Before reviewing the enrollment process, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the structure of teacher education at the University of Potsdam.
Enrollment in the teacher education master’s programs at the University of Potsdam for the first semester is possible in both the winter and summer semesters.
To enroll, submit your application during the following periods:
- for the summer semester: February 15 to April 15
- for the winter semester: August 15 to October 15
Please note: To ensure that you can begin your program at the start of the semester, we recommend completing your enrollment by the end of March (for the summer semester) or by the end of September (for the winter semester), if possible.
1. Enrollment Requirements
Teacher education master’s programs are currently not subject to a numerus clausus (admission restriction). This means that you can enroll within the specified deadlines once it has been determined that you meet the admission requirements. The admission requirements are as follows:
1.1 For Primary Education, Primary Education with a Focus on Inclusive Education, Secondary Education (Levels I and II, general education subjects), and Special Education
- a Bachelor of Education degree or an equivalent qualification (in accordance with § 4 of the Teacher Education Program Regulations (LSV))
- a phoniatric assessment
- proof of participation in an aptitude assessment procedure*
* If you did not earn the required undergraduate qualification at the University of Potsdam, you must contact the Center for Teacher Training and Education Research (ZeLB) in advance of submitting your enrollment details in order to obtain the required forms.
1.2 For Secondary Education (Level II, vocational subjects)
For teacher education programs in Secondary Education (Level II, vocational subjects), a prior application and admission are required before enrollment. Eligibility for this teacher education master’s program is assessed as part of the application process.
A Bachelor of Education does not qualify you for admission to this program.
2. Information on the Enrollment Process
If you are continuing directly from a Bachelor of Education into a Master of Education at the University of Potsdam, you can find information on how to transfer to the master’s program here: Transition from Bachelor’s to Master’s
If you completed your Bachelor of Education at the University of Potsdam and are applying for a Master of Education in Primary Education, Primary Education with a focus on Inclusive Education, Secondary Education (Levels I and II, general education subjects), or Special Education, you can enroll without going through a separate application process.
You complete your enrollment online via the PULS portal.
Once you start the enrollment process in the PULS portal, you will be shown exactly which documents you need to upload. The required documents depend on the information you enter in the PULS portal. Please do not send any documents by post. All required documents must be uploaded in the PULS portal by the deadline for completing your enrollment (documents submitted late cannot be considered).
You will need the following documents to enroll:
Documents marked “if applicable” only need to be submitted if they apply to your situation.
- Proof of identity (ID card or passport). If you hold a second citizenship, also provide a copy of the relevant passport or naturalization certificate. The document must show your full name, date of birth, and validity period. You may redact all other information. It is used solely for identification purposes and will be deleted after successful enrollment.
- If the name on your documents differs from the information in the PULS portal: official proof of name change
- Phoniatric assessment
- Proof of your Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree
- Complete chronological CV from the age of 16
- Biometric passport photo
- Proof of your university entrance qualification
- De-registration certificate(s) from the most recently attended higher education institution(s) in Germany, including your program of study, the total number of semesters enrolled at university (Hochschulsemester), and the number of semesters completed in that program (Fachsemester)
- If this information is missing from the de-registration certificate(s): your most recent certificate of enrollment showing your program of study and semesters
- Complete documentation of all previous periods of study, including information on the program of study and the number of semesters completed in that program (certificates of enrollment, confirmation of periods of study)
- Electronic proof of health insurance coverage that meets statutory requirements for your intended semester of enrollment. Please note: You must request the “Meldung nach Meldegrund M10 für die Universität Potsdam” (Absendernummer H0001228) from your German statutory health insurance provider. The provider will send this information directly to the University of Potsdam. This notification is required even if you are exempt from statutory health insurance.
Proof of private health insurance coverage alone is not sufficient. You must contact a German statutory health insurance provider of your choice and request a statement confirming that you are exempt from statutory health insurance. - If applicable, supporting documents required to apply for concurrent enrollment in two degree programs (Doppelstudium) or concurrent enrollment at two universities (Parallelstudium)
- If you are enrolling in a higher semester: official placement in the requested semester by the responsible examination board
If you completed your Bachelor of Education at another university and wish to pursue a Master of Education in Primary Education, Primary Education with a focus on Inclusive Education, Secondary Education (Levels I and II, general education subjects), or Special Education at the University of Potsdam, you must contact the Center for Teacher Training and Education Research (ZeLB) before starting the enrollment process. ZeLB coordinates the evaluation of your degree and will provide you with the required forms. If your qualifications are approved, you can proceed with your enrollment.
You complete your enrollment online via the PULS portal.
Once you start the enrollment process the PULS portal, you will be shown exactly which documents you need to upload. The required documents depend on the information you enter in the PULS portal. Please do not send any documents by post. All required documents must be uploaded in the PULS portal by the deadline for completing your enrollment (documents submitted late cannot be considered).
You will need the following documents to enroll:
Documents marked “if applicable” only need to be submitted if they apply to your situation.
- Confirmation from the Center for Teacher Training and Education Research (ZeLB) that you meet the admission requirements for a teacher education master’s program
- Proof of identity (ID card or passport). If you hold a second citizenship, also provide a copy of the relevant passport or naturalization certificate. The document must show your full name, date of birth, and validity period. You may redact all other information. It is used solely for identification purposes and will be deleted after successful enrollment.
- If the name on your documents differs from the information in the PULS portal: official proof of name change
- Phoniatric assessment
Proof of your Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree or equivalent qualification:
- degree certificate and transcript, or
- other suitable proof of completion
If you have not yet completed your undergraduate degree at the time of application, you may apply for provisional enrollment via the application portal.
- Complete chronological CV from the age of 16
- Biometric passport photo
- Proof of your university entrance qualification
- De-registration certificate(s) from the most recently attended higher education institution(s) in Germany, including your program of study, the total number of semesters enrolled at university (Hochschulsemester), and the number of semesters completed in that program (Fachsemester)
- If this information is missing from the de-registration certificate(s): your most recent certificate of enrollment showing your program of study and semesters
- Complete documentation of all previous periods of study, including information on the program of study and the number of semesters completed in that program (certificates of enrollment, confirmation of periods of study)
- Electronic proof of health insurance coverage that meets statutory requirements for your intended semester of enrollment. Please note: You must request the “Meldung nach Meldegrund M10 für die Universität Potsdam” (Absendernummer H0001228) from your German statutory health insurance provider. The provider will send this information directly to the University of Potsdam. This notification is required even if you are exempt from statutory health insurance.
Proof of private health insurance coverage alone is not sufficient. You must contact a German statutory health insurance provider of your choice and request a statement confirming that you are exempt from statutory health insurance. - If applicable, supporting documents required to apply for concurrent enrollment in two degree programs (Doppelstudium) or concurrent enrollment at two universities (Parallelstudium)
- If you are enrolling in a higher semester: official placement in the requested semester by the responsible examination board
Important: If you have a Bachelor of Education, you are not qualified for admission to this program.
If you do not have a Bachelor of Education but wish to pursue a teaching qualification, you are eligible for admission to the Master of Education in Secondary Education (Level II, vocational subjects) at the University of Potsdam. To do so, you must submit an application via the PULS portal within the specified deadlines before enrolling. You must apply for a complete subject combination, meaning one vocational subject and one general education subject.
If you meet all requirements, you will receive an admission offer. You can then proceed with enrollment.
You complete your enrollment online via the PULS portal.
Once you start the enrollment process in the PULS portal, you will be shown exactly which documents you need to upload. The required documents depend on the information you enter in the PULS portal. Please do not send any documents by post. All required documents must be uploaded in the PULS portal by the deadline for completing your enrollment (documents submitted late cannot be considered).
You will need the following documents to enroll:
Documents marked “if applicable” only need to be submitted if they apply to your situation.
- Admission notification
- Proof of identity (ID card or passport). If you hold a second citizenship, also provide a copy of the relevant passport or naturalization certificate. The document must show your full name, date of birth, and validity period. You may redact all other information. It is used solely for identification purposes and will be deleted after successful enrollment.
- If the name on your documents differs from the information in the PULS portal: official proof of name change
Proof of your bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification:
- degree certificate and transcript, or
- other suitable proof of completion
If you have not yet completed your undergraduate degree at the time of application, you may apply for provisional enrollment via the application portal.
- Complete chronological CV from the age of 16
- Biometric passport photo
- Proof of your university entrance qualification
- De-registration certificate(s) from the most recently attended higher education institution(s) in Germany, including your program of study, the total number of semesters enrolled at university (Hochschulsemester), and the number of semesters completed in that program (Fachsemester)
- If this information is missing from the de-registration certificate(s): your most recent certificate of enrollment showing your program of study and semesters
- Complete documentation of all previous periods of study, including information on the program of study and the number of semesters completed in that program (certificates of enrollment, confirmation of periods of study)
- Electronic proof of health insurance coverage that meets statutory requirements for your intended semester of enrollment. Please note: You must request the “Meldung nach Meldegrund M10 für die Universität Potsdam” (Absendernummer H0001228) from your German statutory health insurance provider. The provider will send this information directly to the University of Potsdam. This notification is required even if you are exempt from statutory health insurance.
Proof of private health insurance coverage alone is not sufficient. You must contact a German statutory health insurance provider of your choice and request a statement confirming that you are exempt from statutory health insurance. - If applicable, supporting documents required to apply for concurrent enrollment in two degree programs (Doppelstudium) or concurrent enrollment at two universities (Parallelstudium)
- If you are enrolling in a higher semester: official placement in the requested semester by the responsible examination board
Enrollment for master's degree programs is done exclusively online via the portal PULS. After you have entered the information required for enrollment, all documents needed for enrollment must be uploaded in the portal PULS under "Add enrollment documents".
After your enrollment documents have been processed and if they are complete and your health insurance company has submitted the M10 notification (“Meldung nach Meldegrund M10”) regarding your insurance status to us, we will send you information on paying the semester fees to the e-mail address provided in the portal PULS.
After your payment has been received, your Potsdam University's Chip Card (PUCK) will be issued and sent to you by post if you provided an address in Germany. If you have not provided a German address, we will contact you by e-mail and inform you how to proceed. The envelope will contain:
- Potsdam University’s Chip Card (PUCK)
- Information about the activation of your university account
- TAN-list (PULS - Potsdamer Universitätslehr- und Studienorganisationsportal)
- Access to this portal will allow you to print certificates of enrollment, register for classes, etc.
Information on Provisional Enrollment
(Not applicable to continuing education master’s degree programs!)
Due to the amendment to the Brandenburg Higher Education Act (Brandenburgisches Hochschulgesetz – BbgHG) of April 9, 2024, you will be able to provisionally enroll in a master's degree program if the necessary proof of a completed bachelor's degree cannot be submitted by the end of the enrollment deadline (April 15 (for the summer semester) or October 15 (for the winter semester)).
If preliminary enrollment in the Master's degree program is to take place, this must be applied for in the Portal PULS. If the enrollment requirements are otherwise met, provisional enrollment in the Master's degree program can take place.
Please note:
- For provisional enrollment in teacher education master’s programs for Primary School Teacher Certification, Secondary School (Level I and II) Teacher Certification, and Teacher Certification for Inclusive/Special Education, you must submit a Transcript of Records documenting your prior studies. This transcript must show completed modules corresponding to the credit points required for your respective bachelor’s degree, minus a maximum of 40 credit points, i.e., at least 140 credit points. This requirement does not apply to the Teaching Degree for Secondary Education Level II (Vocational Subjects).
- If you fail to submit proof of the completed bachelor's degree to the Student Administration Center/ Office of Student Affairs by the end of the first semester of the master's degree program (March 31 or September 30), must be retroactively canceled. Therefore, please ensure that you have completed your degree when you provisionally enroll in a master's degree program, and ask for advice in due time if there are any uncertainties, i. e. at least 6 weeks before the end of the semester. If you completed your bachelor's degree at the University of Potsdam, then the Student Administration Center/ Examination Office will provide assistance. If your previous degree was obtained at another university, please contact the responsible office of your former university. The Central Student Advisory Service can advise you on possible risks and consequences of a provisional enrollment in a master's degree program.
