Germany Education System and Eligibility

Internationally known for Oktoberfest, automobile industry, architecture, football, and food, Germany is also one of the world’s best education provider countries. The education system there is guided by rules and regulations of the fundamental law “Grundgesetz.” In contrast to many other countries, Germany’s education system is sketched to provide students with the best at minimum cost. That’s why many of the public universities are either free of tuition fees or charge minimum fees.

Apart from this, the education system of Germany is mainly categorised into three institutions. So let’s learn about them and understand which one is best suited for your higher studies:

1. Vocational School and Technical Colleges

These institutions offer practical learning and training oriented courses to students. It includes language courses and diplomas that can be completed within a short time and prepares students to take admission in higher education or follow their career in the relevant work-field.

2. Universities

Also known as Universitäten, these educational institutions provide you with an array of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Ideally, such universities mainly focus on theoretical knowledge and research so that students can get a better understanding of the subject.

There are more than 100 such universities in Germany, and most of the international students prefer them for higher studies. To take admission in such Universities, students may be expected to have a fluent command over the German language. Or, as an English speaking student, you can enroll yourself in the appropriate courses provided in English.

3. Universities of Applied Sciences

They are also referred to as Fachhochschulen and offer study programmes in engineering, business, social work, etc. These programmes are practice-oriented and are exclusively composed to provide students with the scientific knowledge of their respective fields. These courses involve practical semesters and take six, seven or eight semesters for completion.

International students can pursue both bachelor’s and master’s programs from Fachhochschulen, which are more than double the number of Universitäten.

4. Universities of Arts/Music

In Germany, these institutes are referred to as Kunst- und Musikhochschulen. The University of Arts and Music is best suited for students who wish to pursue an artistic career in fine arts, arts, and music, visual design, architecture, television, and media. Likewise, Universitäten, Universities of Arts/Music exercise practice-based teachings, and degrees obtained from these universities are equivalent to Universitäten.

To get listed in the arts and music university, students are expected to showcase their talent in the entrance exam. In case you prove to be above the mark, the qualification criteria will no longer be a subject of concern.

Moreover, all these institutions can be either state-run or private. While most of them are publicly financed, as many as 120 are private universities that come under Fachhochschulen. As these private institutes charge high tuition fees, maximum international students enroll themselves at tuition fee-free public universities.