Childhood Education (Sandwich Degree)

What you can expect from us

• No high tuition fees for first degree programmes / only a semester fee of € 195
• Distance learning programme with on-campus courses with a direct practical relevance
• Internationally recognised Bachelor of Arts
• Possible entry into an academic career
• State approval as a social educator

The Study Programme:

The “Bachelor of Arts: Childhood Education (sandwich degree)” (BABE) combines practical work with theoretical studies in a sandwich degree programme. The programme has a standard duration of seven semesters and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree, with graduates becoming state-approved social educators and social workers. The study programme has been (re-)accredited by the accreditation agency AHPGS and provides an academic and practical qualification, enabling graduates to work in in a wide range of educational fields in child and youth care for children in the age range 0 to 12 years.

The programme features a large number of practical components requiring students to complete the practical parts of their studies working with a suitable placement provider. We recommend 19.5 hours per week in the full-time programme (except in the work placement semester) in order to be able to reach the required number of hours in the practical part of the programme. During the six-month work placement semester, it is recommended that students work 32-39 hours per week at their place of work.

The programme is also offered in a part-time version to accommodate the different life situations of students. The part-time version features a reduced number of modules per semester as well as a reduced number of practical hours to be completed. Students can switch between part-time and full-time studies. If you would like to find out more about part-time studies, please contact us. The on-campus courses at the university take place in three theoretical blocks of five days each per semester. The self-study periods are accompanied and supported by two further online on-campus blocks of two and a half days each and via online platforms.

Study Programme Objective:

Students acquire theoretical and practical skills to work with children aged 0-12 and their families in daycare centres as well as in other school and extracurricular settings. The main objective of the study programme is to qualify graduates for educational and care work on an independent basis.

The programme leads to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Childhood Education (sandwich degree), with graduates becoming state-approved social educators and social workers.
The Bachelor's degree also forms the basis for a possible further qualification in a Master's programme.

Labour Market Qualifications / Career Prospects:

The programme features a broad content base, enabling graduates to work in a wide variety of fields in social education and social work. For example, after successfully obtaining your degree, you will be qualified to work in the following fields:

• Educational work in daycare centres, day nurseries, after-school care facilities and schools
• Management activities in day nurseries, kindergartens and after-school care facilities
• Educational work in mostly multi-professional teams such as institutions, socio-educational/therapeutic residential groups for children and adolescents, mother-child facilities, children's wards in hospitals, children's villages
• (Extracurricular) child and youth work
• Youth welfare offices, specialist counselling
• Specialised tasks to support children (e.g. early support)
• Non-residential parenting support (family support/individual case support) and family education