Additional Qualifications
To hone their professional qualifications, students at the University of Bonn can acquire additional skills (key competences) that complement their specific academic training. Besides a sound specialist knowledge, there are various additional qualifications that can prepare them well for their future career, such as perfecting content presentation, improving language skills, organizing work processes and more. Some of these key qualifications are also taught as part of the curriculum for bachelor’s degree programs. In addition, the University offers various master’s degree programs for continuing education as well as certificate courses. Most of these are part-time, but some are designed as full-time programs.
Service learning
Service learning is a form of teaching and learning that combines academic learning with community service.
Language courses
The Center for Language Learning at the University of Bonn gives its students the opportunity to study for and pass a UNIcert® certificate in addition to obtaining credit points as part of certain language modules.
University IT services
University IT runs interdisciplinary IT courses on subjects such as operating systems, MS Office and statistics software.
Honors Program
The Honors Program is a research-oriented curriculum designed for the best students on undergraduate degree programs at our University. The scheme is designed to spot students with a particular talent for research and academia at an early stage and give them targeted support with a program that complements their main studies.
Certificates
Students generally take certificate courses in the course of their main degree program. The institution responsible will issue a confirmation (certificate) of attendance once the course is complete. The University of Bonn currently offers the following certificate courses for additional qualification:
Certificate of Intercultural Competence
The Certificate of Intercultural Competence is an extracurricular course at the University of Bonn that awards a certificate in recognition of a student’s international experience, participation in language courses, courses with an international focus and other intercultural activities, and providing support for international students.
Perspective Integration – Language in Professional Environments (PIB)
The PIB program prepares teachers and training supervisors to design language-sensitive educational and professional development courses for newly arrived immigrants and refugees.
Subject-specific foreign language training for lawyers
The Department of Law runs a subject-specific course in Legal English (the “Bonn FFA for lawyers”) leading to a level III UNIcert© certificate.
Gender Studies Certificate
The Gender Studies Certificate can be obtained by students of all faculties and degree programs at the University of Bonn. It aims to impart individual gender skills for research, teaching and other professional, political and private contexts. The certificate thus encompasses basic and subject-specific advanced modules as well as a practical element for a total of 16 ECTS credit points and can be completed within two (or more) semesters.
Certificate of Preventing, Intervening in and Engaging in a Historical Reappraisal of Sexualized Violence
The Certificate of Preventing, Intervening in and Engaging in a Historical Reappraisal of Sexualized Violence can be obtained by students of all degree programs of the Faculty of Catholic Theology. It aims to impart basic knowledge about sexualized violence and raise awareness of all forms of sexual abuse, particularly in connection with the Catholic Church. The three courses totaling 10 ECTS credit points can be completed at the Department of Moral Theology within two (or more) semesters.
Career Service
The Career Service regularly puts on career guidance and career entry seminars (e.g. training for people applying for jobs) to facilitate the transition into the world of work.
Life-Long Learning University
This offering is intended for anyone who is keen to explore other areas of knowledge, get their head around general questions and learn new things. Students from all faculties at the University of Bonn and anyone living in the city – particularly elderly residents – are most welcome to attend these events.
Degree programs for continuing education
What is continuing education for academics?
Continuing education has been steadily growing in importance for both employers and employees for some years now. Buzzwords like “lifelong learning” are reinforcing this trend, which allows people to gain additional qualifications during their working life. “Continuing education for academics” requires participants to have a university degree and at least one year’s professional experience. The individual degree programs for continuing education will have information on their specific admission requirements on their websites.
Continuing education for academics...
... opens up positions requiring a high level of qualifications, also with a view to training managers and leaders. Employees who have been in the profession for a while gain access to “new” knowledge and momentum for their own continuing personal and professional development.
… takes account of the changing needs of the job market as well as of employees and delivers sector-specific training content with a practical focus and close links to academia and research.
… thus represents an excellent opportunity for transferring research insights to practical expertise and vice versa, benefiting instructors, employers and employees alike.
… offers a flexible form of learning for students who are unable to study full time not just because of their job but also, for instance, because they care for family members.
… allows professional networking with fellow students and within the Alumni Network.
… expands the training offered by the universities, which are increasingly developing courses for students with professional experience alongside their undergraduate programs.