The German School System (2024)

FAQs

How does Germany's school system work? ›

The German school system starts with Grundschule, which is the German equivalent of primary school. Grundschule runs for four years and is for students aged 6 to 10 (although some primary schools may run for 6 years). After completing primary school, students will move onto secondary school, or high school in Germany.

Lessons start between 7:30 and 8 am. At primary school they finish at 11 or 12. In the other schools, classes mostly continue until 1 pm, sometimes longer. There are also all-day schools, where they have lessons until about 4 pm.

The secondary school system in Germany

There is the lower phase (sekundarstufe I), which in most states takes place between ages 10 and 15/16 (or from grades 5 to 9/10).

German educational standards at local schools and also at higher education institutions are relatively high. In fact, precisely because the German school system is so well structured and rigorous, it produces some of the most accomplished students in the world.

The structure of the schools here is fundamentally different - while Germany has Hauptschule, Realschule and Gymnasium, in the USA I encounter the uniform high school. Another striking difference is the choice of subjects.

In most regions of Germany, children go to primary school for four years. Each lesson lasts for 45 minutes. School lessons usually finish before lunch. In the afternoon, pupils can either go home, or stay at school and take part in clubs or do homework.

Notably, German public schools, including elementary, secondary, vocational and university institutions, typically do not impose any tuition fees. This privilege opens its doors to international students, offering them the unique opportunity to receive a high-quality education at no tuition cost.

The School Year

There are longer breaks at Christmas and in the summer. Shorter breaks are around Easter and in autumn. There is no school on public holidays. The Christmas break is usually 2 weeks and the summer break is about 6 weeks.

High school years in Germany vary by which stream or level you choose to study at. Most schools take students until 15 or 16 years of age. The Gymnasium students end at age 18 (grade 13).

There are hundreds of universities, colleges, vocational academies, colleges of music and art and much more in Germany. The umbrella term for all these educational institutions is "Hochschule".

Is school mandatory in Germany? ›

Education in Germany is primarily the responsibility of individual German states (Länder), with the federal government only playing a minor role. While kindergarten (nursery school) is optional, formal education is compulsory for all children ages 6 to 18.

Germany is an excellent option if you're looking for affordable and high-quality education. If you want to be in an English-speaking environment and have the opportunity to travel within America, the USA is a good choice.

Gymnasium (German pronunciation: [ɡʏmˈnaːzi̯ʊm]; German plural: Gymnasien), in the German education system, is the most advanced and highest of the three types of German secondary schools, the others being Hauptschule (lowest) and Realschule (middle).

Children attend secondary school (Weiterführende Schule) in Germany from the age of 10 (grade 5), apart from in the states of Berlin and Brandenburg where it begins at the age of 12 (grade 7). Full-time secondary education is compulsory until the age of 15 (sekundarstufe I).

The 11th grade is the first year of the Oberstufe, the name for the 11th and 12th grade of Gymnasium.

Yes. In many federal states, Germany offers tuition-free education at public universities to both domestic and international students. All students at public universities must pay a semester fee, typically ranging from €100 to €300.

The grades awarded in the German school system range from 1 to 6. The lower the grade, the better it is: a 1 is an excellent grade, whereas 5 and 6 are fail grades. Universities use a slightly modified version, which only goes from 1 to 5.