Wichtiger Hinweis
These types of school are available
Stand: 11.06.2025
Information on secondary schools
Here you can take an interactive look at the options offered by the school system:
Overview of school types
Elementary school is the first school to be attended. It comprises grades 1 to 4.
The pupils learn in an interdisciplinary way. The content is often based on topics from their everyday lives. Elementary school supports them in the development of their personality.
Secondary schools build on the content and skills taught at elementary school.
More information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs
Special schools teach children and young people in particular who need extra support with their learning. They receive targeted support and individual guidance.
Special features
- Classes 5-9
- Small classes
- Class teacher principle (the class teacher teaches most subjects themselves)
- General education
- Intensive support in finding a career
- Practical orientation
- Individual support
School-leaving qualifications
- Secondary school certificate (reduced theory)
- Successful completion of the learning course
- Individual certificate for pupils who do not take a final examination at the end of year 9
Further information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs
Secondary schools are the only type of secondary school to continue the class teacher principle, i.e. the class teacher teaches most subjects themselves. Special features of secondary schools are the early vocational orientation of pupils and intensive project work.
Special features
- Classes 5-9
- Class teacher principle
- General education
- High practical orientation
- Individual support and personal development
- Teaching of everyday skills
- Increased vocational orientation in the areas of technology, business and social affairs
- Preparatory classes V1 (10th grade), V2 (11th grade): These classes prepare students for the intermediate school leaving certificate. They follow on directly from the 9th standard class. The subject matter of the 10th M-grade (intermediate school leaving certificate) is not taught in one year, but in two. This leaves more time for practicing and consolidating. Students can take part if they have the qualifying secondary school leaving certificate. They need a grade point average of 2.5 or better.
- Mittlerer Reife-Zweig (M-Zweig) from year 7 - year 10: The M-Zweig from year 7 is an educational program with its own curriculum for particularly high-performing students. The 10th grade of the M branch concludes with an intermediate school-leaving certificate. This is equivalent to the Realschule or Wirtschaftsschulabschluss.
Qualifications
Even if it sounds similar, the "Mittelschule" does not automatically award the "Mittlerer Schulabschluss". The following qualifications can be obtained at the Mittelschule.
- Successful secondary school leaving certificate (passing the 9th grade)
- Qualifying secondary school leaving certificate ("Quali") (passing the "Quali" exam)
- Intermediate school leaving certificate in the M-train or in the V-class
Further information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Education:
The business school is a pre-vocational school. It provides a general education and basic vocational training in the vocational field of business and administration.
Special features
- Start from grade 5, but entry into grades 6, 7, 8 and 10 is also possible
- Subject teacher principle (different teachers teach the subjects)
- General education
- Pre-vocational education
- In-depth basic commercial education, combined with digital education
- High practical relevance
- Subject "Personal development" from year 6 onwards
- Individual focus and support in the compulsory subjects through:
- Modular electives from year 7
- Elective modules (technical, economic, social) from year 9 onwards
Graduation
- Intermediate school leaving certificate after year 10 or 11
Further information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Education:
https://www.km.bayern.de/lernen/schularten/wirtschaftsschule
The Realschule prepares students for many different career paths. After secondary school, there are various options for further education.
Special features
- Grades 5 to 10
- Subject teacher principle (different teachers teach the subjects)
- Extended general education
- Teaching of theory and practice
- Constant reference to the world of learning
- Three educational tracks that focus on the content of lessons from year 7 onwards:
- Focus on mathematics, science and technology,
- Focus on the economic field,
- Focus on foreign languages; the training direction can be supplemented by a focus on music and design, nutrition and health and social issues.
All secondary modern schools offer the first three specializations. The fourth is determined by each school itself. The decision for a specialization is not made until the 6th grade.
Qualifications
- Intermediate school leaving certificate
Further information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Education:
https://www.km.bayern.de/lernen/schularten/realschule
The Bavarian Gymnasium leads to the general higher education entrance qualification and provides a broad, in-depth general education. This lays the foundation for university studies or entry into professional life.
Special features
- Grades 5 to 13
- Subject teacher principle (different teachers teach the subjects)
- All pupils learn at least two foreign languages
- From Year 8 onwards, there are specializations in the chosen field of study. In music, an instrument is learned from Year 5 onwards.
- There are six areas of study:
- Linguistic
- Musical
- Scientific-technological
- Economics
- Social sciences
- Humanistic
Particularly high-achieving pupils can reduce the number of school years from nine to eight. This is possible through individual learning time and pedagogical support.
Pupils at grammar schools learn different languages. Which languages are possible depends on the type of education. As a rule, English, Latin and French are offered at all grammar schools. Depending on the course offered, (Ancient) Greek, Russian, Spanish, Italian or Chinese are also available.
If a school offers more than one course, it will inform the students which choice would make sense for them.
Qualifications
- Secondary school certificate after year 9
- Intermediate school leaving certificate after year 10
- General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur)
More information on the website of the Ministry of Education: