Bildung und Erziehung in der Kindheit
HAW Hamburg · Hamburg, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Education and Learning in Childhood is an academic qualification for the care and education of children and young people up to the age of 14. The course combines theory, practice and research and is designed to help you professionalise your work through systematic learning and reflection.
Throughout the degree, you complete continuously supervised and mentored practice placements in educational and care institutions for children and young people, as well as in research or administrative organisations. The course structure includes foundational teaching in the first semesters, focus areas from the fourth semester, and thesis work to conclude your studies.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Build the foundations in educational science, psychology, social sciences, child protection, law, and empirical research
- Key modules include Grundlagen der Psychologie and Familien- und Jugendhilferecht
- Develop core competencies for observing children and applying methods in early childhood education settings
- Start practice experience in educational and care institutions with a theory-and-practice link
- Deepen educational and developmental competence, including Kompetenzentwicklung in der Kindheit
- Focus on reflective practice through evaluation and quality development
- Continue structured practical experience in educational and care institutions from the first to the sixth semester
- Strengthen your ability to reflect on professional action and integrate research into practice
- Write the Bachelorarbeit with a frequent close reference to professional practice
- Use what you learned in educational science, empirical methods, and reflective practice to structure and present your academic work
Curriculum
Curriculum structure and credit allocation (ECTS) for the Bachelor of Arts programme Bildung und Erziehung in der Kindheit at HAW Hamburg, extracted from the official Modulhandbuch.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Compulsory modules | Modul 1: Grundlagen der Erziehungs- und Bildungswissenschaften | 6 | 32 |
| Modul 2: Grundlagen der Psychologie | 6 | |||
| Modul 3: Grundlagen der Bildungssoziologie | 6 | |||
| Modul 4: Propädeutik | 5 | |||
| Modul 5: Reflexive Praxis: Erkundung des Arbeitsfeldes | 9 | |||
| Semester 2 | Compulsory modules | Modul 6: Professionelles Handeln: Selbstkompetenz | 9 | 36 |
| Modul 7: Vertiefung in Erziehungs- und Bildungswissenschaften | 6 | |||
| Modul 8: Bildungs- und Sozialpolitik | 6 | |||
| Modul 9: Empirische Forschungsmethoden | 6 | |||
| Modul 10: Reflexive Praxis: Beobachtung und Dokumentation | 9 | |||
| Semester 3 | Compulsory modules | Modul 11: Professionelles Handeln: Beobachtungskompetenz | 6 | 30 |
| Modul 12: Professionelles Handeln: Evaluation und Qualitätsentwicklung | 6 | |||
| Modul 13: Professionelles Handeln: Beratungskompetenz | 6 | |||
| Modul 14: Reflexive Praxis: Praxisberatung und Fallarbeit | 6 | |||
| Modul 15: Einführung: Institutionsentwicklung und Management | 6 | |||
| Semester 4 | Compulsory modules | Modul 16: Einführung: Entwicklungskontext Familie | 6 | 36 |
| Modul 17: Schwerpunkt A (Kompetenzentwicklung in der Kindheit) / Vertiefung I | 6 | |||
| Modul 18: Schwerpunkt A (Kompetenzentwicklung in der Kindheit) / Vertiefung II | 6 | |||
| Modul 19: Praxisprojekt im Schwerpunkt (Kompetenzentwicklung / Institutionsentwicklung / Entwicklungskontext Familie) | 6 | |||
| Modul 20: Vertiefung im Schwerpunkt I | 12 | |||
| Semesters 5–6 | Compulsory focus modules and practice-based modules | Modul 21: Vertiefung im Schwerpunkt II | 12 | 36 |
| Modul 22: Professionelles Handeln: Projekt- und Transferkompetenz | 6 | |||
| Modul 23: Professionelles Handeln: Handlungskompetenz | 6 | |||
| Modul 24: Internationale Bildungsforschung und Exkursion | 6 | |||
| Modul 25: Forschungskolloquium | 6 | |||
| Semester 7 | Bachelor thesis and final module work | Modul 26: Bachelor-Thesis | 30 | 30 |
| Total | Compulsory modules, focus modules, international research/excursion, research colloquium, and Bachelor-Thesis | 210 ECTS | ||
Career outcomes
- You are prepared to work as a qualified professional for education and care of children up to age 14 in settings such as day-care centres (Kitas), primary schools, family centres, and early support programs.
- You gain job-ready skills in child observation, educational planning, and quality development, so you can support children’s development and contribute to improving institutional practice.
- The program’s practice-oriented learning (with supervised placements across multiple semesters) helps you enter the workplace with real field experience rather than only theory.
- You develop the ability to evaluate and reflect your professional work, which supports roles in educational counselling, planning, evaluation, and quality processes.
- Your qualification supports career pathways across public, welfare, and community organisations where structured, professionally trained early childhood staff are needed.
- You build a strong foundation for further academic progression in related specialisations, including master’s-level study opportunities in education and child-focused fields.
Employability rate
Graduates of early childhood education and education-focused bachelor programs in Germany typically see an employability rate of around 85% and an unemployment rate of about 15%, reflecting steady demand in education and welfare settings.
Together, these figures point to a stable career outlook with ongoing opportunities in Kitas, schools, and related social and educational services.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Secondary education outside Germany (university entrance qualification equivalent to Abitur/Fachhochschulreife) | If you completed your secondary education outside Germany, you need an academic qualification that corresponds to the German Abitur or Fachhochschulreife. |
| Academic English competence | You must be able to read English-language academic literature and participate in discussions in English in international seminars, on field trips, and at guest lectures. |
| Pre-course experience | You are not required to have completed pre-course experience for this course. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Education & Training | Conditional match | Your prior school leaving qualification must be equivalent to the German Abitur or Fachhochschulreife for admission to this Bachelor’s programme. |
Language requirements
For international applicants, HAW Hamburg requires proof of German language skills at C1 level for this Bachelor’s programme.
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
MOI waiver details are not published for this programme. See the English test requirements above.
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Semester fee | EUR 397 / per semester | Semester contribution for Winter semester 2026/27: 397,00 EUR including semester ticket and Germany-wide rail pass. |
| Administration costs (semester contribution composition) | EUR 50 / per semester | Semester contribution includes a Verwaltungskostenbeitrag of 50,00 EUR for services of the university administration. |
Proof of financial resources
International students applying from abroad must be able to finance their studies and living costs. For visa and residence purposes, you will typically need documentation of sufficient funds according to German immigration guidance.
- Proof of sufficient funds for living costs and study purposes for a Germany residence permit (blocked account or equivalent accepted proof, as required by German immigration rules)
- Budget planning for living costs in Hamburg alongside the semester contribution
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| Application portal opens | June 01, 2026 |
| Application deadline (final submit) | July 15, 2026 |
| 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
Register for the application process
Before applying, applicants must register with Hochschulstart. During the application period for the winter semester (1 June to 15 July), international applicants must apply within this window. Keep your Hochschulstart account details ready for later steps in the HAW Hamburg process.
Submit your online application (only online)
HAW Hamburg only accepts online applications for this Bachelor’s degree course. Use the online gateway and follow the required steps for the programme you choose. Make sure you submit your application and supporting documents by the published deadlines to avoid rejection.
Upload/submit required documents
Prepare your secondary school qualification documents and your German language proof at C1 level. International applicants are also expected to demonstrate academic English competence for participating in English-taught academic activities. Submit all supporting documents as part of your online application package by the deadline.