Education System in Germany

Overview

To understand German education well, we first need to know that Germany is a country with a federal government system. That means member states have autonomy in their education policy — a structure not much different from the US federal system.

The Federal Ministry for Education & Research in Berlin (BMBF) plays an important role in many aspects, such as fundraising, financial support, setting regulations on vocational training as well as the entry requirements of the professions. But most of the remaining aspects of education fall under the jurisdiction of each state's department of education. As a result, there can be significant differences in education between states in terms of study time, curriculum, types of schools, etc. Hence, the Permanent Conference of the Ministers of Education and Culture as a coordinating party has partly harmonized education policy among the states.

How is the German education system structured?

Generally, the structure of the education system in Germany is quite simple. However, at the high school level, there is a division into many types of schools with different training characteristics and many confusing corresponding degrees.

Structure of the education system in Germany

Specifically include:

Kindergarten

Although children in Germany are not required to go to school until the age of 6, most children (3–5 years old) are sent to kindergarten. This is considered an important preparation step for children to be ready to enter primary school.

Primary school  - Grundschule (Grade 1 - Grade 4 or Grade 1 - Grade 6 in Berlin and Brandenburg)

Children receive primary education at the Grundschule (primary school) from the age of 6, which usually lasts for 4 years, or 6 years in Berlin and Brandenburg. Most of the children study the same subjects, but there are some differences between the state curricula, which will usually include German, mathematics, social studies, physical education, technology, music, and religion/ethics. All students in 3rd grade will also begin learning a foreign language (usually English, French), although in some states they have already started learning since 1st grade.

When entering high school, students will be divided into three different branches, attending schools with different characteristics and teaching methods suitable for them to study further (both university and vocational training). . Therefore, up to the 4th grade (or 6th grade), they will be consulted and choose a school depending on the capacity and wishes of the family. However, students can still transfer to another branch later on.

Secondary school

The public high school system in Germany is very complicated. There are four main programs, taught at different types of schools: Hauptschule, Realschule, Gymnasium, and Gesamtschule.

• Hauptschule: teaches only basic secondary school programs, usually five years (grades 5-9). Students after studying Hauptschule can transfer directly to study and complete the Realschule program after one year. If you want to study further, you need to take an entrance exam.
• Hauptschule - Secondary General School (Grade 5 - Grade 9) or (Grade 5 - Grade 10): students will study the same subjects as at Realschule or Gymnasium but at a slower pace and combined with apprenticeship-oriented learning, most students will participate in part-time work in an apprentice position. Hauptschule is the least popular choice in Germany. After completing the final exam (at the end of 9th or 10th grade), most students either transfer to a Berufsschule - a kind of 2-year vocational school or enroll in Fachhochschule Vocational Colleges, and then transferred to the University of Applied Sciences, also called Fachhochschule.
• Realschule: more academically demanding and takes an extra year to complete (grade 10).
• Realschule - Secondary School (Grades 5 - 10): more academically demanding. After graduation, students can choose to study under the Berufsschule vocational training program or enroll in the Fachhochschule Vocational Colleges, and then transfer to the Universities of Applied Sciences, also known as Fachhochschule.
• Gymnasium: lasting from grades 5 to 12 (or 13 in some states), Gymnasium teaches advanced secondary education in Germany. At the age of 18 or 19, students must take an exam in order to go to college. In addition, there are many other types of vocational schools for students in grades 10-13 with many different types of education. No matter which school a student attends, they must complete 9 years of high school. If you study in Germany, you must also comply with this regulation. Besides, students are also required to learn at least one foreign language within 5 years. Knowing a foreign language is a must when learning Gymnasium.
• Gymnasium - Academic Secondary School (Grades 5 - 12 or Grade 13): specialized advanced theory program, suitable for students wishing to enter Universität Universities. The Gymnasium program also requires students to know at least one additional foreign language. After graduating from the Gymnasium, students will receive a Baccalaureate (Abitur) degree and can study at Universität or Fachhochschule University.
• Gesamtschule - Comprehensive School (Grade 5 - Grade 12 or Grade 13): this is a comprehensive school, there are 3 types of Hauptschule, Realschule, and Gymnasium. Gesamtschule can organize pre-university programs for elite students, general programs for average students, and simple programs for students with less ability.

In addition, the system of private high schools in Germany is divided into two categories:

• Alternative schools “Ersatzschulen”. Providing equal lessons and courses as public secondary schools.
• Complementary schools “Ergänzungsschulen”. Teaching additional courses, despite those that are also offered in the public secondary schools.

No matter which school a student attends, they are required to complete 9 years of high school. If you study in Germany, you must also comply with this regulation.

Vocational schools (2-3 years): are not part of the public education system but are invested and sponsored by the federal government. It allows students participating in vocational training to study at a company as well as at a national trade school. This model is highly appreciated and simulated around the world, specifically: Some free vocational training companies have this program such as Nursing, Hospitality Industry. Some vocational schools also offer a pathway program, which helps students gain an additional certificate of “Zeugnis der Fachhoch Hochschulreife” (University of Applied Sciences Maturity Certificate) to apply to the University of Applied Sciences or a small General University in the state.

There are two common types of vocational schools: Dual System Vocational Schools - Berufsschule and Vocational Schools - Berufsfachschule and Fachoberschulen. The most obvious difference between these two programs is that Berufsschule's entry into the program receives diplomas from the Realschule and Gymnasium programs; while Berufsfachschule and Fachoberschulen receive diplomas from the Realschule and Hauptschule programs.

College and graduate school

Universities (3-4 years): Germany has 2 types of universities: Universities (Universität) and Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule - FHs), in which:

Universities (Universität): most are institutions that teach a full range of subjects, from bachelor's degrees to doctoral degrees.

Fachhochschule (FHs): A type of university that teaches more practical and application-oriented knowledge than normal universities, such as engineering, business or computer science, etc.

In addition, in Germany, students can choose between English or German language programs.

• Curriculum in German: The general condition for the undergraduate level is the Abitur exam (similar to the high school graduation exam in Vietnam) consisting of two parts, speaking, and writing. After passing the exam the student will receive the “Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife” (certificate of general university maturity) to be considered for the University but the student has to decide quickly about submitting the graduation transcript in the University they want because the number is limited. An outstanding advantage of the German language program is that international students can study for free or pay very reasonable tuition fees.
• Curriculum in English: In Germany, many universities organize international programs taught in English. These Programs are chosen not only by the vast majority of international students but also by German students who wish to become fluent in English and improve and improve their international communication skills. Schools training this type of program have direct authority and responsibility for admissions. Candidates are selected based on academic performance criteria. The foreign language prerequisite for most programs of this type is English with a TOEFL 550 or IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.

Master (1-2 years)

Ph.D.: there is usually no standard time to get a Ph.D. degree (Doktorgrad). The doctoral program includes:

• Independent Research
• Ph.D. thesis defense