This page compares the education systems of Germany and Australia.
Education System Overview
| Category | Germany | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| System Type | Public-private mix; Governance model: Decentralized (federal). School education is primarily the responsibility of Germany’s 16 Länder, which coordinate cross-state matters through the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK). [KMK] | Public/private mix; governance is shared between federal, state and territory governments. The Australian Government supports national policy and funding, while states and territories operate most public schools and regulate school education within their jurisdictions. [Australian Government] |
| Governing Body | Länder ministries of education hold primary responsibility for schools and coordinate through the KMK. At federal level, the education portfolio is held by the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ). [BMBFSFJ] | Australian Government Department of Education; state and territory education departments; ACARA for the Australian Curriculum and national assessment; TEQSA for higher education regulation; and ASQA for most nationally regulated vocational education providers. [TEQSA] |
| Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP) | 5.2% of GDP in 2022, the latest value in the World Bank indicator sourced from UNESCO UIS. [World Bank] | 5.1% of GDP in 2022, the latest value in the World Bank/UNESCO UIS government-expenditure series. [World Bank] |
Education Structure & Compulsory Schooling
| Category | Germany | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Age Range | Compulsory schooling normally begins in the year a child turns 6. The end point varies by Land and pathway because full-time compulsory schooling may be followed by part-time vocational schooling requirements. [KMK] | Rules vary by jurisdiction. Full-time school attendance generally begins at age 5 or 6; compulsory school attendance commonly continues to age 15 or 16, with education, training or employment participation requirements extending to about 17 in several jurisdictions. [Australian Government] |
| Total Compulsory Duration (Years) | 9 years of full-time schooling in most Länder; 10 years in Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen and Thuringia, while North Rhine-Westphalia uses nine or ten depending on the program. For young people not attending full-time upper secondary education, part-time vocational schooling typically lasts another 3 years. [KMK] | Usually about 10–12 years, depending on the state or territory and whether post-school-age participation requirements are included. |
| Pre-primary Education (ECE) Access | Optional; the participation rate for children aged 3 to under 6 was 95.0% on 1 March 2025. [Destatis] | Optional before compulsory school in most settings. In 2025, 91% of Australia's 4-year-olds were enrolled in a preschool program; 97% of enrolled children attended for at least 15 hours per week. [ABS] |
| Primary + Secondary Education Structure (Years) | Typically 4 + 5–6 + 2–3: primary school normally covers grades 1–4, followed by differentiated lower secondary pathways and upper secondary education. Primary school covers grades 1–6 in Berlin and Brandenburg. [KMK] | Commonly Foundation + Years 1–6 + Years 7–10 + Years 11–12, equivalent to a 13-year school pathway from Foundation to Year 12. School-stage naming and year-group arrangements vary slightly by jurisdiction. [ACARA] |
| Vocational vs. General Upper Secondary Split (%) | — | Approximately 17% vocational / 83% general among 15–19-year-olds enrolled at upper-secondary level in 2023, derived from OECD enrollment rates of 6.9% in vocational and 40.2% in all upper-secondary programs. [OECD] |
Academic Calendar & Instruction Time
| Category | Germany | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Year Start (Typical Month) | August/September, depending on the Land. | Late January or early February, depending on the state, territory and school. |
| Academic Year End (Typical Month) | June/July, depending on the Land. | December |
| Instruction Weeks per Year | Approximately 38 weeks, with calendars determined by the Länder. | Approximately 40 weeks, with school calendars set by individual jurisdictions. |
| Instruction Days per Year | About 188 teaching days on average, with variation between Länder and school calendars. [Eurydice] | — |
Grading System
| Category | Germany | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Primary/Secondary Grading Scale | Commonly a 1–6 scale, where 1 is the highest grade and 6 is the lowest; practices can vary by Land and school level. | Commonly A–E or equivalent standards-based reporting during primary and lower-secondary education. Senior-secondary assessment and certificates are administered separately by states and territories, with ATAR widely used for university selection. |
| Higher Education Grading Scale | Commonly 1.0–4.0 for passing grades, with 5.0 generally representing failure; institutions may use additional grading conventions. | Institution-specific; common classifications include High Distinction (HD), Distinction (D), Credit (CR), Pass (P) and Fail, usually accompanied by percentage marks. [ANU] |
Language of Instruction
| Category | Germany | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Instruction Languages (K–12) | German | English is the main language of instruction across Australian schools. |
| Other Official / Minority Instruction Languages (K–12) | Regional provision includes Danish, Sorbian and Frisian, with Low German also supported in relevant Länder. | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, Auslan and community languages may be used or taught through bilingual, language-revival and school-specific programs. |
School Provision & Access (K–12)
| Category | Germany | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Public School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | About 91% of students in general education schools attended public schools in 2023/24. [Destatis] | 62.8% of Australian school students attended government schools in 2025. [ABS] |
| Public School Tuition Fee (Annual, Local Currency) | $0 tuition at public general education schools. | $0 standard tuition for eligible resident students in government schools. Families may still incur costs for uniforms, materials, excursions and optional activities; separate fee rules can apply to some temporary or international students. |
| Public Schools Nationwide Availability | Yes. Public school provision is available nationwide and organized by the Länder and local authorities. | Yes. State and territory governments provide government-school systems throughout Australia, including metropolitan, regional and remote communities. |
| Private School Enrollment Share (K–12, % of Students) | 9% of students in general education schools attended private schools in 2023/24, totaling about 801,100 students. [Destatis] | 37.2% in 2025: 20.0% in Catholic schools and 17.2% in independent schools. [ABS] |
| Private Schools (Geographic Concentration) | — | — |
International Schools (K–12)
| Category | Germany | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Number of International Schools (Total) | — | — |
| Number of IB World Schools | 79 IB World Schools. [IB] | 197 IB World Schools currently offer at least one IB programme in Australia. [IB] |
| Main International Programmes Offered | International Baccalaureate, Cambridge, American, French and other national or bilingual curricula, depending on the school. | International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge International programs and Australian state or territory senior-secondary qualifications, depending on the school. |
Resources & Learning Environment (K–12)
| Category | Germany | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Teacher Qualification (Public Schools) | Typically university-level Lehramt training, commonly a Master of Education or equivalent state-examination route, followed by preparatory service and a further state examination. Requirements vary by Land. | Generally at least four years of higher education, including an accredited initial teacher education program or recognized equivalent, followed by registration with the relevant state or territory teacher-registration authority. |
| Average Class Size (Primary) | 21 students per primary class in the 2024/25 school year. [Destatis] | Approximately 23.1 students in 2023 using the OECD comparable primary class-size measure. [OECD] |
| Average Class Size (Lower Secondary) | About 19–26 students depending on school type in 2024/25: 19 at Hauptschulen, 21 at schools with two educational pathways, 25 at Realschulen, 26 at Gymnasien and 24 at schools with three pathways. [Destatis] | — |
| Average Class Size (Upper Secondary) | — | — |
System Performance & Learning Outcomes (OECD/PISA)
| Category | Germany | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| PISA Participation Years | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD] | 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2025. [OECD] |
| PISA 2018 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 500 / 498 / 503. [OECD] | 491 / 503 / 503 |
| PISA 2022 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 475 / 480 / 492. [OECD] | 487 / 498 / 507 |
| PISA 2025 Scores (Mathematics / Reading / Science) | 464 / 465 / 486. The corresponding OECD averages were 463 in mathematics, 461 in reading and 482 in science. [OECD] | 478 / 491 / 509 [OECD] |
| PISA Performance Trend 2000–2025 | Germany’s 2025 averages were the lowest recorded for the country across its PISA participation in mathematics, reading and science. Compared with 2022, mathematics fell by 11 points and reading by 15 points, while the 7-point change in science was statistically about the same. The longer-term data show lower performance than the levels recorded around the early-to-mid 2010s. [OECD] | Between 2022 and 2025, Australia's mathematics and reading scores were lower, while science was about the same. Science performance has remained broadly stable for more than a decade, while the decline in mathematics and reading extends a longer downward trend; the 2025 mathematics and reading scores were the lowest recorded for Australia in PISA. [OECD] |
| Strongest Subject Area (PISA 2025) | Science (Score: 486), followed by reading at 465 and mathematics at 464. [OECD] | Science — 509 points. [ACER] |
Higher Education System
| Category | Germany | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Higher Education Institutions (Total) | 421 higher education institutions in winter semester 2025/26. [Destatis] | 206 registered higher education providers at 30 June 2025. [TEQSA] |
| Number of Universities (Research Universities) | 112 universities in winter semester 2025/26. [Destatis] | 42 universities in 2026. The current total reflects the Australian university sector after the establishment of Adelaide University. [Study Australia] |
| Number of Universities of Applied Sciences / Colleges | 206 universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen), excluding a further 30 administrative universities of applied sciences, in winter semester 2025/26. [Destatis] | Australia has no separate university-of-applied-sciences category. At 30 June 2025, TEQSA listed 7 University Colleges and 156 Institutes of Higher Education. [TEQSA] |
| Main Institution Types | Universities; Universities of Applied Sciences (HAW/FH); pedagogical universities; theological universities; arts and music institutions; administrative universities of applied sciences. | Australian Universities, University Colleges and Institutes of Higher Education, alongside TAFE institutes and other vocational education providers operating in the broader tertiary sector. |
| Tertiary Enrollment Share by Ownership | — | — |
| English-Taught Degree Programmes (Bachelor + Master, Total) | Nearly 2,400 English-taught degree programs were offered by state-recognized higher education institutions in summer 2025, including about 420 bachelor’s and 1,930 master’s programs. [DAAD] | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in National Languages (%) | — | — |
| Share of Tertiary Programmes Taught in English (%) | 4% of bachelor’s programs and more than 18% of master’s programs were English-taught in summer 2025. [DAAD] | — |
| Main Global Ranking Used | QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] | QS World University Rankings 2027. [Study Australia] |
| Universities in Top 100 (Selected Ranking) | 4 in the QS World University Rankings 2027: Technical University of Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Heidelberg University and Freie Universität Berlin. [QS] | 9 Australian universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027 top 100. [Study Australia] |
| Universities in Top 500 (Selected Ranking) | 28 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. [QS] | 27 Australian universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027 top 500. [Study Australia] |
| Universities in Top 1000 (Selected Ranking) | — | 35 Australian universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027 top 1000. [Study Australia] |
| National Accreditation / QA Agency (Higher Education) | German Accreditation Council (Akkreditierungsrat), the joint institution of the Länder responsible for accreditation decisions covering study programs and higher education quality systems. [Accreditation Council] | Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), the national regulator for higher education providers. [TEQSA] |
| International Students (Total) | Approximately 420,000 international students and doctoral candidates in winter semester 2025/26, based on the DAAD snapshot-survey projection. [DAAD] | 481,851 onshore overseas higher education students in 2024, the latest completed official higher-education student dataset. Total overseas enrollment including offshore study was 589,288. [Australian Government] |
| International Students Share of Total Tertiary Enrollment (%) | 12.7% in 2023 under the OECD’s internationally comparable tertiary-student definition. [OECD] | 31% of onshore higher education enrollment in 2024. [Australian Government] |
Education Costs (Indicative)
| Category | Germany | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Public University Tuition Fees – Domestic / Regional (Annual, Local Currency) | Typically $0 tuition for bachelor’s and most master’s programs at state higher education institutions; semester contributions still apply. [DAAD] | For Commonwealth Supported Places in 2026, maximum student contributions range from approximately $3,398 to $12,479 USD per EFTSL, depending on field of study. These values are converted from AUD 4,738–17,399 using the Reserve Bank of Australia's 11 September 2026 AUD/USD rate of 0.7172. [Study Assist] [RBA] |
| Public University Tuition Fees – International / Non-EU (Annual, Local Currency) | Typically $0 tuition at many state institutions, but exceptions apply for some non-EU students in Baden-Württemberg and at selected institutions in Bavaria. [DAAD] | Average annual tuition for foreign students in public master's programs was $20,880 USD in the latest OECD comparable data. Actual fees vary substantially by institution and field of study. [OECD] |
| Typical Tuition Fees for English-Taught Programmes (Annual, Local Currency) | — | — |
| Language School Costs (Monthly, Local Currency) | — | — |
Major Education Updates & Policy Changes
| Category | Germany | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2010: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2010–2020: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2020–2024: Key Updates & Reforms | ||
| 2025–2026: Key Updates & Reforms |
General Overview (Narrative)
| Category | Germany | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | Germany operates a federal, decentralized education system in which the 16 Länder hold primary responsibility for school organization, curricula and examinations, while the KMK coordinates cross-state standards and recognition. Compulsory full-time schooling begins around age 6 and normally lasts nine years, or ten in several Länder, with part-time vocational schooling requirements applying afterward to some pathways. General education is predominantly public, with about 91% of students in public schools in 2023/24. Germany also maintains a large vocational sector centered on the dual system of workplace and school-based training. In PISA 2025, Germany scored 464 in mathematics, 465 in reading and 486 in science; science was the highest-scoring domain. Higher education comprised 421 institutions in winter semester 2025/26, while state-recognized institutions offered nearly 2,400 English-taught degree programs in summer 2025. Current changes include the phased legal entitlement to all-day primary-school care from August 2026 and DigitalPakt 2.0 from September 2026. | Australia operates a mixed public and private education system in which the Australian Government shares responsibilities with state and territory governments. Schooling normally follows a 13-year pathway from Foundation through Year 12, while compulsory attendance and participation ages differ by jurisdiction. Government schools enrolled 62.8% of students in 2025, with Catholic and independent schools accounting for the remaining 37.2%. English is the main language of instruction, alongside Indigenous-language, Auslan and community-language programs. Australia has participated in every PISA cycle since 2000. In PISA 2025, students scored 478 in mathematics, 491 in reading and 509 in science; mathematics and reading were lower than in 2022, while science was about the same. Higher education includes universities, University Colleges and Institutes of Higher Education, with 42 universities operating in 2026. The latest completed higher-education dataset recorded 481,851 onshore overseas students in 2024. Current changes include the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, preschool reforms, the transition to new higher-education funding arrangements and revised higher-education standards. |