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Requirements and Target Group
The distance learning programme Social Work (B.A.) at Hochschule Fresenius is aimed at individuals who want to establish a professional career or further qualify themselves in the social sector. Targeted are working professionals, career changers as well as school graduates with an interest in psychosocial counselling, child and youth welfare, working with elderly or disabled people, or activities in education, health or social administration. The programme is especially suitable for those who want to take on social responsibility, support people in difficult life situations and acquire practical skills. The offer is aimed at those who want to complete a flexible, online-based degree alongside their job or at their own individual pace.
What admission requirements do you have to meet?
The following formal criteria apply for admission to the distance learning programme Social Work (B.A.) at Hochschule Fresenius:
- General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) or advanced technical college entrance qualification (Fachabitur): entitles direct admission to the programme.
- Subject-specific higher education entrance qualification: entitles study in the respective subject area.
- Professional qualification: at least two years of completed vocational training and at least two years of full-time employment in a field professionally related to social work. Additionally, a subject-specific university entrance examination is required.
- Advanced training: master craftsman’s examination, specialist or technician qualification with at least 400 hours of instruction and subsequent subject-specific entrance examination.
- For intermediate school-leaving certificate: at least three years of vocational training (grade 2.5 or better, otherwise university entrance examination) and study agreement, in which a certain number of ECTS credits must be achieved in the first year.
On a personal level, you should have an interest in social issues and dealing with people. For the successful progress of the studies, empathy, communication skills and willingness to reflect are helpful. You should be open to different life environments and problem situations, be able to work in a structured way and bring self-motivation as well as self-organisation, since this is a distance learning course. Prior experience in the social sector, for example through voluntary work, internships or employment, is advantageous but not compulsory. Determination and the willingness to actively assume social responsibility are further important personal qualities in this field.
Course Content in Detail
In the Bachelor's degree programme Social Work at Hochschule Fresenius, you develop a comprehensive understanding of societal challenges and individual issues. The curriculum covers essential topics:
- Fundamentals: Social sciences, economics, law, academic work and philosophy of science
- Practical and methodological skills: Communication, case understanding, reflective ability in dealing with clients
- Special fields: Child and youth welfare, work with elderly and/or disabled people, social work in healthcare
- Diversity and inclusion: Intercultural competences, dealing with heterogeneity and inclusion
- Research: Methods of empirical social research, deviance and social control
- Career orientation: Practical internship in the fifth semester (30 ECTS), direct link between theory and practice
- Specialisations: Elective subjects such as culture, aesthetics and media in social work or education, learning and teaching
The course teaches you the ability to recognise social problems, analyse them and develop solutions together with those affected. In addition, you will be sensitised to current theoretical discourses and acquire the necessary tools to engage with future developments in social work.
Course Structure: How is the programme organised?
The degree programme is designed as a flexible distance learning course allowing you to plan your time individually. The standard period of study is 6 semesters (180 ECTS), but you can choose between different time models and extend the duration of study up to 72 months.
- Start any time: Study start possible on the 1st of each month
- Purely online study: All content via the learning platform, including scripts, videos and online seminars
- 24/7 exams: Examination dates flexible online or at examination centres
- Practical relevance: A firmly integrated internship in the fifth semester
- Individual support: Study coaches and lecturers accompany you throughout your studies
All modules are based on the recommendations of the Federal Association of Social Work and the German Association for Social Work. Upon completion, you will receive the academic degree Bachelor of Arts as well as the title "State-recognised Social Worker" and "State-recognised Social Pedagogue".
Career Prospects & Employment Opportunities for Social Workers
A successful graduation opens up diverse professional fields in the social sector. The possibilities for employment are wide-ranging and not limited to a specific field of work:
- Child and youth welfare: Care and counselling for families, children and young people
- Social services: General social counselling, debt counselling, integration of people with disabilities or migration backgrounds
- Healthcare: Social work in hospitals, rehabilitation centres or care facilities
- Elderly care: Support and counselling for elderly people in inpatient or outpatient facilities
- Education and community work: Activities in schools, educational projects and district management
- Offender support, addiction help and prevention work
With the bachelor's degree you are qualified for leadership and specialist roles. Further training towards a master's degree or specialisations in fields such as social management, supervision or counselling are possible. Furthermore, there is the option to work as an employee for public, non-profit and private providers or to become self-employed.
Study Location: Online Study with Optional Practical Locations
You complete your studies entirely online, independent of your place of residence. Lectures, exercises as well as examinations are flexibly accessible via the internet and the learning platform. Your internship can be completed at a recognised social institution at a location of your choice, provided the professional requirements are met. Hochschule Fresenius thus offers you a location-independent course with flexible practical integration.
Costs and Financing
For the distance learning programme Social Work at Hochschule Fresenius, tuition fees start at 259 euros per month. The university offers different time models between which you can choose flexibly – with a shorter study period the monthly rates increase, with a longer duration they decrease accordingly.
The tuition fee includes:
- All digital study materials, e-books and scripts
- Access to the online library and the learning platform
- Personal support by study coaches and lecturers
- Examination fees for online exams
To finance your studies, various options are available:
- BAföG – also possible for distance learning under certain conditions
- KfW student loan or education loan from the federal government
- Scholarships, e.g. the Deutschlandstipendium or internal university programmes
- Funding by the employer as part of personnel development
- Tax deductibility – tuition fees can, under certain conditions, be claimed as income-related expenses or special expenditure
Hochschule Fresenius regularly offers discount campaigns that can further reduce the monthly fees. The student advisory service will be happy to inform you about current offers and individual financing options.
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Advisory Service
Have questions about Academic Programs Social Work? Ask your question here, even anonymously. An employee of the institution Fresenius University of Applied Sciences or the editorial team will answer you.