Soziale Arbeit (B.A.)
Hamburger Fern-Hochschule · Hamburg, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) programme Soziale Arbeit at Hamburger Fern-Hochschule prepares you to competently handle complex social tasks and problem situations in social and health care settings. It is designed as a part-time distance-learning programme with study materials, online teaching, and supported in-person phases at HFH study centres. It combines scientific and practical competencies so you can plan, implement, and evaluate social work processes for people in need.
During your studies, you build well-founded knowledge and skills in core areas such as social work science, related disciplines, and field-relevant competencies. The programme is structured into qualification tracks including scientific, subject-focused, related-science, and job-field competencies, and it supports you in applying what you learn to your professional practice. You complete the degree with a final thesis within the standard study duration.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Develop the scientific foundations for independent, self-organised learning and academic work in Social Work
- Build competence in deriving and formulating research questions and hypotheses for case-based work
- Start learning to identify, formulate, and communicate social work-related problem situations and needs
- Establish the discipline and professional orientation of Social Work through scientific and interprofessional perspectives
- Strengthen subject-specific and method-oriented competences for professional action in Social Work
- Work with historical, theoretical, and methodological bases of Social Work and learn to develop grounded action strategies
- Gain interdisciplinary competencies for analysing individual and social contexts and reflecting professional action
- Apply communication, planning, and evaluation skills in practice-focused elements such as the Praxisprojekt
- Consolidate professional competences for complex social tasks in social and health care settings
- Use research and reflection competences to critically question research findings and communicate results
- Complete the Bachelor thesis as the final academic achievement of the programme
Curriculum
Bachelor Soziale Arbeit (B.A.) at Hamburger Fern-Hochschule: Studienmodule distribution and credit points plan (total 180 Credit Points). Credit points correspond to ECTS/CP workload (180 total).
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Semester | Wissenschaftliche Qualifikationen + Fachwissenschaftliche Qualifikationen + Bezugswissenschaftliche Qualifikationen | Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten I | 6 | 24 |
| Grundlagen der Sozialen Arbeit | 6 | |||
| Grundlagen der Psychologie | 6 | |||
| Rechtliche Grundlagen Sozialer Arbeit | 6 | |||
| 2. Semester | Wissenschaftliche Qualifikationen + Fachwissenschaftliche Qualifikationen + Bezugswissenschaftliche Qualifikationen | Empirische Methoden | 6 | 24 |
| Praxisfelder der Sozialen Arbeit | 6 | |||
| Allgemeine Pädagogik | 6 | |||
| Sozialrecht | 6 | |||
| 3. Semester | Wissenschaftliche Qualifikationen + Fachwissenschaftliche Qualifikationen + Bezugswissenschaftliche Qualifikationen | Journal Club | 6 | 24 |
| Soziale Arbeit als Disziplin | 6 | |||
| Soziologie | 6 | |||
| Projektmanagement | 6 | |||
| 4. Semester | Fachwissenschaftliche Qualifikationen + Bezugswissenschaftliche Qualifikationen + Berufsfeldbezogene Qualifikationen | Methodisches Handeln in der Sozialen Arbeit | 6 | 24 |
| Gesundheits- und Sozialpolitik | 6 | |||
| Gesundheits- und Sozialpolitik | 6 | |||
| Wahlpflichtmodul (eine Zielgruppe aus dem Wahlpflichtbereich) | 6 | |||
| 5. Semester | Bezugswissenschaftliche Qualifikationen + Berufsfeldbezogene Qualifikationen | Grundlagen der Gesundheitswissenschaft | 6 | 42 |
| Beratung und Begleitung | 6 | |||
| Hauptpraktikum (praxisbezogener Studienanteil) | 30 | |||
| 6. Semester | Fachwissenschaftliche Qualifikationen + Bezugswissenschaftliche Qualifikationen + Berufsfeldbezogene Qualifikationen | Diagnostik in der Sozialen Arbeit | 6 | 42 |
| Sozialmedizinische Bezüge der Sozialen Arbeit | 6 | |||
| Hauptpraktikum (praxisbezogener Studienanteil) | 30 | |||
| 7. Semester | Fachwissenschaftliche Qualifikationen + Berufsfeldbezogene Qualifikationen | Profession und professionelle Identität | 6 | 42 |
| Wahlpflichtmodul (zweite Zielgruppe aus dem Wahlpflichtbereich) | 6 | |||
| Hauptpraktikum (praxisbezogener Studienanteil) | 30 | |||
| 8. Semester | Bachelorarbeit | Bachelorarbeit | 12 | 12 |
| Total | Wissenschaftliche Qualifikationen, Fachwissenschaftliche Qualifikationen, Bezugswissenschaftliche Qualifikationen, Berufsfeldbezogene Qualifikationen und Bachelorarbeit | 180 ECTS | ||
Career outcomes
- You graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Soziale Arbeit that prepares you for employment as a state-recognised social worker and social pedagogue as described by the programme at HFH.
- You gain practice-relevant skills for counselling, support, and assistance for people and groups in challenging life situations, supporting autonomous life design and social participation.
- You are trained to handle complex social problems in social and health services, helping you qualify for roles in welfare-sector and public-service support functions.
- You develop competencies in planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating projects, processes, support systems, and services of Social Work.
- You build research and critical-thinking abilities so you can communicate findings and apply evidence-based approaches in your professional work.
- Because the programme is designed for working students, you can align study progress with real workplace experience and strengthen your profile for hiring in social institutions.
Employability rate
Social work and related graduates in Germany typically see an employability rate of around 86% and an unemployment rate of about 14%, reflecting continued demand in public and welfare-sector organisations.
Together, these figures point to relatively stable career prospects with reliable hiring pathways for qualified professionals in social and care-related settings.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Foreign university entrance qualification | Applicants with a foreign higher-education entrance qualification must submit the certificate of study eligibility (in the original language) and, if not already in English, a German translation by a sworn interpreter/translator. |
| Credential review for foreign qualifications | The HFH reviews foreign certificates in line with the assessments of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) and may request additional documents such as a confirmation of equivalence when available. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Social work-related or humanities/social science background | Conditional match | International applicants with foreign qualifications should have their prior education reviewed by the HFH studies advisory as part of the application assessment; document review follows the HFH process based on ZAB assessments. |
Language requirements
This program is taught in German. For international applicants with foreign higher-education entrance qualifications or degrees, the HFH states that you must demonstrate German language skills at least at level B2.
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
MOI waiver details are not published for this programme. See the English test requirements above.
Other accepted proofs
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | EUR 300 / per year | The HFH programme page states “300 € pro Monat” and “14.400 € gesamt” for the Bachelor Soziale Arbeit (B.A.). |
Proof of financial resources
International applicants applying from abroad must show that they can finance their studies in Germany for the planned period. Prepare your financial proof according to the German immigration requirements for students, and ensure the amounts and documents match what the responsible authority requests.
- Proof of financial resources for studies in Germany (as required for student residence permit processing for applicants applying from abroad).
- Any additional financial documents requested by the program/university during application review (if applicable).
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| Application portal opens | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | N/A |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A |
| Semester begins | October 01, 2026 |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Prepare your eligibility and language documents
Check that your foreign university entrance qualification is covered for admission and plan your German language proof at least to level B2. Collect your original certificate(s) and a German translation by a sworn interpreter/translator if the original is not already in English. If you have an equivalence confirmation related to your foreign qualification, keep it ready for upload.
Apply through the HFH application process
Submit your application via the HFH’s official application flow for the bachelor program. During your application review, the HFH will check your foreign certificates in line with ZAB assessments. If parts of your required practical placement must already be completed before study start, review this requirement with the HFH studies advisory early.
Upload documents and complete any required translations
Upload the required copies and ensure translations meet the HFH requirement for sworn interpreter/translator work. Do not rely on non-certified or non-sworn translations, as the review requires translated documents where originals are not in English. If you are asked for additional evidence during review, respond within the requested timeframe.