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 the respective leaving certificates
and qualifications for which different school
types and/or school careers are responsible. All
types of vocational schools (grade 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: Haupschule, Realschule,
Gymnasium and Gesamtschule. Types and names of
schools offering several courses of education
at lower secondary level differ according to Länder.
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.
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, Pädagogische Hochschulen);
2. Colleges of art and music (Kunsthochschulen
and Musikhochschulen); 3. Fachhochschulen (universities
of applied sciences) and Verwaltungsfachhochschulen.
Since the early 1990s, the structure of higher
education study courses 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 scientists.
One priority is to expand Fachhochschulen and
consolidate applied research and technology transfer.
With the amendments of the Framework Act for Higher
Education of the Federal Government of 1998 and
2002, the Länder dispose of greater scope
for their own decisions and already carried out
reforms accordingly by amending their laws in
higher education. The institutions of higher education
are to be made more efficient by according them
further autonomy, allowing them to build an individual
profile in a particular area and encouraging more
competition. Further reforms concerning the staff
structure and recruitment requirements for professors
were introduced through the Act's amendment in
2002. An alternative to institutions of higher
education is provided by Berufsakademien. These
professional academies have taken the principle
of the dual system of vocational education and
training 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 29 September 1995, provided
that they satisfy certain criteria (entrance requirements
qualifications of the teaching staff, institutional
requirements).
Main laws/decrees governing higher education
Decree: Higher Education Acts
of the 16 Länder
Concerns: Higher education institutions
of each Land, taking into account the rather general
regulations of the Hochschulrahmengesetz
Decree: Hochschulrahmengesetz
(Framework Act for Higher Education) (last amended
2002) Year: 1976
Concerns: Higher education institutions
in general.
Academic year
Classes from: Oct to: Aug
Long vacation from: Aug to: Sep
Languages of instruction: German
Stages of studies
Non-university level post-secondary
studies (technical/vocational type)
Non-university level
Non-university tertiary education is provided
by the Fachschulen. These institutions offer continuing
vocational training to enable those with prior
vocational training and related work experience
of at least one year to take on management functions.
Courses last mostly two years. Successful completion
of the courses leads to the award of a professional
title in the student's specialization. Berufsakademien
are established in 8 Länder. The Allgemeine
Hochschulsreife, Fachgebundene Hochschulreife
or Fachhochschulreife is required for admission,
together with a training contract with a company.
Students are registered to study by the company
responsible for their training. The courses alternate
periods of study with periods of on-the-job training.
The first two years consist of basic studies followed
by one year of advanced study. At the end of the
course, students are awarded a qualification for
entry to a profession, e.g. Diplom-Ingenieur in
Engineering, Diplom-Betriebswirt in Business Management.
The word Berufsakademie or the initials BA are
added to this title to distinguish it from other
forms of higher education diploma.
University level studies
University level first stage
FACHHOCHSCHULEN (Universities of applied sciences):
offer application-oriented study courses mainly
in Engineering, Economics, Social Work, Public
and Legal Administration and Health and Therapy.
A Diplomgrad (Diplom degree) is awarded after
the Diplomprüfung (Diploma examination),
e.g. Diplom-Ingenieur (FH). The initials "FH"
are added to the Diplom degrees of the Fachhochschulen.
According to the Regelstudienzeit (standard period
defined for each period of study), a degree programme
at Fachhochschulen should be completed in 8 semesters
(2 semesters = 1 academic year), including one
or two practical semesters. Success in the final
academic examination usually qualifies the candidate
for a particular profession. Some Fachhochschulen
have adopted a similar approach to the Berufsakademien,
particularly in Engineering and Business Management
and have introduced courses that combine academic
studies with on-the-job training, along the lines
of a dual system. These courses are called dual
courses of study (duale Studiengänge). The
students have training or employment contracts.
Fachhochschulen also confer Bachelor's and Master's
degrees. The new graduation system introduced
in 1998 supplements the traditional Diplomgrad
conferred by the Fachhochschulen. For courses
with a more theoretical orientation the Bachelor/Master
of Arts or Bachelor/Master of Science is awarded.
In the case of study courses that are more application
oriented the actual degree has a subject-related
supplement (e.g. Bachelor/Master of Engineering).UNIVERSITIES:
Stage I, or basic studies (Grundstudium), usually
lasting four semesters (2 academic years) at universities
culminate in an intermediate examination (Diplom-Vorprüfung,
Zwischenprüfung). This examination gives
the right to continue in Stage II (Hauptstudium).
A degree is not awarded. Since 1998, a basic higher
education degree within the new graduation system
of consecutive study courses, the Bachelor (or
Baccalaureus) has also been introduced in universities
requiring a minimum of three years' study (maximum
four years). It normally leads to a career.
University level second stage
Hauptstudium
Stage II consists of more advanced studies (Hauptstudium)
leading to the final degree examination. The Hauptstudium
usually lasts for five more semesters and leads
to the award of the Diplom. The Magister is awarded
by universities, predominantly in the Arts, on
the basis of the Magister examination. The course
of study comprises either two equally weighed
major subjects or a combination of one major and
two minor subjects. As a first degree, the Magister
is usually awarded as a Magister Artium/MA without
specifying individual subjects. The Magistergrad
can also be awarded at the end of one or two years'
postgraduate studies following upon the acquisition
of a first degree. Within the new graduation system
of consecutive courses leading to a BA/BSc after
three to four years, a Master of Arts/Science
may be acquired after anothrer one to two years.
University level third stage
Promotion
Doctoral studies are only pursued in universities
(Universitäten). There are several procedures
for admitting particularly qualified holders of
a degree obtained at a Fachhochschule to doctoral
studies at universities. The period of doctoral
studies, known as the Promotion, consists of two
to four years' independent research and the submission
of a thesis following the award of the Diplom/Erstes
Staatsexamen/Magister Artium/Master of Arts/Science.
The title of Doktor is conferred following upon
a written thesis and either an oral examination
or the defence of a thesis. The Habilitation is
a post-doctoral qualification proving ability
to teach and engage in research in an academic
subject. It is awarded by the departments of universities
and equivalent higher education institutions,
usually on the basis of a post-doctoral thesis
and a public lecture followed by a discussion.
Following the amendment of the Framework Act for
Higher Education in 2002, the Habilitation will
be phased out as a recruitment requirement for
professors.
Teacher education
Training of pre-primary and primary/basic
school teachers
The child care-workers (Erzieher) who do not
have the training and status of teachers are trained
at Fachschulen for youth and community work. Teachers
for Grundschule are trained in three-and-a-half
years in universities and in Colleges of Art and
Music. The training incorporates study of an elective
or specialist subject, as well as primary school
didactics. The basic education science courses
incorporate general, school specific aspects,
as well as psychology. There is at least one practical
training period of several weeks and at least
one guided didactics/subject related didactics
placement. Teachers must pass the first Staatsprüfung
(State examination) in usually two subjects and
in educational sciences. Training at universities
is followed by two years of preparatory service
(Vorbereitungsdienst) culminating in the second
Staatsprüfung (State examination).
Training of secondary school teachers
Secondary school teachers (Hauptschule, Realschule,
Gymnasium, Sonderschule and vocational school
teachers) are also trained in 3.5 to 4.5 years
in universities. Secondary school teachers are
subject specialists. They must take two specialist
subjects, together with appropriate incorporation
of subject-related didactics and an accompanying
course in education science. At least one period
of practical training lasting for several weeks
is also required, as is at least one guided placement
in didactics/subject-related subjects. Students
who intend to become teachers in vocational schools
must also complete a period of work experience
lasting for at least 12 months which must be relevant
to the vocational subject area chosen and which
must be completed before the First State Examination.
Teachers must pass the first Staatsprüfung
(State examination) in usually two subjects and
in educational sciences. Training at universities
is followed by two years of preparatory service
(Vorbereitungsdienst) culminating in the second
Staatsprüfung (State examination).
Training of higher education teachers
There is no legal provision for special training
for hiher education teaching staff. Recruitment
requirements for higher education staff usually
are the title of Doktor and for professors the
Habilitation or equivalent academic achievements.
Academic ranks include Assistent, Oberassistent,
Wissenschaftlicher/künstlericher Mitarbeiter,
Lehrkraft für besondere Aufgaben, Hochschuldozent,
Professor. Following the amendment of the Framework
Act for Higher Education in 2002, the Assistant,
Oberassistent and Hochschuldozent will be replaced
by the Juniorprofessor and the Habilitation will
give way to accumulative forms of proving academic
achievement.
Non-traditional studies:
Distance higher education
Courses leading to a Diplom and Magister, as
well as to Bachelor's and Master's degrees are
offered by the Fernuniversität Hagen, distance
Fachhochschulen and a number of institutions.
Distance learning associations have been set up
at Fachhochschulen in a number of regions. In
addition, an association of private, state-recognized
institutions offer first degree and post-graduate
courses at university level to employed persons
(Hochschulen für Berufstätige) in several
study locations. The courses offered by the "AKAD.
Die Privat-Hochschulen" are mainly in the
field of Business/Economics and Languages/Translating.
Lifelong higher education
Most of the Länder have specific legislation
on continuing education (Weiterbildung). In addition,
the higher education acts contain regulations
to deal with the development of continuing education
opportunities at an academic level. In most Länder,
the educational leave acts allow employed persons
to obtain time off (usually 5 days), every year
on full pay, in order to take part in continuing
education programmes.
Higher education training in industry
Continuing vocational education in industry
is offered at supra-company level, by companies
themselves, by the industrial and business associations
and the chambers of trade and industry,and trade
unions.The higher education acts contain regulations
to deal with the development of continuing education
opportunities at an academic level. The courses
offer people the opportunity to specialize, to
extend their knowledge or to obtain an additional
vocational qualification. The entry requirement
is usually that participants have a degree, although
sometimes continuing education courses are also
open to applicants who have obtained the necessary
skills through a period of employment or other
means.
Other forms of non-formal higher education
General and political continuing education,
provided by Volkshochschulen (local adult education
centres), facilities supported by the churches,
trade union education foundations, political parties,
mass organizations, public authorities, radio
and television play an important role. |
