Mittlerer Schulabschluss der Berufsschule/Berufsfachschule; Beantragung der Anerkennung einer anderen modernen Fremdsprache als Ersatz von Englisch

With the successful completion of vocational school or vocational college, the intermediate school leaving certificate can also be acquired if necessary. For this purpose, in cases of particular hardship, appropriate knowledge of another modern foreign language can be demonstrated instead of English.

The intermediate school leaving certificate from a vocational school can also be awarded with a successful vocational school leaving certificate if an average grade of at least 3.0 was achieved in the final certificate and the vocational training was successfully completed. In addition, at least sufficient knowledge of English corresponding to the level of a five-year course must be demonstrated.

The intermediate school-leaving certificate from a vocational school of at least two years' duration leading to a completed vocational training course is awarded with a grade point average of at least 3.0 and proof of at least adequate knowledge of English corresponding to the level of a five-year course.

The qualified vocational qualification, the intermediate vocational school-leaving certificate and the intermediate vocational school-leaving certificate in cases of particular hardship can also be awarded if, instead of the subject English, appropriate knowledge of another modern foreign language (in principle any language actively spoken today) is demonstrated. The governments decide on the granting of the above-mentioned hardship regulation.

• To be submitted by the applicant to the school:
  • Application for the award of the intermediate school leaving certificate of the vocational school/vocational college in cases of particular hardship
  • Certificate of entry into the Federal Republic of Germany
  • Certificates from German schools since enrollment in the Federal Republic of Germany until graduation from high school
  • Certificates of schools attended in Germany prior to enrollment in school
  • Proof of the required language skills in the native language or another modern foreign language in certified copies
  • Curriculum vitae of the applicant
• To be submitted by the school with the application:
  • Application for the award of the intermediate school leaving certificate of the vocational school/vocational college in cases of special hardship
  • Copy of the certificate of entry into the Federal Republic of Germany
  • Copies of certificates from the schools attended in Germany prior to enrollment in school
  • Proof of the required language skills in the native language or another modern foreign language as a certified copy
  • Curriculum vitae of the applicant
  • Data protection information

  In addition, reference is made to the documents mentioned in § 28 (4) MSO, which must be submitted to the secondary school by March 1 if participation in the special performance assessment for the acquisition of the qualifying certificate of secondary school in the mother tongue is desired in accordance with § 28 (10) of the secondary school regulations (MSO).

The hardship regulation can be applied if pupils and persons who no longer attend school with a non-German mother tongue or language of origin have not had the opportunity to acquire the required level of proficiency in English in their previous career.

The prerequisite for the recognition of a case of hardship is therefore met if the lack of corresponding knowledge is not the responsibility of the pupils or their legal guardians.

This is generally the case if pupils were exempt from English while attending a German school. As a rule, this is not the case if pupils attend a German school (Mittelschule, Gymnasium, Realschule, Wirtschaftsschule or a corresponding special school that teaches according to the general school curriculum) from year 7 onwards and were able to acquire the necessary English language skills in a reasonable manner by being able to follow the lessons there adequately, for example after previous support in a German class or by attending an intensive German course.

In the interests of equal treatment of all pupils, it must also be examined whether and to what extent the pupils have been taught English at the schools they previously attended, for example abroad.

The governments are responsible for deciding whether to grant the above-mentioned hardship regulation.

There are two options for the recognition of another modern foreign language:

• Firstly, the required language skills can be proven by a language certificate generally recognized by the Ministry of State.
• Secondly, language proficiency in the native language can be proven in accordance with Section 28 (10) of the Secondary School Regulations (MSO) as part of the special performance assessment for the acquisition of the qualifying secondary school leaving certificate if the Ministry of State offers a performance test and examination tasks for the respective native language.

Sample examinations are available on the mebis learning platform to advise pupils (see "Further links").

Pupils from vocational schools and vocational colleges as well as applicants who no longer attend a school must apply for admission by March 1 at the secondary school that has a grade 9 and in whose catchment area they usually reside. Schools are requested to inform pupils of this option at the beginning of the school year. The requirements of § 28 MSO must also be observed.

In addition, applicants for whom the above-mentioned hardship provision may apply must also be advised that proof of the English language skills required for the qualified vocational qualification, the intermediate school leaving certificate of the vocational school or vocational school can be provided in accordance with § 28 para. 5 MSO as part of the special performance assessment for the acquisition of the qualifying secondary school leaving certificate by participating in the individual English examination.

The application must be submitted to the school.

The school checks the application beforehand and sends it to the government for further examination.

There are no specific deadlines to be met; proof of the required language skills can also be provided after completion of vocational training. Nevertheless, students at vocational schools and vocational colleges must be informed of this possibility at an early stage (at the beginning of the school year).

If pupils and persons who no longer attend a school wish to take part in the special assessment to obtain the qualifying secondary school leaving certificate in accordance with Section 28 (10) MSO, they must apply to the secondary school for admission by March 1 of the respective school year.