Master's Programme Secondary School Teacher Training (General Education)

Subject: English

Curriculum (2026W)

lb-west

KPH - Edith Stein . Mozarteum University . PH Tyrol . PH Vorarlberg . LFU Innsbruck

Master of Education (MEd)

Duration/ECTS-AP
4 semesters/120 ECTS credits
(Combination of two teaching subjects or one teaching subject and one specialisation)

Mode of Study
Full-time

Language of Instruction
German

Admission Requirements
Relevant Bachelor's degree (with at least 180 ECTS-AP) or equivalent and Language Certificate

Programme Coordination
LFU Innsbruck
Faculty of Teacher Education
Faculty of Language, Literature and Culture

Qualification Level
Master (Second Cycle)
ISCED-11: Level 7, EQF/NQF: Level 7

ISCED-F
0114 Teacher Training with Subject Specialisation

Study Code
UC 199 557 xxx | UC 199 xxx 557

ApplicationApply ONLINE

Information on the Curriculum (2026W)

The complete version of the curriculum reflects the currently valid version of the curriculum. It is for informational purposes only and is not legally binding. The legally binding version of the curriculum, including any amendments, may be found in the University of Innsbruck Bulletins.

In order to determine which version of the curriculum is applicable in your case, see the Catalogue of Studies,
available at: https://lfuonline.uibk.ac.at/public/lfuonline_meinestudien.studienblatt
Section: Current Curriculum version.

Requirements

Relevant bachelor's degree programmes at the University of Innsbruck:

Proof of general university entrance qualification:

The general university entrance qualification for admission to a Master's degree programme must be proven by the completion of a relevant Bachelor's degree programme, another relevant degree programme of at least the same higher education level at a recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution or a degree programme defined in the curriculum of the Master's degree programme.

In any case, the Bachelor's degree programme in Secondary Teacher Education (General Education) at an Austrian university or university college of teacher education is considered to be an eligible degree programme. The teaching subjects or specialisations chosen in the Master's degree programme must be the same as in the Bachelor's degree programme on which admission is based. The Rectorate decides on the existence of another relevant degree programme in accordance with § 64 para. 3 UG.

Supplementary examinations (maximum 30 ECTS credits) may be prescribed to compensate for significant subject-related differences and must be completed by the end of the Master's degree programme. The Rectorate may determine which of these supplementary examinations are a prerequisite for taking examinations provided for in the Master's degree programme curriculum.

As part of the proof of general university entrance qualification, the completion of the following core areas as part of the completed Bachelor's degree programme is examined:

  • At least 95 ECTS-Credits in subject-didactics and subject-didactics for English (subject to change)
  • At least 40 ECTS credits from educational science fundamentals (subject to change)

Recommended Course Sequence

The exemplary course sequence given below is recommended for full-time students beginning their study programme in the winter semester. The table shows one possible course sequence for the bachelor's programme and is not compulsory. Delays resulting from repeated examinations are not taken into account.

The standard duration of the study programme is 4 semesters or 120 ECTS-Credits, whereby according to the Universities Act of 2002, a workload of 1,500 (real) hours per academic year must be fulfilled, corresponding to 60 ECTS-Credits (one ECTS-Credit is equivalent to a workload of 25 hours).

Subject-specific education: Foreign Language Education as a Field of Research
2 ECTS-Credits, 1 h: VU Multilingualism in the Foreign Language Classroom
or when combined with the subject (UF) of another modern foreign language 
1 ECTS-Credits, 1 h: VU Global Citizenship Education in the Foreign Language Classroom

3 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: SE Research in Foreign Language Education: English

Language Skills (Consolidation)
2,5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: UE Communication Skills
2,5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: UE Advanced Language and Text Production

Education Studies
Educational Research and Master’s Placement

4 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: VU Educational Research

Master's School Placement
2 ECTS-Credits, 1 h: PR Accompanying course on subject-specific pedagogy for the master's practicum

Education Studies
Educational Research and Master’s School Placement

4 ECTS-Credits, 1 h: PR Lesson Development and Master’s School Placement
2 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: VO Advanced Topics in Foundations of Educational Science

Master’s Thesis und Defensio (if written in this subject)
5 ECTS-Credits, Conception of the Master's Thesis

Education Studies
Advanced Professionalisation in the Context of Current Educational Science Issues

3 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: SE Education Laboratory: Reflective Practice and Development in Educational Contexts
3 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: VU One lecture-tutorial (VU) selected from this modulence

Master’s Thesis und Defensio (if written in education studies)
5 ECTS-Credits, Conception of the Master's Thesis

Master’s Thesis und Defensio (if written in this subject)
22,5 ECTS-Credits, Master’s Thesis
  2,5 ECTS-Credits, Defensio

Education Studies
Master’s Thesis und Defensio (if written in education studies)

22,5 ECTS-Credits, Master’s Thesis
  2,5 ECTS-Credits, Defensio

The “Interdisciplinary Skills” module requires the completion of 10 ECTS-Credits, which may be selected in accordance with the guidelines in the Curriculum (Part I, §11, par. 5).

In the second and third semesters, elective modules totaling 20 ECTS credits must be completed from the following competency areas. It is important to ensure that at least one seminar (SE) and one lecture (VO) are completed

English Linguistics I
5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: VO Advanced English Applied Linguistics
5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: SE Advanced English Applied Linguistics and Culture

English Literatures and Cultures
From the following list (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d), one lecture from 2a or 2b and one seminar from 2c or 2d must be completed:
5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: VO English Literatures and Cultures
5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: VO English Literatures and Cultures II
5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: SE English Literatures and Cultures
5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: SE English Literatures and Cultures II

Perspectives in American Studies
5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: VO American Studies
5 ECTS-Credits, 2 h: SE American Studies

Course Sequence (incl. Education Studies)

Qualification profile and competences

The Secondary School Teacher Training Programme (General Education) qualifies its graduates as teachers in the selected subjects of general education / specialisations for all secondary schools (Mittelschule, Polytechnische Schule, Academic Secondary Schools,  Intermediate and Higher Technical and Vocational Schools). This study programme also meets the requirements for teaching in intermediate and higher schools in the South Tyrol. In the Master’s programme the knowledge and skills acquired in the Bachelor’s programme is broadened and deepened. Graduates are able to solve problems of teaching in secondary schools in an innovative and creative way. They are able to independently deal with scientific or artistic topics resp. with regards to contents and by using appropriate methods. They are able to participate in expert discourse and to independently acquire more specialist, subject-didactical and pedagogical knowledge and to implement it in their teaching.

Graduates are able to apply their productive and receptive skills in the English language effectively and in depth and apply them with regard to the requirements of professional practice and language understanding in multilingual situations; they are able to convey the pragmatic-communicative aspects of language in complex social and cultural contexts; they can reflect on the role of literary texts and phenomena in cultural-historical and socio-political contexts, especially in relation to diversity, inclusion, globalisation and media change; they can reflect, analyse and communicate in-depth cultural studies knowledge of media and genres of (popular) culture in a problem-oriented manner and place questions of gender, diversity, digitality, sustainability and AI in cultural and media contexts.

Expected learning outcomes

Excellent productive and receptive skills in English; advanced presentation and writing skills as well as effective communication strategies in a professional context; theoretical and methodologically sound knowledge of linguistic phenomena and their diverse (including geographical, socio-cultural, socio-political, gender-related) contexts; specialized knowledge of a wide range of diachronic and synchronic aspects from the field of Anglophone literary and cultural studies; specialised skills of analysis and highly specialized knowledge, as well as gender-related awareness.

Future prospects: Occupational fields and career opportunities

The Master’s Programme Secondary School Teacher Training (General Education) qualifies for teaching at secondary schools. Based on the Bachelor’s Programme, the graduates acquire the competences needed for teaching in a way to meet the educational requirements of a developing school and society. 

With the qualifications acquired during the Master’s Programme, further job opportunities in the fields of the respective study programme and in the field of education, such as social and youth work or adult education, open up.

Extension Programme

Through an extension programme (third subject, UG §54b), a third (or additional) subject can be added to a registered or already completed

  • teaching diploma programme (phasing out; 9 semesters) or
  • a Bachelor’s/Master’s degree programme in secondary school teaching (general education) or
  • a three-year Bachelor’s degree programme for upper secondary school (“Hauptschule”/”Mittelschule”).

Further information is available here: https://www.uibk.ac.at/de/lehrerinnenbildung/studium/infos/erweiterungsstudium_3_fach/

In addition, other extension programmes ranging from 32 ECTS credits to 60 ECTS credits may also be completed (this does not lead to a teaching qualification in Austria!). Admission to the extension programme requires admission to, or the successful completion of, a selected degree programme.

Further information is available at:

Information on the examination regulations including assessment and grading

Examination regulations

The examination regulations are an integral part of the curriculum, detailed information can be found under the section Examination regulations.

The grade distribution scale is a statistical representation of the distribution of all positively completed examinations recorded within a degree programme or subject (taking into account all registered students of a degree programme or subject). The grade distribution scale is updated at regular intervals.

Austrian grading schemeDefinition %-age
 1EXCELLENT= %
 2 GOOD
 3 SATISFACTORY
 4 SUFFICIENT
 5INSUFFICIENT

in progress

Overall classification of the qualification

Not applicable
Explanation: An overall classification (mit Auszeichnung bestanden/pass with distinction, bestanden/pass, nicht bestanden/fail) – is awarded only for examinations that conclude a programme of study and consist of more than one subject (an examination of this type is not specified in the curriculum of this programme of study).

Forms (in German only)

Forms and Guideline for submitting the Master's Thesis (valid since 01.11.2023)

Recognitions

Recognition of exams AND Supplementary Sheet

Basics of Educational Science

Recognition of exams AND Supplementary Sheet

Interdisciplinary Competences and Individual Choice of Specialisation

Recognition of exams AND Supplementary Sheet | Contact: wahlmodule-master-la@uibk.ac.at

Contact and Information

Examination Office
Location Innrain 52d

Authorised representative for pedagogical and practical school training and educational science foundations (from 01.04.2025) 
Andreas Schreier, BA MA PhD

Authorised representative for subject training and didactics (from 01.03.2024)
Mag. Dr. Ulrich Pallua

Dean of Studies (from 01.03.2024)
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Markus Ammann

Informations for students from South Tyrol* 
Office for South Tyrolean Affairs
*For students from South Tyrol, there are special requirements if they want to teach in South Tyrol.

Informations for students with disabilities
Disability Office

Information about the Programme (in German only)

Nach oben scrollen