University in Germany
Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
University profile
The Pädagogische Hochschule Heidelberg (PHHD) is a public university of education in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, with a clear focus on teacher education alongside other education-related degrees. It has trained teachers in Heidelberg since 1904 and holds the right to award doctorates and, in connection with Heidelberg University, the Habilitation.
Teaching is organised in three faculties: the Fakultät für Erziehungs- und Sozialwissenschaften, the Fakultät für Kultur- und Geisteswissenschaften and the Fakultät für Natur- und Gesellschaftswissenschaften. The Institut für Psychologie, the Institut für Fremdsprachen, the Institut für Sonderpädagogik and the Department für Soziologie complete the structure, and ten Didaktische Werkstätten let students practise teaching methods in a hands-on setting. The Heidelberg School of Education, run jointly with Heidelberg University, is the shared centre for teacher education in the city.
Degrees include Bachelor programmes in primary education (Grundschule), secondary education (Sekundarstufe I), special needs education, early childhood and elementary education, sign language interpreting, and prevention and health promotion. Master programmes include the M.Ed. teacher-training degrees, M.A. Bildungswissenschaften, M.A. E-Learning und Medienbildung, M.A. Lebensweltorientierte Gesundheitsförderung, M.A. Digitale Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung and the M.Sc. Ingenieurpädagogik.
Research and teaching stress education for sustainable development, diversity and inclusion, democracy and media education, and STEM education. Notable units include the Annelie-Wellensiek-Zentrum für Inklusive Bildung, the Heidelberger Zentrum Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung, the Heidelberger Zentrum für Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung, the Transferzentrum and the Graduate School. The university holds the first UNESCO Chair in Baden-Württemberg, set up in 2016.
The university studies and works at more than 15 sites across Heidelberg, from the historic Altbau in Neuenheim to the modern buildings in the Neuenheimer Feld. Student life includes Fachschaften, the student parliament (StuPa), a Green Office, university sport with free weekly courses, choirs, an orchestra, a big band and theatre groups. Rooms in halls of residence are run by the Studierendenwerk Heidelberg; many students also share flats or commute.
International students are welcome through exchange programmes handled by the Akademisches Auslandsamt, which also supports Erasmus+ mobility. Teaching is in German. In 2019 the university completed the HRK re-audit "Internationalisierung der Hochschulen", and it was the first Pädagogische Hochschule to receive this attestation. The PHHD is a statutory public body (Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts) under the Landeshochschulgesetz of Baden-Württemberg.
Baden-Württemberg charges tuition to students from outside the EU/EEA: 1,500 EUR per semester for Bachelor and consecutive Master programmes. Students who completed school in Germany and certain other groups are exempt. The Master E-Learning und Medienbildung charges 700 EUR per semester in full-time and 450 EUR in part-time study, and a second degree outside teacher training costs 650 EUR per semester. The semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag, not tuition) for the winter semester 2026/27 is 192.80 EUR: 80.00 EUR administration, 95.00 EUR Studierendenwerk, 12.50 EUR student body, 2.80 EUR nextbike contribution and 2.50 EUR theatre flat rate. Re-registration is due from 15 July to 15 August for the winter semester and from 15 January to 15 February for the summer semester.
Together with the Klaus Höchstetter Stiftung, Vector Stiftung, Sparkasse Heidelberg, Dr. Rainer Wild Stiftung, the ZONTA Club Heidelberg friends and the Familie Schweinhardt-Stiftung, the university awards 21 Deutschlandstipendien for 2025/2026 to talented students with outstanding results or social commitment. Deutschlandstipendium page
The university nominates talented students in the third or fourth semester for the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, and self-application with a selection test is also possible. Teacher-training students can apply to the Studienkolleg of the Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft and the Robert Bosch Stiftung. The Aufstiegsstipendium is open to professionals with at least two years of work experience. BAföG is processed by the BAföG office at the Studierendenwerk Heidelberg, and the university has BAföG officers. The Akademisches Auslandsamt lists funding for study and internships abroad, including Erasmus+. Doctoral candidates and postdocs in the Graduate School can receive travel and material grants. Costs and funding
Deutschlandstipendium at Pädagogische Hochschule Heidelberg →
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View scholarships for Pädagogische Hochschule Heidelberg →A Hochschulzugangsberechtigung is required, normally the general Abitur. The Fachhochschulreife and a subject-restricted Hochschulreife qualify for some programmes only; the Delta examination (Deltaprüfung) opens all Bachelor programmes in Baden-Württemberg to holders of the Fachhochschulreife, and a Meisterprüfung or equivalent advanced vocational qualification with an advisory interview also qualifies. A qualifying aptitude examination (Eignungsprüfung) exists for people with vocational training and experience. The Fachhochschulreife qualifies for the B.A. Frühkindliche und Elementarbildung without extra tests. Applicants to a Bachelor programme in Baden-Württemberg must show participation in a study orientation test (Studienorientierungstest).
Applications are made online only, through the university's application portal. Applicants who are applying for the first time may submit up to three applications for different programmes. Uploads are PDF files of up to 2 MB: Hochschulzugangsberechtigung, orientation test confirmation and optional evidence such as pedagogical experience. The application deadlines (Ausschlussfristen) are 15 July for the winter semester and 15 January for the summer semester. The programmes B.A. Bildung im Primarbereich, Sonderpädagogik, Frühkindliche und Elementarbildung and Gebärdensprachdolmetschen are admission-restricted (zulassungsbeschränkt); B.A. Bildung im Sekundarbereich and Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung are open (zulassungsfrei). Restricted places are awarded after deducting quotas for specific groups: 10 per cent by waiting time and 90 per cent by selection points, which count the Abitur grade and pedagogical experience such as internships, voluntary work or voluntary service. Art and sport subjects require an entrance examination.
Applicants with a foreign school-leaving certificate have it compared with the German Abitur, using the anabin database. EU and non-EU applicants without German-equivalent schooling apply to uni-assist in Berlin at least eight weeks before the university's application deadline, and then apply to the PHHD itself. Applicants with a school certificate not equivalent to the Abitur must pass a Feststellungsprüfung at a Studienkolleg (normally two semesters, with the course types S or G) after an entrance test, and then apply again. Applicants who completed school in Germany or at a German-language school abroad count as Bildungsinländer and are treated like German applicants. Eight per cent of places are reserved for foreign and stateless applicants. A valid visa or residence permit must be shown at enrolment.
Study is in German. Applicants without a German-language school certificate need at least DSH-2 (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang). Exemption is possible with the DSD II of the Kultusministerkonferenz, TestDaF with at least level 4 in every part, a Studienkolleg language examination, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, the Goethe Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom, ÖSD C2, the Deutsche Sprachprüfung II of the Sprachen- und Dolmetscher-Institut München or other recognised proof. The university does not offer beginner German courses.
Master programmes require a qualified higher education degree of at least six semesters (for example a Bachelor or a state examination for a teaching career), with programme-specific prerequisites. Applicants without the degree certificate at the time of application can be admitted conditionally with at least 150 ECTS, with proof of the degree due by 31 January (winter semester) or 30 June (summer semester) for the open programmes. Up to two Master applications can be submitted online, with the Hochschulzugangsberechtigung, Bachelor certificate and transcript uploaded as PDFs. Deadlines: M.A. Digitale Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung and M.A. Lebensweltorientierte Gesundheitsförderung, 15 September (winter semester); M.A. E-Learning und Medienbildung and M.Sc. Ingenieurpädagogik, 15 January (summer semester); M.Ed. Lehramt Grundschule, Sekundarstufe I and Sonderpädagogik and M.Ed. Aufbau Lehramt Sonderpädagogik, 15 May (winter) and 15 November (summer). M.A. Bildungswissenschaften starts in the winter semester only. M.Sc. Ingenieurpädagogik requires at least 30 ECTS in electrical energy and automation, 20 ECTS in systems and information technology and 20 ECTS in education science and didactics. M.A. E-Learning und Medienbildung requires evidence of relevant practical activity, a one-page motivation letter and a CV.
Doctoral candidates find a supervisor (Betreuer:in) themselves, sign a Promotionsvereinbarung, apply for acceptance as a doctoral candidate at a faculty and register in the university's doctoral portal. Enrolment as a doctoral student is compulsory. The Graduate School offers free membership, workshops, coaching and research grants.
The university works at more than 15 sites in Heidelberg. Main locations:
Facilities include study areas with Wi-Fi and power, an Active Learning Center, a standing lab (Stehlabor), quiet rooms for neurodivergent and chronically ill students, step-free access at the main buildings, free university sport and the Studierendenwerk halls of residence in the Neuenheimer Feld.
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