Beamter/Beamtin beim Bundesnachrichtendienst (gehobener Dienst)

Learning locations include: The Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration, Center for Intelligence Training and Advanced Education (lecture halls, seminar and exercise rooms, libraries), offices and functional rooms of the Federal Intelligence Service, and at home (e.g., preparation and follow-up of courses, completing assignments).

Amendments to the Federal Civil Service Regulations came into force on March 17, 2026. These open up demand-oriented special access routes to counteract the shortage of skilled workers. A key focus of the reform is the equalization of vocational and academic education. For example, access for individuals with vocational further training qualifications such as Bachelor Professional or Master Professional is now also possible in the higher technical administrative service and the higher scientific service.

The job type is a civil servant Ausbildung (vocational training). The type of training is a Studium (university degree) at the Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration and the Center for Intelligence Training and Advanced Education, with practical study sections at the Federal Intelligence Service. The degree is a Diplom and lasts 3 years. Civil servants in the higher service at the Federal Intelligence Service are active in the areas of information gathering, analysis, administration, and security. The Federal Intelligence Service is the foreign intelligence service of the Federal Republic of Germany. On behalf of the federal government, it obtains and analyzes information about developments in other states that are of foreign and security policy importance for the Federal Republic of Germany. In the area of operational intelligence gathering, civil servants in the higher service at the Federal Intelligence Service are in contact with individuals who have access to non-publicly available information, and may also meet with them in person.

3 years

The selection process consists of a written and an oral part. The written part primarily tests cognitive and linguistic abilities using performance tests. The oral part consists of an interview and further tasks (e.g., presentation, simulation task, group task, group discussion). It serves to determine motivation and social competence. Furthermore, a security clearance according to the Security Clearance Act (SÜG) takes place.

The structure of the Studium (university degree) in the higher service at the Federal Intelligence Service is as follows: Basic Studium at the Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration: 6 months; intermediate examination; Internship I at the Federal Intelligence Service: 6 months; Main Studium I (including language training) at the Center for Intelligence Training and Advanced Education (ZNAF): 6 months; Internship II (including language training) at the Federal Intelligence Service or another federal authority: 12 months; Main Studium II at the Center for Intelligence Training and Advanced Education (ZNAF): 6 months; career/Diplom examination. Total Studium duration: 3 years.

No Studium (university degree) fees are charged. Travel costs or costs for learning materials may arise. If accommodation is provided at the educational institutions, additional costs may also occur.

Specialized studies, for example, in the areas of: constitutional and political, legal, national and financial economic foundations of administrative action; business administration foundations of administrative action, organization and information processing; social science foundations of administrative action; constitutional law, administrative law, criminal law, international law, European law; internal security, secret protection and counter-espionage; operational procurement and observation; intelligence information analysis; international politics and history of political ideas, as well as forms of political extremism; intelligence psychology. Additionally, foreign language training must be completed. Practical Studium (university degree) sections provide professional knowledge and experience.

One should be prepared for the following conditions and requirements: During specialized studies: Lectures: Attending lectures and seminars in the lecture halls and seminar rooms, e.g., of the Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration. Practical exercises: e.g., completing language exercises as part of foreign language training. Independent work: Preparing and reviewing lectures, researching in libraries, preparing presentations, writing term papers (also during lecture-free periods). Organization: e.g., adhering to given deadlines for presentations and term papers. During practical Studium (university degree) sections: Practical collaboration (under guidance): e.g., collecting and reviewing intelligence material, performing administrative tasks. Practice-oriented courses: e.g., attending courses on observation and intelligence technology. Key qualifications: e.g., expanding problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills. This applies throughout the entire Studium (university degree).

Monthly gross basic salary for trainees: 1,744 €. Source: Federal Salary Act (BBesG). Note: In addition to the basic salary for trainees, the trainee remuneration includes capital-forming benefits, and possibly also family allowances and other allowances, remunerations, and surcharges.

In-depth knowledge in the following school subjects are good prerequisites for a successful Studium (university degree): Economics/Law: e.g., to understand legal and business administration content. Politics/Social Studies: e.g., for understanding foreign and security policy. German: e.g., to evaluate and create reports. English: e.g., for integrated foreign language training. Psychology: e.g., to acquire information.

The following alternatives are available for the profession of civil servant (Beamter/Beamtin) in the higher service at the Federal Intelligence Service (Bundesnachrichtendienst): Area of Protection and Security: Civil servant (Beamter/Beamtin) in the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (higher service), Civil servant (Beamter/Beamtin) in the Federal Criminal Police Office (higher service), Civil servant (Beamter/Beamtin) in the State Criminal Police Office (higher service), Police officer (Polizeivollzugsbeamter/Polizeivollzugsbeamtin) in the Federal Police (higher non-technical service), Police officer (Polizeivollzugsbeamter/Polizeivollzugsbeamtin) in the higher non-technical service of the Länder (federal states), Security Management (undergraduate Studium). Commonality: Analyzing security risks and initiating countermeasures. Area of Law and Administration: Civil servant (Beamter/Beamtin) in the Foreign Service (higher non-technical service), Civil servant (Beamter/Beamtin) in the higher non-technical customs service, Civil servant (Beamter/Beamtin) in the higher administrative IT service, State and Administrative Sciences (undergraduate Studium), Administrative Management, Public Management (undergraduate Studium), Public Law (undergraduate Studium), Administrative Informatics (undergraduate Studium).

In 2018, a new regulation was introduced for the gehobener Dienst (higher service) at the Bundesnachrichtendienst (German Federal Intelligence Service). This regulation merged the career training (Laufbahnausbildungen) for the Bundesnachrichtendienst and the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution) in the higher non-technical administrative service. The specializations within the intelligence service career path are Bundesnachrichtendienst and Verfassungsschutz.

The training (Ausbildung) in the gehobener Dienst at the Bundesnachrichtendienst is conducted as a preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) or a diploma degree program (Diplomstudium) and lasts three years. It is regulated by federal ordinances and concludes with a career/diploma examination.

The degree designation is Diplom-Verwaltungswirt/Diplom-Verwaltungswirtin (FH) (Diploma in Administrative Sciences from a University of Applied Sciences). The career designation is Beamter/Beamtin - Bundesnachrichtendienst (gehobener Dienst) (Civil Servant - Federal Intelligence Service, Higher Service). The competent authority determines whether the career path is offered as a university study program (Studium).

After completing their studies, civil servants in the gehobener Dienst at the Bundesnachrichtendienst work in the specialized departments and foreign service offices of the Federal Intelligence Service. They can keep their expertise up-to-date or bring it to the latest standard through adaptive continuing education. The range of topics extends from politics to data protection law. With appropriate aptitude, civil servants in the gehobener Dienst at the Bundesnachrichtendienst have the opportunity to move into the next higher career path after a successful promotion procedure. Further university studies (Studium) can also be considered; for example, obtaining a master's degree in state and administrative sciences is a logical option.

The ordinance on the preparatory service for the higher service in the Bundesnachrichtendienst and the higher service in the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (GDBNDVerfSchVDV) from September 21, 2018 (BGBl. I S. 1368), last amended by Article 2 Section 22 of the ordinance from March 11, 2026 (BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 67).

The prerequisite is the Fachhochschulreife (entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences) or the allgemeine Hochschulreife (general university entrance qualification), or a comparable educational qualification. Furthermore, applicants must possess German citizenship.