10.3 Are teaching degree programs combined study programmes?

Generally, yes; for special cases, see the end of this FAQ. Combined study programmes are common in teacher training for all types of teaching positions, for example as versatile two-subject bachelor’s programmes or as combined bachelor’s and master’s programmes in elementary school teaching, high school teaching, etc. The subjects that can be studied include German, mathematics, art, physical education, etc., and these generally also constitute the partial study programmes. It should be noted that the subject German can be offered as a partial study programme in German within the combined study programme for teacher training at elementary schools and also as an additional partial study programme in German within the combined study programme for teacher training at high schools. For programme accreditation, a separate application must be submitted in ELIAS for both partial study programmes within the respective combined study programme; internal accreditations must be entered in ELIAS for both partial study programmes in the same manner.

In teacher education programs, students study not only the subjects they will teach but also other fields of study, such as educational sciences. Depending on how the program is structured, these may be organized as partial study programmes or integrated into a combined study programme.

Further information, in particular on the accreditation of teacher training programs, can be found in the handout Promoting quality development through accreditation – a look at teacher training study programmes (Drs. AR 82/2022).

Figure 3 shows two examples of the structuring of various combined study programmes into partial study programmes in teacher training.

Figure 3: Examples of various combined study programmes in teacher training (non-exhaustive list)