Abendschule Aufnahme

If you are an adult and do not have a job, you can apply to a second-chance school.

People in employment who wish to obtain a higher school leaving certificate at a later date can take advantage of regular educational opportunities at Second Chance Schools (ZBW) or locations with school-leaving certificate-related courses in various ways. Those who are working at the time of starting the course attend part-time evening classes with a slightly reduced course. Part-time school-leaving certificate-related courses are offered at secondary levels I and II. Those who are not in employment attend a full-time course for upper secondary level. The duration of the course depends on the school-leaving qualification you are aiming for and your previous school education. Attendance is compulsory. Absences will only be excused if there are valid reasons. The school vacations for the state of Brandenburg apply to lessons at Second Chance Institutions. Second-chance education qualifications are recognized in all federal states in the Federal Republic of Germany.

The following qualifications can be obtained:

• Hauptschulabschluss/Berufsbildungsreife (leaving certificate in year 9) and extended Hauptschulabschluss/extended vocational training entrance qualification (leaving certificate in year 10)
• Realschulabschluss/Fachoberschulreife (completion of year 10), academic part of the Fachhochschulreife (leaving certificate after year 12)
• General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur; completion of year 13)

The full-time course is aimed at people who are not in employment. Lessons are therefore held during the day. The following qualifications can be obtained

• School-based part of the advanced technical college entrance qualification (leaving certificate after year 13) General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur; completion of year 13)

Anyone who is unable or unwilling to attend school regularly and is aiming for the Fachoberschulreife (intermediate school leaving certificate) or the Fachhochschulreife can attend the Telekolleg. School-leaving qualifications can also be obtained without attending a school, exclusively through a so-called non-pupil examination.

• informal application
• completed application form
• signed curriculum vitae in tabular form
• certified copy of the last certificate or original for submission
• Proof of professional activity/employment
• certified copy of the vocational certificate or original for submission or proof of two years of professional activity (only for the Abitur course)

Admission to the course for the subsequent acquisition of the Fachoberschulreife is open to anyone who

• have reached the age of 18,
• are employed or have been employed for at least six months and
• can provide proof of a secondary general school leaving certificate/vocational training entrance qualification or an equivalent qualification or have completed compulsory full-time schooling.

Low-paid employment in accordance with Section 8(1)(1) of the Fourth Book of the German Social Code is also deemed to be professional activity. Periods of military or civilian service, periods under the Youth Voluntary Service Act or the Federal Voluntary Service Act are recognized. The running of a family household is treated in the same way as employment. Unemployment proven by a certificate from the employment agency can be taken into account for up to three months. In individual cases, the admission requirements in number 2 may be waived for applicants who, due to special biographical circumstances, cannot improve their chances of accessing vocational training or qualifying professional practice without access to the second educational pathway, as long as this does not change the orientation of a course of study tailored to students with professional experience as such.

BAföG can be granted to finance this.

Application for the start of the school year at a second-chance school

Registration from mid-May to mid-March (exact dates are published annually), after which registrations will be considered subject to availability

The courses can be used to obtain the vocational school-leaving certificate (Hauptschulabschluss), the extended vocational school-leaving certificate (erweiterte Berufsbildungsreife) and the Fachoberschulreife (Realschulabschluss). Second-chance education courses are offered in part-time form (evening secondary school and evening grammar school courses) and in full-time form.

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport

Department 33

State education authorities