Tübingen School of Education (TüSE)

School internship abroad

A school internship abroad—how to approach it?

When it comes to a school internship abroad, you have several options to choose from:

School internships through an organization
School internships can be arranged through organizations such as the Pädagogischer Austauschdienst (PAD) or SCHULWÄRTS! In this case, you apply specifically for an internship abroad and receive both financial support and guidance throughout the program. These programs typically offer a monthly stipend as well as educational and organizational support. Both short-term and long-term internships are available, though you usually only get to choose the destination country. The specific school, often with a focus on German, will then be assigned to you. If you would like to have the internship credited toward your teaching practice semester (SPS), please refer to the information in the FAQs below.

Individual school internships abroad
You can also apply independently to schools abroad, e.g., German schools abroad, schools within the PASCH netzwork, but also regular local schools. In this case, you can freely choose both, the country and the school, and tailor your internship to your individual needs. You can apply for financial support independently and apply to programs such as DAAD Lehramt.International, Erasmus+ Praktikum oder PROMOS. If you would like to have the internship credited toward your teaching practice semester (SPS), please refer to the information in the FAQs below.

Important to note: for the teaching practice semester (SPS), only internships abroad through the Pädagogischer Austauschdienst (PAD) and internships at German schools listed on the officially recognized  list of German schools abroad are accredited!

Annual application deadlines: Scholarships for school internships

End of March
DAAD Lehramt.International

for student teachers 
for recent graduates of teacher training programs
for internships beginning between June 1 and August 31

End of April
PROMOS

PROMOS for compulsory internships
for internships during the second half of the same year

End of June
DAAD Lehramt.International

for student teachers 
for recent graduates of teacher training programs
for internships beginning between September 1 and December 31

End of October
SCHULWÄRTS!

NEW: Applications for school internships in the following year
(Now only one regular application round per year)  

PROMOS

PROMOS for compulsory internships
for internships during the first half of the following year
 

DAAD Lehramt.International

for student teachers 
for recent graduates of teacher training programs
for internships beginning between January 1 and May 31 of the following year

Mid-November
PAD

Foreign Language Assistant (FSA PAD)
Application deadline applies only to internships in the U.S. during the upcoming exchange year

Beginning of January
PAD

Foreign Language Assistant (FSA PAD)
All destinations (except the U.S.) for the upcoming exchange year 

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.
 

See the list of  German schools abroad for an overview and further details. Please only refer to the list of Liste German schools abroad and European schools compield by the Tübingen Institute for Didactics and Teacher Training (Seminar für Ausbildung und Fortbildung der Lehrkräfte Tübingen (Gymnasium)), at which an internship in the form of a teaching practice semester can be completed and accredited for your study program.
 

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.

 

 

How can I get credits for the internship?

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 recognized list 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. 

You can also refer to the legal requirements in the Rechtsverordnung des Kultusministeriums über die Rahmenvorgaben, Section 6 (15) 

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.

The contact for your school practice semester (TPS) in secondary school teaching is the  Institute for Didactics and Teacher Training Tübingen (Seminar für Ausbildung und Fortbildung der Lehrkräfte Tübingen). Here you will also find FAQs regarding further questions about the TPS (abroad).
You are also welcome to contact the  TüSE Information and Advice Center for Teachinf Professions for an initial consultation about the TPS.

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):

 


Good to know: Many schools also assist with housing during the internship, e.g., by arranging accommodation with host families.

Personal experiences of staying abroad

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.

The  Studieren.weltweit - Erlebe es! program provides a variety of information, tips, and experiences from teacher training students abroad, whih can be found under #Lehramt. It also offers a recording of the info talks “Internship at a German school abroad" with questions and answers from the Q&A session (recording in German).

You also get to check out reports from Tübingen teacher training students here (in German):

Would you like some initial information about studying or completing an internship abroad as part of your teacher training? Feel free to contact for an individual appointment by email or phone.

Contact person: Deborah Diekmann
deborah.diekmannspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de