Work Placement on the Master’s Programme: Important Questions about the Work Placement
Before the Work Placement
What information can I find in the study regulations about the work placement?
Master’s in Education (StO 2019): The study regulations require that students undertake a compulsory work placement (module ERZ-MA-009; usually in the third semester) of 150 working hours. This should be in an external institution (educational institution or other type of educational organisation) with a strong academic or administrative profile, or be part of a research project. At the end of the work placement, you will be required to give a poster presentation (approx. 15 minutes). The poster should document the question you have formulated to evaluate your experience during the work placement. The poster presentation takes place once per semester during the department’s Work Placement Day. Before you begin the work placement, you will need to find a supervisor with whom you can discuss the academic question that you will explore in the context of your work placement. The poster presentation will be marked. You will receive 6 credits for the work placement module.
For the poster presentation, please use this template.
Master’s in Educational Science (StO 2009): According to the master’s study regulations of 2009, students are required to complete a compulsory work placement of at least 6 weeks. The work placement should be completed in a strongly academic or educational administration field. The required workload is 360 hours (for the work placement AND the work placement coursework), which must be completed through self-study. The work placement thus consists of two stages: Firstly, the practical part in the respective institution, in which you should familiarise yourself with the various challenges and problems that arise in academic-pedagogical practice (approx. 240 hours). Secondly, you will complete a theoretical reflection on a selection of the challenges and problems experienced at your respective institution. This will be realised in the form of a work placement coursework (approx. 120 hours). There are 12 credits for this in the compulsory module ‘4 – Work Placement’. Before the work placement, you should find a work placement supervisor in the Education Department. This person will supervise the work placement coursework and can help you to identify a research question. Your work placement coursework will not be marked.
Who is my contact person?
Your first contact person is the staff member from the Education Department who is supervising your work placement coursework. In addition, Dr. Link is available as the Subject Lead.
Will I get credits for a previous work placement?
If you have already completed a work placement or have undertaken equivalent professional work, we may be able to recognise the following types of work:
- A work placement in education or educational science in another degree programme in a strongly academic or educational administrative field
- A completed training course in a professional field in education or educational science
- Work as a research assistant or a student research assistant
We cannot recognise:
- A voluntary social year (FSJ)
- Work as an au pair
- Volunteer work or similar
Please complete the following form to have your work placement recognised:
Master’s in Educational Science (StO 2019):Application for Recognition of Study and Examination Credits
Master’s in Educational Science (StO 2009):Application for Recognition of Study and Examination Credits
Important: Even if you are allowed to gain credits for a work placement you have already completed, you will still need to do the work placement coursework (StO 2009) or create and present a poster (StO 2019)! From the point of view of your academic studies, the focus of the work placement is on a theoretical reflection of the practical work you have experienced.
Can I split the work placement if I am not able to complete 6 weeks in one stretch?
You can complete the work placement either weekly alongside your studies or in one go during the part of the year in which you do not have any lectures. If you do not have the opportunity to complete your work placement in one six-week block, then it is possible to split this. It is important that you complete a total of 180–240 hours (StO 2009) or 150 hours (StO 2019).
How do I find a work placement?
You are responsible for finding your own work placement. The work placement should correspond to your professional interests and be the first opportunity you have to orientate yourself in the profession. At the same time, it is often the case that a work placement can be a stepping stone to a future career and it may even be the case that you find employment in the organisation in the future. Finding a suitable work placement is thus time-consuming but worthwhile. It is therefore key that you look leave plenty of time to look for a suitable and stimulating position.
The University of Potsdam’s work placement portal provides information on many questions regarding work placements. Here you will also find current job offers for work placements in Berlin, Brandenburg, Germany and the rest of the world, all updated on a daily basis.
The Career Service and the International Office will also be happy to advise and give your more information about potential work placements.
In what kind of institutions can I undertake a work placement?
The work placement provider should:
- Be an official organisation of some type (i.e. at least a registered charity or limited company)
- Provide an adequate continuous educational offer for children, young people or adults
- Be able to provide guidance and supervision in the form of a professional member of staff who has a relevant university or college education
Where can I find a placement supervisor?
Once you have found a placement, you will need to find your own placement supervisor.
Every member of the Education Department at Potsdam is allowed and required to supervise work placements and evaluate work placement coursework (StO 2009) and/or posters (StO 2019). Your supervisor should be knowledgeable about the particular challenges of your work placement.
Information about all staff members in the Education Department can be found under: ‘Professorships in the Department’.
For your work placement coursework/poster, you should set yourself a research question, which you should discuss with your supervisor. If possible, you should do this before the start of your work placement. Before your first meeting with your supervisor, you should inform yourself about the requirements for the work placement coursework/poster so that you can better orientate yourself in the discussion with your supervisor.
What options do I have if there are problems during the work placement?
The work placement is primarily intended to give you an insight into your professional field. Therefore, it will not be much help if your main task is, say, making the coffee.
At the following link you will find information about what you can expect from a good work placement. If you think that your work placement does not meet the requirements of a good work placement, you can choose to leave early.
Where do I get the work placement certificate?
After your work placement coursework has been assessed (StO 2009), the lecturer in question will confirm that you have successfully completed the work placement module on the institution’s work placement certificate MA EWI, which should be attached to the work placement coursework. This certificate of achievement should then be submitted to the Subject Lead, PD Dr. Link. He will then record your grade in PULS.
After the assessment of the poster and after the poster presentation (StO 2019), the lecturer in question will confirm that you have successfully completed the work placement module on the institution’s work placement certificate MA BiWi. This certificate of achievement should then be submitted to the Subject Lead, PD Dr. Link. He will then record your grade in PULS.
Does your work placement institution require proof that you are undertaking a compulsory work placement?
You can find the relevant form for this here: Compulsory Work Placement. Please have the form signed by your work placement supervisor.
What are the requirements for the work placement coursework and/or poster presentation?
The requirements for the work placement coursework (StO 2009) can be found at the following link: Work Placement Coursework.
The requirements for the poster / poster presentation (StO 2019) are summarised in these notes and brought together in this template for the poster presentation.
How do I register for the work placement coursework?
You can register for the work placement coursework via PULS (using the Examination Administration button). Please choose PD Dr. Link as the examiner. You can find the submission date for the work placement coursework in the PULS course prospectus. After the work placement coursework has been assessed, the lecturer in question will confirm the successful completion of the work placement module on the institution’s work placement certificate Master EWI, which should then be submitted. This certificate of achievement should then be submitted to the Subject Lead, PD Dr. Link. He will then record your grade in PULS.
How do I register for the poster presentation?
You can register for the poster presentation via PULS (using the Examination Administration button). Please choose PD Dr. Link as examiner. You can find the date for the work placement day / the poster presentation in the PULS course prospectus. After the assessment of the poster and after the poster presentation (StO 2019), the lecturer in question will confirm that you have successfully completed the work placement module on the institution’s work placement certificate Master BiWi. This certificate of achievement should then be submitted to the Subject Lead, PD Dr. Link. He will then record your grade in PULS.