Lehramt in Germany: 5 Universities for Future School Teachers
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To become a school teacher in Germany, you usually need to choose not just “pedagogy” but a Lehramt program for a specific type of school and federal state. This is a regulated professional path: your studies, school practice, exams, preparatory service Referendariat, and eventual qualification to work all depend on the Bundesland, your subjects, and the school type.
Below are five universities worth considering for teacher training. This is not a universal ranking or a guarantee of admission: you should always check the current subject combinations, deadlines, language requirements, NC, and document recognition rules on the websites of the universities and the education ministries of the relevant state.
Paedagogik and Lehramt: what is the difference
In the German system, it is important to distinguish between two tracks.
Paedagogik / Erziehungswissenschaft refers to educational sciences. These programs are suitable for work in education, social work, adult learning, research, educational project management, or related fields. But pedagogy by itself usually does not automatically give you the right to teach in a public school.
Lehramt is the training path for school teachers. It is built around a specific type of school, two or more subjects, didactics, practical training, and exams. Depending on the state, the path may have different names: Bachelor/Master of Education, Erstes Staatsexamen, Erste Staatspruefung, or a similar model.
For an applicant, the key question is this: in which state, at which type of school, and in which subjects do you want to teach? A mistake at this stage can lead to a situation where your degree later requires additional recognition or where you need to make up missing elements of teacher training.
How the path to becoming a teacher works
The typical path looks like this:
- Choosing the state, school type, and subject combination.
- Applying to a Lehramt program or a related Bachelor/Master of Education.
- University study with subject modules, didactics, and school practice.
- A first state examination or a Master of Education degree, depending on the state’s model.
- Referendariat, the preparatory service in a school.
- A second state examination and then employment.
Beamter status is not available to everyone and depends on the state, citizenship, age, health, staffing needs, and other conditions. It should therefore not be seen as an automatic outcome of completing your studies.
1. Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin
Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin is a good fit for those who want to study in a large capital-city environment and are considering working in Berlin or in another state after checking recognition rules. In Berlin, the Lehramt model is linked to a Bachelor and Master of Education, school practice, and subsequent preparatory service.
HU Berlin’s strength lies in its broad university setting, urban educational environment, access to schools, research projects, and cross-university opportunities. Before applying, check which Lehramt subject combinations are open in the given year and which requirements apply to your applicant category.
2. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen
LMU Muenchen is one of Bavaria’s key universities, where teacher training is tied to the Bavarian system of school types and state examinations. For applicants, this means you need to understand in advance whether you want to focus on Grundschule, Mittelschule, Realschule, Gymnasium, berufliche Schulen, or Sonderpaedagogik.
LMU is attractive for its strong academic environment, broad choice of subjects, and connection to Munich’s educational infrastructure. At the same time, Bavaria has its own training and examination rules, so Lehramt conditions should always be checked through the official LMU pages and the Bavarian education authorities.
3. Ruprecht-Karls-Universitaet Heidelberg
Universitaet Heidelberg can be a strong option for those considering Lehramt in Baden-Wuerttemberg, especially for the Gymnasium track and academically strong subject combinations. In this region, the connection between the university, the Heidelberg School of Education, and practical training is also important.
Before choosing Heidelberg, check which subjects are available specifically as Lehramt, how the Master of Education is structured, which practical phases are mandatory, and which rules apply for moving on to the Vorbereitungsdienst in Baden-Wuerttemberg.
4. Eberhard Karls Universitaet Tuebingen
Eberhard Karls Universitaet Tuebingen is another strong university in Baden-Wuerttemberg with a notable tradition of teacher training. Tuebingen suits those who want to study in a classic university town and choose among humanities, language, natural science, and social science subjects.
When comparing Tuebingen with other universities, do not look at overall prestige alone but at the specific Lehramt combination: not every subject and school type is available at every university. It is also important to check practical modules, language requirements, and admission rules for foreign documents in advance.
5. Universitaet Mannheim
Universitaet Mannheim is worth considering selectively, above all if you are interested in the subject combinations and educational pathway available specifically in Mannheim and Baden-Wuerttemberg. The university is known for its strong socio-economic and methodological environment, but for Lehramt the key is not the brand but the specific Studiengang.
Before applying, open the official program list and confirm the school type, subjects, transition to the Master of Education, and requirements for the Vorbereitungsdienst. If the combination you need is not available, it is better to compare other universities in the state right away instead of trying to fit your career goal to an unsuitable program.
How to choose a state and university
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Which state do you want to work in? | Training, Referendariat, and recognition of qualifications are regulated by the states |
| Which type of school do you want? | Grundschule, Gymnasium, berufliche Schulen, and other tracks have different requirements |
| Which subjects will you combine? | Not every combination is available at every university |
| How good is your German? | Lehramt usually requires very strong German, and the exact certificate is set by the university |
| Is there an NC or Eignungspruefung? | Competition and additional checks depend on the subject and the university |
| How is your foreign school-leaving certificate recognized? | You may need uni-assist, Studienkolleg, or another procedure |
Common mistakes future teachers make
- choosing Paedagogik when the goal is to work as a school teacher;
- enrolling in a state where you do not actually plan to do your Referendariat or work later;
- not checking subject combinations before applying;
- relying on promises about salary instead of official Besoldungstabellen and Tarifvertraege;
- assuming Beamter status is guaranteed after graduation;
- underestimating German-language requirements, especially for humanities subjects and school practice.
What to check before applying
- The official Lehramt page of the chosen university.
- The rules of the education ministry of the relevant state.
- The available school types and subject combinations.
- Language requirements and the format for confirming foreign education.
- Application deadlines for Bachelor, Master of Education, or Staatsexamen.
- The conditions for moving on to Referendariat and for recognition of the degree in another state.
If your goal is to teach in a German school, do not start with a general university ranking but with the professional pathway: state, school type, subjects, language, documents, and the rules for admission to Referendariat. Only after that does it make sense to compare cities, university reputations, and career opportunities.
