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• The education system in Germany
• Daycare and kindergarten
• Primary and secondary schools
• International schools
• Higher education
• Language schools

The education system in Germany

In Germany, there are are two age groups for children before they start compulsory school at around six years old. Children can go to a nursery from eight weeks to three years old, then kindergarten (preschool) from three years to six years old. Kindergarten is not mandatory and depending on where in Germany you live, there’s usually a fee to enroll your child. Public schools in Germany are free and children must attend from preschool level up until the age of 14 or 16, depending on the state in which you live. Depending on what's available where you live, there are four types of secondary schools to choose from:

 - Gymnasium 

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• Hauptschule or Mittelschule  - Gesamtschule

In this section, we explain what the school system is like in Germany.

Is Germany good for education?

Yes, Germany is one of the best countries for education. It offers a well structured, high-quality system from primary to university level. Public universities are tuition-free for most students, and the education model combines academic study with practical training. This is globally respected. In 2025, Germany ranked 3rd worldwide for education quality, making it a top choice for both domestic and international students.

Can you study in Germany without knowing German?

You can study in Germany without knowing German, but it depends on the level. Many universities offer full English programs, especially for master’s degrees. However, most public schools teach in German, so speaking the language is usually necessary. Some private and international schools do offer classes in English, but they often charge tuition.

Is homeschooling illegal in Germany?

In Germany, homeschooling is strictly not allowed under compulsory schooling laws. Children are legally required to attend a recognized school from 6 to 15 years of age, with very limited exceptions, such as in cases of severe illness.

Ages for preschool and primary school

• Preschool (Kindergarten): 3–6 years old
• Primary school (Grundschule): 6–10 years old (12 in Berlin and Brandenburg)

Different paths for different students

Secondary education is divided into three phases, with school types based on academic ability.

Orientation Phase (ages 10–12):

• Gymnasium — for high achievers; leads to university
• ��𲹱�������ܱ���  — for mid-level students; leads to vocational paths
• Hauptschule/Mittelschule — slower-paced curriculum
• Gesamtschule — combines elements of the above schools

First Phase (ages 12–15/16):

• Same school types as in the orientation phase

Second Phase (ages 16–18/19):

• Gymnasium/Gesamtschule — for university prep
• Berufsfachschule — vocational training
• Berufsschule — combines work with study
• Fachoberschule — 2-year vocational school that provides a pathway to universities of applied sciences

As students progress through school, they’ll reach a point where their level of academic ability and achievement leads them down one of three paths.

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• ��𲹱�������ܱ��� might be better for those planning to take up a white-collar job.
• Hauptschule (sometimes known as Mittelschule) could be a good option for young people interested in learning a trade or doing a blue-collar job.
• Students who have attended a Gesamtschule can either begin vocational training afterwards or continue with their academic studies.

You can find out more about these different schools later on in this section.

The school week

Standard school hours run between 08:00 and 14:00. During the first grades, school hours tend to be shorter and end at different times during the week. It depends on the number of classes assigned for that day. Some schools offer extra hours outside of these times. These extra hours can be used as study periods, for extracurricular activities, and may even include a meal in the cafeteria.

There is a weekly curriculum with a broad variety of mandatory subjects, including physical education, music, and art classes. Religious education (R.E.) for Catholic, Lutheran-Protestant, Muslim, and Jewish students is part of the curriculum at schools in Germany as well, but not mandatory, as there is an alternative to attend lessons on ethics and philosophy instead.

Elementary schools most often run as a half-day, especially in Western states. However, full-day schools (ending mid-afternoon with lunch, homework support, and activities) have grown in popularity but are less widespread overall, availability varies by state.

As an alternative, children who attend half-day school go to Hort (after-school care), which provides supervised afternoons, homework help, and activities.

The grading system

Grades are given on a grading point scale of 1 to 6, with 1 being the best grade and 6 being the lowest.

• 1 to 1.5: Very good
• 1.6 to 2.5: Good
• 2.6 to 3.5: Satisfactory
• 3.6 to 4: Sufficient
• 5 and 6: Not sufficient / failed

Very poor grades could result in students having to repeat an entire year or even having to switch schools.

The main differences between public and private schools

Public schools:

• Funded and operated by the government
• Free of charge for all students
• Offer high-quality, standardized education
• Follow the national curriculum and have strict regulations
• The majority of schools in Germany

Private schools:

• Private schools in Germany charge tuition fees. They vary depending on the type of school and provider. Ergänzungsschulen cost more due to the lack of public funding.
• Heavily regulated to ensure educational standards match those of public schools
• Often run by religious organizations, private investors, or foundations

Ersatzschulen (substitute schools):

• Provide the same education as public schools at primary and secondary levels
• Run by private or religious institutions
• Heavily regulated: teachers must have qualifications comparable to those in public schools
• Funded by tuition fees and public funds

Ergänzungsschulen (supplementary schools):

• Usually at the secondary level
• Offer alternative curriculum, often vocational or international
• Operated by private investors or organizations, sometimes religious groups
• Funded exclusively through tuition fees
• Less regulated than Ersatzschulen, but still subject to basic oversight

Regulating private education

The law in Germany prevents private schools from being created for the sole use of students from wealthy families, and it also dictates they must be affordable and not be for profit. However, private schools can charge tuition fees if their individual state in Germany allows it. These schools are funded by parents and state subsidies. Fees are banned in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, but schools there receive substantial financial backing from the state.

The church funds its associated schools, meaning these are some of the most affordable to attend. In Germany, parents can deduct up to 5,000 EUR (approx. 5,600 USD) per child for school fees from their taxes every year.

The only document required for private schools is the school contract, which is signed by parents and the school.

What makes private schools different?

• They might offer a different style or approach to education in public schools. For example: Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia.
• Some private schools teach certain ideas, such as those associated with a particular religion.
• Teachers at private schools must complete the same training as teachers at public schools.
• The academic performance is more or less equal in Germany’s state and private schools.

Daycare & kindergarten

Children more than one year old are entitled to subsidized childcare. And in Berlin, daycare is completely free for parents, although places are scarce. While children are entitled to childcare, preschool and kindergarten are not mandatory in Germany.

The educational approach guiding German kindergartens is based on voluntary and important early development.

At what age do children start kindergarten?

Children tend to go to kindergarten (preschool) from three to six years old, when they start primary school, also known as Grundschule. They participate in senior kindergarten or Vorschule in the last year before primary school, during which children are prepared for what it will be like at school.

Daycare and kindergarten fees

Childcare fees vary from district to district. How much you will have to pay highly depends on how many hours your child will attend, how much you earn (the higher the income the higher the fees) and how many children you have. The more siblings in day care, the less you have to pay for each child. In many regions, childcare is partially or fully free, especially for children aged 2 or 3 and up. The parents may have to pay only for meals and extra hours spent in daycare. The regions where childcare is free include:

• Berlin
• Rhineland-Palatinate
• Hesse
• Thuringia
• Brandenburg
• Bremen
• Hamburg
• Lower Saxony
• North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW): Last 2 years before school are free; younger children’s fees depend on the local municipality. You can find more details on their municipality’s websites.
• Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

In other states, daycare is not free, though low-income families may qualify for support.

What to do if you can’t afford childcare?

For people with low income, it is possible to apply for a “daycare voucher” (Kita-Gutschein) at the Youth Welfare Office. The application form can be found on the homepage of your local Youth Welfare Office or picked up in person. You will have to submit the application along with the following documents:

• Proof of income;
• A confirmation letter from the Kita (collective term for various forms of childcare: Nursery (Kinderkrippe), kindergarten and After-school Care (Kinderhort)) you've found;
• Fee assessment from the Kita;

Financial support for childcare and kindergartens in Germany

Tax-paying parents in Germany are entitled to a child benefit, called Kindergeld, which can be worth 255 EUR (296 USD) per child every month. They can claim this until the child is 18, or 25 if the child is still in school or vocational training. Those with disabilities that stop them from working can receive Kindergeld i�Ի��ھ��Ծ��ٱ����.

The different types of daycare

• **Kinderkrippe (nursery): these centers are suitable for babies and children up to three years old. You must pay to send your child to a Kinderkrippe.
• **Kindergarten: for children between three and six years old; paid for by parents.
• **Kitas (daycare centers): for after-school and pre-school care for children up to around 12 years old; fees apply to parents.

Primary & secondary education

As an expatriate, you might be ideally positioned to provide your child with an education at one of the best primary and secondary schools in Germany. This is because international schools offer some of the best learning conditions. However, you’ll have access to public schools too, where there will be no tuition fees to worry about.

Primary school

Children tend to enter primary school (elementary school), known as Grundschule, at six years old. They stay there until they are 10, or 12, if they go to school in Berlin or Brandenburg. They then go on to one of the four types of secondary school. Classes in primary schools are divided by age and grade level.

At this stage, children often begin learning a foreign language, which is usually English. Their progress is assessed regularly and those who struggle may repeat a year, while advanced students might be offered to skip ahead.

Many non-native children start primary school without being able to speak good German, and it’s not uncommon for 80% of children in a grade to be non-native. Due to this, there have been calls for children to spend more time at the preschool level to gain a better grasp of the German language before starting school.

Secondary school and high schools

The different types of secondary schools in Germany can be confusing because each state has its own rules and school programs. The education systems and timing of the school breaks vary by region, and some schools face criticism for being too selective, having long study periods, or for the prohibition of homeschooling. The following are the different forms of secondary school in Germany:

Gymnasium: Gymnasium requires the most application, as it is for children who want to go to university. This type of secondary school allows you to gain the Abitur, which is the key qualification needed to join a university. And not only does the Abitur gained at a Gymnasium allow you to attend university in Germany, but it’s also internationally recognized, so attendees will be able to apply to universities around the world. If your children are expats and don’t speak German fluently, they might be able to attend German classes at a Gymnasium, alongside their primary studies.

�� Gymnasium is the place to study if you want to learn from the best teachers — the standard of instruction at this type of secondary school is better than in any other school.

Realschule: A Realschule in Germany is sometimes called an intermediate school. Students attend from 5th to 10th grade, and once completing their studies there, some of their options are to work in lower-level government, industry, and business. These schools share the same curriculum as Hauptschulen, but students learn one more foreign language. Students also learn shorthand, bookkeeping, word processing, and other computing skills.

Hauptschule: Hauptschulen are generally for students who are not very academically inclined. It only lasts from 5th to 9th grade (but can last until 10th grade in some states), at which point individuals can go on to a full-time vocational school until they are 18 years old. There, they can learn to be, for example, a technician or tradesman. Alternatively, graduates can go on job training programs alongside part-time learning.

It’s also common in these schools for German, geography, history, math, and a foreign language to be taught.

• Gesamtschule: You could say Gesamtschule is a mixture of the three types of secondary school previously mentioned. This school goes from grade 5 to grade 9 or 10, and you can earn several types of certificates, unlike in other types of secondary schools. These schools have the capacity to provide appropriate education for children, no matter if they are less academic, they are more advanced, especially gifted, or interested in pushing their learning potential.

Once students come to the end of their studies at a Gesamtschule, they can move on to vocational training or continue with further education.

International schools

As the school system is very specific in Germany and certificates are not always accepted at universities abroad, many expats choose to send their children to the best international schools, which present internationally recognized qualifications. Switching from one international school to another is relatively easy. International schools often share educational standards, a common curriculum, and transferable credit points. There are several international schools in Germany, ranging from American, British, and Catholic schools to German international schools and French schools.

Popular international schools in Germany

Berlin:

• BBIS Berlin Brandenburg International School
• Berlin British School
• Berlin International School
• Berlin Metropolitan School
• International School Villa Amalienhof (SIS Swiss International School)

Bonn:

• Bonn International School
• Independent Bonn International School

Cologne:

• Cologne International School
• St. George’s The British International School

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• International School of Düsseldorf
• ISR International School on the Rhine
• St. George’s The British International School

Frankfurt:

• Frankfurt International School
• ISF Internationale Schule Frankfurt-Rhein-Main
• Metropolitan School Frankfurt
• Strothoff International School
• Taunus International Montessori School

Hamburg:

• International School of Hamburg

Hannover:

• International School Hannover Region

Heidelberg:

• Heidelberg International School

Leipzig:

• Leipzig International School

Munich:

• Munich International School
• St. George’s The British International School
• Bavarian International School

Stuttgart:

• International School of Stuttgart
• Schule Schloss Salem

Weimar:

• Thuringia International School

Wiesbaden:

• FIS Wiesbaden

Schools in Germany for international students

There is no comprehensive list of all the international schools in Germany — these vary based on where you live — but rest assured you will find plenty in major cities. The Munich International School, for example, offers the International Baccalaureate IB, as does the Berlin International School.

Make sure to involve your child in the choice between education in a local or international school in Germany. 

What to choose: International or local school?

Attending a local school should help your children make German friends, learn the language, and get fully accustomed to the culture. For your child, getting immersed in the German way of life happens mainly by mixing with German kids at school — a key aspect that international schools, in Germany or elsewhere, may not provide. Some German public schools offer international diplomas and bilingual lessons as well.

On the other hand, international schools in Germany may seem like the obvious choice if your child has already spent some time in an international school in another country or if you plan to relocate again relatively soon. International schools in Germany are full of kids and teens from a variety of cultures, countries, and regions, and your child is sure to make new friends.

In short, Attending a bilingual institution or an international school in Germany can help your child during an early stage of relocation, whereas attending a German public school will foster integration. If your child doesn’t speak German yet, attending an international school might serve as preparation for switching to a public school later on, where they can obtain a German diploma.

International school requirements

One minimum requirement for international schools and private schools is meeting the demands and standards of the national German school system. These include:

• Teaching key subjects: math, science, and languages
• Hiring qualified teachers 
• Following curriculum goals similar to public schools
• Preparing students for recognized exams if they offer German diplomas
• Ensuring student progress is monitored and assessed regularly

Many private or international schools may even have higher standards. For example, your child may have to take an admission test.

Documents required by international schools

• Birth certificate
• Valid passport
• Medical record
• Teacher recommendation letter — a letter written by a former teacher to support a prospective student’s school application

Apart from these documents, you should check with your chosen school for specific entry and admission requirements.

Higher education

One of the great things about studying at some of Germany’s best universities is the fact that all public universities (apart from those in Baden-Württemberg) are free. In this sub-section, we’ll tell you about the best universities in Germany for international students and any associated tuition fees. We also explain which visas, if any, you need to study in the country.

The best universities for international students in Germany

See our list of five of the best universities in Germany in below, chosen in the Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings. These centers are worth researching if you or your children are going to study in Germany.

• LMU Munich, Munich
• Technical University of Munich, Munich
• Heidelberg University, Heidelberg
• Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin
• University of Freiburg, Freiburg

How much does it cost to study in Germany for international students?

It is free for international and local students to study at public universities in Germany. However, there are administration fees around 100 to 300 EUR (approx. 120 to 350 USD) per semester that everyone has to pay.

Bear in mind though, that it’s not free to study at every university in Germany. Baden-Württemberg reintroduced university tuition fees for second degrees and for students from outside the EU.

Universities in Baden Württemberg:

• KIT, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
• Universität Mannheim
• Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
• Universität Konstanz
• Universität Ulm
• Universität Freiburg
• Universität Stuttgart
• Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg

To give you an idea of how much fees can be, Baden-Württemberg universities charge 1,500 EUR (approx. 1,750 USD) per semester for a non-EU student’s first degree, and all students must pay 650 EUR (approx. 760 USD) per semester for a second degree.

Private universities in Germany

Tuition fees at private universities can range from around 5,000 to 20,000 EUR (approx. 5,800-23,000 USD) or more.

Some of the top-ranking private universities in Germany are:

• Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• Jacobs University Bremen
• Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
• Hochschule für Bankwirtschaft Frankfurt am Main
• Universität Witten/Herdecke
• European School of Management and Technology
• Fachhochschule für Oekonomie and Management
• WHU — Otto Beisheim School of Management
• Fachhochschule Wedel
• Hochschule Fresenius

Visas

There are a couple of university visas for those students and prospective students who require one:

• German Student Applicant Visa: — This is for prospective students who need to apply to a university in Germany in person. It allows you to apply, but it doesn’t give you permission to attend university in Germany.
• German Student Visa: — Get this visa if you’ve already been accepted by a university in Germany and are ready to start studying.

Language schools

Although many Germans speak other languages, people don’t generally expect to have to speak a foreign language to communicate with others, even if you come from another country. If you’re going to work in Germany, it’s also important to have some German language skills. The German language dominates workplaces everywhere (though less so in international Berlin), and you’ll need some level of proficiency to get by. If you’re lucky, your new employer will offer you free German lessons as part of your contract to help you settle in.

Language school fees

Language school fees vary, but if you choose to find classes yourself, you’ll find intensive group classes at around 400 to 600 EUR (approx. 465 to 700 USD) for 4 weeks of learning. Keep in mind that it’s possible to find special offers by schools to get a discount. If you prefer one-to-one classes, they’re available for around 9 to 13 EUR (approx. 10 to 15 USD) for an hour on platforms like and , and for 43 to 77 EUR (approx. 50 to 90 USD) per hour for in-person classes.

Integration courses

To help you integrate into life in Germany, you might be able to take German language classes for free or around 2 EUR (approx. 2 USD) per lesson. An integration course tends to include 700 hours, but you don’t have to pay for the entire course at once. The classes are designed to supply you with a high enough level of German language comprehension for everyday life. In these integration courses, you’ll also learn about the country’s history, culture, and legal system.

The course totals roughly 1,600 EUR (approx. 1,860 USD) for the full course. Keep in mind that you won’t have to pay the full amount at once.
If you receive unemployment benefits or social assistance, you may not have to pay at all. On the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) website, you can .

Popular language schools in Germany

Aachen:

• Berlitz Sprachschule — Berlitz has schools in many towns and cities. You can use their course finder to see a comprehensive list of locations.

Berlin:

• Berlitz Sprachschule
• Goethe Institute
• Deutsch Akademie

Bremen:

• Berlitz Sprachschule

Cologne, Stuttgart, and Leipzig:

• Linguarama

Hamburg:

• Deutsch Akademie
• Goethe Institute

Mainz:

• EVOLANGUAGE — has schools across the country

Munich:

• Deutsch Akademie
• Goethe Institute

Frankfurt:

• Goethe Institute

Visas

The German Language Course Visa is an educational visa issued to foreigners who wish to complete an intensive German language course in the country.