Education System in Germany

Primary	Grundschule	1–4	6–10	4
Primary	Grundschule	1–6	6–12	6	Berlin and Brandenburg
Middle	Hauptschule	5–9	10–15	5	Leads to Hauptschulabschluss Lower Secondary Certificate/Diploma
Middle	Middle Maturity Certificate	5–10	10–16	6	Completion of Realschule leads to Mittlerer Schulabschluss (Realschulabschluss) General Secondary Certificate/Diploma
Middle	Hauptschule	5–10	10–16	6
Secondary	University Maturity Certificate	5–13	10–18	8	Completion of Gymnasium studies leads to Allgemeine Hochschulreife/Fachgebundene Hochschulreife Integrated Secondary certificate/diploma
Secondary	Gesamtschule		10–15	5	Leads to Mittlerer Schulabschluss/Hauptschulabschluss, Ubergangsberechtigung in die Gymnasiale Oberstufe Lower Secondary Certificate/Diploma
Secondary	Berufliches Gymnasium/Fachgymnasium		16–19	3	Leads to Allgemeine Hochschulreife Higher Secondary certificate/diploma
Secondary	Höhere Handelsschule (Commercial College)	11–12	17–18	2	Leads to Fachhochschulreife Vocational Secondary Certificate/diploma; not to be confused Fachhochschulen (a university degree).
Vocational	Vocational University Maturity Certificate	11–12	16–18	2	Fachhochschulreife Vocational Secondary Certificate/diploma
Vocational	Berufsschule (part-time)		15–18	3	Leads to Hauptschulabschluss, Mittlerer Schulabschluss, Vocational school-leaving certificate and professional certificate (Facharbeiterbrief/Kaufmannsgehilfenbrief/Gesellenbrief depending on professional sector) Vocational Secondary certificate/diploma
Vocational	Gymnasiale Oberstufe (Since 1972)		16–19	3	Leads to Allgemeine Hochschulreife Vocational Secondary certificate/diploma
Vocational	Fachschulen			3	Allgemeine Hochschulsreife, Fachgebundene Hochschulreife or Fachhochschulreife is required for admission. At completion students are awarded entry into a profession, recieve a diploma with initials BA for Berufsakademie to distinguish from other higher education diplomas.
Vocational	Ausbildung		19–20	2	Vocational training (apprenticeship).
Tertiary	Bachelor			3
Tertiary	Bachelor FH			4	Diplom degrees of the Fachhochschulen are FH Baccalaureus (Bachelor) degree; not to be confused with Fachhochschulreife (vocational secondary credential).
Tertiary	Masters			2	Masters degree (magister Artium/MA
Tertiary	Universität		19
Tertiary	Doctorate			2–4	2 - 4 year independent research & study program
Tertiary	University - post-graduate
Tertiary	Habilitation				Post-Doctorate degree

Primary Education

Between ages 3 - 5 the vast majority of German children attend voluntary kindergarten school where they are guaranteed places. Following this they move on to complete 4 grades of compulsory primary education "Grundschule" through to age 10. At the end of this period their performance is evaluated per a combination of academic records, teacher feedback and parent / teacher discussions. They are then placed in 1 of 3 tracks heading for 3 different kinds of secondary schools that affect their future education options.

Secondary Education

Secondary education proceeds according to the tracks in which individual students are placed (approximately one third each). These options are as follows:

Hauptschule , often called short-course secondary school takes between 5 - 6 years to complete. The emphasis is on preparation for a vocation, although geography, German, history, maths and one foreign language are also taught. On completion students either become apprentices, or enroll at vocational school through to age 18.
Realschule , sometimes also called intermediate school completes grades 5 - 10. This education is aimed at those targetting middle-level positions in government or business. In addition to subjects taught at Hauptschule, bookkeeping, computer skills, word processing, shorthand and a second foreign language are perscribed.
Gymnasium , similar to high school or grammar school in English, takes students all the way from grade 5 through to grade 13. Graduation confers the opportunity to apply to study on at university. Some pupils prefer to register for Gesamtschule school instead. Here homework assignments are classroom based and there is a more flexible choice of courses studied.

Vocational Education

Vocational training takes place at Berufsschulen or intermediate technical schools. Here students follow 2 to 3-year programs that prepare them for a profession. Specialist versions include Fachoberschule (higher technical schools) and Berufsaufbauschule (advanced vocational schools). After successful completion and an entrance examination known as the Fachhochschulreife, the way is then open for further education at a training college.

Tertiary Education

Germany's approximately 314 higher learning institutions (where average student numbers are around 6,000) include 81 academic and technical universities, 7 comprehensive universities, 8 teacher training colleges, 17 theological training seminaries, 126 profession-specific colleges, and a variety of creative academies.

The average undergraduate degree takes 7 years to complete as opposed to the minimum of 5. Following completion more advanced master's and doctorate degrees may be followed.

Resources:

Federal Ministry of Education and Research