Study Public Administration in Germany

Positions in public administration can be found in various areas such as administration, the judiciary, education, science and many other state institutions. The career paths are organised in the so-called Laufbahn. At federal level, for example (it may look slightly different at state level), there are the career paths of the lower, middle, higher and senior civil service. With a Bachelor’s degree, you can enter the higher civil service; for the senior civil service, you need a Master’s degree, a state examination or an equivalent qualification. The prerequisite for your studies is a Fachabitur or Abitur or a school-leaving qualification recognised as equivalent.

If you decide to pursue a career with the state, you may be able to become a civil servant. To do this, you have to complete the so-called preparatory service. In the higher civil service, this is usually a three-year period in which you study at a higher education institution and often gain practical work experience in public authorities at the same time. During your preparatory service, you will be considered a civil servant on probation and receive candidate pay. This is usually followed by a three-year probationary period before you can receive the status of civil servant for life. A career as a civil servant offers you many advantages over a career in the private sector: you have a secure job and a secure income, social security, regular working hours and opportunities for promotion.

However, you can also work as an employee in the public sector without being a civil servant. This gives you more flexibility in terms of contract conditions and negotiations, but less job security.

Most degree programmes in this subject group are part-time or dual study programmes. However, if you opt for a full-time degree programme, you will usually have to complete an introductory period at a public authority after graduating.