University in Germany
Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
University profile
The Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg (Freiburg University of Education) is a university-level institution for educational science with the right to award doctorates and post-doctoral (Habilitation) degrees. It carries out fundamental research in education, and teaching and learning are both the core of its teaching and a primary research interest. The university reports around 5,000 students and about 400 academic staff, and describes itself as a small campus university with short distances and a clear educational-science profile.
Nearly all institutes sit on the campus at Kunzenweg 21 in Freiburg im Breisgau. Three faculties organise the work: the Faculty of Educational Sciences (Fakultät I, about 1,100 students), the Faculty of Culture and Social Sciences (Fakultät II, about 1,900 students) and the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology (Fakultät III). Together they cover primary, lower-secondary, special-needs, vocational and, with the University of Freiburg, upper-secondary teacher education, as well as Bachelor's and Master's programmes in educational science, early childhood education, health education, German as a second or foreign language and sustainability and climate education.
Two profile areas stand out: international and language studies (including the integrated German-French teacher-training courses with Université de Haute-Alsace in Mulhouse and the European teaching degrees) and mathematics and natural sciences, supported by learning labs in chemistry, physics, geography and mathematics. The Freiburg Advanced Center of Education (FACE) joins the university with the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg and the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg in teacher education.
Student life includes a university choir, orchestra, big band, sports activities, a literary workshop, drama groups in German, English and French and a campus radio station. The central library serves the university and is open to the public. The Studierendenwerk Freiburg (SWFR) runs student housing, the canteen and financial advice, and holds a regular consultation hour on campus. The International Office advises degree-seeking and exchange students; exchange students attend after nomination by their home university.
The university completed the HRK audit "Internationalisation of Universities" in 2025. It is a state institution of Baden-Württemberg, and applicants from outside the EU/EEA pay tuition fees as set out under funding.
The state of Baden-Württemberg charges tuition of 1,500 EUR per semester to international students from outside the EU/EEA who start a Bachelor's or consecutive Master's programme. Exemptions exist (for example for students who completed a Studienkolleg in Baden-Württemberg before winter semester 2017/18 and start directly afterwards, and for particularly gifted international students on application). Separately, all students pay the Semesterbeitrag (semester contribution, not tuition), stated as 199.50 EUR per semester. The second-degree fee no longer applies to the Lehramt Primarstufe programmes from summer semester 2025.
The STIBET scholarship supports international PH students who are particularly engaged at the university, who have fallen into unforeseen hardship or who come from a partner university. Applicants send a cover letter, CV and transcript extract to the International Office.
A DAAD prize of 1,000 EUR is awarded once a year at the opening of the academic year to an outstanding international student or doctoral candidate for academic achievement and social or intercultural commitment. Nominations go through the International Office.
Subject to funding from the state ministry, the university awards Landesgraduiertenförderungsgesetz stipends to above-average doctoral candidates: 1,300 EUR per month base amount, three-year standard duration, a child supplement of 300 EUR per month for one child and 50 EUR for each further child, and short completion stipends of up to six months.
The Stiftung Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg (established 2005) can support scholarships for particularly gifted or socially disadvantaged students. Students can also use BAföG, the Aufstiegsstipendium (application deadline 30 November 2026), the Studierendenwerk Freiburg's scholarship pages and student jobs on campus. Details: International students, Study finance.
LGFG Doctoral Scholarships (Landesgraduiertenförderung), PH Freiburg →
Browse the scholarships listed for Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg →Entry normally requires the general or subject-specific higher education entrance qualification (Abitur), a Fachhochschulreife with the Delta examination, a recognised vocational advancement qualification with a study-advice interview, or a relevant vocational qualification with experience plus an aptitude examination. A completed first degree also qualifies. Participation in an orientation test (Lehramt orientation test for teacher programmes, or the was-studiere-ich.de test for non-teaching Bachelor programmes) is required. Art, Music and Sport subjects require an aptitude examination or motivation letter. Teacher-education Bachelor programmes are admission-restricted; 5% of places go to hardship cases, 8% to international applicants, 2% to second-degree applicants and 1% to applicants with local ties, and the rest are allocated 90% by selection (up to 60 points: up to 45 for the school-leaving grade and up to 15 for other achievements) and 10% by waiting time.
Bachelor Lehramt and other admission-restricted Bachelor programmes: 1 June to 15 July for the winter semester; Lehramt also 1 December to 15 January for the summer semester. Admission-free Bachelor and Master programmes (non-Lehramt): 1 June to 15 September. Master Lehramt/Europalehramt: 12 May to 31 May for the winter semester. Europalehramt Bachelor: 1 June to 15 September and 1 December to 15 March. Applications are made through the PH online application portal.
Applicants with a foreign school or Bachelor certificate apply through the PH portal within the regular deadlines and also through uni-assist (fee 75 EUR, which reduces for multiple applications), which checks entry qualifications. Certificates are checked for equivalence with the German Abitur (see the anabin database). Where a foreign certificate is not equivalent, the Feststellungsprüfung at a Studienkolleg (usually Studienkolleg Heidelberg; two semesters) is required. Non-EU applicants with a foreign secondary qualification are admitted within an 8% quota rather than the selection procedure. EU citizens are treated as German applicants. Applicants whose entrance qualification was not earned in German must show German at DSH-2 or TestDaF 4x4 (C1 is also named for some programmes); exempt are holders of DSD II, ZOP, GDS/KDS, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule and certain other certificates. Migrated teachers apply to the programme Nachstudium migrierte Lehrkräfte with the decision of the Regierungspräsidium Tübingen and proof of German at C1; their deadlines are 1 June to 15 September and 1 December to 15 March.
A completed Bachelor's degree or equivalent first degree is required. Lehramt Master applicants need a teacher-education Bachelor of at least six semesters with transcript of records, a CV, the online self-reflection (OSEL) and, for foreign applicants, proof of German. Health Education (M.Sc.) requires a Bachelor of at least six semesters with a health-related focus (minimum ECTS in foundations 12, methods 6, evaluation and research methods 6, fields of application 12), CV and motivation letter; it is admission-free. Part-time programmes such as E-LINGO require a university degree, one year of work experience and English at B2, and Unterrichts- und Schulentwicklung is a part-time programme for working teachers.
Doctorates are governed by the Promotionsordnung. Candidates need a Master's degree or a degree of at least four years' standard length with above-average results, and a promotion committee of at least two supervisors, with the main supervisor a professor, Privatdozent or apl. professor of the PH faculty. Eligibility is checked by the dean's office of the faculty; applications can be submitted at any time. Both individual doctorates and structured programmes are available.
Enrolment documents include certified copies of the entrance qualification, signed enrolment application, admission notice, CV, proof of statutory health insurance (reported electronically by the insurer with reporting reason 10) and payment of the Semesterbeitrag.
The main campus is at Kunzenweg 21, 79117 Freiburg im Breisgau, where almost all institutes are housed.
Facilities include the university library, learning labs for chemistry, physics, geography and mathematics, the Zentrum für schulpraktische Studien (school placements) and the Writing Centre and Language Centre. Student housing is managed by the Studierendenwerk Freiburg.
Study programmes offered at Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg.
Experiences shared by students of Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg.
Studied here? Share your experience to help other applicants.
Book a free consultation with our expert counsellors and take the first step towards your dream university.
Copyrights © 2026 StudyMapped. All rights reserved.
Enter your credentials to continue.
Join us and start your study abroad journey.
