Bildungs-, Studienberater/Bildungs-, Studienberaterin

Media resources related to this profession include vocational education research, vocational training reports, education statistics, digital learning and teaching, adult education platforms, and journals on professional development.

Education and student counselors typically work in offices, meeting rooms, and event spaces. They also work with clients, for example, during school or university visits. They may also work from home or remotely as needed.

Core competencies fundamentally required in this profession are educational counseling and student counseling. Additionally, other competencies that may be significant include applicant training, education management and planning, education policy, youth and adult education, public relations, research and information gathering, and lecturing.

Education and student counselors apply their knowledge of Ausbildung (vocational training), Weiterbildung (further education), and Studium (university studies) opportunities in counseling sessions, utilizing communication techniques and counseling strategies. They advise groups and individuals of various ages, particularly young people, helping them navigate the range of professions and educational paths. With great empathy, they identify interests and strengths and propose suitable training routes. They collaborate with colleagues in their functional area and also interact with authorities, teachers, parents, or legal guardians. They treat personal data confidentially. Education and student counselors work in offices where they conduct consultations or perform administrative tasks on the computer. However, they also work externally, for example, when conducting information events for school classes.

An exemplary gross basic salary in the public service collective bargaining area (monthly) ranges from 4,489 € to 6,765 €. This information is for orientation purposes only, and no claims can be derived from it. Please check BERUFENET for current salary information.

Education and student counselors can work in various institutions such as universities, Fachhochschule (universities of applied sciences), Berufsakademie (vocational academies), schools for advanced vocational training, adult education centers, vocational adult education, and professional organizations like IHK (Chambers of Industry and Commerce), craft chambers, and employer associations.

Employers often expect a university degree (Studium) in pedagogy, economics, or social sciences, or a commercial vocational training (kaufmännische Ausbildung).

Vocational pedagogy (undergraduate), vocational pedagogy (postgraduate), educational management (postgraduate), counseling for education, profession and employment (undergraduate), labor market management (undergraduate), educational science (undergraduate), educational science (postgraduate), coaching, counseling, supervision (undergraduate), coaching, counseling, supervision (postgraduate), social sciences (undergraduate), social sciences (postgraduate), economics (undergraduate), economics (postgraduate).

Education and student counselors can find employment at universities (Hochschulen) and universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen), in vocational adult education, at counseling and educational institutions of chambers, and at employer and employee organizations.

Education and student counselor. Also common job title/synonym: Educational guide.

An extended police clearance certificate (Führungszeugnis) may be required for working with minors.

Education and student counselors inform young people and adults about possibilities for vocational training (Ausbildung) and further education (Weiterbildung), and advise students on various study matters.

Job and applicant exchanges: Interamt.de, Stellenblatt.de.

Associations and organizations: Bundesverband der Fernstudienanbieter e. V. (Federal Association of Distance Learning Providers), Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (GEW) (Education and Science Union), Leibniz-Institut für Bildungsforschung und Bildungsinformation DIPF (Leibniz Institute for Educational Research and Educational Information), ver.di - Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft (United Services Union), Vereinigung für Betriebliche Bildungsforschung e.V. (Association for Corporate Educational Research).

Working conditions: Customer contact (e.g., conducting information events for school classes), adherence to various regulations and legal requirements (e.g., knowing relevant laws, legal ordinances, and administrative instructions, complying with data protection regulations), working with children and young people (e.g., informing and advising young people about their career choices, Ausbildung (vocational training) and Weiterbildung (further education) opportunities), working under the eyes of customers and guests, screen work (e.g., researching current information about the professional and educational system), working in office spaces (e.g., at Hochschulen (universities) and Fachhochschulen (universities of applied sciences) or in adult vocational education), working in classrooms/training rooms (e.g., at educational events in schools).

Work objects/tools: Documents (e.g., information and counseling materials, reports, legal and administrative regulations), data management systems (e.g., job and Ausbildung (vocational training) databases), office equipment (e.g., PC, internet access, telephone, video conferencing tools).

Tasks and activities: Education and Studium (university study) counselors are contact persons for questions regarding Ausbildung (vocational training) and Weiterbildung (further education) opportunities or Studium (university study). They ask clients about their wishes and interests, develop solutions on how these can be realized, or suggest alternatives. In Studium (university study) counseling, they provide information on Studium (university study) programs, requirements, and content, as well as career prospects. Education and Studium (university study) counselors create information and counseling materials, conduct open office hours, as well as individual and group counseling sessions. Furthermore, they are present at information events and fairs. As educational mentors, they plan and accompany, for example, qualification and support measures for young people, acquire Ausbildung (vocvocational training) or job positions, or supervise internships.

Entry professions/activities: Kaufmann/Kauffrau für Büromanagement (Office Management Clerk), Kaufmann/Kauffrau für Marketingkommunikation (Marketing Communication Clerk), Verwaltungsfachangestellter/Verwaltungsfachangestellte Fachrichtung Handwerksorganisation und Industrie- und Handelskammern (Administrative Assistant specializing in Crafts Organizations and Chambers of Industry and Commerce).

Adaptive further training helps to keep professional knowledge current and adapt it to new developments (e.g., in the fields of Social Counseling, Psychology, In-company Training and Further Education).

Depending on your prior professional education, further career opportunities open up through an undergraduate (Studium) or postgraduate degree (weiterführendes Studium) (e.g., in Educational Psychology or Business Education). A doctorate (Promotion) is generally required for an academic career at a university; to become a university professor, a habilitation (Habilitation) is usually needed. A doctorate may also facilitate access to higher professional positions in the private sector, research, and public administration.

Advising and guiding interested individuals, conducting consultations, individual and group counseling sessions. In personal counseling interviews, identifying the interests, inclinations, and problems of those seeking advice, and if necessary, conducting aptitude and suitability tests. Providing information about training (Ausbildung), further education (Weiterbildung), or study (Studium) opportunities, and suggesting alternatives if study or career aspirations cannot be fulfilled. Highlighting labor market perspectives and further development opportunities. In study counseling, informing about study programs, requirements, content, study structure, and career prospects. In educational guidance, planning qualification and support measures for young people, agreeing on and monitoring goals and progress. Organizing and conducting educational events, e.g., at schools, and being present at education fairs. Supporting young people and adults during their training (Ausbildung), further education (Weiterbildung), or studies (Studium). Gathering information from companies or educational institutions.

The Act on the Central Register and the Education Register (Bundeszentralregistergesetz - BZRG) in the version of the announcement from 21.09.1984 (BGBl. I S. 1229), last amended by Article 5 of the Act from 19.07.2024 (BGBl. 2024 I Nr. 245), applies.

The following lists professions or activities that show similarities to the original profession. These professions represent a possible alternative for applicants. Furthermore, employers can consider individuals from these professions as alternatives for filling a position in the original profession. Some alternative professions only comprise partial activities of the original profession, while others require an induction period, which can vary in length in individual cases. The following immediate employment and staffing alternatives are available for the profession of Education and Study Counselor: Job and staffing alternatives in related professions: Training Counselor, Career Counselor, Job Coach. A list of all possible degrees of relatedness can be found here: Explanations of the individual degrees of relatedness.