note the information provided by the subjects.
Counselling interview
For each of the above cases A) to D), participation in a counselling interview at the Bielefeld School of Education (BiSEd) is mandatory. In this counselling interview, your study programme will be determined (taking into account any previous achievements) and a certificate will be issued entitling you to enrolment. To simplify the process, the following applies to the counselling interview:
- Email us at lehrerausbildung@uni-bielefeld.de with three suggested dates and let us know in the email in which subject and in which teaching programme you would like to study another subject.
- Please bring this with you to the appointment:
- If you are a Bachelor's student at Bielefeld University (case A): a certificate of enrolment and a current (automatically generated) transcript.
- As a Master's student at Bielefeld University (case B): a certificate of enrolment
- As an external applicant (cases C and D): Transcript of records
- If you have already acquired credits for your future subject elsewhere that you would like to have recognised, please let us know in advance by email, stating and providing proof (by transcript) of the credits.
Subjects / subjects and curriculum
You can choose from subjects and subjects that are not subject to admission restrictions (NC). An overview of all subjects, including information on admission restrictions, can be found in the information on the teaching degree programme.
The course of study is based on the Subject (Secondary and Comprehensive Schools ('Haupt-', Real-', 'Real-' and 'Gesamtschule') study programme variants for primary school teachers (if applicable with ISP), the Subject (Secondary and Comprehensive Schools ('Haupt-', Real-, Real-, Sekundar-, Sekundar- und Gesamtschule') study programme variants for secondary school teachers (if without BA thesis), and the Minor (Advanced Secondary Schools and Comprehensive Schools) study programme variants for Bachelor's and Master's students:
- G and G/ISP: 40+15 LP
- HRSGe and HRSGe/ISP: 60+20 LP
- GymGe: 60+40 LP.
A Teaching Experience Semester, including the preparation and reflection courses (VPS and RPS), does not have to be completed in the extension subject. In addition, the BiWi import is not required as part of the degree programme. Likewise, neither the Bachelor's nor the Master's thesis may/must be written in the extension subject.
You will receive a detailed list of your study programme during the consultation with the BiSEd staff (see above) prior to enrolment.
You can find an initial overview of your study programme on the page Scope and content of the extension programme.
Organisational matters
Enrolment or re-enrolment
If you would like to study an extension programme, students at Bielefeld University must submit an application for transfer of enrolment to the student office. Here you enter your current enrolment as your future 1st degree programme and the extension subject as your future 2nd degree programme. Under Degree, select E4, E5 or E6 for the BA or K4, K5 or K6 for the M. Ed. depending on the type of school.
All other staff, people use the enrolment assistance of the student office.
Please note the relevant deadlines. The certificate from the counselling interview (see above) must be enclosed with the application for enrolment.
If you enrol for the extension subject in addition to your current degree programme, this is not usually a BAföG-relevant change of subject. Nevertheless, if you receive BAföG, you should contact the Studierendenwerk [Association for Student Affairs] to find out whether there are any special requirements.Completion of the extension subject
You cannot complete the extension subject before the corresponding undergraduate degree programme. The completion of the Bachelor's degree programme in the extension subject therefore requires the completion of the corresponding Bachelor's degree in teaching and the completion of the Master's degree programme in the extension subject requires the completion of the corresponding Master of Education. After completing the extension subject programme, send the Bachelor's certificate application or Master's certificate application to lehrerausbildung@uni-bielefeld.de via your personal @uni-bielefeld.de email address. The BiSEd, not the examination offices of the respective Faculty, is responsible for all questions relating to the extension subject.
For enrolment in the Master's programme of the extension subject, the completion of the Bachelor's programme of the extension subject and a new counselling interview (see above) at the BiSEd are required.
Legal basis
Regulations for the study of an extension of the teaching qualification (extension subject) (PDF)
- Acquisition of another teaching degree
Due to the introduction of the LABG 2016, there is no longer an explicit regulation for the acquisition of a further teaching degree. However, it is possible to acquire the qualification for a further teaching profession through a second master's degree for a further type of school.
To acquire a further teaching degree, you must complete a regular course of study. Of course, your previous studies can be recognized towards this. Equivalent academic achievements that you have already completed do not have to be completed again. However, you must complete a further 25-day practical phase at the school type of the further teaching degree.
It is best to start the acquisition of a further teaching degree at the end of your previous teaching degree, i.e. at the earliest after the practical semester with preparatory training. In many cases (e.g., additional qualification for HRSGe after studying GymGe), you will probably receive direct approval for the M. Ed. for the further teaching degree. The information you will find on the M. Ed. web pages under Approval for External / Further Applicants applies. In addition, you must apply for recognition of the practical semester with preparatory training. However, if you want to change a lot, e.g. if you change from GymGe to G or if you change subjects at the same time, you might have to apply for the teaching bachelor's degree again first, or at least make up some academic achievements from the matching teaching bachelor's degree, before you get approval for the M. Ed. degree.
You see: There is no "classic" way. Therefore, in any case, get advice at an early stage if you want to acquire another teaching degree. You will also find the contact details under Approval for External / Additional Applicants.
ATTENTION: The university only awards the degree of M. Ed. in isolation for the respective school type. Since there is no official agreement on extension examinations, please inquire independently at the responsible Ministry for Schools and Education of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia whether they also recognize your qualification for the other school form after the preparatory service for one school form.
- Second degree
If you already have a first university degree and would like to enter the teacher training program, the teacher training program counts as your Second degree. If you already have sufficient academic achievements through your first degree so that you can apply directly to the M. Ed. program, you do not need to consider anything else, even if you should have already completed a first master's degree. You can then simply apply for the Master of Edudation. Please take into account the instructions for external / additional applicants.
However, if your academic achievements are not sufficient and you have to apply for the Bachelor first, please consider the Information for Second degree.
For more detailed help desks regarding the Formalities of a Second degree, please contact the Student Office.
If you are not granted direct admission to a Master's program and would like to have academic achievements from your first degree program recognized, please continue reading under Recognition and Placement .
- Acquisition of further teaching qualification for special needs education
With the Master's degree program " Educational Science of Special Needs Needs with the Career Perspective of Teacher for Special and Inclusive Education / Primary Schools", teachers who already have a teaching qualification for primary schools or secondary schools (Hauptschule, Realschule, Sekundarschule and Gesamtschule) acquire the additional teaching qualification for the teaching profession for special needs education. The program is designed as a full-time course of study. However, you can also study it part-time if you can reconcile this with your appointment. The master's degree has a scope of 120 LP (this corresponds to four semesters of full-time study).
Please note that, in accordance with current legislation, if you are qualified to teach at a Hauptschule, Realschule, Sekundarschule or Gesamtschule, you must have German or Mathematics as a subject, as well as one of the following subjects: English Language and Literature, Biology, Chemistry, Protestant Theology, German Language and Literature, Art, Mathematics, Music, Physics or Sports Science.
Approval requirements for the master's degree are that you already have a teaching degree in elementary school or Haupt-, Real-, Sekundar- und Gesamtschule (or comparable). You must apply via the online application portal of Bielefeld University within the application deadlines.
You do not have to complete a second preparatory service.
- Doctorate/Phd studies in the context of teacher education
If you are interested in a doctorate in the context of teacher education or would like to do a doctorate in subject didactics or educational sciences, you can contact the BiSEd working area for the promotion of young researchers: https: //www.uni-bielefeld.de/einrichtungen/bised/forschung-entwicklung/nachwuchsforderung-bised/
If you are still unsure whether a doctorate is an option for you as a (soon-to-be) teacher training graduate, the services of the BiSEd Graduate Network offer you orientation and helpful information on doctoral studies in the context of school- and teaching-related subject didactics and educational sciences research as well as teacher education research.
The consultation takes place by appointment with Carolin Dempki in a protected setting (online via Zoom, by telephone or in presence) and is of course confidential. Depending on the counseling issue and upon request, further referrals will be made. Please make an appointment for a personal consultation by email with Carolin Dempki: carolin.dempki@uni-bielefeld.de.
General information for doctorate/Phd studies at Bielefeld University can be found on the following page: https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/themen/nachwuchs/
The colleagues of the Phd-Careeradvice are available for general questions regarding doctorate/Phd studies: phd-careeradvice@uni-bielefeld.de.