Internships in Social Work & Childhood Education (Starting from the Winter Semester 2026/27)

We can be heroes. Just for one day.
^{David Bowie "Heroes"}
With us, you start from the very beginning where Social Work and Childhood Education work: in direct contact with children, young people, adults, families and as part of a team. In the practical study phases, you will experience powerful moments of resistance against adversity, overcoming boundaries and heroism in everyday life, looking, listening, understanding, acting and changing - not just for one day, continuously accompanied in the Kasuistiklab, with experienced mentors and supervision - the best preparation for your future. Nobody is a superhero, but everyone can make a difference. Find out everything you need to know about the process and organisation of your mandatory internship on this page.

Practical degree programme - how it works

Right in the thick of it from the start: From the 1st semester onwards, you will get to know practical workplaces and will be out and about in a real working context in your first year of study - with people, situations and questions that you will encounter later in your professional life.
3 practical phases that build on each other: understanding, observing and perceiving (1), experiencing, participating and doing (2) as well as assessing and changing (3).
Support: Casuistry labs and supervision offer a safe space for reflecting on practical experiences at the university.
High quality: Certified practice centres, trained mentors, clear training plans and continuous support.

How the internship works

Exploratory and work placement (1st and 2nd semester)

Explore - Observe - Understand

Get to know different fields of work and find out what suits you best.
Observe institutions, target groups and professional relationships.
Reflect on your different roles as a team-oriented, collegial team member in the practice centre and also as a student.
Contribute your impressions to the casuistry labs.
Social Work hours: 120 hours as a practical day/block (15 weeks or 3 weeks in the 2nd semester)
Hours of Childhood Education: 100 hours as a practical day/block (1st semester) and 100 hours as a practical day (2nd semester).
Supervision: Casuistry lab in the 1st and 2nd semesters, mentoring
Module examination: Lab work, ungraded

In the internship (3rd and 4th semester)

Participate - apply methods - find your own role

Act in the spirit of co-operative and co-creative assistance.
Take on a clearly defined area of responsibility and at the same time see yourself as a team with your colleagues.
Try out methods and apply them actively.
Reflect on your self-concept and develop your professional attitude.
Social Work hours: 320 hours as a block (8 weeks, lecture-free period 3rd or 4th semester), alternatives may be possible after consultation with the practice institution
Childhood Education hours: 100 hours as a practical day (3rd semester) and 160 hours as a practical block (end of 3rd or 4th semester)
Supervision: casuistry lab in the 3rd or 4th semester, training supervision, mentoring
Module examination: Lab work, ungraded

In the transfer internship (5th and 6th semester)

Implement project - Co-design - Evaluate

Identify a field of development or evaluation in the practice centre and compare the needs in the team.
Plan your own project, implement it and evaluate it in cooperation with relevant stakeholders in the practice centre.
Develop a comprehensive understanding of your field of work and see yourself as a member of a diverse, interdisciplinary team.
Develop standards for quality development and take professional ethical principles into account.
Social Work hours: Semester-long internship (3 days per week, 15 weeks in the 5th semester) or practical block (9 weeks, end of 5th semester), alternatives may be possible after consultation with the practice institution
Childhood Education hours: 100 hours as a practical day (5th semester) and 240 hours as a practical block (end of 5th or 6th semester)
Supervision: casuistry lab in the 5th semester, supervision, mentoring
Module examination: Lab work, ungraded
Internship abroad: The practical block is particularly suitable for gaining practical experience abroad.

It doesn't work without organisation

Here you will find all the important information at a glance. Please also note the guidelines under Documents.

Practical semester contract

The internship contract (see documents) must be finalised and uploaded to Moodle no later than two weeks before the start of the internship. The contract is only valid once it has been confirmed by the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.

Education plans

Together with the internship contract, the corresponding education plan (see documents) must also be uploaded to Moodle without a completed evaluation before the start of the internship. The complete education plan, which is also part of the portfolio, follows at the end of the internship.

Posting

Internships are booked annually after the respective phase via MyCampus, please register accordingly.

Documents

Contact us

If you have any general questions about internships in the bachelor's degree programmes in Social Work and Childhood Education or about documentation and booking, please email: praktikum-transferlabor@fh-potsdam.de.