Request scientific research in schools 
Do you want to conduct a scientific study, a survey or a series of tests at schools? Depending on the type of study, you may need to have it approved or you may need to provide information about the study.
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Basic information
If you want to carry out a survey in schools, you must first clarify what your obligations are.
Depending on the category of survey, you may need to obtain permission, obtain the consent of the persons concerned or simply inform the bodies involved.
The following categories of investigations can be distinguished:
- Category 1: Investigations in which personal data of school staff is processed (for example, information about school management or teachers). There is an obligation to notify the IQHB in this case.
- Category 2: Surveys in which personal data about pupils, school applicants and their legal guardians are processed. Approval is required for this. Approval is granted by the IQHB.
- Category 3: Studies at schools as part of a master's thesis or vocational training. Authorization is required for this. Approval is granted by the school management.
- Category 4: Examinations carried out by schools as part of their internal school evaluation mandate in accordance with § 14 BremSchulDSG. The IQHB must be notified of this.
- Category 5: Lesson observations without questioning pupils. This requires the approval of the school management.
Requirements
You want to conduct an investigation at a school in Bremen or Bremerhaven.
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Procedure
In general, you can use the upload function here in the service portal to submit the required documents.
Category 1 examinations:
In these cases, you do not need a permit. However, you must report the examination.
Please follow the instructions in "Information sheet I". This can be found under "Further information".
Please submit the completed and signed "Form for the notification of a scientific examination" in writing about 6 weeks before the examination. Please enclose the consent of the school management (a sample can be found under "Further information"). Send these documents to the staff unit "Institute for Quality Development in the State of Bremen (IQHB)" at the senatorial authority.
The responsible official data protection officer will promptly confirm receipt of the notification to the person responsible for the survey and - if necessary - provide data protection information for carrying out the survey.
Investigations according to category 2:
In these cases you need a permit.
Please follow the instructions in "Information sheet II". This can be found under "Further information".
Please submit the "Application for approval of a scientific investigation or research project at public schools in the state of Bremen" in writing approximately 6 weeks in advance.
The application must be accompanied by
- An exposé of the study with a description of the planned research instruments,
- samples of all documents to be used in the survey (e.g. questionnaires, interview guidelines, information letters for participants).
Studies according to category 3:
In these cases, you will need authorization.
Please note the information in the "Guidelines on Section 13a of the Bremen School Data Protection Act". This can be found under "Further information".
Investigations according to category 4:
The respective parents' council and student council must be informed before the examination is carried out. In addition, please inform the official data protection officer by sending an informal e-mail.
For schools in the city of Bremen, please send this to
svenzke-caprarese@datenschutz-nord.de and cgruenwald@datenschutz-nord.de
For schools in Bremerhaven, please send them to
dbleckmann@datenschutz-nord.de
Investigations according to category 5:
Lesson observations without questioning pupils as well as lesson experiments, which are also common in the context of school internships, only require the consent/approval of the school management. Please contact them for this.
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Competent Department
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Institut für Qualitätsentwicklung im Land Bremen (IQHB)
- +49 421 361 30854
- Senator-Apelt-Strasse 51a, 28197 Bremen
- Website
- iqhb
@iqhb. bremen. de
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Online Services
Simplified online form
You can use this form to upload applications and supporting documents for an existing application. You can also ask questions about your application. -
Deadlines & processing time
What deadlines must be paid attention to?
The application for notification or approval must be submitted at least 6 weeks before the start of the intended investigation. The absence of documents as well as deficiencies in data protection conformity may result in a longer processing time.
This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.
The official information in German is complete and correct. 04.11.2025