NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

Traditionally in Germany there are no special teaching programmes leading to a doctorate, as is often the case in other
countries. Instead candidates for the doctorate carry out independent academic research under the guidance and specialist
supervision of a lecturer (Doktorvater). The establishment of the Graduiertenkolleg at some universities is a relatively recent
development. Here several professors and doctoral students work together to research a particular area, usually taking an
interdisciplinary approach. Admission to such a group is generally connected with the award of a grant.
Having completed their examination, doctoral students must publish their thesis within a fixed period of time and present a
certain number of copies to the faculty, department or university library for distribution to specialist libraries throughout
Germany. Once this obligation has been met, the doctoral certificate is awarded and the doctorate procedure (Promotion) is
completed. This confers on the holder the right to the title of Doktor in the manner indicated in the regulations of the
respective
faculty.
Diagram of the educational
system in Germany
Annotations in the diagram
( 1 ) In some Länder special types of transition from pre-school to primary education (pre-school classes, school Kindergarten). In Berlin and Brandenburg the primary school comprises six grades.
( 2 ) The disabled attend special forms of general-education and vocational school types (in some cases integrated with non-handicapped pupils) depending on the type of disability in question. Designation of
schools varies according to the law of each Land.
( 3 ) The Orientierungsstufe (sometimes called Förderstufe) exists in all Länder with the exception of Bavaria (on trial as a pilot scheme), Berlin and Brandenburg (primary schools include grades five and
six) and Thuringia.
( 4 ) As an integrated comprehensive school, this constitutes a separate type of school alongside Hauptschule, Realschule and Gymnasium. The provision of Gesamtschulen varies in accordance with the
respective educational laws of the Länder.
( 5 ) These certificates can also be obtained in evening classes.
( 6 ) Admission to the gymnasiale Oberstufe requires a formal entrance qualification. The Allgemeine Hochschulreife can generally be obtained after the successful completion of 13 school years, i.e.
consecutive grades. As long as the Allgemeine Hochschulreife can still in principle be acquired by all pupils after 12 years of schooling in certain new Länder, the validity of these certificates is
guaranteed in all Länder for a transitional period.
( 7 ) The Fachoberschule is a school type lasting two years (11th and 12th grades) which takes pupils who have completed Realschule and qualifies them for Fachhochschule. Pupils graduating from the
Berufsaufbauschule who have acquired a Fachschule qualification during or following initial vocational education can enter 12th grade directly. Pupils who have successfully completed Realschule and
have been through initial vocational training can also enter the Fachoberschule directly in the 12th grade. Alternative routes for acquiring the Fachhochschulreife outside the Fachoberschule are, for
example the Berufsfachschule and Fachschule.
( 8 ) Full-time vocational schools differing in terms of entrance requirements, duration and leaving certificates. Certain two-year Berufsfachschulen requiring a Realschule certificate for admission lead to a
State-recognised examination as technical assistant (staatlich geprüfter Assistent), and one-year courses at Berufsfachschulen offer basic
vocational training.
( 9 ) Offers extension courses to pupils with vocational qualifications and can enable them to acquire a qualification equivalent to the Realschule leaving certificate.
( 10 ) Fachschulen are schools at the upper level of secondary education, offering courses of between one and three years duration.
( 11 ) Including institutions of higher education offering courses in particular disciplines at university level (e.g. theology, philosophy, medicine, administration studies, sport).