A Kolleg (German from Latin ''collegium'') in Germany is a three-year school of

adult education Adult education, distinct from child education, is a practice in which adults engage in systematic and sustained self-educating activities in order to gain new forms of knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values. Merriam, Sharan B. & Brockett, Ralp ...

, preparing students for the exams leading to the general university entrance qualification, the ''

Abitur ''Abitur'' (), often shortened colloquially to ''Abi'', is a qualification granted at the end of secondary education in Germany. It is conferred on students who pass their final exams at the end of ISCED 3, usually after twelve or thirteen year ...

(Allgemeine Hochschulreife)''. Different from the otherwise similar German evening school, ''

Abendgymnasium An Abendgymnasium or "Evening Gymnasium" is a German class of secondary school for adults over the age of 19 which allows them to gain the Abitur. Classes are usually held after 17:30 at night, although some classes may be held in the mornings fo ...

'', Kolleg classes are in the daytime. Both are state-run schools and do not charge tuition fees. Kolleg students can be eligible for financial aid as regulated in the German Federal Training Assistance Act, '' Berufsausbildungsförderungsgesetz''. As a rule, the minimum entrance requirements for students are: 19 years of age or older, a

Mittlere Reife The Mittlere Reife (, lit. ''"Middle Maturity"'') is a school-leaving certificate in Germany that is usually awarded after ten years of schooling. It is roughly comparable with the British GCSE. The official name varies between the federal stat ...

school leaving certificate, and a formal vocational training completed. However, there are exceptions from that rule, e.g., previous long-term work experience (at least three years) without formal qualification can be recognized as sufficient substitute for vocational training, which also includes raising children and running a household. Kollegs may additionally require applicants to pass an entrance examination. Schools are in the competence of each federal state ''( bundesland)'', so that regulations may vary from bundesland to bundesland. The German term ''Kolleg'' should not be confused with the English term ''college''.

Other meanings of ''Kolleg'' in German

* The word ''Kolleg'' is also used in some names of schools of different types, e.g.,

Aloisiuskolleg The Aloisiuskolleg is a co-educational, Jesuit (Catholic), University-preparatory school in Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Germany, which includes boarders. It is named for Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. Highly ranked academically, it is considered one of the m ...

, the Kolleg St. Blasien and the Canisius-Kolleg Berlin. These are Gymnasium schools that have been using the word ''Kolleg'' since before the newer type of ''Kolleg'' was established. * ''Kolleg'' should not be confused with ''Studienkolleg'', a preparatory course at German universities for applicants from abroad. (Like with ''Kolleg'', there are also other schools which carry the word ''Studienkolleg'' in their name for reasons of tradition.) * ''Berufskollegs'' are vocational schools that can lead to university entrance qualifications ( Fachhochschulreife or

), as well as to certain formal vocational qualifications. Berufskollegs can vary from bundesland to bundesland. * ''Kollegschule'' in Germany was the term for a type of vocational school that existed specifically in the state of

North Rhine-Westphalia North Rhine-Westphalia (german: Nordrhein-Westfalen, ; li, Noordrien-Wesfale ; nds, Noordrhien-Westfalen; ksh, Noodrhing-Wäßßfaale), commonly shortened to NRW (), is a States of Germany, state (''Land'') in Western Germany. With more tha ...

until the end of the 20th century. These schools have been replaced by ''Berufskollegs''.

References

{{Authority control Adult education Education in Germany Types of vocational school