Germany University

Part 3 - Continuing from "University System in Europe" - by Anne-Marie D In Germany, you need the 'Abitur' to be admitted to higher education. You achieve this diploma after taking examinations following a 3 year preparation course (soon to be 2 years in most Bundeslaender) to which you can only be admitted if you have the proper qualification. This in reality means that children as of grade 5 on have to be on the 'fast-track' to be able to pass Abitur and study at University. Once the Abitur is passed, a student can apply to Universities, but also to Technische Hochschule and Fachhochschulen. 'Hochschule' are more practically oriented and always include an internship as part of the curriculum whereas universities are more theoretically oriented. After finishing your course, which can take from 4-6 years, you'll be awarded the 'Diplom' title. Germany is trying to convert to the more international qualifications of 'Bachelor' and 'Master' but to make it easy J it depends where you study if the former Diplom will be a Bachelor (graduates from Fachhochschule) or a Master (graduates from Universities and Technische Hochschule) in the future. More to follow...