Hamburg’s vocational schools offer a broad range of programmes in the areas of preparation for vocational training, dual and school-based vocational training, gaining higher education entrance qualifications and continuing vocational education and training.

Vocational qualification within the Hamburg Model enables young people who have attained vocational maturity but have not secured a training place despite several applications to make a swift transition to dual vocational training.

In addition to dual vocational training in more than 240 professions, fully-time vocational schools that lead to full vocational qualification (Berufsfachschulen) provide state-recognised, school-based vocational training in selected professions. In some training schemes, it is also possible to obtain the entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences.

At higher commercial schools, young people with an intermediate school leaving certificate can obtain a full entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences. The higher technical school for information technology, metals technology and electrical engineering has been created for young people with an affinity for technology and an intermediate school leaving certificate. Vocational grammar schools enable students to obtain a general higher education entrance qualification and prepare young people for either dual vocational training or specialised studies.

At specialised upper secondary schools (Fachoberschulen) or two-year full-time vocational schools (Berufsoberschulen), young people with an intermediate school leaving certificate and completed vocational training can obtain higher education entrance qualifications enabling them to attend a university of applied sciences or a university.

Trade and technical schools (Fachschulen) provide continuing vocational education and training. Depending on the course, trade and technical schools are attended for one to three years.

At present, the descriptions of the educational pathways offered by us are only available in German. We plan to offer information about the main educational pathways in English in the future.