From the age of 3 to 5/6 most children go to Kindergarten. This is optional and classed as Pre-school education. In some parts of Germany special types of transition from pre-school to primary education (Vorklassen, Schulkindergärten) exist.

Primary education (Grundschule) takes place 1st - 4th grade (age 6 to 10). Grades 5 and 6 constitute a phase of particular support, supervision and orientation with regard to the pupil's further educational path and it's particular focuses. In some parts of Germany, the orientation stage is organised as a seperate organisational unit independent of the standard school types.

Secondary Level 1 education starts at grade 6 or 7 (depending on which part of Germany you live in). Pupil's go to Hauptschule, Realschule, Gesamtschule or Gymnasium. Usually pupils with the lowest grades go to Hauptschule and can get a First General Education Qualification (Hauptschule leaving certificate) after grade 9 (age 15). Realschule must be left after grade 10 (age 16) and offers no further education. Pupil's receive the "Mittlerer Schulabschluß" (Realschule leaving certificate) and can then go to a Gesamtschule or Gymnasium if their grades are good enough.

Secondary Level 2
students who leave the Hauptschule and Realschule can go on to the Vocational Education in the Berufsschule and training - on - the - job (Dual System).
All other student go on to the "Gymnasiale Oberstufe" to study for their Abitur. This can be obtained in different school types: Gymnasium or Gesamtschule.

Once students have the Abitur they can receive higher education as followed:

Universities

The universities, technical universities (Technische Universitaten/Technische Hochschulen), comprehensive universities (Universitaten-Gesamthochschulen ) and institutions offering only specific universitylevel subjects are responsible for conducting research, teaching and studies as well as promoting highly qualified young scientists and artists. Therefore, they are entitled to award doctorates (Promotionsrecht) and to certify additional academic achievements in research and teaching of a specific discipline (Habilitationsrecht). They offer a range of subjects from theology and the humanities to law, economic and social sciences, natural and engineering sciences, agricultural science and medicine. However, universities also comprehend institutions specializing in medicine, veterinary medicine, administration science and sports science as well as two Bundeswehr universities for officers in the federal armed forces.

The UniversitatenGesamthochschulen (comprehensive universities), in Hesse and North-Rhine/Westphalia combine under one roof research, teaching and study functions otherwise carried out by universities, Fachhochschulen and sometimes also Kunsthochschulen and Musikhochschulen (colleges of art and music). The distinguishing feature of UniversitatenGesamthochschulen is that they offer integrated study programmes (integrierte Studiengange) combining within a tiered system in terms of content and duration the educational objectives of university courses and the degree programmes of Fachhochschulen. Therefore, UniversitatenGesamthochschulen run study programmes of varying durations leading to different degrees.

Fachhochschulen (Universities of Applied Sciences)

Fachhochschulen serve a specific purpose of their own in the context of the function common to all higher education institutions of providing an academic education. Most of their courses of study are offered in the engineering sciences, economics and business studies, agricultural science, social welfare, librarianship, documentation and information science as well as design and form. The courses of study themselves and the organization of teaching and study are very much oriented to the demands of professional practice. The research and development work performed at the Fachhochschulen is likewise aimed at specific applications and is complemented by scientific consultancy work and organized technology transfer activities.

Padagogische Hochschulen (Teacher Training Universities)

Padagogische Hochschulen train teachers for Grundschulen and certain types of lower secondary school as well as Sonderschulen (special schools). There is also a course leading to a Diplom in education sciences (Diplom-Padagoge ). All other types of teachers are trained at universities, technical universities Technischen Universitaten/ Technischen Hochschulen, Gesamthochschulen as well as Kunsthochschulen and Musikhochschulen (colleges of art and music). In the 1970s, most of the Padagogische Hochschulen became part of universities. Nowadays they exist in their own right only in three Lander (Baden-Wurttemberg, SchleswigHolstein and Thuringia).

Kunsthochschulen (Colleges of Art) and Musikhochschulen (Colleges of Music)

Kunsthochschulen and Musikhochschulen offer courses of study in the visual, design and performing arts and in musical disciplines, some of them even in the related scientific disciplines (science of art, history of art, musicology, history of music, music education).
It is one of the main distinguishing features of a Kunsthochschule or Musikhochschule that the artistic training takes the form of individual instruction or instruction in small groups (classes).
Art and music courses of studies lead to a Diplom (first degree), to the nomination of a Meisterschuler (member of a master class), the kunstlerische Reifeprufung (artistic final examination) or the "Konzertexamen".

Apart from the above-mentioned courses for artistic training the colleges of art and music also offer teacher training courses of study entitling graduates to start a career as an art or music teacher at school after having passed the relevant Staatsprufung and completed the Vorbereitungsdienst.

Berufsakademien (Professional Colleges)

Berufsakademien (Professional Colleges) combine a three-year academic education and training on the job.

Distance learning

Apart from higher education institutions which require the presence of the student, there are others offering correspondence courses. The Fernuniversitat-Gesamthochschule Hagen, for instance, runs university-level courses leading both to Diplom and Magister degrees.


hope this helps (sorry it's so long )