These opportunities are provided by different entities, including but not limited to municipal institutions such as adult education centers (Volkshochschulen), private institutions, religious organizations, industry and commerce chambers, associations, businesses, government agencies, academies, vocational schools, Fachschulen, and universities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Do Private Schools in Germany Differ From Public Schools?
Public schools in Germany are more widespread than private schools.
Continuing education in Germany includes different programs for skill development and lifelong learning. During this phase, grades are converted into the following points:
Grade
1+
1
1-
2+
2
2-
3+
3
3-
4+
4
4-
5+
5
5-
6
Points
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Who is Responsible for Managing German Secondary Education?
Secondary education is governed by frameworks of the Education Acts and Compulsory Schooling Acts in federal states.
This qualification usually means having completed a minimum two-year vocational training course and having at least three years of relevant work experience.
Master’s Degree Programs
To apply to a master’s degree program in Germany, you need to fulfill these requirements:
Undergraduate degree. Like regular Gymnasium pupils, students graduate with an Abitur qualification.
Upper vocational school (Berufsoberschule)
Some German states also have Berufsoberschulen, specialised vocational schools which enable anyone with a Realschulabschluss to gain the necessary qualifications to enter higher education.
This is how the German school system works
The Hauptschule ends after the 9th school grade with the Hauptschulabschluss certificate, the Realschule after the 10th grade with the Realschulabschluss certificate.
Depending on these requirements, programs may be classified into the following:
Study programs with nationwide quotas
Some programs receive so many applicants that nationwide restrictions apply (i.e. Dies erschwert:
Vergleichbarkeit der Abschlüsse
Mobilität zwischen Bundesländern
Fairness bei bundesweiten Bewerbungsverfahren
Stagnation
Trotz zahlreicher Reformversuche wird dem deutschen Schulsystem oft Stagnation vorgeworfen.
Im nächsten Abschnitt werden wir uns mit der Schulpflicht in Deutschland befassen, die eng mit dieser Struktur verknüpft ist.
Schulpflicht in Deutschland
Die Schulpflicht in Deutschland ist ein fundamentaler Bestandteil des Bildungssystems und variiert je nach Bundesland. Some states have also moved towards making kindergarten entirely free.
What If a Child Isn’t Yet Ready to Begin Compulsory School Studies?
If a child is six years old (compulsory school attendance age), but has not yet reached the level of development needed, there is a middle option for them.
When completed, graduates receive the “Realschulabschluss” diploma, which makes them eligible for vocational training or higher education.
Hauptschule
The Hauptschule (general secondary school) spans grades five to nine, so students are around age 10 when they begin and 15 when they finish. Some federal states have also introduced the Gesamtschule (comprehensive school) as an alternative or additional option to the existing system.
Gymnasium
Gymnasiums, or academic secondary schools (as a rough translation), are considered one of the more ‘prestigious’ type of secondary schools in Germany.
Children attend it around the age of 10 or 11 up until they are 18, from the fifth to the 12th or 13th grade respectively.
As part of compulsory education, all children in the Federal Republic of Germany must start school once they reach the age of six up until they complete nine years of full-time schooling (15 years old) at a Gymnasium or10 years of full-time schooling (16 years old) at other general education schools.
After general compulsory schooling, those who don’t continue their education at a full-time general or vocational upper secondary school must still attend part-time schooling until they’re 18.
Upon successful completion, students receive the Abitur qualification, which allows them to study at different universities and explore diverse career opportunities.
Realschule
Students start the Realschule (intermediate/middle secondary school) at around age 10 or 11 and finish around age 16, from grade five to 10.
This school is considered in the middle between Gymnasium and Haputschule, so it provides a balance between academic and practical education.
The thesis/master’s field should usually be in a field that is the same or closely related to your field of studies in the PhD program.
Research proposal. Staatsexamen + Referendariat
Gymnasium
10 Semester
1. Students start Gesamtschule when they’re 10 or 11, and graduate by the time they’re 16 or 18, depending on the path they choose.
Moreover, there are two types of the Gesamtschule— cooperative (KGS) and integrated (IGS).
Von der Gliederung des Schulwesens über Statistiken bis hin zu aktuellen Schulversuchen und Modellprojekten – wir haben alle wichtigen Informationen für Sie zusammengestellt.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Überblick über das deutsche Schulsystem
Hauptschule: Grundlegende Bildung
Realschule: Erweiterte Allgemeinbildung
Gymnasium: Akademische Vorbereitung
Schulform
Dauer
Abschluss
Typische Berufswege
Hauptschule
5-6 Jahre
Hauptschulabschluss
Handwerk, Dienstleistungen
Realschule
6 Jahre
Mittlere Reife
Kaufmännische Berufe, Technik
Gymnasium
8-9 Jahre
Abitur
Universitätsstudium
Vergleich der Lehrpläne
Hauptschule: Fokus auf praktische Fähigkeiten
Realschule: Ausgewogene Mischung aus Theorie und Praxis
Gymnasium: Schwerpunkt auf akademischen Fächern
Übergangsmöglichkeiten
Wechsel zwischen Schulformen
Aufbauende Bildungswege nach Abschluss
In den folgenden Abschnitten werden wir die einzelnen Aspekte des deutschen Oberschulsystems genauer betrachten, beginnend mit einem allgemeinen Überblick über die Strukturen und Besonderheiten.
Allgemeines
Geschichte
Das deutsche Schulsystem hat eine lange und komplexe Geschichte, die bis ins Mittelalter zurückreicht.
Ein wichtiger Bestandteil dieses Menüs ist oft die Suchfunktion. The PhD candidates must perform a lot of independent research, culminating in an oral examination which is commonly referred to as the “Rigorosum” or thesis defense “Disputation”.
There are several paths in which you can pursue a PhD degree in Germany:
Individual and supervised doctorate
Structural doctorate
Cooperative doctorate (combination between universities and universities of applied sciences)
International doctorate
Special doctorate
Those who complete a Ph.D.
Es ist verantwortlich für die Gestaltung und Umsetzung der Bildungspolitik auf Landesebene. Zu den Hauptaufgaben gehören:
Lehrplanentwicklung
Qualitätssicherung im Unterricht
Lehrerausbildung und -fortbildung
Schulaufsicht
Zuständigkeitsbereich
Beispiele
Inhaltliche Vorgaben
Curricula, Bildungsstandards
Personelle Aspekte
Einstellung und Beförderung von Lehrkräften
Strukturelle Fragen
Schulformen, Schulorganisation
Kommunale Schulträger
Die kommunalen Schulträger ergänzen die Arbeit des Kultusministeriums auf lokaler Ebene.
Sie sind besonders nützlich für Eltern, Schüler und Pädagogen, die sich einen Überblick verschaffen möchten. With this qualification, students can complete their upper secondary education at a Gymnasium, if they wish to go to university, or pursue vocational qualifications in the dual system, a Berufsfachschule or a Fachoberschule (see below).
Academic secondary school (Gymnasium)
Covering grades5 to 12 (13 in some federal states), Gymnasien provide the most intensified general education in Germany.
The range of subjects, curricula, certificates and transitions between the school types can be differently regulated in different Länder.
What are vocational schools?
Vocation schools in Germany are part of the system of dual vocational training available to school leavers. Over 15% of 25-34-year-olds in the country hold a vocational post-secondary education as their highest qualification.
It is provided by both private and public child and youth welfare services for children who have not reached the age when they start compulsory education (primary school).
Which Are the Institutions of Preschool Education in Germany?
Preschool education is predominantly offered by private daycare centers including crèches, child-minding centers, and kindergartens.
Some non-public organizations such as churches, welfare associations, or parent’s associations have priority in offering these services.
Typically, it spans a seven-hour day, including lunch and sometimes a midday break.
For Children Under the Age of 2-3
The core educational mission of preschool education in Germany (age under two or three) is to enhance communication skills among kids. Jahrhundert
Praxisorientierte Bildung
Gymnasium
Mittelalter
Höhere Bildung für die Elite
Im Laufe der Zeit gab es zahlreiche Reformen:
1920er: Einführung der Grundschule für alle Kinder
1960er: Bildungsexpansion und Öffnung höherer Bildungswege
1970er: Einführung der Gesamtschule in einigen Bundesländern
Nach 1990: Anpassung des Schulsystems in den neuen Bundesländern
Heute steht das dreigliedrige System vor neuen Herausforderungen wie Digitalisierung und Inklusion.
Klasse
NRW
10 Jahre
Inklusive 1 Jahr Sekundarstufe II
Berlin
10 Jahre
Flexible Schulanfangsphase
Die Umsetzung der Schulpflicht liegt in der Verantwortung der Eltern oder Erziehungsberechtigten. The so-called dual study programs offer theoretical training in-classroom, whereas the practical component is conducted at a company partnering with the university.
Universities for the German Armed Forces (Universitäten der Bundeswehr)
These institutions offer degree programs and military-focused education for officers and personnel of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr).
Institutions of Continuing Vocational Education (Fachschulen, Fachakademien)
Students who want to complete vocational education and training beyond the secondary level can do so at institutions of continuation vocational education.
However, the school year usually begins between late August to early September and ends in June or July.
Are There Any Breaks or Holidays During the School Year in Germany?
Children in German schools have a total of 75 days of holiday per year (including 12 Saturdays). International students with non-equivalent foreign certificates may need to attend a preparatory course.
German Language Proficiency (for international students). Most bachelor’s programs are in German, so if it’s not your native language you can prove proficiency (typically B2 or C1) through language diplomas (e.g., DSD II), exams (e.g., DSH, TestDaF), or language assessments during preparatory courses (Studienkolleg).
Admission examination.
The Protection of Young Persons at Work Act is also a special legislation for the protection of young trainees.
Public secondary schools are funded by the state and attendance is free for all students. Danach folgt oft eine Berufsschulpflicht bis zum 18. Students with high grades at Hauptschule level can take an entrance exam in order to be admitted to a Gymnasium for their upper secondary education (grades 11 to 13).
Secondary school (Realschule)
Also leading towards vocational qualifications, the Realschule provides pupils with a more extensive general education.
The majority of students attend public schools because they are government-funded, which means that they’re free, and they adhere to strict regulations, which means that there are high quality standards.
Private schools offer certain advantages such as smaller class sizes and specialized programs, however, they’re less common and charge tuition.
Staatsexamen + Referendariat
Realschule
8-10 Semester
1. They fall into two categories: “Ersatzschulen,” which offer the same curriculum as public schools but with private funding, and “Ergänzungsschulen,” which offer additional courses beyond public school curriculums.
What Are the Curriculum and Teaching Practices in Secondary Education?
The aim of secondary education is general education first, and then individual specialization by identifying students’ unique abilities.
These objectives are reached by:
Engaging students intellectually, emotionally, and physically.
Teaching them independence, decision-making, personal, social, and political responsibility.
Assisting them in attaining their educational goals.
Supporting them in advancing their specialist knowledge.
Lower Secondary Level Curriculum
During the lower secondary level, pupils learn general subjects and prepare for the upper secondary level.