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Deutsch Who this German-taught, part-time Master suits — and what you need to get in
This Master is a fit if you work with people and organisations and want to drive inclusion while studying alongside your job. Typical profiles include: professionals from social services or education moving into organisational development; HR or DEI practitioners in companies or NGOs who want a rigorous, practice-linked Master; staff in public administration, schools or rehabilitation services aiming for leadership in inclusive transformation. You can study from abroad, but you must attend short on-site blocks in Neubrandenburg on selected Fridays and Saturdays.
Admission requirements
Key formal points at a glance:
- Academic background: admission to a Master of Arts in Germany generally requires a first university degree (Bachelor or equivalent). Specific subject or experience requirements are set by the university for each intake.
- International degrees: qualifications earned outside Germany can be recognised if they are equivalent to a German Bachelor. You should be ready to provide official transcripts and, where applicable, certified translations.
- Without Abitur: the school-leaving certificate (Abitur) is not decisive for Master’s entry. If you already hold a first degree, Abitur is not required. An alternative route without a first degree is not stated for this programme.
- Language of instruction: the programme is taught in German. If you did not complete prior education in German, you will usually need recognised proof of German at advanced level (typically C1 CEFR). Common certificates in Germany include TestDaF (TDN 4), DSH-2, Goethe-Zertifikat C1 or telc C1 Hochschule. Exemptions may apply if your previous degree was taught in German.
- On-site attendance: plan for 3–8 in-person days per semester on Fridays and Saturdays in semesters 1–4, held in Neubrandenburg. From abroad, factor in travel, visas and potential employer coordination.
- Accreditation: the programme holds programme accreditation (ACQUIN) valid to 30 September 2027.
Personal requirements
Success in a part-time, largely self-directed Master depends on steady routines and realistic planning. Budget a sustained study rhythm of about 10–15 hours per week during teaching periods; workload peaks before presence weekends and assessments. You need strong self-organisation, perseverance for academic reading and writing in German, and the ability to apply concepts of inclusion and organisational change to your workplace. Reliable internet, a quiet study setup, and openness to reflective, practice-based learning are essential. If you live outside Germany, plan early for travel to Neubrandenburg and time zone differences, and align with your employer for the Friday/Saturday sessions.
What will you study in the Organizational Development and Inclusion (M.A.) at the University of Neubrandenburg?
The programme is taught in German. You need advanced German to follow seminars, readings and assessments; the university specifies accepted language proofs during application. This part-time Master of Arts (90 ECTS, 5 semesters) combines theory with practice and focuses on inclusive, rights-based organisational change across education, social services, administration and companies.
You will first build a solid theoretical foundation around inclusion as a human-rights paradigm. Typical topics include theories and paradigms of education and support, ethics of inclusion, and interpreting diversity in social systems. This gives you the vocabulary and frameworks to argue for and design inclusive practice.
A second strand looks at diversity, institutions and structures: dimensions of difference (e.g. disability, migration, socio-economic background), institutions and governance, and how organisational cultures and structures enable or hinder participation. You learn to read organisations as systems and to locate levers for change.
Change and development form the third strand. Here you study organisational development, inclusion-oriented change management and practical approaches to transforming cultures, structures and everyday practices. You work on real scenarios from education, youth services, administration or companies.
Method and practice are embedded throughout: modules on observing and interpreting practice, reflective methods and an Innovationscamp place you in applied settings. The programme culminates in a Master’s thesis where you research a question from your professional field and propose implementable solutions.
This is a Fernstudium (distance learning) offered by a German Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences). It blends online study with short, compulsory on-site sessions. In Germany, distance-learning courses for the general public are often approved by the ZFU (the state authority for distance learning). University degree programmes like this one follow higher-education law; a ZFU admission number is therefore not listed.
How does the Organizational Development and Inclusion distance programme work?
Teaching language and language proof
The teaching language is German. You should be confident in academic German for seminars, readings and written work. The university defines accepted proofs of German proficiency during the application process.
Learning format and study materials
The programme is designed for working professionals and runs part-time over 5 semesters. Most learning happens remotely through guided self-study, readings and assignments, supported by online resources and tutor input. The curriculum tightly links theory and practice, so you will regularly bring cases from your workplace into seminars and projects.
Exams and assessment from abroad
Assessment typically combines written assignments, presentations and project work aligned with your professional field. As the programme includes compulsory on-site sessions, you should expect selected assessments or presentations to be scheduled during these days in Neubrandenburg. Fully remote completion of all assessments from outside Germany is not possible.
Mandatory on-site sessions in Germany
There are 3–8 on-site days per semester in semesters 1–4, always on Fridays and Saturdays, held in Neubrandenburg. These compact blocks are used for workshops, the Innovationscamp, peer exchange and selected assessments. If you live outside Germany, you must be able to travel to Germany several times per academic year.
Workload, time model and time zones
The time model is part-time alongside employment. Self-study and asynchronous tasks are flexible; on-site blocks and any live elements follow Central European (CET/CEST) time. As a blended distance programme with short visits, you do not need a German student visa if you do not relocate; however, you must meet entry requirements for short stays and be able to attend all on-site days.
What does the Organizational Development and Inclusion (M.A.) cost?
Tuition is charged per semester. At €1,485 per semester over the standard duration of 5 semesters, the total comes to €7,425. This figure helps you plan across the full programme horizon rather than just month to month. Public universities in Germany typically invoice per semester; payments from abroad are generally possible via international bank transfer through your bank, but plan for transfer fees and currency conversion on your side.
Budget additionally for travel and accommodation during the mandatory on-site days in Neubrandenburg. If you extend your studies beyond 5 semesters, clarify in advance whether any continuation fees apply; the regular total above covers completion within the standard duration.
What careers and recognition does the Organizational Development and Inclusion (M.A.) offer?
The degree awards 90 ECTS credits under the Bologna framework. The programme is programme-accredited by ACQUIN (an EQAR-listed agency) and currently accredited without conditions until 30 September 2027. The University of Neubrandenburg is a public, state-recognised university of applied sciences in Germany. Internationally, this signals a quality-assured Master’s at level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework, facilitating recognition for jobs or further study in many countries.
Graduates move into roles where inclusive transformation is key. Typical paths include:
- Organisational development and change roles in schools, youth services and social care providers
- Project and programme management in public administration or NGOs focused on participation and accessibility
- HR and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) functions in companies and foundations
- Consultancy and internal advisory roles on inclusive processes, participation and service design
- Leadership of educational, rehabilitation or community organisations with an inclusion mandate
This Master’s is not a teacher licensure or psychotherapist qualification. It strengthens your expertise in inclusion-oriented practice and organisational change, which can support progression to coordination, management or advisory posts. Salaries vary widely by country, sector (public vs private) and seniority; in many European contexts, moving into organisational development, programme management or unit leadership typically lifts earnings compared to practitioner roles, especially in larger organisations.
Who is the Organizational Development and Inclusion (M.A.) right for – and who not?
This programme suits professionals who want to drive inclusive change in organisations while continuing to work. The blend of theory, practical reflection and compact in-person workshops is designed for people with real-world responsibility.
- You work in education, social services, public administration, health, rehabilitation or the non-profit sector and want to lead inclusion-oriented change
- You seek a public, state-recognised German Master’s (90 ECTS) with external accreditation (ACQUIN)
- You need a part-time format that respects professional schedules, with contact days consolidated on Fridays and Saturdays
- You value practice-linked learning and want to apply methods of organisational development directly in your workplace
- You plan to work in Europe and want a Bologna-aligned degree to support international mobility
There are also clear limits. Read these carefully if you live outside Germany or need specific licensure.
- Not suitable if you need a fully online programme with zero travel: there are 3–8 mandatory on-site days per semester (semesters 1–4) in Neubrandenburg
- Not suitable if you require an English-taught Master’s: the language of instruction is German throughout
- Not a pathway to regulated professions such as teacher licensure or psychotherapy; it does not grant those professional rights
- Challenging if you cannot obtain short-stay entry to Germany or cannot travel on Fridays/Saturdays several times per year
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