4. What after finishing school? Higher Education/Vocational training in Germany

Written with inputs from Zeynep Acharya, Petra Varma and many others; and also from official internet sources

In a certain sense it can be said that the decision for what a child in Germany will go on to become in life is already decided in the 5^th grade with the choice of which type of secondary school that child joins; of which there are essentially three kinds -- the Hauptschule, the Realschule and the Gymnasium. Let us take a closer look at what choices students have after finishing one of these three forms of secondary school.

But before we do that we need to mention something that many students do after finishing school that have nothing to do with studies: they take a gap year, which they use mostly to travel around and see the world or to work and earn some money, often as volunteers in an old-age home or at a kindergarden or learn some new skills in order to figure out what they would like to do with their lives. In earlier times, it was mandatory for students to do a year of military service after finishing school. It is not mandatory anymore but some still do that voluntarily because the pay is good, but their numbers are decreasing. Others prefer to do a voluntary 'social-year'  or an 'ecological-year' instead, often through organisations like the Federal Voluntary Service (BFD, Bundesfreiwillingendienst).

Back to the main story of what to study and where to go after finishing school:

Apprenticeship after finishing Hauptschule

Germany is well known for its highly elaborate and highly structured system of vocational/professional training in many technical disciplines. Those who join the Hauptschule plan to become a technician – like a plumber, electrician, carpenter, mechanic, cook or gardener – and do an apprenticeship (Lehre). After leaving school at the end of the 9^th or 10^th grade a person become an apprentice immediately with a firm or an organisation in their line of interest. So someone who wants to become a mechanic joins an automobile workshop, someone who wants to be a carpenter joins a furniture house etc. An apprenticeship normally lasts about three years and this includes practical work in a company/firm and a few days of attendance a week in a Vocational school (Berufschule), to learn the theoretical part of the profession. Upon finishing this period, the person is called a Gaselle (journeyman/woman).

In the past, journeymen (or women) would then spend three years on the road, traveling around the country only being allowed to venture 50 km from their hometown, working at various different firms/workshops during this time, gaining experience and learning new methods. After clearing the Journeyman's examination (Gasellenpruefung), where one is expected to create something independently (Gasellenstueck), the young man (or woman) can either start working and/or continue studying to become a master craftsman (Meister) with a firm or organisation. But it's a long journey as it takes several years and also because the Meisterpruefung (Master craftsman examination) can be expensive. With the master craftsman title, a person can open one’s own firm and take on and train other apprentices and gaselles in the profession. It is normal that a person tries to become a Meister only later on in life when one has worked for several years under a Meister and has acquired all the skills that are considered important in that profession.

What after Realschule?

The Intermediate level of secondary school which lasts 10 years in all theoretically leaves all avenues hitherto discussed open and a few extra ones. With the Intermediate School Certificate one can decide to go into a vocational training programme as described in the first section, or a student can even decide to study two or three more years in a Gymnasial Oberstufe (the plus level in Higher Secondary school) to then sit for the Abitur and then pursue a career in the university. But most students who finish Realschule opt to join professional/vocational courses that train them to become nurses, secretaries, chefs, physiotherapists, librarians, kindergarden carers, etc. Training for these professions are also very intense and can take several years (at least three) of theoretical as well as practical training, and also involves a period working as a trainee for very little money, before they are ready to start applying for jobs.

Educational paths after finishing Realschule (Intermediate secondary school)

Path                       Graduation                              Perspective

Berufsfachschule     Vocational qualification             Direct entry into the job market

(Vocational School)

Fachoberschule                Fachabitur                       Fachhochschule

(Technical college)                                                  (university of applied sciences),

Vocational Gymnasium     Abitur (with vocational    University studies

                                         training)                         with professional qualification

Gymnasium Oberstufe     Abitur                              University studies

University studies after doing Abitur

At the other end of the spectrum are those students who went to a Gymnasium and successfully cleared their Abitur which gives them the qualifications to enter a German university. Germany has two kinds of universities – normal universities (Hochschule) where one can study all subjects and Technical Universities (Fachhochschule) which are more practice oriented where one can study technical subjects like machine building, aeronautics and engineering. And there are some very highly regarded subjects like Medicine and Law where one needs absolute top grades in the Abitur (and sometimes they might have to sit for an additional entrance exam) to gain admission.

Earlier University studies led to a Diplom (Diploma) in the Sciences and a Magister Artium (MA) in the Social Sciences at the end of 3-5 years of study. One usually majored in one subject and had two subsidiary subjects, or one had two majors. There was also an intermediate exam which was called VorDiplom or Zwischenpruefung. After that one could go on to do a Ph.D. and then a Second Ph.D. called the Habilitation. But nowadays in a bid to streamline and standardise education across all the EU countries for better student mobility, a system of BA/MA have been introduced. The ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) allows students to opt to spending a semester or two in another university in Europe during the course of their university studies as they can be sure that they will get credit for the courses they attend in the foreign university. 

What is worth noting is that all these exams are usually oral exams (also in the sciences) with the written work having been done and submitted and examined earlier. One would need to write a small thesis even at the Diplom/Magister level. In sharp contrast to other places, in the German system, the onus of learning and studying is on the student, so although many courses are offered every semester by the professors, typically there are no attendance requirements; of course students have to gain a specific number of credit points from courses before they can sit for any exams, but it is upto the student whether he wants to attend lectures or wants to study by himself in the library or in a group with his friends. At the time of the examination, one is expected to know more or less the whole syllabus, and although one has the freedom to choose how one does it, at the final oral examination, as and when a student registers to sit for it, he/she can be asked anything within the prescribed syllabus. As a result many students lose their nerve and do not appear for their oral exams at the last minute, resulting in their losing precious time.  Writing up the Diplom/Master's thesis also takes time. As a result a student can spend anything between 3-7 years in the University before getting a Master's degree or its equivalent.

Education in most state universities in Germany is in German, and overseas students are required to show proof of a certain level of proficiency in German before they can enter the University. Of course many private universities are coming up in Germany these days, where instruction is in English, but then the tuition fees are also substantial. As with the schools, education in the state universities in Germany is free, also for foreign students. However, registered German students whose parents’ income is below a certain range is entitled to a small stipend called BAföG which is an interest free student loan half of which is repayable by the student once they start earning.

Instead of going on continue with research for a Ph.D. many students studying subjects like Mathematics or German opt to sit for the Staatsexams (usually more than one) required to become school teachers. Of course those study certain subjects like law, medicine or pharmacology must sit for these exams if they wish to practice their profession. These Staatsexams are state-administered final examinations in Germany that provide access to state-regulated professions such as doctor, teacher, lawyer, and pharmacist. It serves to ensure quality in these important fields, as the examination is administered by state authorities to ensure uniform standards. 

For example, to become a teacher, a student must join the Pedagogy department and choose two subjects of study. Moreover an aspiring teacher also needs to attend courses about pedagogy and child psychology. Generally, at the end of three years, when one has attended the requisite number of credits, they sit for the first State Exam. These exams are quite hard to qualify for, but once a student has cleared these exams, they need to do a one-year Training (Referendariat) in a school before they can sit for the Second State Exams before they can really join as a teacher in a school.  Along with University professors, police officers and actual bureaucrats in the government, most teachers in Germany are civil servants, who are eligible for special privileges and also have specific rights and duties. This just goes to show the high regard with which the teaching profession is held in Germany.

And to end this story where we began with school teachers and their students, teachers get a good salary, are well regarded in society and have a secure job. But to reiterate a point already made, since education systems differ from state to state, if one qualifies as a teacher in one state does not mean that those qualifications will be recognsied in another state. But no matter which state one is in, being a teacher comes with the responsibility of forming young minds and helping young children take their first steps in life. Of course even teachers need to refresh their knowledge all the time by attending Further Education/ Continuing Education programmes from time to time, in order to offer the best to their students. However, most teachers will agree that the classroom is their best teacher.