Philosophy/Ethics Teaching Degree
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Information last verified July 2026
Program Overview
In the Master of Education in Philosophy/Ethics, you will deepen your knowledge from your bachelor's degree and deal intensively with philosophical issues and ethical topics.
The master's degree combines in-depth subject knowledge with subject-specific didactic practice and prepares you specifically for the preparatory service for the teaching profession. Particularly noteworthy is the flexibility within the compulsory philosophy/ethics modules, within these modules you can choose from various courses that change from semester to semester. This gives you the opportunity to tailor your studies to your individual interests. The master's program in Philosophy/Ethics also provides a framework for current research questions in practical and theoretical philosophy. The Didactics in Philosophy III module rounds off your studies. Here you will learn how to plan teaching units, moderate educational processes and apply your subject-specific didactic knowledge directly in the classroom.
In the Master of Education, you will continue your two main academic subjects. In each subject, you will take 27 ECTS credits in subject-specific science and subject-specific didactics. The program is supplemented by the Pedagogical Additional Subject (33 CP) and the 12-week school practice semester (16 CP) as well as the master's thesis (17 CP).
As soon as you have completed your bachelor's degree, you can start a third subject (complementary subject) - either parallel to your master's degree in the two main subjects or at a later date.
Key Program Features
- • Zentrum für Lehrkräftebildung (ZLB) as a central point of contact for student teachers for interdisciplinary topics
- school internships and teacher training as well as an interface to institutions involved in teacher training • diverse subject combinations • additional practical relevance through student and teaching-learning labs • research-oriented teaching • contacts with EUCOR universities enable stays abroad
- e.g. in Basel or Strasbourg
Career Opportunities
After studying to become a secondary school teacher, there are various career options open to you. Of course, the most obvious path is to work as a teacher at a school. Once you have completed your master's degree, you can apply for an 18-month prepatory service (Referendariat). During this time, you will be employed as a trainee teacher at a school and receive a salary. You will be intensively prepared for your future work as a teacher and gain practical experience in the classroom. After successfully completing your traineeship, you will usually be taken on as a teacher. As a teacher, you can become a civil servant if you meet the necessary requirements such as age limits. You can find out more about the preparatory service on the website of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs.
There are also interesting alternatives to becoming a teacher. For example, you could choose to work in education administration, where you could work in school supervision, curriculum development or other administrative areas of the education system. Another option is to work in research and development. With your expertise, you could work at universities or research institutes to develop educational programs or shape educational policy. If you are interested in the field of educational technology, you could work in companies that develop educational software or operate digital learning platforms.
There are also opportunities outside the education sector. You could work in publishing houses, particularly in teaching materials companies or textbook publishers. You can also find employment in institutions whose field of activity is closely linked to school education, such as branches of ministries of education or foundations, associations and government institutions. The cultural sector or journalism as well as jobs in marketing and public relations also offer possible career prospects for teachers. Depending on your choice of subject, you can also work as an aut
Program Curriculum
Detailed curriculum information is not available. Please check the university website or contact them directly for the most up-to-date course information.
Visit Program WebsiteAdmission Requirements
The requirements for admission to the major subject Philosophy / Ethics in the master's degree program in Secondary School Teaching Degree are based on the current admission regulations:
• bachelor's degree
a successfully completed bachelor's degree (or at least an equivalent degree) in the major subject Philosophy/Ethics in the bachelor's degree program Secondary School Teaching Degree (or a degree program with essentially the same content). The course of study in the teacher training-related bachelor's degree program must include study components from two major subjects, subject-specific didactics, educational science and practical school studies. The program must have been completed within a standard period of study of at least three years and with a minimum number of 180 ECTS credits (CP).
• admission with a subject-related Bachelor's degree
in exceptional cases, admission to the master's program can also be granted with a subject-related bachelor's degree (not a teaching degree) if
teaching-related elements are included in the degree program and
a maximum of 50 credit points (CP) from a teaching-related bachelor's degree program are missing.
Missing credits must be completed by the time of registration for the Master's thesis.
• proof of personal aptitude as a future teacher:
participation in the Karlsruhe Individual Aptitude Check for Teachers (KAiAC-T) or an equivalent aptitude, advisory or support program.
proof can be submitted at a later date up to the end of the first semester.
• minimum knowledge and minimum achievements in the following areas
Theoretical Philosophy amounting to 20 CP
Practical Philosophy amounting to 20 CP
Logic and Argumentation Theory amounting to 10 CP
in the absence of minimum knowledge and minimum achievements of no more than 30 CP, admission is possible on condition that the missing admission requirements are completed by the end of the third semester of the master's degree program.
• teaching-related elements are included in the degree program and
• a maximum of 50 credit points (CP) from a teaching-related bachelor's degree program are missing.
Missing credits must be completed by the time of registration for the Master's thesis.
• participation in the Karlsruhe Individual Aptitude Check for Teachers (KAiAC-T) or an equivalent aptitude, advisory or support program.
• proof can be submitted at a later date up to the end of the first semester.
• Theoretical Philosophy amounting to 20 CP
• Practical Philosophy amounting to 20 CP
• Logic and Argumentation Theory amounting to 10 CP
• in the absence of minimum knowledge and minimum achievements of no more than 30 CP, admission is possible on condition that the missing admission requirements are completed by the end of the third semester of the master's degree program.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
No tuition fees (German public university — see fee_details)
Semester contribution ~€235 covers public transport (KVV) and student union services.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
No tuition fees at KIT (German public university). Semester contribution of approx. €235 covers public transport and student services. Funding available via DAAD, Deutschlandstipendium, Baden-Württemberg Stipendium, and KIT internal scholarships.
About Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Karlsruhe, Germany
The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is one of Germany's leading public research universities and among Europe's most prestigious institutions for science, engineering, and technology....
University Profile- Application Deadline EU/German nationals: September 30 | Non-EU nationals: September 30
- Start Date Winter semester
- Language German
- Duration 4 semesters
- Credits 120 ECTS
