Master in Vocational Education
and Innovation

Are you ready for the next step on your professional path?

The professional Master program “Vocational Education and Innovation” is a blended learning course for international professionals in the field of vocational education and training (VET). It is a robust, upskilling graduate degree (M.Sc.) at a world-leading university, the Technical University of Munich. Experts from the field of VET will work professionally together and become part of a global network. Graduates will be well-prepared for a wide range of professional contexts, leading transformation and introducing innovation. Take the next step in your education and shape the future of VET!

YouTube

By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more

Load video

JOIN OUR UNIQUE MASTER’S PROGRAM AND ENJOY MANY BENEFITS

  • Dive deep into vocational education and training in an international context.
  • Develop competencies in the design, administration and management of vocational training processes.
  • Get hands-on experience on state-of-the-art practices in vocational education and training.
  • Experience German VET institutions first hand as part of the job shadowing component.
  • Gain insight into the expertise and experience of the German dual vocational education and training system.
  • Transfer your acquired knowledge and skills to your workplace in your home country.

Funded by

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research in Germany funds this innovative project and provides free participation for the first intake 2022/23 for all students accepted to the Master “Vocational Education and Innovation”. The funding enables the unique, free participation in the degree program.

Students from all over the world
Flexibility in time & location: Primarily online
Individual Mentoring and job shadowing
High level of application

Details

  • Program Vocational Education and Innovation
  • Degree Master of Science (M.Sc.) awarded by the Technical University of Munich
  • Target Group The program is aimed at a broad range of professionals. Some are working in or intend to pursue managing and/ or leading positions in the field of VET, for example in ministries, chambers, companies, and associations, while others have teaching positions in educational institutions such as vocational schools and universities.
  • Location Mainly online apart from one week every semester onsite sessions in Munich (first four semesters), plus one week of job-shadowing during the third semester.

    The first onsite contact phase of the Master’s program Vocational Education and Innovation will take place at TUM Science & Study Center Raitenhaslach, Bavaria, Germany from Monday, November 28 to Friday, December 2, 2022.
    Those applicants who will be admitted to the study program will receive additional information about the accommodation, transportation, and program of the contact phase week.
  • Duration: 5 semesters incl. Master's Thesis
  • Format Part-time format
  • Program Language English (If the applicants’ education has not been conducted in the English language, the demonstration of evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency will be expected).
  • Tuition Fee There will be no tuition fees for the intake 2022/23 due to the funding of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
  • Study requirements Applicants are required to hold a Bachelor‘s degree after study of at least six semesters or an equivalent qualification in a vocational education and training relevant subject. At least one year of work experience is required.

Structure

The program consists of nine core modules (52 ECTS) taught through the first three semesters, one specialisation module (8 credits) as part of the fourth semester, and writing a Master’s Thesis (30 ECTS) in the fourth and fifth semester.

Vocational Education and Innovation
  • Compulsory Modules (52 ECTS)
  • Specialisation Module (8 ECTS)
  • Master’s Thesis (30 ECTS)
Vocational Education and Innovation

Models and Theories in VET

  • Learn more about models and theories of the vocational education system of the past
  • Focus on current topics of discussion in VET
  • Evaluate the future potential for change that can arise as a result of current developments in the VET system

Fundamentals in Research in VET

  • Acquire a basic understanding of tasks, issues, and methods of empirical research in VET
  • Learn how to elaborate on theory and develop your own research question

Teaching and Learning in VET

  • Analyze the concept of competence
  • Learn how competences are developed
  • Understand how teaching-learning processes should be designed

VET Structure and Organization

  • Learn more about the structure, functions and mechanisms of the German VET system
  • Evaluate the differences between the German and your national VET system
  • Reflect the German VET system in context of its biography and historical developments

Digital Transformation in VET

  • Learn more about innovation of digital technologies and its potential for change in the VET system
  • Focus on current concepts and fundamental issues of digitalisation in VET
  • Evaluate the potential for future development by current trends in the digitalisation of the VET system

Workplace Learning

  • Get an overview of theoretical conceptions and practical skills in the context of workplace learning
  • Learn about the impact of formal and informal learning at workplaces
  • Evaluate trends and scenarios for modern people development in a digital world

VET Concepts and Approaches from an International Perspective

  • Learn more about the structure, functions and mechanisms of your national VET system.
  • Reflect your national VET system in context of its historical, political and social background.
  • Evaluate on differences between your national and the German VET system and its potential for transferability

People and Organizational Development

  • Gain insights into people and organizational development, leadership and change management
  • Discuss current trends in the area of people and organization development
  • Transfer theories, models and concepts to your own field of work

Mentoring and Job Shadowing

  • Benefit from three types of mentoring: Individual Professional Mentoring, Key Performance Area Mentoring, Peer Group Mentoring to self-reflect and define strengths
  • Acquire hands on experience by “shadowing” a professional at a German VET organization at their working environment
  • Observe and learn from the hosts’ everyday work routine

Master's Thesis

  • Demonstrate the ability to formulate and investigate a scientific problem from the field of vocational education
  • Collect and analyze data, present results and draw conclusions in a scientific manner

Teaching and Learning in VET

  • Put in practice necessary curricular transformations
  • Integrate specific vocational and practical contexts into VET learning
  • Develop a teaching and learning concept for your work place

Research in VET

  • Learn about basic statistical and qualitative research procedures as well as how to apply this to data sets
  • Experience a complete research process within this seminar

Management and Leadership

  • Dive deep into leadership research and write your own leadership diary
  • Discuss about current trends in the field of management and leadership linked to application-oriented case studies
  • Transfer the strategic management process to your own company context

Governance in VET

  • Get insight into current areas of discussion in international organizations and companies related to governance
  • Understand how opportunities for implementation as well as regulations are connected to social/economic constraints and decision-making stakeholders

TEACHING AND LEARNING

The professional Master is a blended learning program, with an inquiry-based approach. For learners this translates into an active learning experience, being engaged in real-life professional scenarios and problem-solving activities. These revolve around the four key performance areas of the specialization modules.

In line with the inquiry-based learning, comes the work-based learning in the form of job shadowing. The idea of job shadowing is to give students contextualized, concrete, first-hand insights into the diverse structures, organizations and concepts of the German dual VET system.

Throughout the course of the study, participants are supported by a multilevel mentoring program: Individual professional mentoring, peer-group mentoring, and key performance areas mentoring.

They will work alongside renowned professionals in the field of VET and get hands-on experience on state-of-the-art practices and in an international context.

 

Our Project team

Students’ experiences

Application

  • First university degree (Bachelor or equivalent, 210 credits) in the fields of pedagogy, business, culture, social, technology or natural sciences comprised of seven semesters
    OR
  • First university degree (Bachelor or equivalent, at least 180 credits) in the fields of pedagogy, business, culture, social, technology or natural sciences and passing of the assessment procedure (oral exam, 30 minutes)
  • Up-to-date academic transcripts (at least 180 credits) and GPA
  • Proof of one year work of full-time experience in the field of VET (by conformation or references from your current and/or former employers that specifically mention start and end dates)
  • Current CV in English (no chronological gaps, on a monthly basis. Every month since secondary school should somehow be accounted for)
  • Letter of Motivation in English
  • Copy of Passport
  • For students whose language of education is not English: proof of an adequate level of English proficiency

Those applicants who fulfill the general qualification requirements will be admitted to the aptitude assessment.

  • In the first stage, the grade of the Bachelor’s degree, the work experience, and the motivation letter, will be evaluated using a point system.
  • Depending on the number of points accumulated, applicants are either immediately admitted, rejected, or invited to a 20-minute interview (second stage). The interviews will take place virtually from August 30 to September 6, 2022.
  • Depending on the number of ECTS obtained in the Bachelor’s degree, applicants will additionally need to take an oral exam (30 minutes) if the amount of ECTS lies between 180 and 210 ECTS.

To start with your application, sign up for an account in TUMonline and then select:

  • Type of studies: Executive Master’s Program
  • Intended degree: Master of Science
  • Degree programme: Vocational Education and Innovation

Find a guide and sign up for TUMonline here:

Guide for TUMonline Sign up in TUMonline
The next intake is planned for the winter semester of 2025-2026.

You can follow the updates regarding the applications on this webpage.

If your education has not  been  conducted  in the English language, the demonstration of evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency will be expected. Learn more about the TUM language requirements here:

Due to current circumstances, we understand that the scheduling of English tests and other appointments is more difficult than usual. If you are unable to book a testing appointment or you’ve encountered other difficulties occasioned by the outbreak of COVID19, please get in touch with our Admissions Team. We recommend non-EU students to apply as early as possible.

FAQ

Admission and Prerequisites

You can find any information on the  documents you need to submit at https://www.tum.de/en/studies/application/application-info-portal/admission-requirements under “Application Formalities”. Additionally, exclusively for the Master program Vocational Education and Innovation you should submit a proof of at least 1 year work experience, in the field of vocational education.

An initial orientation guide on the acceptance of your qualification for university entrance can be found at  anabin. For more specific information please contact the program’s team .

Due to the limited time of the application period, applicants do not need preliminary documentation (VPD) before applying for this program. If you are an international student, please submit your documents directly via TUMonline. Please, check the TUM guidelines for international applicants.

Those applicants who fulfil the qualification requirements will be admitted to the aptitude assessment. In the first stage, the final grade of your Bachelor’s program as well as your motivation letter, will be evaluated using a point system. Depending on the number of points accumulated, applicants are either immediately admitted, rejected or invited to an interview (second stage).

On your CV, please include all your previous work-experience. In addition, as part of the qualification requirements, you should submit a proof of at least one year work experience in the field of vocational education.

For this program, you may prove your English language requirements either by the recognized English language certificates or through the language of instruction in your previous school or academic education. For details, please visit the TUM Language Certificates webpage.

Fees and Financing

There will be no tuition fees for the intake 2022/23 because the program is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

You may learn more at https://www.tum.de/studium/studienfinanzierung . Also, DAAD offers scholarships you may apply for https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-germany/scholarships/. Additionally, you may look for national funding opportunities in your home country or through your employer.

Presence and Accommodation

It is necessary only during the four weeks on-site (one in each semester) and an additional one week of job-shadowing

If you are in Munich, you may use university WIFI and study rooms. For more information, please, visit https://www.it.tum.de/en/it/faq/it-services/internet-access-eduroam-vpn-wifi/.

While engaging on the self-paced online platform you need to make sure to have a stable internet connection.

Program-Related Questions

The Master of Arts focuses more on humanities and theoretical understanding. The Master of Science focuses more on scientific or technical expertise. Master of Science programs focus on disciplines like Sciences, Engineering, Technology, Mathematics, Medicine, and some Social Sciences, such as Finance, Psychology, Sociology, and others. To earn an M.Sc. degree, you normally have to write a scientific thesis.

The study program team will ensure that there are enough places for all the participants and will communicate in advance the necessary arrangements. Students’ will be responsible for the final choice, the direct communication, and the final arrangements though.

No, it’s not, as they have different characteristics. For more details, see the module description.

General Questions

TUM has an International Office, where you may reach out to a contact person, who may be able to navigate you through your issue. For more information, please, follow this link https://www.tum.de/en/studies/international-students.

Contact

We appreciate your interest in the Master in Vocational Education and Innovation.

For a first consultation and questions related to the content and structure of the program or the application process, please get in touch with our team via e-mail.

  • Anna Trikoili
    Research Assistant & Program Manager
  • E-Mail Anna Trikoili
Help & Contact
close slider
How can we help you

Anna Trikoili
Research Assistant & Program Manager

Anna Trikoili

Request CV assessment
to check which program is right for you

Meet the team
running the EEC
Get our address
for visitors or postal
We're here to help you