Business and Human Resource Education (B.A.)

This interdisciplinary programme in Business and Human Resource Education primarily prepares students for a job as teachers at vocational schools. Students with the professional goal of becoming "Teachers at vocational schools" have to follow the Master's programme in Business and Human Resource Education after their bachelor's degree and can then enter the German school system ("Referendariat").

The standard period of study is six semesters (three years). 180 credits are required to successfully complete the programme. The programme includes studies in the economic sciences (96 credits), a second teaching subject (36 credits) as well as business and human resource education (36 credits). Studies end with the completion of the bachelor's thesis (12 credits). One of the following teaching subjects may be selected as the second subject of study: German, English, Protestant Religion, French, Computer Science, Mathematics, Spanish, Sports and Political Science.

Please note, that the second subjects are offered by other faculties of the University of Göttingen. Some faculties have limited the number of places in these subjects that can be taken by students of Business and Human Resource Education. These include sports (15 places in the winter semester and 10 places in the summer semester) and politics (5 places in the winter semester and 3 places in the summer semester). In all other subjects there are no restrictions. The Faculty of Business and Economics offers a total of 79 places in the Bachelor's Programme in Business and Human Resource Education. Vocational schools particularly welcome subject combinations including mathematics, computer science and Spanish (as of 2026).

Our Bachelor’s programme integrates different disciplinary perspectives and academic cultures through the interdisciplinary combination of economics, education and a further elective subject. Alongside shared interdisciplinary methodological approaches, you will develop subject-specific skills to combine methods, theories and perspectives from various disciplines, enabling you to address issues arising from different academic discourses. This approach fosters a more holistic understanding of topics and promotes new insights and solutions to problems.

Expertise alone is insufficient for effectively supporting professional learning and development processes in schools or businesses. Our degree programme equips you with the key fundamental skills to enable you to act successfully. For example, you will learn teaching skills for designing learning environments and managing diverse groups, as well as acquiring intercultural skills to work effectively with learners from different cultural backgrounds. You will also develop psychological skills to inspire and motivate, as well as to assess learning prerequisites and outcomes. Furthermore, you will improve your communication skills to convey complex economic content in a way that is tailored to the audience. You will also learn how to further develop structures, processes and organisational culture in educational institutions and businesses.

At the start of your studies, you will be supervised by older students who are tutors in the WiWi-O phase. As well as attending your first lectures, you will learn about important learning management and examination administration systems, and receive information on timetable planning and the relevant examination and study regulations. Numerous joint activities, such as a city rally, a so-called “Bunter Abend” and pub nights, will help you familiarise yourself with the university, the city and your fellow students. Before the lectures begin, you can voluntarily take part in the preliminary mathematics course (“Mathe-Vorkurs”/MVK), which covers selected topics from school mathematics. The MVK will prepare you optimally for the quantitative modules in your degree programme, such as the mathematics module. The WiWi student council organises a 'support programme' comprising various social activities around the MVK. These include a pub evening, a games afternoon and campus and city tours.

The multi-faceted nature of our bachelor's programme opens up a wide range of career paths. Upon completion, it qualifies you for the Master’s programme in Business and Human Resource Education, enabling you to work at state-run vocational schools. Alternatively, you could work as a trainer for companies or in continuing professional development and human resources. Alternatively, you can apply your business and educational skills in management roles at private or public educational institutions. If you are interested in working internationally, there are various organisations where you can contribute to shaping the European and international vocational education and training landscape.