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The educational system in Germany

The German education system takes on many different attributes than those of Anglo-Saxon countries, but it turns out high performing students. Although education is a role of the federal states, and structure varies from state to state, some generalizations are possible. It is possible for students with the right academic qualities to study into university levels regardless of their family’s financial situation. Regardless of what kind of school a student attends, a student must complete at least nine years of education. If a student drops out before this time they must attend a Realschule or Hauptschule until the nine years are completed. For students that go on to attend one of the many German universities may do so without paying tuition as long that they have proven qualifications through exams.

School education
Primary education (Grundschule) lasts for four years in most Länder except Berlin and Brandenburg where it lasts for six years. The secondary school system (grades 5/7 to 12/13) in the Länder is divided in educational paths (depending on the Land) with respective leaving certificates and qualifications for which different school types and/or school careers are responsible. All types of vocational schools (grades 10/11 onwards) offer the opportunity to acquire general education certificates. There are general secondary education schools, special schools for the physically or mentally handicapped within the system of general and vocational education, and full- or part-time vocational schools (10th/11th grade on). Four main types of general secondary schools covering compulsory schooling exist: Hauptschule, Realschule, Gymnasium and Gesamtschule. Secondary education is compulsory and tuition is free. Textbooks and other school material are either free or lent out. From grade 10, pupils may obtain grants if no other financial sources exist. Types of schools differ according to Länder.

Higher education
There are public and private state-recognized institutions of higher education categorized as:
  1. Universities (Universitäten) and equivalent higher education institutions (Technische Hochschulen/Technische Universitäten, Universitären-Gesamthochschulen, Pädagogische Hochschulen);
  2. Colleges of art and music (Kunsthochschulen and Musikhochschulen);
  3. Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen, Verwaltungsfachhochschulen and company training centres).
Since the early 1990’s the structure of higher education study and the internal organization have been the subject of reform. This has involved a review of the standard periods of study and examination requirements and improvements in teaching and a separation of study aimed at preparing students for the practice of a profession and the qualification of a new generation of academics and scientist. One priority is to expand Fachhochschulen and consolidate applied research and technology transfer. Institutions of higher education will be granted further autonomy. Some Länder have already amended their laws on higher education accordingly. Following the adoption in 1998 of the Amendment to the Framework Act for Higher Education, further reform concerning the staff structure and recruitment requirements for professors was introduced through the Act’s amendment in 2002. An alternative to institutions of higher education is provided by Berufsakademien. These professional academics have taken the principle of the dual system of vocational education and applied it to the tertiary sector. The qualifications they award are recognized as tertiary sector qualifications that fall under the EU directive on higher education degrees by a resolution of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder of September 1995.