Overview This Master’s programme builds a practice-oriented, rights-based approach to social work with children, young people and families. It emphasises sustainable practice, child protection and the promotion of justice, participation and inclusion, and is aimed at students who want to act as globally minded professionals shaping better futures for children and families. You can study on an English or a German track and will join an international student community that connects local and global perspectives in social work.
What you will learn As a consecutive Master’s degree, the curriculum prepares you to analyse the challenges facing families and children in a globalised world and to design and implement sustainable, locally relevant responses. Drawing on international and local social work concepts, the programme frames global sustainability goals and social inequalities from a child- and family-centred perspective and trains you to develop innovative strategies that promote social justice, social cohesion and improved living conditions.
Why this programme Teaching is interdisciplinary and informed by global knowledge sources; multilingual student groups and practical units (e.g. research labs, counselling and intervention, community & care, children’s rights) develop sensitivity to differing social, cultural and political contexts. The course emphasises active participation by children and families, long-term commitment and empowerment so that interventions are sustainable and equitable. The programme has been accredited since 2007 (currently in re‑accreditation) and qualifies graduates for entry to the higher civil service in Germany.
Admission requirements (summary)
Program structure and teaching approach
This MA combines face-to-face and digital formats to balance theoretical depth with hands-on practice. You will take in-depth on-campus seminars alongside asynchronous bilingual e-courses, synchronous online seminars, and bilingual digital lectures. The curriculum emphasizes collaborative and reflective learning through peer counselling and self-help modules, small-group projects, and research labs that connect academic study with practical intervention strategies.
Key modules and core assessments
Core learning elements include research labs that build empirical and methodological skills, peer counselling and self-help concepts to develop direct practice competencies, and small-group project work to strengthen teamwork and applied problem-solving. The final thesis is supported by a lab-style colloquium held in person, designed for reflective supervision and formative feedback as you complete your MA project.
International experience and academic development opportunities
In the third semester there is an optional study-abroad module; details about partner institutions and available funding are provided by the International Office. You may also undertake voluntary internships abroad during semester breaks to gain international field experience. Additionally, students who can demonstrate subject-matter expertise may be invited to support teaching and learning in the department’s Bachelor programmes, receiving continuous mentoring as an introduction to academic work.
Curriculum components (requirements and options)
What you will gain (learning outcomes)
Applicants must hold a first, professionally qualifying university degree corresponding to 180 ECTS credit points. This means a completed undergraduate degree (typically a Bachelor) that provides the foundational professional qualification expected for entry to a Master’s-level programme.
The acceptable fields of study are programmes in social work, childhood education, or other academically related disciplines. If your bachelor’s degree was awarded outside Germany, it must be comparable to the 180 ECTS requirement and to the listed subject areas—if you are uncertain about equivalence, check with the university’s admissions office or international/student services.
Winter Semester (International)
22 June 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
22 June 2026
Graduates are prepared for professional roles in child- and family-focused social work, including child protection, family counselling, community and care services, and positions within NGOs or local and international organisations addressing social justice and child welfare. The programme's emphasis on international standards and sustainable intervention strategies also suits roles in policy development, programme management and cross-cultural community work.
The research labs, teaching/coaching opportunities and laboratory-style thesis format equip students for research and academic pathways or further postgraduate study. The optional study-abroad module and multilingual training enhance employability in international contexts and increase prospects for positions within public administration, including eligibility for higher civil service roles in Germany.