- Founded
- 1962
- Students
- 4,957
- International
- 2%
- Programmes
- 17
About Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg
Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg (University of Education Freiburg) is a state university of education in Baden-Württemberg with the right to award doctoral and post-doctoral (habilitation) degrees in educational science. It is one of six Pädagogische Hochschulen in Baden-Württemberg and focuses on the integration of research, teaching, and the promotion of early-career researchers, with teaching and learning as both its core subject and primary research interest.
The university is organised into three faculties: Faculty of Educational Sciences (Faculty I), Faculty of Cultural and Social Sciences (Faculty II), and Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology (Faculty III). Each faculty houses approximately 30 professorships. Degree programmes span teacher education at primary and secondary level, educational science, health education, childhood pedagogy, German as a second/foreign language, and music in early childhood education, at both bachelor's and master's level.
Notable research centres include the International Centre for STEM Education (ICSE), the Research Centre for Climate Change Education and Education for Sustainable Development (ReCCE), the Centre for Teacher Professional Development (ZELF), and the Centre for Educational Computer Game Research (ZfdC). The university also maintains international study programmes including German-French dual-degree teacher education, a German-Italian master's in educational science (with Palermo), and a binational master's in German as a foreign language (with Medellín, Colombia).
One of six state universities of education in Baden-Württemberg, with doctoral and habilitation rights in educational science
Three faculties covering educational sciences, cultural and social sciences, and mathematics/natural sciences/technology
Hosts the International Centre for STEM Education (ICSE) and the Research Centre for Climate Change Education (ReCCE)
Offers German-French dual-degree teacher education programmes in cooperation with partner institutions in Mulhouse/Colmar and Nice
Participates in the FACE (Freiburg Advanced Center of Education) School of Education network together with Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Non-EU students are subject to Baden-Württemberg's non-EU tuition fee of €1,500 per semester (in addition to the semester contribution)
Key facts
- Type
- Pädagogische Hochschule
- Founded
- 1962
- Students
- 4,957
- International
- ~2%
- Faculties
- 3
- Programmes
- 17
Study programmes
17 accredited degrees at Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg.
Showing 1–17 of 17 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
As a public university in Baden-Württemberg, PH Freiburg charges no general tuition fees for undergraduate and consecutive master's programmes. However, since winter semester 2017/18, Baden-Württemberg levies a non-EU student fee of €1,500 per semester for students whose first university-entrance qualification was obtained outside the EU/EEA. A semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) covering administrative costs and the student services organisation (Studierendenwerk) is charged to all enrolled students; the exact current amount should be confirmed with the Studien-Service-Center at [email protected].
Admission requirements
International applicants must hold a university entrance qualification equivalent to the German Hochschulreife (Abitur) for bachelor's programmes, or a recognised bachelor's degree for master's programmes. The university operates within the Baden-Württemberg higher education system and uses the hochschulstart.de portal and individual programme application systems. Applicants with foreign qualifications are directed to the Studien-Service-Center and the International Office for credential assessment. Language proficiency in German is required for all German-taught programmes; the accepted proof levels and specific tests (DSH, TestDaF, Goethe-Zertifikat) are specified per programme. Indian, Chinese (mainland, Hong Kong, Macau), and Vietnamese applicants are subject to the APS certificate requirement before a student visa can be issued; the APS is not a PH Freiburg admission condition but a German consulate visa prerequisite. The university welcomes incoming exchange/guest students through Erasmus+ and bilateral agreements coordinated by the International Office.
Application deadlines
Specific deadlines vary by programme and are published on individual degree programme pages. The Studien-Service-Center (phone: +49 761 682-333, email: [email protected]) is the authoritative contact for deadline confirmation. General German academic calendar: winter semester begins October, summer semester begins April. Applicants should check programme pages well in advance as some teacher education programmes have limited places.
How international applicants apply
Dual model: applicants with foreign school or Bachelor certificates apply via the PH Freiburg online application within regular deadlines AND additionally via uni-assist, which pre-checks the higher-education entrance qualification and German skills (EUR 75 fee, submission possible year-round). Applicants with German qualifications (Bildungsinlaender) apply directly without uni-assist. DSH-2 or TestDaF 4x4 required; certificates without direct equivalence route to the Feststellungspruefung at a Studienkolleg (usually Heidelberg).
Languages of instruction
The primary language of instruction is German. Most bachelor's and master's programmes are taught entirely in German. International and bilingual programmes incorporate French (German-French dual-degree teacher education with Mulhouse/Colmar and Nice), Italian (German-Italian master's with Palermo), and Spanish (binational DaZ/DaF master's with Medellín). A dedicated early language learning master's (E-LINGO) focuses on teaching foreign languages including English to young learners. No fully English-taught degree programmes are listed on the official site.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Student accommodation
What Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
Rooms are allocated by
Studierendenwerk Freiburg
Not by the university. Apply to them directly, and expect a waiting list.
From the university
Student housing is managed through the regional Studierendenwerk Freiburg, which operates student residences in Freiburg; international students should apply early as places are limited.
Campuses & locations
Kunzenweg 15, Freiburg im Breisgau - primary site hosting most faculties and central administration
Heinrich-von-Stephan-Str. 5a
Schnewlinstr. 6
Kartäuserstr. 47
Sandfangweg 4
Living in Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city of approximately 230,000 inhabitants in southwest Baden-Württemberg, bordering France and Switzerland. It lies at the edge of the Black Forest and is known for its mild climate, extensive cycling infrastructure, and strong sustainability profile. Freiburg hosts the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität (a U15 research university) alongside PH Freiburg and other higher education institutions, creating a sizeable student population. The city centre features the medieval Freiburger Münster cathedral and a compact, walkable old town. Public transport is reliable; tram lines connect the main campus and student residential areas.
Student life & support
The International Office (Kunzenweg 15, 3rd floor) supports incoming international and exchange students with application coordination, orientation weeks, Erasmus+ administration, scholarship guidance (Baden-Württemberg STIPENDIUM, DAAD), and recognition of foreign academic credentials through the L!NT project. Student housing is managed through the regional Studierendenwerk Freiburg, which operates student residences in Freiburg; international students should apply early as places are limited. The Sprachenzentrum and partner institutions in Freiburg offer German language courses at various levels. The International Office also coordinates virtual exchange programmes and provides an ILIAS-based AI assistant to help students prepare applications and navigate recognition questions.
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