German schools abroad Admission

Do you live abroad or are you planning to move abroad and would like to enrol your child at a German school? Find out more about German schools abroad here.

The Federal Republic of Germany supports and promotes around 140 German schools abroad worldwide. They are generally run by non-profit school associations. At most schools, lessons are taught in both German and the respective national language. Pupils can obtain German, national and international school-leaving qualifications, which give them access to colleges and universities worldwide. The schools are open to pupils of all nationalities.

German schools abroad not only impart knowledge and language skills. They are places of encounter and intercultural dialog and actively foster partnerships with schools in Germany. This gives pupils the opportunity, for example, to get to know Germany locally as part of an exchange program. German schools abroad educate their pupils to be independent and to think critically and socially, and place great importance on teaching democratic values.

German schools abroad offer various courses of education and qualifications. In addition to the traditional German Abitur (abroad via the German International Abitur Examination - DIAP) as well as the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the Mixed Language International Baccalaureate (GIB), many schools abroad also offer intermediate school-leaving qualifications (Realschulabschluss, Hauptschulabschluss). Some German schools abroad offer dual vocational training or a technical secondary school. With this intercultural, skills-oriented and practical education, graduates have good career opportunities worldwide.

Further information can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office, on the Federal Government's portal for skilled workers from abroad, on the website of the Central Agency for Schools Abroad (ZfA) and the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder of the Federal Republic of Germany (KMK).

The respective school decides which documents must be presented at the time of enrollment.the respective school decides which documents must be presented at the time of enrollment.

There are no uniform admission requirements for German schools abroad.

The respective school decides on admission.

In the absence of bilateral agreements, the legal basis for the schooling of children of compulsory school age is the regulations of the respective country of residence, which can be obtained from the school.

• You contact the school in question and find out about the admission procedure.
• You register your child at the school.
• The school decides whether to accept your child at the German school abroad on the basis of individual requirements and school-specific criteria.
• You will receive information from the school as to whether or not your child will be accepted at the school.

The respective school sets the registration deadlines.

The processing time varies, depending on the situation at the individual school. Admission usually takes place once a year at the beginning of the school year.

The respective school sets the fees.