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Germany Guide: Education

Find information about universities, admission processes, tuition fees and how the education system works. You will also find information about other learning opportunities in further education.
The German education system
The German education system:
A beginner’s guide
Germany was one of the first countries to introduce compulsory schooling. Optional kindergarten education is provided for all children between three and six years old, after which school attendance is compulsory for ten to thirteen years. More...
The German school system:
Nursery, primary and secondary schools
In Germany, all children are required to attend at least 10 years of school. After four years of primary school, pupils are streamed to different types of secondary schooling depending on their abilities. More...
State or private school:
Choosing how to educate your child
In Germany, state education is generally perceived to be of higher standard than private education. However, in some cases (especially for foreigners) a private education might be better for your child. More...
State schools:
Grading system, enrolment and school hours
In Germany, each state ( Land) develops its own education programme, determines its own educational objectives and sets its own standards. Although the education standards are generally very high, they can vary significantly between the different Länder. More...
Private schools:
Waldorfschulen, religious and international
There are various alternatives to the state school system in Germany. Although most aren’t strictly private as they rely on a certain level of government funding and often operate under the same rules as state schools. More...
Higher Education:
Universities and Fachhochschulen
Germany has more than 220 higher education institutions, including state universities (traditional and technological), private universities and a large number of specialized establishments (such as colleges of arts). Anyone who passes the Abitur is guaranteed entry to one of the institutions. More...
Qualifications:
German university degrees and doctorates
There are essentially three types of university degrees in Germany: an MA, which is a purely academic qualification (usually in arts subjects); a Diplom, which is similar but in a science subject; and a Staatsexamen, which is taken for careers that are controlled by the government (such as teachers). More...
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