English 
Deutsch Who is the part-time degree programme Childhood Education suitable for?
The part-time Bachelor's degree in Childhood Education at Kolping University is aimed at everyone who wants to educationally support children from infancy through to adolescence. It is particularly targeted at people with practical experience in early childhood education, employees in day care centres, after-school care or all-day schools, as well as educators who want to academically underpin their competence. Career changers interested in working in educational support, family assistance or specialist counselling will also find a practice-oriented academic qualification here. The degree is ideal for you if you want to promote children’s development and actively shape cooperation with families, schools and social-pedagogical institutions.
Which formal requirements must you meet for admission?
To be admitted to the Bachelor's degree programme in Childhood Education, you need one of the following qualifications:
- General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur)
- Advanced technical college entrance qualification or subject-specific higher education entrance qualification
- Vocational training in a relevant field with subsequent professional experience
- Master craftsman’s certificate or a comparable advanced training qualification
Additionally, German language skills at least at B2 level are required. For the state recognition as a childhood educator in the part-time degree programme, proof of at least 800 hours of practical experience in the field of childhood education during the course of study is necessary.
You should have a basic openness to working with children and families and be able to adapt to changing educational demands. Important personal prerequisites are empathy, communication skills and the willingness to take responsibility. Experience in working with children – for example from training, profession or voluntary work – is helpful. Interest in social issues, teamwork skills as well as the ability for self-organisation in online studies will support your study success.
Study Content in Detail
In the Bachelor's degree in Childhood Education at Kolping University, you acquire professional and methodological knowledge to professionally support and promote children from infancy up to the age of 14. The focus is on understanding individual developmental processes as well as critically reflecting on educational concepts and implementing them in practice. The central study contents include:
- History and Theory of Childhood Education: Development of the field and current perspectives
- Methods of Childhood Education: Educational practice, didactics and diagnostics
- Child Protection, Youth Welfare & Crisis Intervention: Legal foundations and intervention in difficult life situations
- Counselling, Support and Intervention: Professional communication and work with parents
- Primary School Pedagogy: Concepts of school-based educational work
- Education for Sustainable Development: Environmental education and social responsibility
- Aesthetic Education, Identity and Resilience: Promoting creativity and strengthening psychological resilience
- Diversity, Inclusion and Interculturality: Dealing with diversity in educational work
- Embodiment: The significance of physicality in early childhood development
- Childhood Research: Fundamentals of scientific work and empirical studies
In your studies, you combine theoretical content with practical tasks, learning professional observation, planning and evaluation of educational processes as well as reflecting on your own actions.
Course Structure
The Childhood Education programme is part-time and designed for a total of 7 semesters (3.5 years). It combines online face-to-face teaching with fixed practical phases, allowing you to integrate your studies flexibly into your professional life.
- Digital teaching formats: live lectures, online learning platform, digital library and online exams
- Practical phase: At least 800 hours of practical experience in childhood education with practice partners of your choice
- Practice days (Case Days): Supplementary face-to-face events on campus in Cologne
- Self-organisation: Lectures take place outside of regular working hours; free time allocation for learning and practice phases
- Supervision and support: Personal guidance by mentors as well as support with all organisational and technical questions
- Optional: Free extension of the study period and free leave semesters possible
The close connection between theory and practice actively promotes knowledge transfer. The course concludes with a Bachelor of Arts and state recognition as a childhood educator.
Career Prospects & Employment Opportunities
As a graduate of the Childhood Education programme, varied career opportunities open up for you in the fields of education, social and health services. With the academic degree, you are qualified for responsible roles, among others, in the following areas:
- Educational work in childcare facilities (nursery, kindergarten, after-school care)
- Support and promotion of children of primary school age, including the development of leisure and educational programmes
- Specialist advice for day-care centres: Conceptual development, personnel management, parent work and quality management
- Family support and counselling in social institutions and authorities
- Child protection and youth welfare, also in advisory or coordinating roles
- Collaboration in sponsoring organisations, associations or further educational institutions
- Participation in pedagogical concept development and evaluation
With the academic qualification and state recognition, you can also take on leadership roles and further specialise, for example in inclusion work, interculturality, or as a multiplier for innovative educational concepts.
Place of Study
You study online face-to-face at your place of residence, but benefit from fixed practical phases at the campus in Cologne. The core studies take place digitally on the university’s learning platform – including an online library, lecture halls and examinations. For the practical phases (Case Days), you travel to face-to-face events in Cologne. The practical units are completed by you at a practice site of your choice nationwide.
- Studying without relocating: Flexible organisation alongside work
- Digital networking: Joint learning and exchange with fellow students and teaching staff
- Kolping Campus Cologne: Contact point for practice days, networking and individual events
Costs and Financing
For the part-time Bachelor's degree in Childhood Education at Kolping University, total costs start from €12,634. The exact amount depends on the chosen payment model:
- €320 monthly over 54 months
- €410 monthly over 42 months (3.4% savings)
- €16,700 one-off payment (6.3% savings)
Additionally, you can further reduce costs through recognition of prior achievements, scholarships or employer contributions. It is possible to extend your studies free of charge as well as to make use of free leave semesters. Detailed information on funding opportunities and financing options is available from the study advisory service at Kolping University.
Advisory Service
Have questions about Academic Programs Childhood Education? Ask your question here, even anonymously. An employee of the institution Kolping University of Applied Sciences or the editorial team will answer you.