German education system is mainly handled by state with federal government playing a minor role. Nursery schooling is provided to all children between three and six years after which schooling is compulsory for 11 to 12 years.
In Germany education for pupils between 6 and 18 years old is free and compulsory. Almost every German adult is literate that means he is able to read and write.
At the age of four years, German children begin their education at the primary school i.e. Grundschule till the age of 10 years. They are allowed to take up further education based on the result obtained from the test given after that primary phase. More than half of the students go for upper level school i.e. Hauptschule for more 5 years of education. Once they are completed with higher education they go for 3 years of occupational training Berufsschule. Besides classroom training students are also given practical and onsite training.
The ones who have completed their primary education will obtain classroom training Realschule for three years related to commerce and administration. After completion they can go for higher level of professional training, Fachoberschule.
Students who wish to take admission in a university will have to obtain 9 years of rigorous education i.e. Gymnasium after which they have to take a take to obtain the diploma Abitur.
Germany is well known for the high quality of their education. Heidelberg University is among the oldest in Europe and founded in 1386.
German universities are located in Berlin, Bonn, Erlangen, Frankfurt, Friburgo, Gotinga, Hamburgo, Leipzig, Marburg ander Lahn, Munich and Tubinga. Germany also has many excellent schools of Music, Fine Arts, Cinema and Photography.
Education in Germany is public, with most schools, colleges and universities are paid by the taxpayers and so they do not charge any tuition fee. Educational programs are organized, financed and administered at the state level. . The Department of Education in each of the 16 federal states oversees the state's primary, secondary and career training schools and much of higher education. Administrators at both the state and federal level coordinate with each other for educational planning and research. As a result the quality of education is quite good throughout the country.
There are over 300 post secondary institutions in Germany that includes colleges of art and music, theological colleges, comprehensive universities and polytechnic universities. German constitution allows students to fully develop their potential in one’s occupation and fully develop skills and have proper career training.
About 75% of German students first go for a formal three year training program with hands on job experience in business, industry and government with career specific classroom instruction.
Bachelor
Though recognized and known the world over, the Bachelor degree is fairly new to Germany. To obtain a Bachelors degree you need to have 180 study points in European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). The study period is minimum 3 years. You can get the following degrees after completing your Bachelor’s Program.
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
- Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.)
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
- Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.)
- Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.)
Master
A Bachelors degree forms the basis for the next academic step is a Masters degree. One or two year study program equals 120 ECTS points. A Bachelors degree is required to apply for a Masters study program. A Masters degree is valued the same as a German ‘Diplom’ or ‘Magister’ degree.
Master types:
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Master of Science (M.Sc.)
- Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)
- Master of Laws (LL.M.)
- Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)
- Master of Music (M.Mus.)
- Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Doctorate / PhD
You can apply for a PhD after completing your Master’s program. You would be required to write a dissertation and give an oral exam to attain the Doctorate title (PhD). Students that are working on their dissertation are called Doktoranden.
The Old German Degree System
Diplom
The term ‘Diplom’ belongs to the old degree system (before the Bologna reforms), though some universities still have the Diplom program. The length of the Diplom program is 4 years.
Magister
This is also part of the old degree system, the most common degree program for the social sciences.
Staatsexamen (State exam)
This is a state organized exam and the degree is for jurists, doctors and teachers. One usually two State Exams are needed to receive a degree.
Admission:
Admission to various universities, depends upon the type of institution that you opt for. All Higher Education Institutions, have a Summer Semester which usually lasts from March to August or from April to September and Winter Semester is from September to February or from October to March.
