Bachelor

Teacher Education for Primary Level

Abstract

This training course is aimed at people wishing to teach primary school classes covering the two first cycles of compulsory education (years 1H to 8H). The study programme is worth a total of 180 ECTS credits. Students graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Primary Education and with a Teaching Diploma for Primary Education (years 1H to 8H). The training course focuses on attaining the requisite skills for exercising the teaching profession and is based on the acquisition of basic knowledge and a catalogue of teaching skills. It covers a broad field comprising theory and professional practice in line with the guidelines of the CDIP/EDK (Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education) and places the emphasis on alternating periods of practical work and study.

  • Show the study programme profile

    Profile of the study programme

    Graduates receive a teaching diploma which qualifies them to teach in any sector (general teaching diploma) of primary education (years 1H to 8H).

    General course organisation
    The study programme is worth a total of 180 ECTS credits and lasts at least six semesters. After the first year of training, students can choose to focus on cycle I (years 1H to 4H) or cycle II (years 5H to 8H).

    Training consists of:

    • Course work: courses and exercises in education science and social science as well as in general and disciplinary didactics.
    • Practical work: placements, workshops and induction days.
    • Specialisation weeks: days or weeks focusing on interdisciplinarity or specialisations (music, physical and sports education, technical crafts, visual arts, English) and the partner language.

    Professional training, educational skills, didactics
    The course is based on the gradual acquisition of a broad spectrum of professional skills: classroom instruction (teaching/learning), communicating, guiding, educating, working together, thinking, evaluating, developing knowledge based on research principles. The training course is therefore a close blend of theory and practice.

    During the course of their studies, students receive personal support in three principal domains:

    • Mentoring: experienced members of the teaching staff guide students in the development of their professional skills and help them create the link between theory and practice.
    • Language coaching: foreign language specialists help students develop the required language skills (partner language, L3 English).
    • Tutoring: experienced members of the teaching staff provide support for students as they write their bachelor thesis.

Studies organisation

Structure of studies

180 ECTS credits, 6 semesters

Curriculum

https://studies.unifr.ch/go/1j (French)
https://studies.unifr.ch/go/1k (German)

Admission

The following Swiss school-leaving certificates grant admission to bachelor programmes at the University of Fribourg:

  • Swiss academic Maturity Certificate
  • Federal vocational or specialised Baccalaureate + supplementary examination of the Swiss Maturity Commission (passerelle)
  • Bachelor Degree from a Swiss university, from an accredited Swiss university of applied sciences (HES/FH) or from a Swiss university of teacher education (HEP/PH)

Providing exclusive access to the Bachelor of Arts in Primary Education:

  • Specialised baccalaureate for the professional field of education
  • Passerelle for admission to the Bachelor of Arts in Primary Education degree course at the University of Fribourg (https://www.fr.ch/de/document/50221)

A complete list of all further recognised Swiss school-leaving certificates is to be found on the webpages of swissuniversities (in French and German only): https://studies.unifr.ch/go/fr-admission-swisscertificates; https://studies.unifr.ch/go/de-admission-swisscertificates

Foreign upper secondary school-leaving certificates are recognised only if they correspond substantially to the Swiss Maturity Certificate. They must qualify as general education. Foreign school-leaving certificates are considered to be general education if, among other things, the last three years of schooling include at least six general education subjects, independent from each other, in accordance with the following list:

  1. First language
  2. Second language
  3. Mathematics
  4. Natural sciences (biology or chemistry or physics)
  5. Humanities and social sciences (geography or history or economics/law)
  6. Elective (computer sciences or philosophy or an additional language or an additional subject from category 4 or 5)

The general admission requirements to the bachelor programmes at the University of Fribourg for holders of foreign school-leaving certificates as well as the admission requirements for individual countries are to be found on the webpages of swissuniversities: https://studies.unifr.ch/go/en-admission-countries
In addition, foreign candidates must present proof of sufficient language skills in French or German.
All guidelines are available at (only in French and German): https://studies.unifr.ch/go/adm-guidelines

The assessment of foreign school-leaving certificates is based on the «Recommendations for the Assessment of Foreign Upper Secondary School-Leaving Certificates» adopted by the Chamber of universities of swissuniversities on 11.11.2021 (https://studies.unifr.ch/go/swissuniversities21fr; https://studies.unifr.ch/go/swissuniversities21de). The admission requirements are valid for the respective academic year. The Rectorat of the University of Fribourg reserves the right to change these requirements at any time.

Key points

Degree conferred

Bachelor of Arts in Primary Education. This degree also qualifies students for the Teaching Diploma for Primary Education. This is a state diploma recognised by the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (CDIP/EDK). Only holders of this diploma are authorised to teach in primary education.

Languages of study

Possibility to study in French, in German or in French and German. A B2 level in language 2 is recommended for entry to the training course.

Options

Option of an award bearing the distinction «Bilingual curriculum, French/German».

Commencement of studies

Commencement of studies only in the Autumn Semester (September)

Special features for admission

Due to the limited number of places available, training places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here for more information: https://studies.unifr.ch/go/1l (French)
https://studies.unifr.ch/go/1m (German)

Contact

Dr Fréderic Inderwildi (French)
formationprimaire@hepfr.ch
Prof. PH Christelle Hayoz (German)
ausbildungprimarstufe@phfr.ch

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