An internship abroad allows you to gain valuable experience in an international context, learn about other teaching and educational environments, while expanding your cultural awareness and language skills. You may do part of your teaching practice semester (TPS) abroad or, for example, do a voluntary internship at a local school abroad. This can be arranged through an organization, or you can apply individually. There are various options and approaches available to you:
School internships through an organization
Option A: If you decide to do a school internship through an organization (e.g.,PAD or Schulwärts!), in most cases, you can only choose the destination country.
You will then be placed at a school where German is taught as a focus subject within the curriculum.
In most cases, the corresponding internship program provides financial support during the time of the internship.
Individual school internships abroad
Option B: You can also apply independently to schools abroad (e.g., German schools abroad or schools within the PASCH netzwork, but also local schools).
In this case, you are free to choose the country and school. If you would like to have your internship accredited, please refer to the information in the FAQs below.
For this internship, you may apply separately for financial support (e.g., DAAD, Erasmus+ internship, etc.).
Important to note: for the TPS (teaching practice semester), only internships abroad through the PAD and internships at German schools listed on the officially recognized list of German schools abroad are accredited!
What do I need to know about completing an internship abroad?
How and where can I find a school abroad for my internship?
When deciding on an internship at a school abroad, you have several possibilities with different focuses:
PAD - Pädagogischer Austauschdienst
With the PAD (Educational Exchange Service), you can work as a foreign language assistant (Fremdsprachenassistenz = FSA) and gain practical teaching experience abroad. This program provides financial backing for your internship. Here you can find some general information about the PAD in Englisch.
SCHULWÄRTS! - Student teacher placement in Schools
SCHULWÄRTS! arranges and provides funding for the placement of student teachers at Goethe-Institut partner schools abroad. Student and (prospective) teachers of any school type and subject combination are eligible for placement. Student teachers receive individualized support before, during and after their placement.
German schools abroad
At German schools abroad, you can observe lessons in the subjects offered there and also teach yourself. To arrange an internship, you need to contact the individual school and apply directly with them.
Note: Apply early to German schools abroad (approx. 1 year in advance).
Schools: partner for the Future (PASCH)
The “Schools: Partners for the Future” (PASCH) initiative creates a global network of more than 2000 PASCH schools with particular ties to Germany.As a student teacher or student of German as a foreign language, you can complete an internship at PASCH schools abroad.
You can have parts of your teaching practice semester (TPS) abroad credited to your degree. Please be aware of the following requirements:
The Landeslehrerprüfungsamt (State Teacher Examination Authority) only recognizes parts of the teacher practice semester (TPS) carried out abroad that were either completed as a foreign language assistant via the PAD (FSA) or at a German school abroad that is listed on the officially recognizedlist of German schools abroad.
In order to have recognized parts of your teaching practice semester (TPS) spent abroad, you need to send a certificate of the completed internship, signed by the school abroad, directly to the Landeslehrerprüfungsamt(State Teacher Examination Authority).
Eight weeks of your SPS abroad can be credited. Four additional weeks must be completed at a school in Baden-Württemberg.
The time order of the practical parts for your teaching practice semester is strictly defined: First, the internship abroad must be completed. Only afterwards the four remaining weeks of the TPS can be successfully completed in Baden-Württemberg.
What else do I need to consider for my teaching practice semester abroad?
The 12-week teaching practice semester (TPS) is scheduled at the beginning of the Master of Education program (first or second semester).
You can have 8 weeks of your TPS abroad credited. And 4 additional weeks must be completed at a school in Baden-Württemberg.
The four-week internship in Baden-Württemberg can only be started in September each year. During the same time, it is mandatory to attend accompanying teaching methodology courses at your designated Institute for Didactics and Teacher Training, which are held until mid-December.
The time order of the practical parts of your teaching practice semestre is strictly defined: First, the internship abroad must be completed. Only afterwards the remaining four weeks of the SPS can be completed in Baden-Württemberg. For this reason, it is therefore possible to arrange the international component of the TPS during the 5th or 6th semester of the Bachelor's program.
Registration for the four-week internship in Baden-Württemberg takes place via the website lehrer-online-bw.de during the regular TPS registration period (usually ends in May each year). To register, you will need an "access ticket,” which you can obtain from the Student Affairs Office.
What are my options for funding an internship abroad?
Depending on the chosen internship, you will either receive a monthly subsidy through the corresponding program (e.g., PAD) or you have the option to apply for financial support in the form of a scholarship. The following programs offer scholarships for practical placements abroad ( take careful note of the individual application deadlines):
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD): : DAAD Lehramt.International (two application deadlines per year)
On the TüSE Instagram channel tuese_lehramt, teacher training students in Tübingen share their experiences under the title Exchange – Discover – Connect. Future Teachers in Tübingen and Abroad, offering tips and insights into study abroad programs and school internships abroad.
