Teaching (Lehramt) in Germany requires a 1-2 year state traineeship (Referendariat) after a 3-4 year bachelor's, and the entire career is secured with Staatsbeamte (civil servant) status. Short answer: for a teaching bachelor's you need C1 German + a choice of two main subjects, the application is limited by the NC system, doing the Referendariat after the bachelor's is compulsory, and successful teachers move into tenured positions with a monthly salary of €3,500-5,000. In this guide you will find Germany's Lehramt bachelor's programs, subject-choice options, application requirements, the Referendariat process, and career and salary options — all based on the experience-based tips of real students (Edurs) studying teaching in Germany with Toedur.
Why Teaching: Career Security and Salary
In Germany a teacher is a profession with high social status and economic security. After finishing the bachelor's + Referendariat, the teacher moves into Staatsbeamte status and receives a guarantee against dismissal by the state.
At first I thought of choosing teaching as "a somewhat safe profession." But after finishing the Referendariat, the teacher's salary and stability are very good — €3,500 gross to start, €5,500 after 30 years. There is no risk of dismissal, retirement is guaranteed. My engineering friends earn a higher salary but their stress is high. I preferred a comfortable and stable life.
The demand for teachers in Germany is very high — the teacher shortage is large and new graduates find jobs immediately. In 2026 the teacher shortage continues.
The Lehramt System: How It Works
In Germany, Lehramt (the teaching bachelor's) is a system designed to move from a broad foundation toward specialization. After the bachelor's, doing the Referendariat (state traineeship) is compulsory; through it the teacher gains both theoretical knowledge and practical classroom experience.
The flow of the system is as follows:
- Lehramt Bachelor's (3-4 years): Course-focused learning (Mathematics, German, etc.)
- Referendariat (1-2 years): Traineeship at a state school + guidance from an experienced teacher
- Exam: A written and oral exam at the end of the Referendariat
- Tenure: A successful teacher gets a tenured position
Thanks to such a system, teaching is regarded as a stable, high-quality and state-approved profession.
Subject Options: What Do I Want to Teach?
In the Lehramt bachelor's the student chooses two main subjects. The choice combinations mostly depend on the education level (primary school, secondary school/high school).
| Subject | Primary | Secondary | High School | Demand Level | Finding a Job |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very high | Immediately |
| German | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very high | Immediately |
| English | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ High | 1-3 months |
| Physics | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very high | Immediately |
| Chemistry | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ High | 1-3 months |
| Biology | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ⭐⭐⭐ Medium | 3-6 months |
| History | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ⭐⭐ Low | 6-12 months |
| Geography | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ⭐⭐ Low | 6-12 months |
| Music | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⭐⭐⭐ Medium | 3-6 months |
| Sports | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⭐⭐⭐ Medium | 3-6 months |
Recommendation: If you choose Mathematics + German or Mathematics + Physics, finding a job is guaranteed. If you choose History + Geography, you may need to wait a year.
An extra difficulty for Turkish students is the C1 German requirement. For this reason choosing German as a subject is almost unavoidable. Suggestion: German + Mathematics (the safest) or German + Physics (a bit harder but high demand).
Top 10 Teaching Universities
In Germany the teaching bachelor's is offered at almost all universities. The quality difference (compared to engineering) is small, but some universities have stronger programs for developing teaching competence.
| Rank | University | City | Language Requirement | Traineeship System | Career Support | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Humboldt Universität | Berlin | C1 German | State-supported | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | The best |
| 2 | Ludwig Maximilians Uni | Munich | C1 German | State-supported | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | City of Munich |
| 3 | Uni Heidelberg | Heidelberg | C1 German | State-supported | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Small city |
| 4 | Uni Bonn | Bonn | C1 German | State-supported | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Good region |
| 5 | TU Dortmund | Dortmund | C1 German | State-supported | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Science + Technical |
| 6 | Uni Hamburg | Hamburg | C1 German | State-supported | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Port city |
| 7 | Uni Köln | Cologne | C1 German | State-supported | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Big city |
| 8 | Uni Frankfurt | Frankfurt | C1 German | State-supported | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Finance hub |
| 9 | Uni Göttingen | Göttingen | C1 German | State-supported | ⭐⭐⭐ | Research |
| 10 | Uni Tübingen | Tübingen | C1 German | State-supported | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Academic |
Note: The teaching quality is similar at all universities. The choice should be made according to city preference and the subject combination.
Application Requirements: C1 German Is Compulsory
A teaching bachelor's application is simpler than engineering. But German C1 (or a C1 certificate) is compulsory — because the teacher will teach students in German.
The application requirements are as follows:
- High School Diploma: Required (translation + notary certification)
- German Level: C1 minimum (TestDaF 4 or DSH 3)
- GPA: Usually not required, but a good grade provides an advantage
- Motivation Letter: Yes, in German (why I want to become a teacher)
- CV: Yes, in German (experience, achievements)
- Reference Letter: Optional
The NC System
Lehramt is limited by the NC (numerus clausus) system. If Mathematics + German is chosen, the NC is usually around 2.5-3.0. If History is chosen, the NC is lower (3.5+).
Application dates open between January and July. At first-choice universities, applications close at the end of December.
Referendariat: The 1-2 Year State Traineeship
After finishing the Lehramt bachelor's, doing the Referendariat (state traineeship) is compulsory. In this traineeship the teacher candidate is assigned to a state school and teaches in a real classroom for 1-2 years.
The Referendariat details are as follows:
- Duration: 1-2 years (varies by state)
- Salary: €1,200-1,400 per month (as a trainee)
- Place: State school
- Advisor: An experienced teacher becomes a mentor
- Exam: A written + oral exam after the Referendariat
- Failure: If the traineeship fails, it must be repeated (rare)
The first 3-4 months of the Referendariat are very hard — controlling the class, grading homework, getting angry at the students and then being able to return to the lesson. But after the 6th month I got into a routine. Working with 18-year-old high schoolers is hard but rewarding. After it ended I got a tenured position.
Career and Salary: The Benefits of the Staatsbeamte System
After finishing the Referendariat, the successful candidate gets Staatsbeamte (civil servant) status. This means a stable salary, retirement and a job security guarantee.
| Stage | Year | Position | Gross Salary | After Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Referendariat (Trainee) | 0-2 | Teacher Candidate | €1,200-1,400 | €1,000-1,200 |
| Tenured Start (A13) | 0 | Teacher | €3,500-3,800 | €2,500-2,700 |
| After 5 Years (A13) | 5 | Teacher (Experienced) | €4,000-4,300 | €2,800-3,000 |
| After 15 Years (A14) | 15 | Teacher / Deputy Head | €4,800-5,200 | €3,300-3,600 |
| After 25 Years (A15) | 25 | Head / Coordinator | €5,500-6,000 | €3,800-4,100 |
Note: Staatsbeamte status means a strong pension — after 30-35 years of work, the pension is 70-80% of the salary. It is not like the percentage-based system of a private-sector employee.
Advantages:
- Job security (almost 100% guaranteed)
- Pension (70-80% of the salary)
- Health insurance (advantageous for the person and their family)
- Long holidays (8 weeks per year)
Disadvantages:
- The salary is medium compared to some sectors (an engineer earns more)
- In the first 6-12 months stress is high (classroom discipline, etc.)
German Requirement: C1 Is Compulsory
For a teaching bachelor's, C1 German is not only an application condition but also compulsory for the quality of teaching. The difficulty for Turkish students is that, even though their native language is Turkish, they teach the entire lesson in German.
The exams accepted for C1 German are as follows:
- TestDaF: 4 points (out of 5)
- DSH: 3 (maximum 3)
- TOEFL: Not accepted
- IELTS: Not accepted (German is required)
If you follow accelerated German learning routes, it takes another 3-6 months to go from B2 to C1. After the high school diploma, it is normal to prepare 6-9 months for the application.
The first time I took the C1 exam I failed (2 points out of 3). I retook it. C1 is a very heavy target, but it is compulsory if I want to become a teacher. Now German is comfortable in class, but in the first 6 months classroom management in German was very hard.
Checklist: Teaching Bachelor's Application
Even though a teaching application looks simple, the C1 German preparation, subject choice and Referendariat planning are important. The checklist below clarifies the steps from the start to the finish.
Preparation (9-12 Months Before)
- I raised my German level to B2
- I set the C1 German target (TestDaF or DSH)
- I made the decision to choose the teaching department
- I researched the subject combinations (Mathematics + German, etc.)
- I decided on the top 5 universities
C1 German Preparation (6-9 Months Before)
- I took a German course (C1 preparation)
- I registered for the exam (TestDaF or DSH)
- I worked through the course material and practice exams
- I sat the C1 exam (pass/fail)
- If I failed, I registered to retake it
Application (4-6 Months Before)
- I prepared my CV in German (achievements, experience)
- I wrote the motivation letter (why a teacher, why this department)
- I prepared the translation + notary certification of my high school diploma
- I applied to 5-10 universities
- I set up an application tracking system
Acceptances (1-3 Months Later)
- The acceptance letters arrived
- I made the university choice (order of preference)
- I started the enrollment (Immatrikulation) process
- I looked for health insurance and accommodation
Start of the Bachelor's
- I made the subject choice (Mathematics + German, etc.)
- I got to know the advisor teacher
- I received academic counseling (Referendariat plan)
- I started taking part in university social life
During the Bachelor's (Years 2-3)
- I took teaching strategy courses
- I did practical teaching experience (Schulpraktikum)
- I asked for recommendations for a traineeship school (for the Referendariat)
- I chose the bachelor's thesis topic
End of the Bachelor's and Referendariat
- I received the bachelor's degree (thesis successful)
- I made the Referendariat application (to the state)
- I received the traineeship school assignment
- The Referendariat started (1-2 years)
- I took the Referendariat exam (written + oral)
- I got a tenured position (Staatsbeamte status)
Frequently Asked Questions
If I choose German + English, can I find a job?+
Yes, but German is preferred. The demand for English teachers is lower (you may wait 3-6 months). If you choose German, you find a job immediately.
Can I do the Referendariat in another state?+
In theory yes, but it is complicated. The Referendariat is under state control — it is done in the state where you applied. Moving to another state is possible 6-12 months later.
What happens if I fail?+
Failing the Lehramt bachelor's = you must retake it. Failing the Referendariat = you must repeat it (rare). A second failure = you cannot become a teacher.
Is the teacher's salary high?+
It is medium. In Germany an engineer (€60,000) earns more. But the pension and job security are strong.
Can I become a teacher in a country other than Germany?+
Yes, but a German degree is not directly valid in most countries. The relevant certification (depending on the country/state) is required.
Can I start the Referendariat right after the bachelor's?+
In theory yes, but the application process is 3-6 months. There is a short gap.
Can I do social work without being a teacher?+
Yes. The Lehramt degree is also valid in fields such as social work and counseling. But becoming a teacher is the main goal.
Is it possible to become a head teacher?+
Yes. After 10+ years of teaching experience, you can become a candidate for head teacher. But additional training (a Schulmanagement course) is required.
Conclusion: Teaching = Stability and a Meaningful Career
Teaching in Germany is a career that offers a stable salary, a pension guarantee and high social status. After finishing the bachelor's + Referendariat, the job is guaranteed with Staatsbeamte status and the risk of dismissal is close to zero.
At first I thought of teaching as "safe but boring." But once I did the Referendariat it became very different — new students every day, a new challenge every day. My engineering friends earn a higher salary, but I am comfortable with a 30-year guaranteed job, a pension, 8 weeks of holiday and a very meaningful profession.
There is also an Ausbildung alternative in Germany (in the social/education sector), but the Lehramt bachelor's is more prestigious academically.
If you want to become a teacher, prepare for C1 German, make the Mathematics + German choice, apply today — in 2 years the Referendariat, in 5 years become a tenured teacher.
Verified by Edurs
Our Toedur Edurs have tested and verified the teaching programs by living them in Germany. If you want consulting on subject choice, German preparation, the Referendariat process and the career transition, you can look into Toedur teaching consulting.
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