What requirements and prior knowledge do you need for the Master’s in Vocational Education?

The Master’s programme in Vocational Education is aimed at professionals from SAGE (Social, Health, Education), Business, STEM or Design, who wish to qualify for teaching positions at vocational schools or in adult education. You are particularly suited as a specialist connected to one of these fields if you want to pass on your professional experience with a sound pedagogical foundation – even as a career changer without a regular teacher training degree.

Formal admission requirements in detail

The following options apply for admission to the Master’s in Vocational Education (M.A.):

• With a first academic degree (usually a Bachelor with 210 ECTS):
  • Completed professionally qualifying degree (usually 210 ECTS; if 180 ECTS, a free competency assessment process or a bridging course is required)
  • At least one year of relevant professional experience in the chosen subject area
  • Pedagogical/didactic competencies (verifiable through studies, further training or practical experience)
  • Proof of a current teaching commitment (min. 4 hours per week) at a vocational school no later than the start of studies
• Without a first academic degree:
  • General university entrance qualification
  • Professionally relevant vocational training
  • At least two years of relevant professional experience
  • Pedagogical competence acquired through professional practice
  • Successful participation in an aptitude test (written, oral and, if applicable, exam), examination fee: 500 €
  • Proof of a current teaching commitment (min. 4 hours per week) at a vocational school no later than the start of studies
• Applicants with a foreign degree require recognition in accordance with the Lisbon Convention.
• Individual study counselling and examination of specific requirements is possible, e.g. in cases of missing ECTS or insufficient pedagogical experience.
• Graduates of recognised pedagogical further training (including DIPLOMA teacher seminars) can have prior achievements recognised fully or partially, thereby shortening the course of study.

Personally, you should be willing to engage in self-directed learning, be open to pedagogical as well as digital methods, and enjoy conveying specialist content. Additionally important are a sense of responsibility, strong communication skills and the ability to reflect on your professional practice in the school or adult education context.

Detailed Study Content

The Master’s distance learning programme Vocational Pedagogy (M.A.) at DIPLOMA University specifically qualifies you for teaching roles at vocational schools and in adult education. The focus is on combining your professional prior experience with scientifically based vocational pedagogy and practice-oriented didactics. At the beginning of your studies, you choose your subject didactic specialisation from the fields of SAGE (Social Work, Health, Education), Business, STEM or Design. The content is tailored to your chosen specialisation and your professional background.

• Educational Science & Vocational and Business Pedagogy: You engage with the scientific foundations of vocational education and acquire knowledge in school organisation, school law and the structures of the education system.
• Didactics of Vocational Education: You learn methods of lesson planning and analysis, competence orientation, as well as the design of digital teaching and learning processes.
• Empirical Educational and Teaching Research: You develop skills in evaluation and quality development in the educational context.
• Practice & Application: The programme includes a supervised teaching practice of over 200 hours, classroom observations, teaching samples and collegial case consultations. The practical phases are closely supported by mentors.
• Digital Teaching Competence: You become proficient in online didactics, digitalised teaching and learning processes, as well as in developing contemporary teaching concepts.
• Scientific Competences & Reflection: You engage with scientific methodology, reflect on your own professional role and on school and lesson development.

With this curriculum you acquire didactic, methodological and digital competences for the professional planning, delivery and evaluation of lessons in various vocational contexts.