Special Education Teaching – Dual Master’s Degree Program – Master of Education (M.Ed.)

Notice: The modules are taught in German. This is why we didn't translate this section.

In your first year of training, you attend courses at EUF in the following areas:

• The two special education focus areas (Learning and Emotional and Social Development)
• The teaching subjects German and Mathematics
• Intersecting topics (e.g. assessment, didactics, and methodology)

In addition, you complete two block internships at your training school.

To make studying and everyday life easier to combine, classes at EUF take place both on campus (Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, usually from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and online (Fridays).

From the very beginning, you also have one day per week for self-study (Wednesdays, later Tuesdays). On this day, you can organize your work, complete assignments, study, or prepare lessons.

In your second year of training, courses at EUF (Mondays, Thursdays, and online on Fridays) are supplemented by training sessions provided by IQSH (Tuesdays, later Wednesdays). These take place near your training school, at various locations across Schleswig-Holstein, or online, and usually last the full day.

Your self-study day is now Wednesday in the third semester and Tuesday in the fourth semester.

You also begin working on your master’s thesis. In the third semester, you plan it, and in the fourth semester, you write it (always on Mondays and Fridays). The master’s thesis is accompanied by a colloquium.

During the lecture-free period of the third semester, you complete another block internship at your training school.

In the fourth semester, you only have courses at EUF on Thursdays.

You finish this year of training with the Master of Education (M.Ed.).

In the final year of training, the school-based teacher training phase (Referendariat) begins. Each week, you now teach independently at your training school on three days (Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays).

You are supported by teacher trainers throughout this phase, so you are not left alone with your experiences and can further develop your teaching skills and professional identity.

In addition, you still attend one training session per week provided by IQSH near your training school or online (Wednesdays).

You also continue to have one day per week for self-study (Tuesdays).

You complete this year of training with the Second State Examination for special education teaching.

At EUF, you’ll find an innovative master’s program that prepares you for a lateral entry into Special Education Teaching:

• You acquire in-depth knowledge in two special education focus areas, German, Mathematics, and cross-category special education teaching.
• Throughout the entire program, you work at a support center or an inclusive mainstream school, where you also complete your school-based teacher training phase.
• You receive a training salary.
• You earn your M.Ed. degree in Special Education Teaching and complete your Second State Examination in one go: This qualifies you for permanent employment and potential tenure after your studies.
• You benefit from a mix of in-person, online, and self-study periods, making it easier to balance your studies with family or other commitments.

No, you must complete the master’s program full-time. However, consideration is given to balancing family care responsibilities and similar commitments, for example through online events.

Special education teaching is characterized by its focus on diagnostics, prevention, and intervention for learning difficulties, impairments, or disabilities.

Together with other professionals and school support staff, you support children and adolescents with special needs in their learning and development processes.

This can take place at an inclusive mainstream school or a support center.

If you care about equal opportunities and inclusion, love challenges, and are looking for a meaningful job, this teaching degree is the right choice for you.

When you start the dual master’s program, you sign an employment contract with the Ministry of General and Vocational Education, Science, Research and Culture of Schleswig-Holstein (MBWFK).

You then receive a monthly training salary for the entire duration of your training.

The amount of this allowance corresponds to the applicable salary laws of the state of Schleswig-Holstein.

For more detailed information on the training salary, contact the Ministry of General and Vocational Education, Science, Research and Culture of Schleswig-Holstein (MBWFK).

• You must be admitted to the dual study program by the Ministry of General and Vocational Education, Science, Research and Culture of Schleswig-Holstein (MBWFK) and receive an employment contract.
• You need a bachelor’s degree or equivalent (at least 180 credit points) in social pedagogy, psychology, special pedagogy, early childhood education, health pedagogy, or similar fields.
• You need at least one year of full-time professional experience in a pedagogical field after completing your relevant pedagogical degree (e.g., bachelor’s) or a correspondingly longer part-time professional experience.
• This professional experience must not date back more than five years (exception: parental and care leave).
• You need advanced German language skills at level C2.
• You do not need a driver’s license, but it is recommended due to commuting distances.
• You can find the exact requirements on the application page of the degree program.

EUF has a rating of approximately 4 out of 5 stars on Studycheck. 93 percent of students would recommend EUF to others.

• For questions about the university-based part of your training, your contacts are the head of studies and program coordinator as well as the secretariats (including those for German and Mathematics) of the dual master’s in Special Education Teaching, and the International Center, with Patrick Will being responsible for FIT@EUF, a project that supports the integration of international talent into EUF and the job market in Germany. He will be happy to answer any questions you may have about your studies.
• For questions about the dual master’s, you can also contact the Ministry of General and Vocational Education, Science, Research and Culture of Schleswig-Holstein (MBWFK): duales-masterstudium-sonderpaedagogik-PleaseRemoveIncludingDashes-@bimi.landsh.de – 0431 988-2586.
• Labor law questions about the school-based teacher training (Vorbereitungsdienst) should be directed to the IQSH: hendrik.reimers@iqsh.landsh.de – 0431 5403-262.
• Questions about the training school are best addressed to the respective school management or teacher trainer.
• You can also get further information from the Zentrum für Lehrer*innen-Bildung (ZfL). The ZfL handles all matters related to teacher education.

EUF is a small, friendly university in northern Germany with a green campus and many international students.

There are free language courses, a sports center, a swimming pool, and various student organizations (political, environmental, intercultural, religious, etc.).

In the evenings, there are often themed events, such as movie and game nights, theater performances, or barbecues.

You can reach several beaches by bus, as Flensburg is located on the Flensburg Firth. The Baltic Sea, the North Sea, and Denmark are not far away. Hamburg is only two hours away by train.

No, you do not have to pay tuition fees at EUF, but you have to pay a semester fee each semester.