Family & School· 5 min read
Private & international schools: how to apply
The types of private school in Germany, what they cost in principle, and the application timeline — waitlists, open days, trial days and documents.
Germany's school system is overwhelmingly public and free — private schools are the exception, not the default. But for international families they matter: English-language teaching, a curriculum that travels (IB, Cambridge), or simply avoiding a mid-career language jump for the child.
Know the three types
- State-approved private schools (Ersatzschulen): follow the German curriculum, fulfil Schulpflicht automatically, and are legally required to keep fees moderate — many scale them by parental income. Includes most Waldorf, Montessori and church schools.
- International schools: teach in English (often IB or Cambridge), used by expat and internationally mobile families. Fees are substantially higher and vary widely — check each school directly.
- Bilingual public schools and public schools with international/English tracks: free, often excellent, and the most overlooked option — several big cities have state international schools with no or low fees.
Watch out: Schulpflicht still applies at a private school: it must be state-recognized for attendance to count. Established schools are — but if in doubt, ask the school directly how Schulpflicht is fulfilled in its Bundesland.
The application, step by step
- 1Start early — a year ahead is normal, and popular schools in Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and Hamburg run waitlists. For international schools, relocating families can often join mid-year (rolling admission); ask.
- 2Visit the open day (Tag der offenen Tür) — for many schools this is a soft prerequisite, and it's where you gauge whether the school fits.
- 3Submit the application: the school's own form, recent report cards (with translations if not German/English), and often a short motivation questionnaire for the parents.
- 4Expect a conversation or trial day (Probetag/Probeunterricht) for the child, and an interview for the parents.
- 5Offer, contract, and usually a registration fee and one-to-three months' deposit. Read the notice-period clause — private school contracts have real cancellation terms.
- 6Ask directly about sibling priority, income-scaled fees, and scholarships (Stipendien) — many Ersatzschulen have them and don't advertise it.
Tip: Fees at recognized German private schools (Ersatzschulen) are partly tax-deductible as Sonderausgaben — keep the invoices for your tax return.