German School System

Main sources from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Germany
http://www.howtogermany.com/pages/germanschools.html
http://www.germanculture.com.ua/library/facts/bl_education.htm


Primary education:

Children in Germany start school at the age of 6, and from grades 1 through 4 attend elementary school (Grundschule), where the subjects taught are the same for all. Then, after the 4th grade, they are separated according to their academic ability and the wishes of their families, and attend one of three different kinds of schools: Hauptschule, Realschule or Gymnasium.

Grundschule teachers recommend their students to a particular school based on such things as academic achievement, self confidence and ability to work independently. However, in most states, parents have the final say as to which school their child attends following the fourth grade.


Secondary education:

The Hauptschule (grades 5-9 in most German states) teaches the same subjects as the Realschule and Gymnasium, but at a slower pace and with some vocational-oriented courses. It leads to part-time enrollment in a vocational school combined with apprenticeship training until the age of 18.

The Realschule (grades 5-10 in most states) leads to part-time vocational schools and higher vocational schools. It is now possible for students with high academic achievement at the Realschule to switch to a Gymnasium on graduation.

The Gymnasium (grades 5-13 in most states) leads to a degree called the Abitur and prepares students for university study or for a dual academic and vocational credential. The most common education tracks offered by the standard Gymnasium are classical language, modern language, and mathematics-natural science.

The Gesamtschule, or comprehensive school, is a more recent development and is only found in some of the states. It takes the place of both the Hauptschule and Realschule and arose out of the egalitarian movements in the 1960s. It enrolls students of all ability levels in the 5th through the 10th grades. Students who satisfactorily complete the Gesamtschule through the 9th grade receive the Hauptschule certificate, while those who satisfactorily complete schooling through the 10th grade receive the Realschule certificate.


Secondary vocational education:

Beyond the Hauptschule and Realschule lies the Berufsschule, combining part-time academic study and apprenticeship. The successful completion of an apprenticeship program leads to certification in a particular trade or field of work. These schools differ from the other ones mentioned in that control rests not with the local and regional school authorities, but with the federal government, industry and the trade unions.

Berufsoberschule (Upper Vocational School) is an optional part of the German education system, and is the only way to be allowed at university for students who didn't get an Abitur at a Gymnasium.


Tertiary education:

Fachhochschule or "University of Applied Sciences" were founded in the 1960s, usually by re-arranging pre-existing educational institutes, like schools of engineering, building academies or polytechnicals. The Fachhochschulen's teaching and research focus is, as the English name implies, on the practical application of science, while universities focus on scientific studies. A remaining distinction between Fachhochschulen and "real" universities is that the latter can grant Ph.D. degrees, whereas Fachhochschulen can not.

List of universities in Germany:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocational_universities_in_Germany
http://www.studieren.de/hochschulliste.0.html