Beamter/Beamtin in der Allgemeinen Inneren Verwaltung (gehobener nichttechnischer Dienst)

Learning locations include: Universities of Applied Sciences/Colleges for Public Administration (Fachhochschulen/Hochschulen für öffentliche Verwaltung): lecture halls, seminar and practice rooms, libraries. Federal, state (Bundesland), and municipal authorities: office spaces. Home (e.g., preparation and follow-up of courses, completion of homework).

Amendment of the Federal Career Ordinance: The new Federal Career Ordinance came into force on March 17, 2026. It opens up needs-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 advanced training qualifications such as Bachelor Professional or Master Professional is now also possible in the higher technical administrative service and the higher scientific service.

Occupation type: Civil servant training (Beamtenausbildung); different career titles exist in individual federal states (Bundesland). Type of training: University degree (Studium) at Universities of Applied Sciences/Colleges for Public Administration (Fachhochschulen/Hochschulen für öffentliche Verwaltung), practical study periods at federal, state, and municipal authorities. Qualification: Bachelor or Diplom. Duration: Typically 3 years. Tasks and activities: Civil servants in the higher service of General (Internal) Administration undertake specialized tasks in various fields such as construction administration, property management, state development, or transport. They monitor the application of legal provisions, advise citizens, process applications, decide on their approval or rejection, and, depending on the authority, also conduct on-site inspections. In areas such as human resources administration, budgeting, or procurement, they, for example, plan personnel requirements, draw up budgets, or conduct tender and award procedures. They design administrative processes efficiently and in a contemporary manner and manage them.

Typically 3 years. Depending on the federal state (Bundesland), also part-time: typically 4 years.

The selection process typically includes a written and an oral part. The written part tests, for example, language comprehension, general knowledge, and logical-deductive reasoning. The oral part consists of, for example, a discussion round, a group task or a short presentation, and a job interview.

Structure of a Bachelor's degree program (Studium) in the higher service of General (Internal) Administration: In the 1st year of study: Introductory internship at the recruiting authority: 2 weeks. Theory at the University of Applied Sciences/College for Public Administration (Fachhochschule/Hochschule für öffentliche Verwaltung): 3 times approximately 15 weeks each. In the 2nd year of study: Practical experience at the authority: approximately 15 weeks. Theory at the University of Applied Sciences/College for Public Administration: approximately 15 weeks. Practical experience at the authority: approximately 15 weeks. In the 3rd year of study: Theory at the University of Applied Sciences/College for Public Administration: approximately 15 weeks. Practical experience at the authority: approximately 15 weeks. Theory at the University of Applied Sciences/College for Public Administration: approximately 15 weeks. From the 2nd year of study: Bachelor's thesis: up to 360 hours. Total study duration: 3 years.

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

The Studium (university study) content is organized in modules. Theoretical Studium sections cover, for example: legal and methodological foundations of administrative action such as general administrative law, municipal law; framework conditions for public administration such as data protection, organizational sociology, economics; design and control of administration such as business administration, e-government, controlling, human resources management; provision and use of administrative resources such as civil service law, labor and collective bargaining law, personnel management, financial management; service side of public administration such as social security law, social administration. Practical Ausbildung (vocational training) sections impart professional knowledge and experience.

One should be prepared for the following conditions and requirements: During theoretical Studium (university study) sections: Lectures: Attend lectures and seminars in the lecture halls and seminar rooms of the university of applied sciences/university for public administration. Practical exercises: For example, participate in project work and groups. Independent work: Prepare and review lectures, research in libraries, prepare presentations, complete homework assignments (also during lecture-free periods). Organization: For example, adhere to given submission deadlines for presentations and homework assignments. During practical Studium sections: Practical collaboration (under guidance): For example, process administrative procedures in the areas of municipal supervision, building administration, social administration, economic development, or environmental protection. Key qualifications: For example, expand problem-solving, organizational, and communication competencies. Throughout the entire Studium, performance records, e.g., in the form of exams, are required.

Monthly gross Anwärtergrundbetrag (basic salary for civil service candidates) at federal authorities: €1,744. Exemplary monthly gross Anwärtergrundbetrag at state (Bundesland) authorities: €1,549. Sources: Bundesbesoldungsgesetz (BBesG), Landesbesoldungsgesetze. Note: In addition to the Anwärtergrundbetrag, the Anwärterbezüge (civil service candidate remuneration) include capital-forming benefits, 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 study): Economics/Law: For example, because the Studium has a high proportion of legal and business administration course content. German: For example, to prepare and deliver presentations.

The following alternatives are available for the profession of Beamter/Beamtin (civil servant) in the gehobener Dienst (higher service) of General (Internal) Administration: Area of Law and Administration: Beamter/Beamtin in Social Administration (gehobener Dienst), Beamter/Beamtin in Tax Administration (gehobener nichttechnischer Dienst - higher non-technical service), Beamter/Beamtin in the Federal Defense Administration (gehobener nichttechnischer Dienst), Beamter/Beamtin at Social Insurance (gehobener nichttechnischer Dienst), Beamter/Beamtin at Agricultural Social Insurance (gehobener nichttechnischer Dienst), Beamter/Beamtin in the higher non-technical customs service, Beamter/Beamtin in Digital Administration (gehobener nichttechnischer Dienst), Beamter/Beamtin in the higher administrative informatics service, Rechtspfleger/Rechtspflegerin (judicial officer), Amtsanwalt/Amtsanwältin (public prosecutor's assistant), Administrative Management, Public Management (undergraduate), Public Law (undergraduate), State and Administrative Science (undergraduate), Administrative Informatics (undergraduate). Commonality: Handling administrative procedures.

Examples of Bachelor's degree programs for this profession include: General Financial Administration, General Administration/Public Administration, Public Business Administration/Public Management, Public Administration, Public Management, Administration, Administrative Business Administration.

In 1999, the Bologna Process began, aiming to create a unified European higher education area, harmonize Bachelor's and Master's degrees, and improve student/lecturer mobility. From 2000 onwards, most programs in Germany transitioned to Bachelor's degrees; however, some federal and state (Bundesland) level programs still offered traditional Diplom degrees.

The vocational training (Ausbildung) for civil servants in the higher non-technical service of General (Internal) Administration is typically organized as a preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) lasting 3 years. It is mainly structured as a Bachelor's degree program (Studium) and regulated by federal or state (Bundesland) ordinances. The training concludes with a career or Bachelor's examination.

This Bachelor's degree program (Studium) is regulated by federal law and state (Bundesland) laws in the mentioned states, leading to the following qualification/professional titles: In the federal government, Bavaria, Saarland: Diplom-Verwaltungswirt (FH); In Baden-Württemberg: Bachelor of Arts - Higher Administrative Service - Public Management or Bachelor of Arts - Public Management or Bachelor of Laws - General Financial Administration; In Brandenburg: Bachelor of Laws - Public Administration; In Bremen, Hesse: Bachelor of Arts - Public Administration; In Hamburg: Bachelor of Arts - Public Management; In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: Bachelor of Laws; In Lower Saxony: Bachelor of Arts - General Administration (Public Administration) or Bachelor of Arts - Administrative Business Administration (Public Management).

After completing their Bachelor's degree (Studium), civil servants in the higher non-technical service of General (Internal) Administration work in administrative authorities at federal, state (Bundesland), and municipal levels. They can keep their expertise up-to-date through adaptive continuing education, covering topics from administrative law to finance and accounting. With suitable qualifications, civil servants in this service can advance to the next higher career path after a successful promotion procedure. Further studies, such as a Master's degree in Administrative Management or Public Management, can also be considered.

The Bachelor's degree programs (Studium) for civil servant careers are regulated by federal and state (Bundesland) ordinances, which may differ. At the federal level, the ordinance (GntDAIVVDV) of 11.08.2010 (BGBl. I S. 1214), last amended on 15.01.2025 (BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 18), applies. At the state (Bundesland) level, regulations include the Interior Ministry's ordinance (APrOVw gD) of 15.04.2014 (BW.GBl. S. 222), last amended on 25.11.2025 (BW.GBl. Nr. 115), and the Finance Ministry's ordinance (APrOFin gD) of 29.07.2014 (BW. GBl. S. 385).

The prerequisite for this Ausbildung (vocational training) is a Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification) or allgemeine Hochschulreife (general university entrance qualification), or a comparable educational qualification.