The International Coaching Course is a postgraduate study course, implemented twice a year by the Sports Science Faculty of Leipzig University. It aims at physical education teachers and coaches from developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe as defined by the DAC list of ODA recipients.

The program currently includes the following sports or specialisations:

Football — Handball — Basketball — Volleyball — Track and Field — Swimming — Table Tennis

Conditioning coach — Handicap sports — Kids in Motion (Kids' sports U12)

The International Coaching Course (ITK) is part of the foreign cultural and educational policy of the Federal Republic of Germany. The German Foreign Office has been funding ITK since 1991, in addition the Saxon State Ministry of Science, Cultural Affairs and Tourism has been funding ITK since 2021. Still, the history of ITK traces back to 1964. Since that time, way more than 5500 coaches and physical education teachers from 150 countries have participated in our courses.

Next to on-site further education courses in Leipzig, the ITK further education programme also includes online courses on different topics related to training and sports management.

Online courses: Neuro-centred and Cognitive Training, Training Planning for Team and Individual Sports, Training in Disability Sports, Leadership and Management

Types of sports offered within the on-site further education courses:
Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Handball, Track and Field, Swimming and Table Tennis

Specialisations offered within the on-site further education courses:
Disability Sports, Kids in motion (Kids' sports U12), Strength and Conditioning

Application for the online programmes
Who is eligible to apply?

You may apply for the ITK online further education courses, if

- you are an active coach, P.E. teacher or an employee of an association or university and

- hold an academic degree in the field of sports and

- currently reside in a DAC-listed country.

The courses are also open to all graduates of ITK.

How can I apply for an online course?

Please choose one course and fill the online form, which will be accessible on the ITK website during the application period.

Please have the following documents ready for upload:

-academic degree in the field of sports

-proof of your current employment as a coach, P.E. teacher and/or employee of an association, respectively a university

-ID card or passport copy

Application period: 5-16 January 2026

The application form for the online courses will be made available here.

Please note: applying alone does not guarantee participation in the course, the number of admitted participants is limited to 20. In case you are admitted to the course, you will be notified via email after the application deadline.

Unlike for on-site courses in Leipzig, applications for online courses are not submitted to the German Embassy in your home country.

A checklist of required documents can be found here.

Information on how to apply for the hybrid (online/in-presence) postgraduate Winter 2026 course can be found here. Please note that applications to this course must be submitted via the German Embassy before February 15, 2026.