Types of Institutions in Germany

The higher education system in Germany is diverse, thereby, providing access, fairness and quality education. Higher education system in Germany offers a range of different educational profiles and degrees.

The diverse forms of higher education institutions and the responsibilities they perform are managed by the federal states (Lander)  through the provisions of the “Higher Education Act”. Each state has its own  education laws and these laws specify the  responsibilities and duties which they are required to perform.

Germany has the following types of higher education institution:

• Colleges of Art and Music
• Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University
• Universities of Applied Sciences and universities of public administrative sciences
• Universities and higher education institutions: that includes universities, universities of technology/technical universities; distance studies/learning universities, universities of the federal armed forces, medical universities/schools, veterinary medical universities/schools, sports universities, church colleges and colleges of philosophy and theology, universities of education.
• Besides public higher education institutions, private universities that are state approved or recognized also exist for specific subject areas especially business, medicine, social studies etc.

Universities

Universities focus on academic teaching and research. They also deliver trans-disciplinary qualifications. Students can design their own course, i.e. they can choose core subject and prioritize them as per their wish. Most universities and universities of technology generally offer a broad range of subjects from theology, arts, law, economics and business administration, computer science, engineering etc

Universities also include church colleges, i.e. protestant and colleges of philosophy and theology (Catholic), and the corresponding university faculties.

These college’s provides training in  fine arts, design, performing arts and in music subjects like composition, directing, training on an instrument etc.Training in small groups is a vital attribute of the colleges of art or music.

• Duration: 4 to 5 years
• Degrees Offered
• Bachelor
• Master
• Diplom
• State examination
• Admission requirements: individuals must have  higher education entrance qualification called Allgemeine Hochschulreife.
• Language requirements :  proficiency in German can be proved by presenting the results of one of the following tests:
• TestDaF, i.e. Test Deutsch als Fremd-sprache: It is a German as a foreign language test.
• DSH, i.e. Deutsche Sprachprufung fur den Hochschulzugang auslandischer Studienbewerber: German language test for the admission of foreign study applicants. DSH 2 is for admission to higher education courses of study.

Universities of Applied Sciences

Offers practice-oriented training to prepare students for specific professions. They mainly offer degree programmes in engineering and fields of business, health and social studies, agricultural and forestry management, media and information studies as well as in design.

Universities of applied administrative sciences are maintained by the federation (Bund) and the states and educate and prepare students for higher intermediate or executive career paths in the public administration.

• Duration: 3 to 4 years
• Degrees Offered
• Bachelor
• Masters
• Diplom
• Admission requirements:  A University of applied sciences, i.e. Fachhochschule often requires from the student the internship experience to qualify for admission. Likewise, students must hold an FH entrance qualification or a comparable school leaving certificate or qualification.
• Language requirements : proficiency in German can be proved by presenting the results of one of the following tests
• Test Deutsch als Fremd-sprache (TestDaF): It is a German as a foreign language test.
• Deutsche Sprachprufung fur den Hochschulzugang auslandischer Studienbewerber(DSH): German language test for the admission of foreign study applicants. DSH 2 is for admission to higher education courses of study.
  

See details about various admission tests for university admissions.