Bachelor Lehramt Politikwissenschaft

Career prospects

Graduate studies

Programme start

Winter semester

Academic structure

Students always have to study two major subjects. You may freely combine your choice of subjects from those offered at the University of Konstanz. But you should note that some subject combinations demand a higher level of organisation and work. This is why we recommend you to seek more information and personal advice before entering your application. The bachelor programme generally lasts for six semesters and is concluded with a bachelor thesis. To continue with the master's programme, you will need to make a new application. The master's programme generally lasts for four semesters. A combination of three subjects is not available in the bachelor programme. It might, however, be possible to study a third subject for future teaching purposes during the master’s programme.

The study programme for future teachers consists of the following elements:

• Academic studies: Studies in both of the future teaching subjects
• Teaching methodology: Acquisition of subject-specific theories and methods for teaching the subject matter
• Educational science: Acquisition of educational and other qualifications relevant to a teaching position
• Practical experience: During your bachelor's programme you will complete a three-week orientation internship and during your master's programme a 12-week practical teaching semester.

You can find an exemplary structure of the study programme in this table.

Please check the Exam regulations (partly in German) for more information about the programme structure.

• Biology Biology is the science of living systems. As a student you will investigate the development, functioning and behaviour, and the relationships between the individual organism and its environment.
  
  Study programme
• Chemistry This programme qualifies you to teach chemistry in secondary education at a German Gymnasium. Chemistry is the science of the structures and properties of materials and their reactions. In the chemical sense, materials are elements and their compounds.
  
  Study programme
• Computer Science This study programme qualifies you to teach computer science in secondary education at a German Gymnasium. Computer science is based on mathematics and engineering. Logical thinking is at the heart of this discipline.
  
  Study programme
• Economics Our Economics – Bachelor of Education (secondary education ) study programme provides future teachers the professional qualifications to teach economics in secondary education at a German Gymnasium. The study of economics will provide you with the essential knowledge, methods and theoretical background in the areas of economics and business administration.
  
  Study programme
• English In this programme you will acquire the professional skills required to teach English in secondary education at a German Gymnasium. The courses consist of literary, linguistic and language skills modules. The literary modules will teach you how to analyse and reflect critically on literatures of the English-speaking world and to speak and write about them with authority. The linguistic modules deal systematically with the structure and history of the English language.
  
  Study programme
• French This study programme equips you with the professional skills required to teach French in secondary education at a German Gymnasium. The courses consist of literary, linguistic and language skills modules. The literary modules will teach you how to analyse and reflect critically on French literature and culture and to speak and write about them with authority. The linguistic modules deal systematically with the structure and history of the French language.
  
  Study programme
• German In this study programme you will acquire the professional skills to teach German in secondary education at a German Gymnasium. The courses consist of literary and linguistic modules. The literary module will teach you to analyse and reflect critically on literature and to speak and write about it with authority. The linguistic module deals systematically with the structure and history of the German language.
  
  Study programme
• History In this programme you will acquire the professional skills required to teach history in secondary education at a German Gymnasium. Studying history at the University of Konstanz means learning about everything from antiquity to the Middle Ages and through to modern and contemporary history while pursuing your own special interests. The programme links the study of entire epochs with regional histories (e.g. Ancient Near East, Eastern Europe) and thematic (e.g. economic and social history) areas of emphasis.
  
  Study programme
• Italian This study programme qualifies you to teach Italian in secondary education at a German Gymnasium. The courses consist of literary, linguistic and language skills modules. The literary modules will teach you how to analyse and reflect critically on Italian literature and culture and to speak and write about them with authority. The linguistic modules deal systematically with the structure and history of the Italian language.
  
  Study programme
• Latin This study programme qualifies you to teach Latin in secondary education at a German Gymnasium. It consists of literary, culture and language skills modules. The literary modules will teach you how to read and understand ancient texts in their historical, cultural and social contexts. In the linguistic modules you will become proficient in classical Latin and acquire knowledge of the metrics, structure and history of Latin.
  
  Study programme
• Mathematics This study programme qualifies you to teach mathematics in secondary education at a German Gymnasium. Mathematics encompasses the study of abstract structures and their inherent relationships on the one hand, and seeks to find solutions for problems posed by applied sciences such as engineering, medicine, economics as well as the natural and social sciences on the other.
  
  Study programme
• Philosophy/ Ethics This study programme qualifies you to teach philosophy/ethics in secondary education at a German Gymnasium. Over the course of your studies you will gain an understanding of the theories and positions of classical and contemporary philosophers. You will discuss philosophical questions, such as free will, the rationale of moral norms, the potentials of knowledge and the relationship between language and reality.
  
  Study programme
• Physics This study programme qualifies you to teach physics in secondary education at a German Gymnasium. Physics encompasses a wide field of study. The fundamental aim is to understand how matter in its various forms and sizes interacts with the fundamental forces of nature.
  
  Study programme
• Russian This study programme will qualify you to teach Russian in secondary education at a German Gymnasium. The courses consist of literary, linguistic and language skills modules. Over the course of the literary modules you will learn how to analyse and reflect critically on Russian literature and culture and to speak and write about them with authority. The linguistic modules deal systematically with the structure and history of the Russian language.
  
  Study programme
• Spanish This study programme qualifies you to teach Spanish in secondary education at a German Gymnasium. It is comprised of literary, linguistic and language skills modules. Over the course of the literary modules you will learn how to analyse and reflect critically on Spanish literature and culture and to speak and write about them with authority.
  
  Study programme
• Sport In this study programme you will acquire the professional skills to teach sports in secondary education at a German Gymnasium. You will attend both theoretical as well practical modules. The theoretical disciplines comprise modules on science, medicine and social science.
  
  Study programme

Internships

During your bachelor's programme you will complete a three-week orientation internship and during your master's programme a 12-week practical teaching semester.

Study abroad

A period of study abroad is always highly recommended. You can spend semesters abroad at numerous European and non-European universities. The university promotes study abroad via Erasmus+ and numerous other exchange programmes.

Hear from students and lecturers
In our interview series, students talk about their subject, teachers explain the department's research and tell you what topics they cover in seminars and lectures.

• Three Questions to Niklas, B.A. Politics and Public Administration
• Three Questions to Friederike, B.A. Politics and Public Administration
• Three Questions to Fernando, B.A. Politics and Public Administration

Get an impression
Discover online lectures and websites with more information about your prospective subject.

• Information page "Teaching Degree in Political Science"
• Orientation Page Teaching Degree
• Job and practice exchange for teachers
• Lecture Recordings (Political Science)

As a teacher you need a variety of skills and competences. You should of course be fascinated by the contents of your subject, and at the same time enjoy sharing your knowledge with your young students. You will need to be able to develop teaching concepts, sometimes with your teacher colleagues, and you will need to demonstrate a high level of educational skills in your daily work with children and adolescents. In addition to this, you will need a variety of social competencies. These include communication skills, conflict ability, resilience and the ability to inspire and motivate. These skills will also help you when interacting with parents.
You need to have a personal interest in current political issues and the desire to address them.

Foreign language skills
You do not have to proof any foreign language skills. However, good English skills are mandatory since the majority of the course literature is in English as well as the instruction language of some of the lectures and seminars.

German language skills
International applicants need documentation of their German language skills, level DSH-2 or TestDaF 4. Alternatively, other language tests or school certificates recognized as equivalent can be used as proof of the required German language skills. The University of Konstanz does not offer preparatory German language courses or approved German language exams. For this reason, you must submit accredited proof of your German language skills along with your application.

Language(s) of instruction

Usually, the language of instruction is German. However, some courses are held in English.

General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) or equivalent.

You will find the current regulations for the selection process in the admission regulations.

Mandatory online self-test
Before applying for our Bachelor of Education programme you need to take an online self-test. This test will help you to decide whether teaching and working daily with children and adolescents is suitable for you. Please send in your test certificate together with your application papers.

All students enrolled at the University of Konstanz are charged a semester fee each semester, similar to all other German universities. Here you can find the current semester fee and its individual components.

Tuition fees for first degree studies for certain international students
Since winter semester 2017/18, the state of Baden-Württemberg has required some international students to pay tuition fees for their first degree studies. The following students are not required to pay tuition fees: citizens of a country within the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), doctoral students and certain “Bildungsinländer” (e.g. non-EU citizens with a German “Abitur”). More detailed information can be found here.

Each year, the University of Konstanz grants exemptions to a limited number of particularly gifted international degree-seeking students in accordance with the university’s “Begabtenbefreiungssatzung” (statutes governing the exemption of gifted students). More detailed information can be found here.

Tuition fees for second degree studies for all students
All students are required to pay tuition fees for their second degree studies. More detailed information can be found here.

This study programme has admission restrictions.

An application is possible during the following period: 7.5. - 15.7. (winter semester). There may be other deadlines if you are applying for admission to a higher semester (for instance, if you are changing subjects or universities). For more information please consult the university website.

Application documents

During the online application process, you will need to enter various kinds of information (school grades, attendance periods etc.) and upload various PDF documents. Please make sure that you have the relevant documentation ready. This may include:

• your Abitur certificate (German general higher education entrance qualification)
• documentation of any volunteering you may have done (FSJ, FÖJ etc.)
• any documentation about vocational training you may have completed
• any other required documents (medical certificate etc.)

An electronic assistant will guide you through the application process. Required fields are marked by an asterisk (*).