Englisch 
Deutsch Who this Master’s fits – and what you need to get in
This part-time Master’s is designed for professionals who support learners with visual impairment and want a recognised specialisation in the German-speaking context. It suits: classroom teachers moving into special education for blindness and low vision; rehabilitation or inclusion specialists working with assistive technologies; and education or therapy professionals who plan to coordinate services across schools, counselling centres and inclusive settings. If you aim to combine your job with postgraduate study and can attend scheduled weekends in Marburg, this format offers monthly on-site teaching plus two intensive practice weeks.
Admission requirements
Key formal criteria at a glance. Always check your individual case early if you apply with a non-German background.
- Degree prerequisite: a completed university degree (e.g. Bachelor’s or equivalent) that qualifies you for Master’s-level study. This is a continuing-education Master’s (60 ECTS, 4 semesters part-time).
- Language of instruction: German. You must be able to follow seminars, readings and examinations in German at an advanced level (C1 or similar). Official proof of German proficiency is required for international applicants.
- Foreign qualifications: international degrees and diplomas can be recognised if they are comparable to German university qualifications. Academic comparability and grading scales are reviewed in the admission process.
- Admission without Abitur: not relevant at Master’s level. Your prior university degree serves as higher education entrance qualification; a separate school-leaving certificate is not required for admission.
- On-site attendance: in-person study phases are mandatory in Marburg (seminars and lectures once a month on a weekend, plus two practice weeks). Plan for travel and any visa/residence formalities if you live outside Germany.
Personal requirements
Success in this programme hinges on solid self-management and sustained motivation. Expect around 1,800 hours of total workload over two years (contact time plus self-study). This averages roughly 12–18 hours per week alongside your job, with peaks before exams and during the two practice weeks. You will need:
- Reliable time planning: block out monthly weekends in Marburg and create weekly study slots for readings, assignments and exam prep.
- Self-organisation and perseverance: remote study demands steady progress between on-site phases; build routines and buffer time.
- Communication skills in German: confident academic reading and writing, plus professional interaction in seminars and school/practice settings.
- Professional reflection: willingness to integrate evidence-based special needs pedagogy with your current practice and to adapt methods to individual visual needs.
If you can balance work, study and travel to Marburg, and you bring the required German proficiency, this Master’s offers a clear path to deepen your expertise in education for blind and visually impaired learners.
What will you study in the Blind and visually impaired education (M.A.) at Philipps University of Marburg?
This two-year, part-time master’s (60 ECTS) focuses on pedagogy for people who are blind or visually impaired. The programme is taught in German. You need advanced German proficiency to participate; common proofs at German universities include DSH, TestDaF or Goethe certificates.
You build specialist knowledge of impairment, learning and participation. Core blocks typically include:
- Foundations of blindness and low vision: developmental and educational psychology, didactics for visual impairment, inclusion theory.
- Assessment and support planning: diagnostic approaches, education plans, collaboration with families and multi-professional teams.
- Learning environments and media: tactile and auditory media, Braille and alternative literacy, assistive technologies in instruction.
- Mobility and daily living skills: orientation and mobility concepts, independent living skills, safety and accessibility in schools and communities.
Practice is a defining feature. Across the four semesters you attend monthly weekend seminars and complete two practice weeks in cooperation with the Deutsche Blindenstudienanstalt (blista) in Marburg. You conclude with a master’s thesis that demonstrates your ability to design, implement and evaluate educational support in the field.
Notes on German academic terms you may encounter: Fernstudium means “distance learning”; this programme uses a blended, part-time format rather than a pure Fernstudium. A Fachhochschule is a university of applied sciences; Philipps University of Marburg is a classical research university. The ZFU is Germany’s state authority that approves non-university distance courses; university degree programmes are not ZFU-approved, and they do not need to be.
How does the Blind and visually impaired education distance programme work?
This is a part-time, blended programme designed for professionals. You study over 4 semesters with self-study, monthly on-site weekends and two intensive practice weeks in Marburg. It is not a fully online course and cannot be completed entirely from abroad.
Teaching language and language certificates
The teaching language is German throughout (seminars, materials, exams). You need advanced academic German to follow courses and participate in practice settings. German universities commonly accept certificates such as DSH, TestDaF or Goethe for proof of proficiency; check which proofs and levels are accepted for this specific programme before applying.
Learning format and study materials
You combine guided self-study with regular, in-person academic tutorials, lectures and seminars that take place roughly once a month on a weekend. Study materials and readings are provided in German. The two practice weeks embed you in authentic settings (in cooperation with blista) to apply diagnostic and didactic methods with learners.
Exams and assessment from outside Germany
Assessments are tied to the taught weekends and practice phases. Written work and the master’s thesis can be prepared remotely, but you should expect examinations, presentations and practical assessments to take place on site in Marburg. Online proctoring or international exam centres are not part of the standard setup.
On-site sessions in Germany
On-site attendance is mandatory: approximately one weekend per month in Marburg plus two full practice weeks during the programme. These requirements make continuous travel from outside Germany challenging; plan for travel and accommodation near Marburg for these dates.
Workload, time model and time zones
The programme comprises about 1,800 hours of contact time and self-study over two years. That equates to roughly 15–20 hours per week alongside your job. On-site weekends and any live components follow German time (CET/CEST). Because this is not a purely remote course, no ZFU admission number applies, and no visa exemption based on full online delivery exists.
What does the Blind and visually impaired education cost?
The tuition is €3,900 per semester over the standard duration of 4 semesters, totalling €15,600 for the degree. This allows you to distribute costs over two years rather than paying a large upfront fee. Universities typically accept international bank transfers; clarify any bank charges from abroad so they do not erode your payment.
In addition to tuition, budget for travel and accommodation in Marburg for the monthly weekend sessions and the two practice weeks. Learning materials are generally provided digitally or via the university, but some specialist resources or printing may add small extra costs. If you need longer than four semesters, ask about any administrative fees for extension; tuition is usually tied to enrolled semesters.
What careers and recognition does the Blind and visually impaired education offer?
You earn a Master of Arts, 60 ECTS, aligned with the Bologna framework. ECTS credits are standard across Europe, supporting academic recognition and admission to further study. The programme is programme-accredited by ACQUIN with validity from 01/10/2022 to 30/09/2030, listed by the German Accreditation Council. ACQUIN is a full member of ENQA and its decisions are registered in EQAR, which signals quality assurance to universities and employers across Europe.
Typical career paths include:
- Specialist teacher or educator in schools and resource centres focusing on blindness and visual impairment (inclusion and special education settings).
- Advisor in early intervention, school counselling services or regional support networks for learners with visual impairment.
- Coordinator for inclusive education, accessibility and assistive technologies in educational authorities or NGOs.
- Trainer or consultant for tactile and auditory learning media, Braille literacy and accessible curricula.
Outside Germany, job titles and licence requirements differ. The master’s demonstrates advanced expertise and can strengthen applications to roles in inclusion and disability support. However, regulated teaching positions often require a country-specific teaching licence in addition to a master’s in special education.
Who is the Blind and visually impaired education right for - and who not?
This programme suits experienced educators and related professionals who want to specialise in visual impairment while working. The blended, part-time structure helps you develop advanced practice without pausing your career.
- You work in education, special education, inclusion, rehabilitation or counselling and want formal expertise in blindness and low vision.
- You can attend regular on-site weekends and two intensive practice weeks in Marburg.
- You seek a European master’s degree (60 ECTS) with recognised accreditation (ACQUIN, Accreditation Council).
- You value hands-on training with strong practice links through cooperation with blista.
There are also clear exclusion criteria you should weigh before applying. These relate to language, location and access to regulated professions.
- You need an English-taught, fully online programme you can complete from abroad without travel; this course is German-taught with mandatory on-site weekends and practice weeks.
- You do not have advanced German and cannot provide recognised proof of proficiency; all teaching, materials and exams are in German.
- You aim for automatic qualification for regulated school teaching posts abroad; this master’s alone does not grant a teaching licence.
- You cannot regularly travel to or reside near Marburg on weekends; assessments and contact teaching are face to face.
Advisory Service
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