Education in Germany is of high quality and status even in an international context. For this reason, studying here today is especially popular among foreign children and students. Germany and its culture are widely known for their careful attitude to any of the fields of activity - and education in Germany will not be an exception.
Qualified teachers, modern methods and author's programs, thorough study and immersion in the topic, the comprehensive development of the personality of each student are not all the reasons that annually attract thousands of students of all ages from all over the world to Germany.
Before sending a child to study in Germany or arriving on his own (if the student has reached the age of majority), everyone should learn some nuances: what is the educational structure of this country, what are the conditions and requirements for studying at local institutions, and others. More features of Germany SMAPSE experts will describe in this article.
TOP-5 important things that you need to know abot education in Germany
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In Germany, there are strong programs for students - this can be a Waldorf school educational course, the Montessori program, the famous and prestigious private institutions Salem and others. At the stages of the initial and secondary levels of education, maximum attention is paid to the development of the student, since the Germans are sure that the sooner the student develops his potential, the more successful his future will be.
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German elementary grades — first and second — do not provide grades. A certain control of performance is still present: twice a year, the class teacher compiles a characteristic for each student. Starting from the third grade, students receive report cards with grades in all subjects every six months. Teachers in Germany are quite demanding and strict - they want students to absorb the offered knowledge to the maximum. Homework is mandatory, skipping classes is also not recommended. In higher schools, the level of demanding is slightly lower due to the age of students, but discipline is still present.
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In the middle and senior grades, the grading system is produced on a 6-point scale, where the grading system is directly proportional to the domestic scheme: “excellent” is a unit, “good” is a two, and so on.
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Germany is perfect for students who are planning to connect their lives with business or technology in the long term, because economic and technical sciences are the most powerful areas in local schools, colleges and universities.
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Higher education in Germany is free almost everywhere. Germany is one of the European countries where both local students and visiting students can receive a prestigious diploma on a budgetary basis. Of course, for successful study in Germany, young people from other countries need to pass the German language at a level above the average and successfully pass the entrance tests to the university - subject to these two points, free education is guaranteed.
The structure of education in Germany: study abroad for foreign students
The educational process in the country starts from 6 and lasts up to 15 years - passing the middle level of education is mandatory for all citizens of a specified age. Starting in January, German schools begin to interview potential students for the new school year. When selecting students - local residents or foreign students - the selection committee, which includes a psychologist and a social teacher, looks at the degree of preparation of the student for the educational process.
The academic year in most secondary education institutions begins in the first or second week of September. Students get the opportunity to relax every 3-5 weeks. The longest holidays are in summer.
Classes in elementary school begin at 8 in the morning and end by lunch. If the parents do not have time to pick up the student from a German school in the afternoon, he can study in an extension group: in this case, the child will be under the supervision of teachers and will be able to do homework. High school students in German schools also study in the afternoon, because they have a much wider program.
In the middle grades of a German school, a new stage of education begins - students choose a direction according to the characteristic obtained after completion of primary school. Depending on the profile of the education, the course itself and its duration differ.
The main programs available at the second stage of secondary education in Germany:
| Program | Duration | Features |
| Hauptschule | 5-6 years old | After completing the course, a teenager can gain work experience (first in a low-paying position) or continue education at a vocational education institution. |
| Realschule | 6 years | After completing the course, the student will be able to go to high school or go to work (more prestigious than in the previous paragraph). This option is suitable for students who received an average score in the initial stage. |
| Gymnasium | 8-9 years old | Children receive new knowledge in foreign languages, natural sciences, or study mathematics, technology, art at an advanced level - the disciplines necessary for entering a university. |
| Gesamtchule | 7-8 years old | The program combines elements of a gymnasium and a regular school, where there is no additional bias for technical or humanitarian disciplines. |
For admission to private boarding schools in Germany, foreign students must meet the minimum criteria:
- The level of knowledge of the German language must comply with the European assessment of B1-B2. English language requirements will vary by institution.
- Prepare a student report card in a your local school for the last 2-3 years.
- Have a letter of recommendation that includes a complete student profile. It is necessary to issue such a letter on the letterhead of the chosen educational institution.
Professional and higher education in Germany
Like secondary education for foreign students, higher education at universities in Germany is in special demand. This is one of the countries where locals and visiting students can equally get a diploma on a budgetary basis. The last to use this opportunity is to improve the knowledge of the German language to a level above the average, and also successfully pass all entrance tests.
To know German at a good level, interested young people will have to spend time learning it. You can study German at home, however, the best effect in time and quality will be from studying directly in Germany, in a natural language environment. The educational period can be from a couple of weeks to several months, depending on the initial level of students. In Germany, there are many language educational centers and linguistic schools, so finding the right option is not difficult.
