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Deutsch Who is the distance learning course Guardianship, Curatorship, Trusteeship suitable for?
The Master’s distance learning course Guardianship, Curatorship, Trusteeship at the Berlin School of Economics and Law is aimed at individuals who take on the legal representation of people in need of support or who wish to specialise in this field of work. It is particularly intended for professional carers, guardians, custodians (for example as procedural, supplementary or estate custodians) as well as employees of courts, authorities or associations working in the area of care services. The course is also suitable for social pedagogues, social workers, educators as well as lawyers who want to develop sound legal and social skills in order to assume professional responsibility in the field of legal representation.
What admission requirements apply to the course?
To be admitted to the Master’s degree course Guardianship, Curatorship, Trusteeship, you must be able to prove one of the following educational pathways:
- Regular route: First completed university degree (at least a six-semester Bachelor, Diplom-FH or comparable qualification), preferably in the fields of law, social sciences or economics (completed at a German university or a recognised foreign university).
- Additionally: At least one year of subsequent relevant professional experience is required.
- Application without university degree: You are also eligible for admission with
- a general university entrance qualification and at least five years of relevant professional experience as well as passing an entrance examination at HWR Berlin (examination fee: €120),
- alternatively with the completion of a two-year professionally relevant vocational training, at least five years of relevant professional experience and passing the entrance examination.
Among the formal requirements, in all alternatives a verifiable professional relevance of prior education and professional experience to the field of care, guardianship or custodianship is required (e.g. proof of work as a professional carer, guardian, custodian, employee in relevant authorities).
In addition, the following personal prerequisites are recommended:
- Interest in legal issues, social work and psychological fundamentals
- High sense of responsibility, empathy and communication skills when dealing with people in need of support
- Self-organisation and discipline to successfully complete a distance learning course alongside work
- Willingness to apply and reflect on theoretical knowledge in a practice-oriented way
- Ideally first practical experience in legal or social professional fields
What content does the distance learning course in Guardianship, Curatorship, Trusteeship cover?
In the Master's degree programme Guardianship, Curatorship, Trusteeship at the Berlin School of Economics and Law, you acquire comprehensive legal, economic and social skills required for acting as the legal representative of persons. The course is interdisciplinary and imparts, besides sound legal knowledge, organisational as well as psychological and social science competences. Central topics include:
- Civil law, civil procedure law, constitutional and state law with a focus on the German Civil Code (BGB), legal proceedings, fundamental rights and relevant European regulations
- Family law, in particular parentage, child law, marriage law, guardianship and trusteeship law as well as custodianship and youth welfare office involvement
- Inheritance law and estate trusteeship
- Social benefits law and the most important benefit areas
- Custody and placement law, including typical illnesses, disability-related particularities and court assignment matters
- Psychological and sociological basics for working with persons in need of support, including target group-appropriate communication, influence of environment and supervision
- Practical modules each semester to gain real experience as a court-appointed representative
- Labour law, enforcement law and property law
- Elective modules in areas such as financial investment, office organisation, IT basics, remuneration law, tax law, nationality law, commercial and company law, criminal law or administrative law
- Skills in handling legally and economically relevant cases, organising custody work and professional communication with courts, authorities and clients
Upon graduation, you will have proven expertise according to the Guardianship Organisation Act and the Guardianship Registration Ordinance and be qualified to deal competently with legally relevant issues in the field of guardianship.
How is the course Guardianship, Curatorship, Trusteeship structured and organised?
The course is designed for four semesters (standard period of study) and is based on the blended learning concept. You combine flexible online phases with compact attendance blocks, which take place on a few weekends per semester at the Lichtenberg campus in Berlin. The modules build on each other and are credited with ECTS points. A practical phase of 5 to 7 weeks is planned per semester, which can be partially or fully recognised by already existing professional experience.
- The attendance phases take place in blocks on Fridays and Saturdays; usually a maximum of three blocks per semester
- The remaining teaching sessions are conducted digitally; all examinations are carried out as e-assessments
- Four practical modules are an integral part; internships can be flexibly organised or credited
- The course can be completed part-time, allowing you to adjust the learning pace individually
- In the fourth semester you write your master's thesis on a topic of your choice from the field of study
The close integration of theory and practice, the diverse elective modules and the high compatibility with professional life characterise the study programme.
What career prospects and professional opportunities do you have with this master’s degree?
With the Master of Laws in the field of Guardianship, Curatorship, Trusteeship you qualify for responsible roles such as:
- Professional guardian in accordance with the requirements of guardianship law
- Guardian for minors or adults in need of care
- Trustee – for example procedural, supplementary, absentee or estate trustee
- Employee in guardianship authorities, guardianship associations as well as youth welfare offices or probate and family courts
- Specialist in related fields such as social work, social pedagogy, administration, legal enforcement or educational counselling
For social workers, educators or lawyers already working in the field of legal representation, the Master's degree offers the opportunity for thorough specialisation and nationwide recognised certification of expertise according to the Guardianship Organisation Act. This opens up new areas of responsibility and improves opportunities for leadership or specialist functions in social and legal fields.
How are the tuition fees composed and what financing models are available?
The costs for the distance learning Master’s programme Guardianship, Curatorship, Trusteeship are composed as follows:
- €290 base fee per semester (a total of €1,160 for four semesters)
- €60 module fee for each credit to be earned (at 120 ECTS a total of €7,200)
- €810 final fee for the master’s thesis and its colloquium
- Additionally: administrative fee of €50 per semester and an AStA fee of €24.24 per semester
The total calculation amounts to approximately €9,170 plus administrative fees and semester contributions. Travel to and from, accommodation and meals during the attendance phases are not included. Upon request, you can arrange an instalment payment plan; a fee of €10 applies per instalment. Funding opportunities exist, for example, through tax deductibility as income-related expenses, employer support or individual scholarship programmes.
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