Germany Education — Free Public Schools, BAföG, Kita

German education is run by the 16 states (Bundesländer), not the federal government. So semesters, curricula, and even the school-leaving exam (Abitur) differ by state. The two essentials: (1) primary and secondary public schooling is effectively free, and (2) university tuition is essentially free as well — only an administrative fee of EUR 100–350 per semester (varies by state). Foreign residents' children can enrol in public schools on the same terms as Germans as long as they have a residence permit, which makes Germany particularly attractive to immigrant families.

School system overview

• Kita / Kindergarten (childcare and preschool): legal entitlement to a place from age 1. Free or income-linked fees (Kita-Beitrag) depending on city and state.
• Grundschule (primary): starts at age 6 for 4 years (6 in Berlin and Brandenburg).
• Secondary tracking: typically after grade 4 — Gymnasium (academic, university-bound), Realschule (intermediate), Hauptschule (vocational), or in some states Gesamtschule (comprehensive).
• Abitur: taken at the end of grade 12 or 13 at Gymnasium. Passing grants admission (Hochschulreife) to any German university.
• Berufsausbildung (vocational, "dual system"): 3 years combining school and on-the-job training — central to Germany's labour market.
• Hochschule (university): bachelor 3–4 years, master 2 years. Tuition essentially free.

Kita-Beitrag (childcare fees)

• Varies a lot by state and city. Berlin, Hamburg, and Rhineland-Palatinate are fully free. Bavaria covers the last year free.
• Elsewhere, fees range from EUR 0–500/month based on parental income, working hours, and number of children.
• From age 3, every child has a legal entitlement to a daycare place — local authorities must provide one. In big cities, however, places are chronically scarce.

BAföG (federal student aid)

• Full name: Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz. Aid for students and apprentices.
• Amount: up to EUR 992/month (as of 2026; subject to change), depending on parents' income.
• Repayment: half is a grant, half an interest-free loan (5-year grace period after graduation, capped at EUR 10,010 in repayment).
• Foreigner eligibility: broad — permanent residence holders, certain visas, EU citizens, refugees, and children of long-term resident parents may qualify. Pure student visas are generally excluded.

What foreign families should know

• Compulsory schooling (Schulpflicht) is strictly enforced — children of residents are automatically assigned a school at age 6. Homeschooling is essentially not allowed.
• Children with insufficient German are placed in a Willkommensklasse / Vorbereitungsklasse (preparatory class) for 1–2 years before joining regular classes.
• Recognition of Korean credentials is handled by the state's Anerkennungsstelle. You'll need certified translations of diplomas and transcripts.
• International schools (English or bilingual) are private and cost EUR 15,000–30,000/year — typically used by diplomats and assignees.

Things to watch

• School year start dates vary by state (usually late August to early September). Time your move accordingly.
• BAföG applications are best submitted 2–3 months before the semester starts — paperwork takes time.
• For university, DSH or TestDaF German-language tests are usually required (except for English-taught programs).

Official guidance: BAföG official, KMK school system, Anerkennung in Deutschland