Beamter/Beamtin in der Digitalen Verwaltung (gehobener nichttechnischer Dienst)

Learning locations include: Universities of Applied Sciences/Colleges for Public Administration: lecture halls, seminar and practice rooms, libraries. Federal, state (Bundesland), and municipal authorities: offices, data centers, server rooms. Home (e.g., preparation and follow-up of courses, completion of homework).

Amendment of the Federal Civil Service Regulations (Bundeslaufbahnverordnung): The new Federal Civil Service Regulations came into force on March 17, 2026. They open up demand-oriented special access routes to counteract the shortage of skilled workers. A key focus of the reform is the equal recognition 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 service training (Beamtenausbildung); differing career designations in individual federal states (Bundesland). Type of training: University studies (Studium) at Universities of Applied Sciences/Colleges for Public Administration, practical study periods at federal, state, and municipal authorities. Qualification: Bachelor or Diploma. Duration: 3-3.5 years. Tasks and activities: Civil servants in the higher service of Digital Administration perform specialized and leadership tasks in various areas such as human resources administration, budgeting, organization, and procurement. As an interface between IT and administration, they are responsible for digitization processes. They analyze administrative processes and make them more secure and efficient, for example, by introducing new IT systems and infrastructures. They guide their subordinate employees, advise citizens on issues of digital transformation, for example, and represent their department externally for representational purposes. Work areas and locations: Work areas.

3 to 3.5 years.

Typically, a selection process (Auswahlverfahren) is conducted, consisting of a written and an oral part. It tests, for example, logical, analytical, and conceptual thinking skills, interest in topics of digital transformation, communication skills, and general knowledge.

Structure of a university study program (Studium) in the higher service of Digital Administration: In the 1st year of study: Introductory internship at the hiring authority: 4 weeks. Theory at the University of Applied Sciences/College for Public Administration: 15 weeks. Practical training at the authority: 4 weeks. Theory at the University of Applied Sciences/College for Public Administration: 13 weeks. In the 2nd year of study: Practical training at the authority: 4 weeks. Theory at the University of Applied Sciences/College for Public Administration: 15 weeks. Practical training at the authority: 4 weeks. Theory at the University of Applied Sciences/College for Public Administration: 13 weeks. In the 3rd year of study: Practical training at the authority: 4 weeks. Theory at the University of Applied Sciences/College for Public Administration: 15 weeks. Practical training at the authority: 4 weeks. Theory at the University of Applied Sciences/College for Public Administration: 7 weeks. Practical training at the authority: 6 weeks. Career or Bachelor examination. Total study duration: 3 years.

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

Theoretical Studium (university degree) sections include: Database systems and data networks, e-government, fundamentals in information processing, digital systems and administrative management, information and knowledge management, IT governance and architecture management, public finance, personnel and quality management, programming, web technology and information security, cross-sectional administration (budget, personnel, organization, procurement), legal foundations of administrative action, software engineering and IT project management, economics and statistics. Practical Studium (university degree) sections impart professional knowledge and experience.

One should be prepared for the following conditions and requirements: During the theoretical Studium (university degree) sections: attend lectures and seminars in the lecture halls and seminar rooms of the university of applied sciences/university for public administration; participate in practical exercises, e.g., in project work and groups; engage in independent work such as preparing and reviewing lectures, researching in libraries, preparing presentations, writing term papers (also during lecture-free periods); and adhere to organizational requirements, e.g., meeting submission deadlines for presentations and term papers. During the practical Studium (university degree) sections: practical collaboration (under guidance), e.g., developing the authority's IT systems and infrastructures; and expanding key qualifications, e.g., problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills. Throughout the entire Studium (university degree), proof of performance, e.g., in the form of module examinations, must be provided.

Monthly gross basic salary for candidates in federal authorities: 1,744 Euros. Exemplary monthly gross basic salary for candidates in state (Bundesland) authorities: 1,549 Euros. Sources: Federal Remuneration Act (BBesG) and State Remuneration Acts. Note: In addition to the basic candidate salary, candidate emoluments include capital-forming benefits, and possibly also family allowances and other allowances, remunerations, and surcharges.

In-depth knowledge in the following school subjects is a good prerequisite for a successful Studium (university degree): Computer Science: e.g., to understand web technologies or programming languages. Economics/Law: e.g., for courses in economics and administrative law.

The following alternatives are available for the profession of Civil Servant in Digital Administration (higher non-technical service): Area of Law and Administration: Civil Servant in General Internal Administration (higher non-technical service), Civil Servant in Federal Military Administration (higher non-technical service), Civil Servant in Federal Administrative Service at the Federal Information Technology Centre (higher technical service), Civil Servant in Higher Administrative Informatics Service, Civil Servant in Tax Administration (higher non-technical service), Civil Servant in Social Administration (higher service), Civil Servant at Social Security (higher non-technical service), Civil Servant at Agricultural Social Security (higher non-technical service). Additionally, Studium (university degree) programs such as Administrative Management, Public Management (undergraduate), Public Law (undergraduate), Administrative Informatics (undergraduate), State and Administrative Science (undergraduate) can be alternatives. Commonality: They all involve administrative processes.

Examples of study programs in this field include Digital Administration and Cyber Security (Diplom), Digital Administrative Management (Bachelor), and Digital Administration (Bachelor).

In 2020, a new civil service career path was established in Digital Administration (gehobener Dienst) at the federal level (Bund). Some federal states (Bundesländer) issued their own training and examination regulations.

The training for the gehobener Dienst (higher service) in Digital Administration is conducted as a Vorbereitungsdienst (preparatory service) or a Bachelor/Diplom Studium (university degree program) and typically lasts 3 to 3.5 years. It is regulated by ordinances of the Bund (federal government) or the Bundesländer (federal states) and concludes with a career or Bachelor/Diplom examination.

The study program is regulated by federal law and by state law in the mentioned federal states, leading to the following degrees/professional titles: Federal level (Bund): Diplom-Verwaltungswirt/Diplom-Verwaltungswirtin (FH) - Digital Administration and Cyber Security (DACS). Baden-Württemberg: Bachelor of Arts - Digitales Verwaltungsmanagement (B.A. - Digitales Verwaltungsmanagement). Hesse: Bachelor of Arts - Digitale Verwaltung (B.A. - Digitale Verwaltung). Saxony: Bachelor of Science - Digitale Verwaltung (B.Sc. - Digitale Verwaltung). Career titles include: Civil Servant (Beamter/Beamtin) - Digital Administration (gehobener Dienst), Civil Servant (Beamter/Beamtin) - Digital Administration (career group 2, first entry level), Civil Servant (Beamter/Beamtin) - Digital Administrative Management (gehobener Dienst). The career titles are exemplary and may vary depending on the federal state or federal authority. The responsible bodies determine whether the career path is offered as a study program.

After completing their studies, civil servants in the gehobener Dienst (higher service) of Digital Administration find suitable employment in administrative authorities of the Bund (federal government), Bundesländer (federal states), and municipalities. To stay current, they can update or refresh their expertise through adaptive training. The range of topics extends from IT project management to data protection. For career advancement, civil servants in the gehobener Dienst of Digital Administration have the opportunity to move to the next higher career path after a successful promotion procedure. Further studies, such as pursuing a Master's degree in administrative management or public management, can also be considered.

The study programs for civil service careers are regulated by the Bund (federal government) and the Bundesländer (federal states) in their own ordinances. The respective provisions may differ. Federal level: Ordinance on the preparatory service for the higher non-technical administrative service of the Bund - specialization in digital administration and cyber security - (GntVDDVCSVDV) of September 23, 2020 (BGBl. I S. 2021), last amended by Article 2 Para. 26 of the ordinance of March 11, 2026 (BGBl. 2026 I No. 67). State level: Ordinance of the Ministry of Interior on the training and examination for the higher service in digital administrative management (Training and Examination Regulations for the Higher Service in Digital Administrative Management - APrODVMgD) of November 13, 2020 (BW.GBl. S. 1076), last amended by Article 1 of the ordinance of June 2, 2025 (BW.GBl. No. 46). Training and Examination Regulations for study programs at the Hessian University of Public Management and Security for the higher service (APOgDHHöMS), promulgated as.

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