Obtaining a Secondary School Diploma Later in Life

In Germany, the Hauptschulabschluss is the first general education school diploma. It is earned upon successful completion of the 9th grade. It certifies that the student is eligible for vocational school. As such, this diploma is an important first step toward vocational training.
The qualified Hauptschule diploma can be earned by passing additional assessments (exams) at the end of the ninth school year and achieving a specified grade point average. It qualifies the student to attend the tenth grade.

At a vocational school

The Vocational Preparation Year (BVJ) combines the acquisition of the secondary school diploma with vocational preparation. The BVJ offers the opportunity to attend a vocational school without already having a school diploma. The admission requirement is that the nine years of full-time compulsory education have been completed.
Students with sufficient German language skills (at least A2) can participate in the vocational preparation year (BVJ). Students without knowledge of the German language can participate in the Vocational Preparation Year with language support (BVJ-S), as outlined in the 2011–2016 Integration Report of the State of Saxony-Anhalt. In the BVJ, students are introduced to two vocational fields (e.g., metalworking, woodworking, or food and home economics) in addition to general and subject-specific content. A work placement lasting several weeks is an integral part of the one-year program. Furthermore, the students’ specific support needs are taken into account.
The BVJ-S focuses the one-year school program on improving German language skills. Unlike the BVJ, the BVJ-S is specifically designed for students with little or no knowledge of German. If necessary and provided there are enough students, a school may also establish literacy classes.
The BVJ-S can be taken prior to the BVJ. It is also possible to complete the BVJ-S early, as soon as the student has sufficient German language skills to participate in classes in another educational program.

In brief:

Certificate	Secondary School Diploma
Requirements	Compulsory full-time schooling completed Sufficient knowledge of German (otherwise, BVJ language course)
Application	Directly to the respective vocational school

At an evening secondary school

At an evening secondary school, classes are held in the evenings. The admission requirement is that students must be at least 18 years old upon enrollment.
Students without a school-leaving certificate first complete the “preparatory course,” which lasts half a year. This course provides a general education and is intended to prepare students for their future educational path. Once participants have passed the preparatory course, they are eligible to enroll in the first school year. At the end of the first school year, students can earn their Hauptschule diploma.

In brief:

Diploma	Secondary School Diploma, Advanced Secondary School Diploma
Requirements	Must be at least 18 years of age upon enrollment. The school authority decides on exceptions Graduation certificate from the 8th grade of secondary school or an equivalent certificate Aptitude interview (if no leaving certificate is available)
Application	Submit to the respective school authority Deadlines: Preparatory course: by December 1; 1st school year: by April 1

Further Information

Information on daily life at vocational schools can be found in the brochure *Paths to a Vocational Future* published by the Ministry of Education of the State of Saxony-Anhalt.

Regulations, decrees, and laws regarding evening schools—such as those concerning admission requirements, admission procedures, subjects, and curriculum—can be found on the website of the Ministry of Education of the State of Saxony-Anhalt.

Evening secondary schools:

Magdeburg: “Oskar Linke” Comprehensive School
Halle (Saale): “August Hermann Francke” Comprehensive and Secondary School

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