Soziale Arbeit (M.A.)
Hamburger Fern-Hochschule · Hamburg, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The Masterstudiengang Soziale Arbeit at Hamburger Fern-Hochschule is designed as a practice- and research-oriented distance program that builds on the fundamentals of social work and students’ professional experience. The program is structured as part-time study and includes the master’s thesis.
In the curriculum, you develop scientific and methodological skills, deepen subject knowledge across core areas of social work, and complete a chosen specialisation (Traumapädagogik, Flucht und Migration; Personal- und Projektmanagement; or Gesundheit), together providing a focused qualification for leadership and advanced roles in social work.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Forschungsmethoden (1–3 + Masterkolloquium) with a total of 6 CP, including the semester-spanning structure of the module
- Qualitative Forschung (6 CP) to build qualitative research competencies
- Quantitative Forschung (6 CP) to develop quantitative research foundations
- Professionalisierung in der Sozialen Arbeit (6 CP) as a core professional focus
- Core social work modules such as Sozialraumorientierung (6 CP), Theorien der Sozialen Arbeit (6 CP), Vielfalt und Differenz (6 CP), and Demokratie, Teilhabe und Partizipation (6 CP)
- Digital and advisory focus through Digitalisierung im Sozialwesen (6 CP) and Aktuelle Herausforderungen der Beratung (6 CP)
- Social management modules including Sozialmanagement I (6 CP), Sozialmanagement II (6 CP), and Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft (6 CP)
- Chosen specialisation (18 CP) from one of the three Schwerpunkt options
- Qualitatives Forschungsprojekt (6 CP) after completing Qualitative Forschung and required parts of Forschungsmethoden
- Masterarbeit prepared with a practice-related topic and approved by the program management
- Master-program requirement of successfully completing the examinations of the first three semesters before admission to the Master thesis
- Final integration of research and professional practice with leadership-oriented learning outcomes
Curriculum
120 ECTS (Master of Arts) study plan with focus modules and a Masterthesis (5 semesters total).
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Semester | 6 modules | Empirische Forschung | 6 | 36 |
| Sozialraumorientierung | 6 | |||
| Professionalisierung in der Sozialen Arbeit | 6 | |||
| Sozialmanagement I | 6 | |||
| Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft | 6 | |||
| Qualitative Forschung | 6 | |||
| 2. Semester | 6 modules | Theorien der Sozialen Arbeit | 6 | 36 |
| Sozialmanagement II | 6 | |||
| Qualitatives Forschungsprojekt | 6 | |||
| Vielfalt und Differenz | 6 | |||
| Aktuelle Herausforderungen der Beratung | 6 | |||
| Empirische Methoden II | 6 | |||
| 3. Semester | 6 modules | Digitalisierung im Sozialwesen | 6 | 36 |
| Demokratie, Teilhabe und Partizipation | 6 | |||
| Soziale Arbeit im Kontext von Flucht und Migration (focus module - depending on chosen focus) | 6 | |||
| Traumapädagogik (focus module - depending on chosen focus) | 6 | |||
| Interkulturelle Psychologie (focus module - depending on chosen focus) | 6 | |||
| Human Resources Management II (focus module - depending on chosen focus) | 6 | |||
| 4. Semester | 3 focus modules | Human Resources Management III (focus module - depending on chosen focus) | 6 | 18 |
| Forschungs- und Entwicklungsprojekte | 6 | |||
| Public Health (focus module - depending on chosen focus) | 6 | |||
| 5. Semester | 2 components | Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung (focus module - depending on chosen focus) | 6 | 30 |
| Evidence-based Health Care (focus module - depending on chosen focus) | 6 | |||
| Masterthesis | 18 | |||
| Total | Core modules, focus modules, and Masterthesis | 120 ECTS | ||
Career outcomes
- You gain advanced competencies to take (leadership) roles in the field of social work, preparing you to steer and develop social service institutions systematically and goal-oriented.
- You build job-relevant research and evidence skills through research methods and research modules, enabling you to evaluate measures and work with findings in practice.
- You develop strong specialist expertise in current themes of social work such as digital counselling, trauma education, diversity and participation—skills that are increasingly demanded by modern welfare-sector organisations.
- You strengthen your social management profile with modules in social management and connections between economy and society, supporting roles in administration, quality management, and personnel or project contexts.
- Your chosen Schwerpunkt helps you create a professional profile for specific working fields, such as migration and trauma-related services, HR and project management, or health-focused social work.
- You can use the practice-oriented design of the program to connect your existing professional experience with advanced academic work, improving your readiness for higher-responsibility positions.
- The degree is designed to support further academic paths as well, including continuation toward a doctorate for those aiming at a research-focused career.
Employability rate
Social work and social pedagogy graduates in Germany typically see an employability rate of around 85% and an unemployment rate of about 15%, reflecting steady demand in public and welfare-sector organisations.
Together, these figures point to a comparatively stable career outlook with reliable hiring needs for qualified professionals and leadership-ready graduates.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree / first academic degree | Admission requires a first academic degree from a state-recognised university in Social Work / Social Work / Social Pedagogy, or a comparable degree in an education-related study programme. For international qualifications, the completion must be equivalent to a workload of at least 180 CP as evaluated using the ECTS workload approach mentioned by HFH. |
| German language knowledge | HFH states that applicants’ German language knowledge should be at least B2. Applicants with foreign qualifications must submit the required language proof as part of their application documents. |
| Foreign qualification assessment | HFH states it checks applicants’ foreign qualifications based on the evaluation approach of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB). Where relevant documents require translation, applicants must provide certified translations and copies as specified by HFH. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Social work / social pedagogy / related education degrees | Direct match | If your first academic degree is in Social Work / Social Pedagogy or a comparable education-related programme, HFH states it can be eligible based on the foreign-qualification equivalence approach described for international applicants. |
Language requirements
International applicants must meet the HFH’s German language requirement for studying at the university and submit proof according to the published rules for applicants with foreign qualifications.
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
MOI waiver details are not published for this programme. See the English test requirements above.
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | EUR 13500 / total program | Study fee shown as 450 EUR per month / 13,500 EUR total for the program. |
| Master thesis examination fee | EUR 990 / one time | Examination fee for the thesis per attempt is stated separately. |
Proof of financial resources
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | January - Winter intake | July - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A | N/A |
| Semester begins | January 01, 2027 | July 01, 2027 |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | January - Winter intake | July - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | January - Winter intake | July - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A |
🎓 Scholarship
| Provider | Scheme name | Coverage | Eligibility notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAAD | EPOS — Development-Related Postgraduate Courses | Tuition fees, monthly stipend, travel allowance, health insurance | DAAD EPOS supports eligible participants from developing countries for development-related postgraduate study in Germany. This 120 CP master’s program aligns with development-related postgraduate training in the social work field. |
📝 How to Apply
Prepare your eligibility and documents for international applicants
Check that your first academic degree is in Social Work/Social Pedagogy or a comparable education-related programme and that it meets the foreign-qualification equivalence requirement described by HFH. Gather your qualification certificate(s) and supporting documents in the original language. If the original is not in German or English, prepare the required translated copies as specified by HFH and ensure any required translations are certified.
Meet the German language requirement
Ensure you can provide proof of German language knowledge at least B2, as required for applicants with foreign qualifications. Use the HFH guidance for when and how translations or proof documents should be submitted. If you are unsure whether your certificate is accepted or whether you fall under a documented exemption case, contact the HFH study counselling before submitting.
Submit the application to the HFH and provide required documents
Complete your application via the HFH application process and upload or submit the documents listed for applicants with foreign qualifications. Make sure you include the language proof, copies of the qualification documents, and any required translations. Submit early so that you have enough time to respond to any document requests during the review process.
Submit any required forms for admission checks and reviews
If HFH requires additional review for foreign qualifications, respond to requests with the requested documentation. HFH indicates that it can accept comparable qualifications and also may impose conditions or offer a Pre-Semester if qualifications are not sufficient. Use the admissions forms provided by HFH for this process, and ensure signatures and proof documents are included as instructed.