The Quadriga

Germany has a long tradition in education, science and research. The history of many higher education institutions extends back over many centuries. Following the destruction caused by the Second World War, an education and research landscape has evolved in Germany which (particularly since German unification) is more extensive today than ever before. 349 higher education institutions are located throughout Germany. Those interested in studying in Germany can choose between universities and university-status institutions, such as the technical universities, the Fachhochschule institutions, or the colleges of art, music and film. All state-maintained higher education institutions are open to students of all nations.

Since the days of higher education reformer, Wilhelm von Humboldt, (1767-1835) the principle of the "indivisibility of research and teaching" has prevailed at Universities in Germany. Accordingly, German Universities are not merely institutions which provide education and training, but are also places at which independent, pure, and applied research is pursued. "Pure education and science" itself demands that students engage in strict academic work. Consequently, the length of studies is higher than in many other countries.

Universities award the academic degrees of Diplom and Magister Artium as well as the doctorate. They have the right to confer the habilitation, the professorial teaching qualification, and can qualify university professors. The new Higher Education Act (HRG) opened up opportunities for completing degree courses with internationally compatible qualifications, i.e. Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Universities are increasingly making use of this opportunity.

University faculties and schools incorporate the following study fields: medicine, science, engineering, arts and humanities, law, theology, economics and social sciences, and agriculture and forestry. The broad range of disciplines offered within the faculties and schools facilitates interdisciplinary study or respective specialization, right up to the advanced theoretical fields of a particular science. Many universities have significant libraries and archives which support student studies and personal focuses. Universtity students can use a free internet access.

Although university studies are based on firm regulations, most disciplines do provide opportunities for students to pursue independent and individual research interests.

Originally, and as the name implies, the technical universities restricted their teaching to technical and engineering disciplines. However, in the course of time, they have developed into more comprehensive higher education institutions. Hence, students can now also study arts and humanities degree courses at the technical universities. Nevertheless, the focus of their activities continues to be directed towards engineering and science.

Students are increasingly deciding to study at one of Germany's Fachhochschule institutions, particularly because the studies are shorter and have a more practical focus than is the case in university studies with their greater research focus. The term Fachhochschule is often translated as "University of applied sciences" to reflect the higher educational and practical nature.

The education and training provided by the colleges of art and music in Germany aim to prepare students for careers as professional artists or musicians, as well as teachers in artistic subjects. Studies at a college of music or art differ substantially from those at a university.

Apart from the above-mentioned types of higher education institution, Germany also has colleges of education at where teachers are trained for primary schools, lower secondary schools, special needs schools, and, in some cases, standard secondary schools and the lower grammar school classes. In general, however, teacher training has been integrated into the university structure.

The comprehensive universities developed when a university, a teacher training college, a Fachhochschule and, in some cases, a college of art and music were merged to form a single institution. Consequently, comprehensive universities provide students with greater choices and an opportunity to change their degree courses and degrees while still studying.

Germany also has a number of higher education institutions which focus on very specific subject areas, such as the schools of medical and veterinary science in Hanover (Medizinische Hochschule and Tierärztliche Hochschule) or the medical university in Lübeck (Medizinische Universität).

The Deutsche Sporthochschule in Cologne (sport) and the Kunsthochschule für Medien in Munich (art and media) train highly-qualified experts.

The Filmhochschule in Munich and Filmhochschule in Potsdam-Babelsberg as well as the Filmakademie in Ludwigsburg offer degree courses which cover the whole range of film, TV, and media studies. Finally, the Hochschule für Verwaltungswissenschaften in Speyer offers postgraduate degree courses in administrative sciences for German civil servants, whereby foreign students are regularly enrolled in courses, for example, educators from developing countries.

Besides the state-maintained institutions, there are also several, generally smaller universities maintained by other organizations, for example, church institutions. And last but not least, students can choose to attend a small number of privately-maintained universities and colleges.