German School and University Vocabulary: From the Gymnasium to the Uni

Talking about education in German requires more than translating words such as school, class, and college. The German education system has its own terminology, and some familiar-looking words do not mean what English speakers expect.

In this lesson, we will follow a student named Lena from her final days at a German Gymnasium through her Abitur examinations and into her first semester at university. Along the way, you will learn practical German school and university vocabulary in context.

Lernen vs. studieren

Before beginning Lena’s story, we need to clarify one of the most common mistakes English-speaking German learners make: lernen and studieren are not interchangeable.

Lernen means to learn or to study something:

• Lena lernt für ihre Prüfung. - Lena is studying for her examination.
• Sie lernt Englisch. - She is learning English.
• Ich muss heute Abend noch lernen. - I still need to study this evening.

Studieren generally means to study a particular subject at a university:

• Lena studiert Geschichte. - Lena studies history at university.
• Sie studiert an einer Universität. - She studies at a university.
• Was studierst du? - What are you studying at university?

If you are preparing for tomorrow’s German test, you use lernen. If German is your university major, you can use studieren.

Story 1: Lena’s Last Regular School Day

Lena attends a Gymnasium and is currently in the Oberstufe. She is approaching the end of her secondary education and preparing for the Abitur.

Important German school vocabulary

• das Gymnasium - an academically oriented secondary school
• die Oberstufe - the upper level of secondary school
• der Stundenplan - class schedule
• der Unterricht - instruction or class
• der Mitschüler / die Mitschülerin - male/female classmate
• die Klausur - a formal written examination
• die Hausaufgaben - homework
• das Arbeitsblatt - worksheet

At the beginning of the school day, Lena’s classmate Jonas asks:

Was haben wir in der ersten Stunde?
What do we have during the first class period?

In this context, die Stunde means a class period. It does not necessarily last exactly sixty minutes. German students also commonly use haben when talking about the subjects on their schedules:

• Wir haben Geschichte. - We have history.
• Danach haben wir Mathematik. - After that, we have math.
• Was habt ihr in der dritten Stunde? - What do you have during the third class period?

During class, Lena’s teacher gives the students several instructions:

• Schlagt eure Bücher auf Seite 84 auf. - Open your books to page 84.
• Bearbeitet die Aufgaben drei bis fünf. - Complete exercises three through five.
• Gebt eure Arbeitsblätter am Ende der Stunde ab. - Turn in your worksheets at the end of class.

After class, Lena needs to finish her English homework and prepare for her Abitur examinations. She explains:

Ich bin mit meinen Englischhausaufgaben noch nicht fertig. Im Moment lerne ich fast jeden Abend für die Abiturprüfung.

I’m not finished with my English homework yet. At the moment, I study for the Abitur examination almost every evening.

Useful phrases for school

• Müssen wir ganze Sätze schreiben? - Do we have to write complete sentences?
• Ich bin noch nicht fertig. - I’m not finished yet.
• Wann müssen wir das abgeben? - When do we have to turn that in?
• Ich muss für die Prüfung lernen. - I have to study for the examination.

What Is a German Gymnasium?

A German Gymnasium is not a gym. It is one possible secondary-school path in the German education system. It traditionally prepares students for university-level study and culminates in the Abitur.

• Lena besucht ein Gymnasium. - Lena attends a Gymnasium.
• Sie macht dort ihr Abitur. - She completes her Abitur there.

The exact structure of the education system can vary by Bundesland, but the words Gymnasium, Oberstufe, and Abitur are essential for understanding conversations about German education.

Story 2: Lena Takes the Abitur

The Abitur is the qualification Lena needs before continuing to university. It involves demanding examinations, which can include written and oral components.

Important examination vocabulary

• die Abiturprüfung - Abitur examination
• die schriftliche Prüfung - written examination
• die mündliche Prüfung - oral examination
• der Prüfling - examination candidate
• der Prüfungsraum - examination room
• die Aufgabe - task, exercise, or examination question
• die Note - grade
• bestehen - to pass
• durchfallen - to fail
• das Abiturzeugnis - certificate documenting the Abitur results

During the written examination, Lena reads all of the tasks before choosing one:

Sie entscheidet sich für die zweite Aufgabe.
She chooses the second task.

The expression sich für etwas entscheiden means to decide on or choose something.

One week later, Lena has her oral examination in history. Afterward, she must wait several weeks for the results. Fortunately, she passes:

Meine mündliche Prüfung war besser als erwartet.
My oral examination was better than expected.

Lena can now say:

• Ich habe mein Abitur bestanden. - I passed my Abitur.
• Ich habe mein Abitur gemacht. - I completed my Abitur.

Her next step is applying to a university:

• Ich bewerbe mich an der Universität. - I am applying to the university.
• Ich schreibe mich an der Universität ein. - I am enrolling at the university.

Sich bewerben refers to applying. Sich einschreiben means officially enrolling after being accepted.

Talking about an examination

• Ich bin ziemlich nervös. - I am rather nervous.
• Ich fühle mich gut vorbereitet. - I feel well prepared.
• Wie ist die Prüfung gelaufen? - How did the examination go?
• Besser als erwartet. - Better than expected.
• Ich habe bestanden. - I passed.
• Ich bin leider durchgefallen. - Unfortunately, I failed.

German Grades and Points

On the familiar German grading scale, lower numbers represent better grades:

In the gymnasiale Oberstufe, schools frequently use a point system ranging from 15 to 0. In that system, a higher number is better. Fifteen points represent an excellent result, while zero points represent an insufficient result.

Story 3: Lena’s First Day at University

After completing her Abitur, Lena begins studying history at a university. This introduces an entirely new set of vocabulary.

Important German university vocabulary

• der Studiengang - degree program or course of study
• das Semester - semester
• der Campus - campus
• der Hörsaal - lecture hall
• die Vorlesung - lecture
• das Seminar - seminar
• die Mensa - university dining hall or cafeteria
• die Sprechstunde - office hours
• das Prüfungsamt - examinations office
• die Anmeldung - registration

On her first day, Lena has trouble finding the correct lecture hall:

Entschuldigung, wissen Sie, wo Hörsaal B ist?
Excuse me, do you know where Lecture Hall B is?

In the lecture hall, she meets a student named Amira, who asks:

Studierst du auch Geschichte?
Are you studying history too?

Lena answers:

Ja. Ich bin im ersten Semester.
Yes. I am in my first semester.

A Vorlesung is generally a lecture given to a larger group of students. A Seminar is normally smaller and may involve more discussion, presentations, or active participation.

After the lecture, Amira suggests eating in the university cafeteria. Lena would like to join her, but she first needs to visit the examinations office:

Ich muss vorher noch zum Prüfungsamt. Meine Anmeldung für eine Prüfung funktioniert nicht.

I first need to go to the examinations office. My registration for an examination is not working.

Useful questions at a university

• Wo findet die Vorlesung statt? - Where does the lecture take place?
• Bis wann muss ich mich anmelden? - By when do I have to register?
• Kann ich das online machen? - Can I do that online?
• Was mache ich, wenn es nicht funktioniert? - What do I do if it does not work?
• An wen kann ich mich wenden? - Who can I contact?

School Vocabulary vs. University Vocabulary

These divisions are useful, but real usage is not always perfectly neat. For example, die Klausur can also refer to certain formal written examinations at school, particularly in the upper grades. The exact terminology may depend on the school, region, and type of assessment.

Review: From the Gymnasium to the University

Lena’s journey introduced three connected groups of vocabulary. At the Gymnasium, she attended Unterricht, completed Hausaufgaben, and studied for examinations. During the Abitur, she took written and oral examinations, passed, and received her Abiturzeugnis. At university, she began her Studiengang, attended a Vorlesung in a Hörsaal, and visited the Prüfungsamt.