The German University System

In Germany, there are essentially three types of higher education institutions: The classical university (“Universität”), the University of Applied Sciences (“Fachhochschule”) and the film, music or art conservatories.

Universität (University):

At universities, the emphasis of teaching is strongly on theoretical aspects. The main aim is to impart the most profound and in-depth knowledge possible on the respective topic. Depending on the university, there is a very wide range of topics and subject areas. However, some institutions also specialize in certain subject areas, such as “Technische Universitäten” (technical universities) or “Pädagogische Hochschulen” (colleges of education). As a university student, you usually have a wide range of choices and can therefore plan your timetable, your course of studies and your key aspects freely. This requires a lot of self-organization, as you have to take care of picking the right courses, enrolling and so on all by yourself. Additionally, universities are always doing research, which is why it’s easier to do a doctorate here.

Fachhochschule (Polytechnic / University of Applied Science):

Fachhochschulen are – adapted to the English term – also known as “Hochschulen für angewandte Wissenschaften“ (Universities of Applied Sciences). At FHs, as they are called for short, the educational focus is more on practice than theory. This means that there are often longer practical phases with internships or application courses than at universities. The teaching itself is often more school-like, there are usually quite fixed study plans and rather limited options of choice. In addition, these schools are usually smaller, which often means that people studying the same subject know each other well. The range of subjects offered includes fields such as technology, economics, social studies or media. Some subjects are also offered exclusively at Universities of Applied Sciences. At the FHs, students obtain the same degrees as at a university, yet it isn’t as often possible to do a doctorate.

Film-, Musik- und Kunsthochschule (Film, music and art conservatory):

As the name suggests, these institutions are higher education establishments devoted solely to artistic subjects. Here you can study music, fine arts, drama, dance, industrial and fashion design, among others. Colleges for modern media also train directors, cinematographers, screenwriters and other film and television professionals. The working atmosphere here is often similar to that at Universities of Applied Sciences, with small student numbers and a strong practical orientation. However, to study here, you need to prove that you have outstanding talent. This is usually done by submitting application folders or aptitude tests. Many of these places are in great demand and therefore difficult to obtain.

In addition to the above-mentioned types of higher education institutions, Germany offers the possibility of completing a so-called “duales Studium” (dual course of study). Perhaps you have heard that there is an "Ausbildung", meaning a practical traineeship, for many professions in Germany: A learning program that lasts a few years and in which you receive practical training at a company and attend courses at a school alongside. It's common for nursing staff, lots of commercial professions, craftsmen and many more. A dual course of study combines this “Ausbildung” with a degree course. That means: You need a contract with a company that is willing to train you alongside your studies. This way your training is very practice-oriented and the start of your career is usually much easier than with a classical course of studies. However, for a dual course of studies, you usually need a very good knowledge of German and you have to be willing to invest a lot of time and effort: When the other students have their semester break, you will work at the company. However, you will usually be paid for your work and the tuition fees are also often covered by the companies. For such a course of studies, you will have to apply directly to a company in most cases. Often this works with a classic written application and selection interviews.

As in many other countries, there are both state-financed and private universities in Germany. The vast majority of students are enrolled at state universities and colleges. State universities have a very good reputation here; the German top performers in the worldwide university rankings are mostly state universities. However, for some subjects there are also outstanding private universities. These usually specialize in one or a few subjects. Overall, the quality of teaching is therefore comparable. Both formats are also open to German and international students in the same way. However, private universities often charge (high) tuition fees, while state universities only charge a comparatively low semester fee. There is, however, one exception for non-EU foreigners: Since educational policy in Germany is conducted by the federal states, the state of Baden-Württemberg is currently the only one that charges tuition fees for non-EU foreigners also at state universities. These are 1.500€ per semester.

Since the Bologna reform in Germany, as in most EU countries, you can obtain a Bachelor's and later a Master's degree. Some subjects, however, also lead to a so-called “Staatsexamen” (state examination).

Staatsexamen (state exam):

A few courses of study conclude with the state examination. In this case, there is a final examination organized by state committees. It is therefore not determined by the university, but by the respective federal state. You need to pass such a state examination if you want to work as a doctor, lawyer, teacher or pharmacist in Germany. The theoretical training at the university is followed by the first state examination, then you have to complete a practical training phase and finally pass the second state examination. The subjects of medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine and dentistry are subject to admission restrictions throughout the whole of Germany. In contrast to most other courses of study, you have to apply for this at a central office. You can find out how this works in our blog post.

Bachelor:

A Bachelor's is a universally recognized first degree. As a rule, it takes six to eight semesters of study. It is possible to study only one subject, but two major subjects or one major subject with one or two minor subjects, depending on the course of study and the university, are also offered. In addition, a distinction is made between a Bachelor of Arts, which is awarded mainly for artistic and humanities subjects, a Bachelor of Science, which is awarded in natural science subjects and the Bachelor of Engineering for engineering sciences.

Master:

If you want to deepen your knowledge or specialize, you can do a master's degree. The prerequisite for this is a successfully completed Bachelor's degree in a comparable subject. In some cases there are also restrictions for certain final grades. A Master's usually takes two to four semesters. There is also the distinction between Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Engineering.

For a doctorate, you write a research paper, a dissertation or doctoral thesis. It is difficult to determine the duration of a doctorate, as it depends very much on the subject and the respective agreement. Usually it amounts to about two to five years. After a successful doctorate, you will be awarded a PhD. There are two common models: In the traditional version, you work freely on your dissertation and receive advice and support from a supervisor, usually a professor of the faculty. If you want to do a doctorate, it is important that you look for this supervisor early on. However, some universities also offer a kind of doctoral program. Here you usually have three years time and work on your dissertation with several supervisors. The Hochschulkompass can help you choose a suitable university for your doctorate.

As you can see, the German higher education system is rather complicated. However, there’s no need to go crazy, just think about which type of school sounds most appealing to you and your personal learning behavior and of course where your desired subject is offered. You will learn the exact structures by yourself during your studies.