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Social and Educational Sciences Department Profile: Social Space – Education, Participation, Community

Childhood Education Dual (BA)*

Become a childhood educator: Supporting children, shaping education and moving the future - with dual anchoring from the outset.
Mutter und Kind
© Andrea Vollmer
© Andrea Vollmer

Would you like to combine studying and learning with practical work in the education and upbringing of children? Would you like to apply your knowledge in a professional setting from the outset?

If so, the dual bachelor's degree programme in Childhood Education Dual (BA) will be the right choice for you!

Start with your studies and practical training by choosing a practice partner!

Abschluss:
Bachelor of Arts
Type:
Full time
Dual
Course language:
German
Standard study period:

6 semesters, practice-integrated (incl. 300 practical hours per semester)

Start of study:
Winter semester
Application deadline:

15.06. - 15.08. (admission-free) |
Note: start of studies for the winter semester 2026/27

Admission requirements:
General higher education entrance qualification/ university of applied sciences entrance qualification/ equivalently recognised practical vocational training, educational contract with a cooperating practice/transfer partner
Credits:

180 ECTS credit points

Profile

Study and practice - going hand in hand

What makes the on-campus and online Childhood Education Dual (BA) degree programme special is that, from the start of your studies, you will work in a daycare centre or other child or youth welfare facility of your choice and actively contribute to improving living conditions for children and their families.

The programme focuses on children from birth to 12 years of age and their families. During your studies, you will acquire the theoretical knowledge and skills to accompany children in their developmental and educational processes and to work with families.

You develop

  • a researching, observing and critically (self-)reflective attitude.

You work on:

  • scientifically analysing practice-relevant questions.

You will develop:

  • solutions to practical challenges.

The six-semester bachelor's degree programme in Childhood Education Dual (BA) is structured in a weekly model of "3 days of teaching and 2 days of practice". This proven model of practice-integrated study not only provides continuity and space to practise and reflect on your practical experience.

You will receive monthly financial remuneration from the practice centre. Fixed contact persons at the university and the practice centre will support you in your professional development. Upon completion of the degree programme, you will receive state recognition as a Childhood Educator.

You can find more information under Career Prospects, Programme Content, Practice Partners, Application and Contact.

Does this degree programme suit me?

You have these qualities

  • interest and willingness to work in daycare centres and other child and youth welfare facilities
  • empathy and good observation skills
  • interest in the individual development and educational processes of children
  • ability to initiate organisational changes on a small and large scale
  • openness and communication skills towards children, adults and colleagues
  • the ability to combine different settings and organisational environments, such as university and work.
  • combining academic work and tasks within your working day
  • enjoying creative and conceptual activities
  • facing challenges independently, efficiently and ambitiously

Coming soon: on-site research in your own kindergarten

The future research kindergarten at thevUniversity of Applied Sciences Potsdam allowes children aged 0 to 6 years to be observed.

The knowledge gained about early childhood development processes will serve as a direct basis for your term papers and dissertations.

Feeling unsure? Talk to us!

Would you like to ask any questions about the crèche, kindergarten or child and youth welfare services?

Our counselling service is available to answer your questions on Tuesdays from 9.oo am to 10 am. Please register in advance via e-mail. 

What we are currently working on

Dates

  • conference on daycare social work on the 25th of September, 2025 in Erfurt
  • InnoPrax 2025 meeting fair: We open our doors!
  • international exchange: professional exchange on topics of childhood education between students of the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam and the University of Amsterdam on the 15th of October, 2025

Review

Anniversary conference 2024: 20 years of Childhood Education degree programmes at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam

Research

Research project "Social work in daycare centres and family centres in Brandenburg" by Prof. Dr Tanja Salem:

The project deals with the implementation of social work in daycare centres and family centres.

Projects at Department of Social and Educational Sciences

More projects

Certificate Programme "Fan- und Zuschauermanagement" (FZM)

The aim of the certificate programme is to provide scientific, conceptual, strategic and action-oriented skills for managerial, planning, coordinating and evaluating activities in the field of fan and spectator management.

FEEL - Feeling, Recognising, Assessing, Learning

Extended reality and AI-supported counselling for parents in understanding and dealing constructively with their children's emotions

MyAppMyData

App prototyping as an inclusive teaching-learning arrangement for the integrative development of digital skills at upper secondary level.

Contact us

The colleagues at the Student Counselling Services provide information to prospective and first-year students, parents, teachers and other students on all general questions relating to the degree programme. If you have specific questions and concerns about a dual bachelor's degree programme in Childhood Education, please contact the degree programme development team. For subject-specific questions, the Student Counselling Services are the correct point of contact.

Head of degree programme

Professor of Theory and Practice of Childhood Education
Transfer professor by lottery

Student counselling

Counselling is provided by the team of the Childhood Education Dual degree programme

Please send your e-mail to:
kindheitspaedagogikdual@fh-potsdam.de

Study programme development

Program Development Childhood Education Dual (BA)

You may also be interested in these degree programmes

More courses
Department Degree programme Teaching language Start of study Application deadline
Childhood Education Dual (BA)* German Winter semester

15.06. - 15.08. (admission-free) |
Note: start of studies for the winter semester 2026/27

Childhood Studies and Children's Rights (MA) English Winter semester

Note: This degree programme will no longer be offered from winter semester 2024/25

Early Childhood Education (BA) German Winter semester

15.05. – 15.07. (admission restricted)

Early Childhood Studies (MA) German Winter semester

15/06 – 15/10 (free of admission)

MA Social Work with a Focus on the Family German Winter semester

15.05. – 22.06. (NC degree program)

Social Management (MA) German Summer semester

Note: This course of study will no longer be offered from winter semester 2024/25.

Social Work (BA) German Winter semester

15/05 – 15/07 (restricted admission)

Social Work (part-time for professionals) (BA) German Summer semester

15/12 –15/01 (admission restricted)

Social Work Dual-Digital (BA) German Winter semester

15/06 – 15/07 (free of admission)

Hint

* The degree programme in Childhood Education Dual (B.A.) will start in the winter semester 2026/27, pending to approval.

Career prospects

Career prospects

Childhood Education at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam means: child-centred education with depth, diversity of perspectives and attitude. The degree and state recognition open up access to a career in all fields of childhood education. The professional profile of childhood educators.

If you take a dual degree, you will have the opportunity to grow directly into a social organisation, shape your professional career and lay the foundations for a career entry with professional experience, in addition to receiving regular funding throughout your studies.

After the bachelor's degree programme, you can complete a  MA programme, which gives you access to the higher civil service or work in the academic and research sector.

Possible areas of application

  • management of groups and facilities: daycare centers, kindergarten, after-school care, mixed-age facilities, child day care, (all-day) primary school, family centres (area: children from birth to 12 years of age)
  • quality and team development
  • family support services: family education, family centres, early help, psychosocial counselling, family and educational counselling
  • sports, leisure, media and cultural programmes for children and families
  • organisational advice
  • coordination in supporting organisations and professional associations
  • training and further education
  • public relations work
  • socio-spatial and municipal coordination and networking
  • science: educational research projects, accompanying research
  • universities and research institutes
  • and many more ...

Master's degree programmes

State recognition as a childhood educator

After completing your bachelor's degree, you can apply for state recognition as a childhood educator. State recognition is based on the Brandenburg Social Professions Act. You can find all the important information on the website of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of the State of Brandenburg and the State Office for Social Affairs and Care of the State of Brandenburg.

The information sheet from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of the State of Brandenburg summarises the documents to be submitted for state recognition as a childhood educator.

State regulations for social professions

Programme content

Programme content

The bachelor's degree programme in Childhood Education Dual has a modular structure and consists of compulsory and elective modules (Future Science 1, 2 or 3). The practical components with six "Integrated Professional Practice" module units create a close link between theory and practice in each semester and are supported and reflected on by the university via casuistry labs.

Accompanying mentoring in practice offers the opportunity to acquire reflection and action skills and to be able to work confidently in the professional field. The module units enable flexible study with face-to-face formats or digital-synchronous and asynchronous teaching-learning formats in order to offer you the greatest possible flexibility during the highly practice-oriented programme. The Casuistry Lab as a safe space, the Study Lab and the Research Lab offer space for reflection in research groups with the principle of the Scientific Community of Practice (SCoP).

In the module handbooks and study and examination regulations of the Department of Social and Educational Sciences, which will be available soon, you will find the module overview, a detailed description of the modules and course content as well as the study plan for the Childhood Education Dual (BA) degree programme.

Teaching-learning formats

  • Digital lectures with cumulative multimodal testing (KMP)
  • Research projects as a Scientific Community of Practice (SCoP)
  • Trying out research and learning in small groups in the Study Lab
  • Supervision and coaching of the final thesis in the Research Lab
  • Study groups as casuistry labs - safe space
  • Seminars, block and weekly formats
  • Moodle as a learning platform

Compulsory modules

  • Childhood Science 1 and 2
  • Research Lab - Study Lab
  • Research Lab - Research Lab
  • Integrated professional practice
  • related science modules (including psychology)

Elective area

Individual specialisation from the range of courses offered by the degree programme

  • Future Science 1, 2, 3
  • Flex modules (optional modules offered by all departments of the FH Potsdam)

Specialisation options - optional integrated study tracks

  • Study track "Social work in schools and daycare centres"
  • Study track "Counselling, mediation and conflict resolution"
  • Study track "Children's perspectives"
  • "Exercise, sport and nature" study track
  • Study track "Educational support and social services"
  • Study track "International Social Work or International Childhood Education"

Mentoring

  • Qualified professionals from the field as mentors
  • Various counselling opportunities at the university of applied sciences

Semester overview

The degree programme concept consisting of digital lectures with cumulative multimodal examinations, casuistry labs and a scientific community of practice offers you a great deal of flexibility for your individual course of study and the opportunity to gain experience in a research-based community. The programme concludes with the completion of a thesis and a colloquium.

The following semester model provides an overall view of all modules in the degree programme.

Practice partner
Das Team von Kindheitspädagogik Dual (B.A.) und Praxispartner

The Childhood Education Dual team and practice partners

 

The practice-integrated bachelor's degree programme in Childhood Education Dual at the Department of Social and Educational Sciences will start in the winter semester 2026/27 in October 2026.

The potential practice partners and the already recognised practice partners in the joint training network introduce themselves.

Our practice/transfer partners

Find a practice partner - send an unsolicited application!

Do you want to study Childhood Education Dual (BA) and are you missing a practice partner? These organisations are potential practice partners of the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.

Simply send us an unsolicited application!

© AdobeStockPhoto - whyframeshot

Become a practice/transfer partner

Would you like to become a practice/transfer partner for our bachelor's degree programme in Childhood Education Dual? Child and youth welfare organisations as well as comparable institutions and facilities outside the social economy can be recognised as practice/transfer partners. Find out more about our principles for recognition.

  • Principles for recognition as a practice/transfer partner (available after publication)
  • Application for recognition as a practice/transfer partner

The currently valid module handbook and the study and examination regulations for the bachelor's degree programme in Childhood Education Dual can be found on the website of the Department of Social and Educational Sciences after publication.

Application & Contact

Dates & requirements for your application

The most important deadlines, dates and admission requirements for the dual bachelor's degree programme in Childhood Education are summarised here. You can find out which steps you need to follow for a successful application in the next section.

Dates

  • by 15 August: Apply for enrolment
  • by 15 July: Apply for a higher semester in order to continue a degree programme you have already started at the FH Potsdam

Admission requirements

  • General higher education entrance qualification in accordance with the Brandenburg Higher Education Act: general higher education entrance qualification or entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences or a professional qualification recognised as equivalent
  • Education contract concluded with a recognised practice or transfer partner

How to apply!

Below you will find out which aspects are important from the application to a practice partner or the recognition of your own practice partner, to the conclusion of an education contract andenrolment.

In order to apply for enrolment , it is necessary to apply to the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam with a recognised practice or transfer partner and an existing educational contract.

Current calls for applications and application deadlines can be found in the overview of our recognised practice/transfer partners.

Practice partner meets student - three ways

  1. Path: You have an educational contract with a recognised practice/transfer partner and enrol at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.
  2. Path: You select a potential practice partner from our portfolio: Find a practice partner - send an unsolicited application!
  3. Way: You bring your own practice partner with you and have it recognised (information and contact by e-mail: kindheitspaedagogikdual@fh-potsdam.de)

Do you have a university entrance qualification and have signed an educational contract with one of the practice or transfer partners of the bachelor's degree programme in Childhood Education Dual? Then you have the opportunity to submit an enrolment application for the coming winter semester from 15 June to 15 August in the MyCampus university portal of the  University of Applied Sciences Potsdam .

Documents to be submitted

  • Officially certified copy of the university entrance qualification or university degree certificate
  • Proof of payment or order confirmation of the semester fee
  • Photo for issuing the Campus.card (can be uploaded during the online application process)
  • Certificate of exmatriculation from the last university attended, if applicable
  • If applicable, further documents according to the enrolment application

Please refer to the enrolment application form to see whether you need to submit any other documents.

Do you have any questions about the enrolment procedure at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences? We have compiled frequently asked questions and answers on enrolment and admission.

Starting your studies

Once you have successfully completed the application process, we recommend that you take a look at the Start of Studies at the Department of Social and Educational Sciences. There you will find important information and dates about starting your studies at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam at the beginning of the semester.

Further information

Under the following links you, and especially international applicants, will find further information on the topics of application and enrolment at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.

International applicants

Would you like to apply for a degree programme in your first or higher semester, having obtained your school-leaving certificate and/or university degree abroad? If so, you can have your qualifications and achievements recognised and study with us.

Application & enrolment procedure

The Application and Study Service provides information and advice on general questions about the application process, admission and enrolment at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, application for a higher semester, but also on topics such as compensation for disadvantages, part-time study, waiting semesters and hardship applications.

Contact & Services

The Student Counselling Services provides information and advice on general questions about studying and on topics such as choosing a degree programme, application, enrolment and study organisation. For subject-specific questions about module content, credit transfer, examinations or study specialisations in the Childhood Education Dual degree programme, the programme-specific student advisory is the right place to go.

Programme-specific student advisory

Subject counselling is provided by the team of the dual degree programme of Childhood Education Dual (BA).

Please send your e-mail to:
kindheitpaedagogikdual@fh-potsdam.de

Student Financing

Room 3.02a

Family Affairs Commissioner

Room 026

Office hours

Tue and Thu 9.30 am – 1.30 pm

Commissioner for University Employees with Impairment

Room 017

Office hours

Monday and by appointment

Contact persons Study and Examination Services