Vocational Education and Innovation

The MSc degree Vocational Education and Innovation is a part-time, blended learning program for international professionals in the field of vocational education and training (VET). 
It is a robust, upskilling degree, providing state-of-the-art knowledge and skills in topics, such as digital transformation, research in VET, workplace learning and mentoring, among others. The program is aimed at a broad range of professionals, from various industry sectors and backgrounds in VET. The prospective international students must hold a Bachelor's degree in the broader field of VET or equivalent and should have at least one year of working experience in the field of VET. Graduates will be well-prepared for a wide range of professional contexts, leading transformation and introducing innovation.

The MSc Vocational Education and Innovation is designed for a period of study of 5 semesters. During the course students earn 90 ECTS, divided into the following blocks: core area (52 ECTS), specialization area (8 ECTS), and Master's thesis (30 ECTS). Possible areas of specialization are Teaching and Learning in VET, Research in VET, Management and Leadership, and Governance in VET. The degree is organized in a blended-learning format, and will be mainly delivered through a learning platform. In addition, there will be four one-week contact sessions in Munich spread out over the first four semesters of the program, plus one week of job-shadowing in Munich. The modules will be delivered in the form of project-based study modules, seminars, as well as work-based learning experiences. 

In Detail:

• Program structure

Required language skills for admission:

You need sufficient English language skills if you wish to apply for this program. Evidence of your language proficiency has to be submitted before the end of the application deadline. Learn more about recognized certificates and other ways to prove your English language skills.

This evidence of your language proficiency confirms that you comply with the minimum language requirements for admission to the program. Depending on the program and your individual background, it may be necessary for you to keep working on your language skills during your studies. Be sure to take a look at the services of our Language Center.  

Language of instruction:

The language of instruction for this program is English.

Graduates of this program analyze and reflect on different VET organizations’ structures and work on best practices. Depending on their field of expertise and their job position they integrate state-of-the-art teaching and learning methodologies in their VET school systems. Additionally, they examine how different countries implement various vocational education systems, and from this critical comparison reform existing structures and, in a further step, co-create policies related to the VET system. Moreover, they are equipped to design and conduct qualitative and quantitative research using scientific methods, rGraduates of this program analyze and reflect on different VET organizations’ structures and work on best practices. Depending on their field of expertise and their job position they integrate state-of-the-art teaching and learning methodologies in their VET school systems. Additionally, they examine how different countries implement various vocational education systems, and from this critical comparison reform existing structures and, in a further step, co-create policies related to the VET system. Moreover, they are equipped to design and conduct qualitative and quantitative research using scientific methods, retrieve their own data, assess and present the research results. Graduates can analyze and integrate leadership strategies and change management processes suitable to their organizations and personality. They are competent in handling team dynamics in a wide range of professional contexts. Also, with new forms of learning and professional development being part of the curriculum, they facilitate and structure similar learning opportunities in their working environments (mentoring; workplace learning; job-shadowing). The program´s structure and assessment forms include peer mentoring sessions and project teamwork. Students obtain communication skills and conceptual knowledge through specific modules, that qualify them to manage, lead and be members of professional teams in companies and educational institutions as well as other organizations. Students of this program, meet international experts and stakeholders on the field and are able to involve and build rapport with companies, social partners, and international organizations. Finally, due to the multilevel mentoring sessions by the end of the program, participants have a high level of self-reflection skills. 

Employment opportunities for students graduating from the MSc Vocational Education and Innovation will be found in vocational education institutions, in vocational organizations in the public sector on a national and international level, and, to a large extent, in companies involved in VET. Graduates with international experience are highly sought in the job market as the demand for qualified professionals increases.

Minimum requirements to apply for a Master's program at TUM are a recognized undergraduate degree (e.g. a bachelor’s) and the successful completion of the aptitude assessment procedure. Aptitude assessment allows the TUM school or department to which you are applying the opportunity to evaluate your individual talents and motivation for study.

During the application period, you must apply through the TUMonline application portal and upload your application documents.

If you receive an offer of admission, you will additionally have to submit individual documents as notarized hardcopies by post to be enrolled.

Generally, applicants with a qualification for postgraduate studies (e.g. a bachelor’s) obtained outside of the EU / EEA must have their documents reviewed in advance through uni-assist.

• Bachelor-Zeugnis und Bachelor-Urkunde oder Fächer- und Notentranskript
• Transcript of Records
• Sprachnachweis Englisch
• Motivationsschreiben (in englischer Sprache)
• Lückenloser und aktueller Lebenslauf
• Personalausweis oder Reisepass
• GMAT (optional)

We may require additional documents depending on your educational background and your country of origin. Complete the online application to receive a comprehensive list of the required documents.

• Antrag auf Einschreibung (unterschrieben)
• Bachelor-Zeugnis und Bachelor-Urkunde (beglaubigte Kopie)
• Transcript of Records (beglaubigte Kopie)
• Aktuelles Passbild
• Digitale Meldung des Versichertenstatus durch eine deutsche gesetzliche Krankenkasse (veranlasst durch Bewerber:in)

We may require additional documents depending on the type of educational background you earned and your country of origin. After accepting an offer of admission in TUMonline, you will receive a list of documents you must submit to TUM in hardcopy for enrollment.

Application period for the winter semester: 01.01.2025 – 31.05.2025

Our online application portal TUMonline will create an application form and a checklist with the documents you have to hand in. The checklist shows which documents you need for admission and which for enrollment.

You must submit the signed application form and all documents you need for admission before the application deadline.

Please also submit the documents we need for your enrollmentas soon as possible. If individual documents for enrollment are not available to you yet, you can hand them in up to five weeks after the start of the lecture period. However, we recommend that you submit all required documents well before the semester begins, as you will not be enrolled until all documents have been received.

Please check your TUMonline account regularly, to see if we have any queries to your documents or if you have to amend one or more documents.

Selection takes place through an aptitude assessment procedure. Aptitude assessment is a two-part procedure after the submission of an official application to a program. In this procedure, the TUM school or department determines whether you meet the specific requirements for its master’s degree program.

In the initial stages, the grades you obtained during your bachelor's program, as well as your written documents, will be evaluated using a point system. Depending on the amount of points accumulated, applicants are either immediately admitted, rejected or invited to an admissions interview.

• Eignungsverfahren für Masterstudiengänge
• Information on the Aptitude Assessment (German) (PDF 347 KB)

The online application process takes place through our application portal TUMonline.

1. Application Documents

• First university degree (Bachelor or equivalent, 210 credits) in the fields of pedagogy, business, culture, social, technology or natural sciences comprised of seven semesters OR 
• First university degree (Bachelor or equivalent, at least 180 credits) in the fields of pedagogy, business, culture, social, technology or natural sciences and passing of the assessment procedure (oral exam, 30 minutes)
• Up-to-date academic transcripts (at least 180 credits) and GPA
• Proof of one year work of full-time experience in the field of VET (by conformation or references from your current and/or former employers that specifically mention start and end dates)
• Current CV in English (no chronological gaps, on a monthly basis. Every month since secondary school should somehow be accounted for)
• Letter of Motivation in English
• Copy of Passport
• For students whose language of education is not English: proof of an adequate level of English proficiency

2. Apititude Assessment

Those applicants who fulfill the general qualification requirements will be admitted to the aptitude assessment.

• In the first stage, the grade of the Bachelor’s degree, the work experience, and the motivation letter, will be evaluated using a point system.
• Depending on the number of points accumulated, applicants are either immediately admitted, rejected, or invited to a 20-minute interview (second stage).
• Depending on the number of ECTS obtained in the Bachelor’s degree, applicants will additionally need to take an oral exam (30 minutes) if the amount of ECTS lies between 180 and 210 ECTS.

3. Assessmenr Procedure
To start with your application, sign up for an account in TUMonline and then select:

• Type of studies: Executive Master’s Program
• Intended degree: Master of Science
• Degree programme: Vocational Education and Innovation

Students will not undertake an internship. A job shadowing module is included in the curriculum. For details, see the module description.