NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

Training for this type of teaching career consists of a six to eight semester course of study which accords a special place to
educational science and practical teaching components. Here, in particular, primary school teaching methods or two subjects
with an optional or specialised subject (including teaching methods) are studied; possible options and specialisations are
determined by the Länder.
The basic educational science course incorporates general education and school education as well as psychology; possible
options are philosophy and sociology/politics or theology. The practical training periods which accompany study and are
based on an everyday teaching routine are mainly completed in two four to five week blocks; further subject-teaching courses
in the institution of higher education or social or commercial training in areas/institutions of social and economic life may be
demanded.
Studies in an area of specialisation — besides providing a guiding overall picture — concentrate on particular fields of the
subject and demand an appropriate link with subject-specific questions of teaching methods. The area of artistic subjects and
particularly important subjects (e.g. German or mathematics) has a special position in many Länder resulting in particular
(minimum) study obligations.
Teaching career type 2
General teaching careers at primary level and all secondary level I school types or individual secondary level I school types
(Teaching careers at Grundschulen and Hauptschulen; at Volksschulen and Realschulen; at the Grundstufe and Mittelstufe;
careers as Lehrer)
Training for a teaching career included in this type corresponds largely to that for a type 1 teaching career. Depending on the
Länder regulations a teaching qualification can be acquired both for the primary level and for certain secondary level I school
types or — as for a type 3 teaching career — for the entire secondary level I. Study of the chosen subjects is also (at the full
academic level) partly geared to a particular school level or to school types.
Teaching career type 3
Teaching careers at all secondary level I school types or at individual secondary level I school types
(Teaching careers at Hauptschulen; at Realschulen; at Hauptschulen and Realschulen; at Mittelschulen; at Regelschulen; at
Sekundarschulen; teaching careers with the emphasis on secondary level I; teaching careers at the Mittelstufe; teaching careers
with specialist training in two subjects)
The courses for teaching careers included in this group lead to teaching qualifications for all secondary level I school types or
for specific secondary level I school types. The essential course description (especially for Hauptschulen teaching careers) has
already been given in the description of training for teaching careers 1 and 2.
As a rule a six to nine semester course of study of at least two subjects with accompanying educational science courses must
be successfully completed. In addition participation in practical training periods of
several weeks duration is required.
Teaching career type 4
Teaching careers for the general education subjects at secondary level II or for the Gymnasium
(Teaching careers at the Gymnasium; at the Gymnasium and Gesamtschulen; for the Mittelstufe and Oberstufe; at the
Oberstufe at allgemeinbildende Schulen; at secondary level II; at secondary levels II and I; with the emphasis on secondary
level II; careers as Studienrat)