Englisch 
Deutsch 
The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Social work under the number 181118c. Who should study the Bachelor of Social Work at Euro-FH?
The distance learning programme "Social Work (B.A.)" at the European Distance University Hamburg is aimed at people who wish to work in a variety of social fields—such as working with children and adolescents, families, adults, elderly people, in migration work or in the area of inclusion. It addresses both school graduates with university entrance qualifications as well as professionals from social and educational occupations who want to further qualify academically and state-recognised or open new career paths in social services. The course is also suitable for lateral entrants who have a particular interest in societal, social and educational tasks and aim to obtain a recognised university degree alongside their career.
What formal requirements do you have to meet?
The following formal options exist for admission to the distance learning programme Social Work at Euro-FH:
- With Abitur or Fachhochschulreife: direct admission possible without further requirements.
- Without Abitur:
- With a successfully completed vocational training of at least two years and at least three years of professional experience in a related field (for example as an educator, curative education nurse, social assistant).
- Or with a subject-specific advanced training exam, e.g. as a master craftsman, specialist manager or an equivalent qualification, regardless of the occupational field.
- No Numerus Clausus (NC): all applicants are assessed individually; a specific grade point average is not required.
- Recognition of prior achievements: prior qualifications such as a completed educator training can be credited towards the degree and the practical phase; educators and curative education nurses benefit from a shortened study and practical phase.
In addition to the formal criteria, you should bring personal suitability for the course of study:
- Interest in social, societal and educational issues as well as enjoyment in working with people of different ages and life situations.
- Willingness for reflective independent work and self-study, as organising and completing the distance learning programme largely takes place independently.
- Empathy, communication skills and the ability to engage with different target groups.
- Openness to ethical and interdisciplinary topics as well as to digital learning formats and multimedia content.
- Initial practical experience in the social field is helpful but not a mandatory requirement; the course includes a compulsory practical phase that can be organised flexibly.
Study Content in Detail
The distance learning programme Social Work (B.A.) at the European Distance University Hamburg provides you with a broad and practice-oriented knowledge base on professional work with different target groups. You will learn to systematically plan, conduct and evaluate support and counselling processes. The programme focuses on the various fields of social work practice, socio-political dimensions as well as legal framework conditions – supplemented by professional ethical issues and current challenges of the profession.
- Reference disciplines: Pedagogy, psychology, sociology, law and health sciences form the theoretical foundation.
- Action competencies: Case work, systemic case management, conflict communication and community-oriented working methods to strengthen your practical skills.
- Digital social work: You will engage with the changes in social work due to digitalisation.
- Job-specific know-how: You will deal with child protection, inclusion and participation.
- Individual specialisation: Choose one of four fields of practice in the elective compulsory area, for example adult work, child, youth and family work, migration, integration & inclusion or social work with older people.
- Method focus of your choice: Additionally, deepen knowledge in an intervention field such as intercultural mediation, animal-assisted intervention, supervision & intervision or didactics & training.
Upon completion, you will have interdisciplinary professional and methodological competence that equally qualifies you for working with children, adolescents, adults and elderly people. You will be able to analyse complex problem situations, develop solution strategies and implement support offers in a professionally sound manner.
Course Structure
The programme is designed flexibly for 36 months (full-time) or 48 months (part-time), with a free extension option of up to 18 or 24 months respectively. Start is possible at any time. You should plan for a workload of about 28 hours per week.
- Self-study: You will work on the modules independently using digital study materials, audio booklets, learning apps and the AI learning companion “KILEA”.
- Online and face-to-face phases: During the course you will participate in 9 presence days in Hamburg (total 72 hours) as well as in 4 online seminars (a total of 26 hours). The seminars are optimally plannable.
- Practical phase: The practical phase required for state recognition (100 days) is firmly integrated and can be flexibly organised – it can, under certain conditions, for example with prior qualification as a childcare worker, be partially credited and shortened.
- Examinations: Examination assessments can be taken monthly online or at nationwide presence locations. This gives you maximum flexibility.
- Individual support: You will be continuously accompanied by personal academic support and specialised tutors.
The acquired 180 ECTS credits include both broad foundational knowledge as well as individual specialisations and practical experience. The degree awarded is the Bachelor of Arts including state recognition as a social worker or social pedagogue.
Career Opportunities & Employment Prospects
With the Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and state recognition, you qualify for a wide range of professional and managerial positions in social institutions:
- Open and residential child and youth welfare
- Family support, school social work and child protection
- Migration, integration and inclusion
- Work in housing projects or with older people
- Social psychiatric and health-related services
- Crime prevention and assistance to offenders
- Digital social work or counselling in non-profit organisations
Graduates are employable both in public and private organisations, social welfare offices, schools, counselling centres and in community work. The knowledge gained also opens up access to leadership functions and enables a seamless transition to advanced master’s programmes, for example in social management or counselling.
Costs and Financing
The tuition fees are 279 euros per month, which leads to total costs of 13,392 euros for a regular study period of 48 months. Depending on the chosen financing model, monthly instalments are possible from as little as 209 euros. Savings through recognition of prior qualifications are possible (e.g. 10 monthly instalments and shortened practical phase for childcare workers). Additional reductions are provided for certain professional groups and prior achievements.
- Free extension: Up to 18 or 24 months at no extra cost, if you study longer.
- Various funding options: Financing through BAföG, education loans, tax deductibility and employer subsidies are possible.
- Promotions: Occasional discount offers such as saving 1,999 euros on tuition fees.
- 4‑week trial phase: The course can be tried without obligation for four weeks.
All fees cover learning materials, seminars, online platform and examination offers. Costs for on-site events (such as travel to Hamburg) must be calculated separately if applicable.
Advisory Service
Have questions about Academic Programs Social work? Ask your question here, even anonymously. An employee of the institution European Distance Learning University Hamburg or the editorial team will answer you.