This page was translated automatically using artificial intelligence (DeepL). The German version is binding. More information about automatic translation
Facts and figures
Social Work
Pursuing a career in Social Work requires a wide range of skills. You must be able to analyse and assess the life situations and problems faced by those affected, categorise them and intervene on a case-by-case basis.
You’ll be working in an exciting yet challenging field: demographic change means there’s a growing need for care and support for older people. Nurseries, school social work and all-day childcare services all require qualified staff. However, public budgets are under pressure to make savings.
Anyone choosing social work as a career needs a strong skill set of methods to work effectively. You’ll lay this foundation at Mittweida.
Studying Social Work in Mittweida: What you can expect from the Bachelor’s degree programme
An overview of the course content
During your Bachelor’s degree, you will study the fundamentals of Social Work, social policy, psychology, communication and law. You will learn to understand complex life situations and to act professionally. Projects, two placements and case studies bring the course to life: you will work on real-world challenges and develop strategies to promote social inclusion.
The Social Work programme at Mittweida is deliberately broad-based. It equips you with the necessary professional, academic and communication skills to work independently and professionally across all fields of Social Work. With your Bachelor’s degree, you will also gain state recognition as a social worker. The ability to reflect, which is developed throughout the programme, helps you to solve problems in an ethically sound manner.
Fundamentals of the Stages of Life
Law I
Fundamentals of Society and Participation
Introduction to Social Work
Workshop (including a 4-week practical module)
Fundamentals of the Stages of Life
Social Policy and the Social Economy
Social Differentiation and Justice
Introduction to Social Work
Workshop
Project module
Characteristics of the different stages of life
Law II
Project module
Practical module – Preparation
Practical module (a semester of practical professional training involving case studies and reflection on practice)
Social Management and Law III
Controversies – Participation – Shaping
Fields of Practice and Professionalisation in Social Work
Case Studies
Coping with life situations
Fundamentals of professional practice
Social Management and Law III
Controversies – Participation – Shaping
Fields of Practice and Professionalisation in Social Work
Bachelor’s thesis
Social Work in Mittweida
In summary – Social Work in Mittweida
Full-time degree programme in Social Work
(180 Credits)
Once you’ve completed your Bachelor’s degree at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, you’ll be ready to work in a wide range of fields as a generalist Social Work professional, as you’ll have the necessary professional, academic and communication skills to work independently and professionally across all areas of Social Work: You’ll play an educational role in care homes or day centres; a training role in adult education centres or youth organisations; a creative and developmental role in educational centres or socio-cultural institutions; a supportive role in the rehabilitation of patients and people with disabilities; in care homes for the elderly or in outreach social work, in planning for social, youth or elderly care services, and in organisational and administrative roles within government departments, associations or the management of institutions. Alternatively, you can qualify for more senior roles by completing a Master’s degree in Social Work. Important: State recognition as a social worker is part of the Bachelor’s programme – a key advantage over many other programmes.
Application and Admission
Social Work in Mittweida is a degree programme with restricted admission. However, you don’t need to ask about the numerus clausus (NC).
In Mittweida, we train enthusiastic social workers. That’s why we focus on selecting these individuals carefully.
However, enthusiasm for Social Work cannot be gauged by school grades alone. That is why motivation and prior experience play a major role in our selection process.
Applicants must hold a general university entrance qualification, a university of applied sciences entrance qualification, a subject-specific university entrance qualification or an equivalent recognised qualification. Applicants who have completed vocational training and have at least three years’ professional experience may also be admitted following a consultation and a successful entrance examination.
Language skills:
Anyone who did not obtain their university entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution must demonstrate German language proficiency at level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Proof of this can be provided, for example, by passing the ‘German as a Foreign Language’ (TestDaF) test at the Mittweida University of Applied Sciences Preparatory College with an average score of TDN 3 in all four sections, or by presenting an equivalent certificate.
Following the application deadline on 15 January, the selection process for the Social Work degree programme takes place; this is not based solely on the grade of your university entrance qualification. A total of 50 places are available each year. We allocate these places in three ways:
- The HSMW allocates 60 per cent of the places on the Media Management programme through a selection process involving all applicants. In this selection process, it is not only your final grade that counts, but also your prior experience. You can earn bonus points towards your school-leaving certificate average for individual marks in advanced-level subjects in social sciences at grammar school, your technical college training in the social or healthcare sector, or vocational training. If you have already gained practical experience working in the social sector, this will also be viewed favourably.
- 20 per cent of places are allocated on the basis of the number of waiting semesters. Waiting semesters are determined from the CV you submit and describe the time between leaving school and the start of your degree, minus any periods during which you may already have been studying. Applicants with the longest waiting period are offered a place, which enables those with professional experience in particular to pursue further education.
- 20 per cent of places are allocated based on the HZB mark. In most cases, this is the (specialised) A-level certificate. Think of it this way: applications are ranked in a list according to their average mark. Applicants with the highest A-level averages are offered a place. The mark of the last applicant to be admitted then becomes the entry requirement for the following year.
The application period for the summer semester begins on 15 October and ends on 15 January.
- Register at hochschulstart.de from 15 October. Select the Media Management degree programme at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences. You will receive an applicant ID (BID) and an authentication number (BAN). Make a note of them or save them!
- Now go to the university’s application portal. Register here too by entering the BID and BAN from hochschulstart.de and filling in the missing details. The portals are now linked and you can complete your application on the university’s application portal. To do this, upload all the required documents and provide all the necessary details.
- To be admitted, your application will go through the selection process. The application deadline is 15 January. If you are selected, you will receive notification at the end of … that you can enrol.
In Mittweida, you’ll find everything you need to embark on this journey: a solid academic foundation, practical training and a degree programme that prepares you for a role that matters – both to you and to others. Small groups, personalised support and a university with a clear focus on practical and reflective skills make all the difference. Tutorials are on hand to help with subject-specific questions, the SAXEED start-up network supports you with your own projects, and the Student Support Service helps you balance your studies with your personal life – for example, if you’re looking after a child or caring for a relative. On the vibrant campus, you can look forward to two major music festivals a year, an active esports team and a strong sense of community. Mittweida is different from what you might expect. See for yourself at the Open Campus Day (Studieninformationstag) or the Night of Sciences (Nacht der Wissenschaften)!
Related degree programmes
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely, because experienced students often bring valuable perspectives to seminars, which enrich the discussion for everyone. However, if you’re already firmly established in a job in the social sector, you should consider whether the extra occupational model would suit your circumstances better, so that you can balance your career and your degree more effectively.
These core disciplines form the foundation of the degree programme and are firmly integrated into the module structure to enable you to gain a holistic understanding of human behaviour and social structures. You will learn to analyse social problems from different perspectives and to develop interdisciplinary strategies for solving them.
Yes, the degree programme is broadly based and offers you an insight into a wide range of professional fields, from experiential education to media social work. You’ll have the freedom to look beyond the confines of traditional administrative structures and discover innovative, creative ways of providing support.
The course content is constantly adapted to reflect current social trends, with topics such as ‘digital social work’ and media literacy playing an increasingly important role. Modern e-learning tools and hybrid formats are also used in the teaching itself to prepare you as effectively as possible for the digitalised world of work.
The course is designed to closely mirror real-life professional practice through practical ‘learning workshops’ and simulation exercises. You will work on specific case studies, enabling you to apply theoretical knowledge directly to complex decision-making situations in Social Work.
The full-time programme lasts six semesters, includes a fully integrated work placement semester and – unlike the extra occupational option – does not require students to be currently employed in the social sector. It is designed as a full-time programme, with the focus on collaborative learning and studying the course content directly on campus.
