Education and Schools in Munich

As a university city, Munich highly values education, and the city has many excellent public and bilingual schools. Most expat children attend international schools in Munich where, besides being exposed to different cultures, they also receive an education in their home language.

Alternatively, you could send your children to a public or private school in Munich, where they are likely to integrate with local children and the local culture quicker than at international schools.

Public schools in Munich

Tuition for public schools is usually affordable or free from Kindergarten up to the university level, but the language of instruction is German. This can benefit younger students, but it’s often difficult for older students to adapt to.

Children typically attend Kindergarten at the age of three and start Grade 1 at Grundschule from age six. All pupils learn a standardised curriculum until Grade 4, after which they attend one of three types of schools: Hauptschule, Realschule or Gymnasium. The child’s academic ability frequently determines which school they attend, but the final decision rests with the parents.

Regardless of which kind of school they attend, all students have to complete at least nine years of education. Schooling is typically conducted during the morning, and they regularly receive a lot of homework, so they can’t get too involved in extracurricular activities.

• Hauptschule offers the same subjects as Realschule and Gymnasium but teaches at a slower pace and includes vocational courses. In Grade 10, students study at a vocational training school and then attend Berufsschule, where they receive further education and apprenticeship training until Grade 12.
• Realschule, on the other hand, is attended all the way through Grade 10, and students go straight to Berufsschule. Depending on their academic progress, Realschule students can go to a Gymnasium upon graduation.
• Gymnasium is generally accepted as being aimed at academically inclined students. It covers Grade 5 through 13, and students receive the Abitur qualification when they graduate.

Useful links

• Bavarian State Ministry of Education and Culture – Types of School

Bilingual schools in Munich

Munich is home to several public and private schools offering bilingual education. These schools typically teach in both German and English. Some, like St George’s School Munich and the Bavarian International School, offer international curricula such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the British syllabi.

Bilingual public schools are often free to attend, so parents will only have to budget for the cost of books, uniforms, and extracurricular activities, while private bilingual schools will have tuition fees attached. They are often popular among locals and expats, so we recommend submitting your children’s applications as early as possible.

International schools in Munich

International schools in Munich are more directly aimed at expat students and offer modern facilities and more extracurricular activities than most public and private German schools. Most international schools in Munich offer the International Baccalaureate curriculum, while a few offer curricula from specific countries, such as the UK and the US.

The benefits found at international schools come at a price, so fees can be high, particularly for senior grades. Space may be limited at these schools, so expat parents planning to move to Munich must apply as early as possible.

Read more

• International schools in Munich

Special-needs education in Munich

Schools in Munich are structured to support children with special needs in mainstream classrooms. The city’s education system prioritises inclusion, but there are also specialised schools for those whose needs cannot be accommodated in mainstream classrooms.

Typically, public schools in Munich will conduct assessments in kindergarten as part of their early intervention strategy. Students are then provided accommodations, and teachers receive training. Some international schools also offer a special-needs education department, but we recommend contacting specific schools to find out about their options.

Useful links

• The Bavarian Special Schools

Tutors in Munich

Munich’s residents value education, so tutors are widely used to improve and assist children’s schooling. Tutors might assist in specific and more complex subjects such as maths or science.

You’ll find that expat parents may hire a tutor to help their children learn German or maintain proficiency in their mother tongue. Tutors are further used to prepare for important tests or university entrance exams.

Your child may also benefit from having a guiding hand in navigating a new school system or just to build some confidence.

Useful links

• Aktiv Language School Munich
• LearnPick