Fachoberschule

In NRW, the Fachoberschule is offered in different variants with different qualifications and different requirements for attending the respective type of Fachoberschule. Depending on the requirements, you can acquire the Fachhochschulreife (Annex C, APO-BK) or the Allgemeine Hochschulreife or Fachgebundene Hochschulreife (Annex D, APO-BK).

If you choose a course at a Fachoberschule within Annex C, you have two different options depending on your previous education:

Fachoberschule (Annex C)

Fachoberschule grades 11 and 12

Goal:

Acquisition of vocational knowledge, skills, abilities and the entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences (grades 11 and 12)

Lessons:

In grade 11, you will generally work three to four days a week as part of a work placement in a (training) company or other training position. You will also receive 12 hours of instruction per week at a vocational college (part-time instruction).

In year 12, you will expand your vocational knowledge, skills and abilities and prepare for the Fachhochschulreife examination in full-time lessons.

In the vocational learning area, the profile subjects as well as mathematics, natural sciences (only in year 12), English, computer science or business informatics (only in year 12) and economics (only in year 12) are taught.

Interdisciplinary subjects are German/communication, religious education, sport/health promotion (only in year 12) and politics/social studies. Further subjects can be chosen from the differentiation area (only in year 12), depending on what is on offer and individual inclination.

Graduation:

If you successfully complete the course, you will be awarded the Fachhochschulreife.

Follow-up options:

• Vocational training
• Study at a university of applied sciences
• in the field of social work: Technical college

Technical college (Annex C)

Technical college for experienced professionals - grade 12 B

Goal:

Deepening professional knowledge, skills and abilities and acquiring the entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences (for experienced professionals - grade 12 B)

Lessons:

In the vocational learning area, the profile subjects as well as mathematics, natural sciences, English, computer science or business informatics and economics are taught.

Interdisciplinary subjects are German/communication, religious education, sport/health promotion and politics/social studies. Further subjects can be chosen from the differentiation area, depending on what is on offer and individual inclination.

Graduation:

If you successfully complete the course, you will be awarded the Fachhochschulreife.

Follow-up options:

• Study at a university of applied sciences
• After completing the course, students with professional experience can acquire a subject-specific or general higher education entrance qualification in one year at the Fachoberschule grade 13 (FOS 13).

Fachoberschule (Annex D)

Fachoberschule, year 13

The Fachoberschule, grade 13 introduced in NRW is called Berufsoberschule in other federal states.

If you opt for a Fachoberschule course within Annex D, the following applies:

Objective:

Deepening of vocational knowledge, skills and abilities and acquisition of the general or subject-specific higher education entrance qualification (for those with professional experience)

If you have the Fachhochschulreife and vocational training or many years of professional experience, you can obtain the general or subject-specific higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) in one year at the vocational college in the Fachoberschule grade 13 (FOS 13).

This course builds on the one-year Fachoberschule (grade 12 B) for those with professional experience and forms the second stage of a two-year full-time course at the Fachoberschule, which leads to a general or subject-specific higher education entrance qualification.

Teaching

The full-time course lasts one year.

General higher education entrance qualification and second foreign language:

To obtain the general higher education entrance qualification, you must demonstrate knowledge of a second foreign language. In the Fachoberschule (FOS 13), this is possible through

• Proof of at least four years of continuous instruction at lower secondary level or instruction at a vocational college totaling 320 hours and a final grade of sufficient or
• Acquisition of a foreign language certificate at level B 1 (in accordance with the framework agreement of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of November 20, 1998.

Qualifications

If you successfully complete the course, you will be awarded the general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) or, if you cannot provide evidence of a second foreign language to the required extent, the

subject-specific higher education entrance qualification.

Follow-up options:

• With a general higher education entrance qualification: study at all universities
• With a subject-specific higher education entrance qualification:
  • Study relevant courses (oriented towards the school subject areas/specialist focus) at all universities in Germany
  • Study at all universities of applied sciences

This is a matter for the school authorities, if necessary:

• a copy of the last school report
• possibly passport photos
• possibly further documents depending on the school.

To be admitted to the Fachoberschule grades 11 and 12, you must have a secondary school leaving certificate (Fachoberschulreife) or the entitlement to attend the gymnasiale Oberstufe.

For admission to technical secondary school grade 12 B, you must have a secondary school leaving certificate (Fachoberschulreife) or the entitlement to attend the gymnasiale Oberstufe as well as completed relevant vocational training or at least four years of relevant work experience. The vocational training/professional experience must be oriented towards the school subjects or the subject specializations.

For admission to the Fachoberschule grade 13 (FOS 13), you must have the Fachhochschulreife and at least two years of successfully completed relevant vocational training or at least five years of relevant professional experience. The vocational training/professional activity must be oriented towards the subject area or subject focus.

• Pupils can submit their application for the Fachoberschule via the Internet portal Schüler Online.
• The respective vocational college decides on the application and informs the parties involved of the decision via the internet portal and in writing.

The technical secondary school for experienced professionals - grade 12 B

• is completed in one full-time school year or
• alternatively in two part-time school years or
• in part-time form in the last two years parallel to dual vocational training.

Fachoberschule

• Fachoberschule Annex C:
  • Acquisition of vocational knowledge, skills and abilities and the entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences
  • In the case of completed vocational training or corresponding professional experience: Deepening of vocational knowledge, skills and abilities and acquisition of the entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences
• Fachoberschule Annex D:
  In the case of the Fachhochschulreife and relevant, completed vocational training or relevant professional experience of at least 5 years: further qualification to acquire the general higher education entrance qualification or, in the absence of a second foreign language, the subject-restricted higher education entrance qualification.