Higher education in Germany

Good study opportunities, excellent and accessible universities

Higher education institutions in Germany

Over 400 institutions in Germany provide higher education. In this aim, they pursue different goals. Universities focus on acquiring knowledge of a subject and carry out research. By contrast, the teaching and research at universities of applied sciences is more oriented towards practical application and careers.

At art academies, gifted musicians, actors and visual artists acquire and develop their skills. Colleges of education are only found in Baden-Württemberg. They are solely concerned with the education of teachers.

The majority of universities and universities of applied sciences are publicly funded by the federal states. Alongside these, there are several private institutions, as well as theological colleges supported by one of the churches. Particularly amongst universities of applied sciences, almost as many are privately supported (92) as are funded by the state (106).

Higher education opportunities in Germany

Entry requirements for universities

Higher education entry requirements vary according to the type of institution. To study at university you need an Abitur (secondary school diploma), while for a university of applied sciences a Fachabitur (vocational diploma) is adequate as a school leaving certificate. In addition you have the right to freely choose your subject and place of study, making it possible to enrol even at centres of excellence. If the number of applicants exceeds the available number of student places, admission is restricted. In this case, selection is based on the average mark for the Abitur and the length of the waiting period between Abitur and applying for the student place. In addition, the universities may accept applicants according to their own admission criteria. Landing a place at university is thus easier in Germany than in the US or UK, where the institutions select their students themselves.

In the case of foreign applicants, the universities decide whether they fulfil the relevant acceptance criteria. In the final analysis, this is because the school leaving certificates of different countries are not necessarily comparable with one another. Often, however, it is sufficient if you have studied the same subject for a few semesters in your home country.

At art academies, on the other hand, it is your talent alone that counts, not your school leaving certificate. Interested parties must apply to the relevant colleges, which select their students themselves.

Higher education qualifications in Germany

Bachelor

The bachelor’s degree is the first level of graduation at a university and is accepted as a qualification for a profession. Most students, however, aim to achieve a least a master’s degree. Depending on the subject and institution, the normal study period is from three to four years.

Master

The purpose of a master’s programme is usually to deepen previous studies or explore an additional topic. It is equally possible to obtain a master’s degree at a university or university of applied sciences. The normal study period is between one and two years.

Diploma

In the 20th century, the diploma was the standard leaving qualification for most university courses in Germany. Since the Bologna Process, which was intended to harmonise study programmes and qualifications, diploma courses have now become the exception. The usual study period for diploma courses is roughly five years.

State examination

The state examination (Staatsexamen) used to be required for medicine, teaching professions and jurisprudence. Even today, these subjects form special cases in Germany. The state examination continues to be the normal graduation certificate in medicine. For teaching posts, the state examination was gradually replaced by other certificates, but state examinations still feature at the end of the course of study. On the other hand, legal studies may be concluded with a bachelor’s or mater’s degree, or also with a state examination. The last of these, however, is only required by judges, public prosecutors, lawyers and solicitors in order to be approved for their profession. By contrast, either of the other two certificates is sufficient for many other professions in business and administration.

Doctorate

In Germany, it is normally only possible to obtain a doctor’s degree at a university, after successfully completing a course of study. Many doctoral candidates teach on-site at their place of study, or collaborate on a research project with their supervisor. Research institutes and companies outside the university also offer positions to doctoral candidates. On the other hand, doctoral candidates may find structured doctoral programmes at graduate schools. Many doctoral candidates also support themselves with grants.

Postdoctoral teaching qualification

For a long time, the authorisation to teach (Habilitation) was an essential requirement for a professorship. Even today the academic title ‘Dr. habil’ still carries a high degree of kudos, but it has long ceased to be an admission ticket to a tenured professorship. Other career paths, such as junior professorships or heading up a junior research unit, now count as equally valid experience in many subject areas.

Working in higher education in Germany

Foreign staff are also very welcome at institutions of higher education in Germany. For this reason, many positions are also advertised internationally. Of the approximately 387,000 academics who were employed exclusively at universities in Germany in 2016, almost 46,000 held a foreign passport. This is equivalent to a proportion of around 12 per cent.

At many institutions the teaching situation is tense, owing to the high student numbers. Therefore any researcher who voluntarily takes on teaching duties at their institution – even in English – at least wins sympathy.