Enrolling your child in a German school is one of the most significant steps in settling into life in Germany — and also one of the most confusing. Between unfamiliar subject names, a different timetable structure and a curriculum that varies by state, expat parents often find themselves struggling to understand what their child is actually studying. Terms like 'Lebenskunde', 'NaWi', 'Stunden' and 'Fächer' can appear on school letters, report cards and timetables without any explanation. This guide is designed to help you decode the basics and feel more confident when talking to your child's school.
Before diving into subjects, it helps to understand a few fundamental German school terms.
Fächer means subjects — the individual disciplines your child studies, such as mathematics, German or music. Stunden literally means hours or lessons, and refers to individual class periods on the timetable. When a school talks about how many Stunden a subject has per week, it means how many lessons are scheduled.
Knowing this distinction helps you read a timetable correctly and ask the right questions at parents' evenings.
Lebenskunde translates roughly as 'life studies' or 'ethics'. It is typically offered as an alternative to religious education (Religionsunterricht) for children who are not enrolled in a denominational religion class. The subject covers topics such as ethics, values, social responsibility and life skills — practical and philosophical questions about how to live alongside others.
Whether your child takes Religionsunterricht or Lebenskunde often depends on the state (Bundesland) you live in and the school's offering. It is worth asking the school directly which option applies to your child.
NaWi is short for Naturwissenschaften, meaning natural sciences. In many German schools, particularly at the primary and lower secondary level, science subjects such as biology, chemistry and physics are initially taught together under the NaWi umbrella rather than as separate disciplines. As children progress through school, these subjects are typically separated out.
If your child's timetable shows NaWi, it means they are receiving an introduction to the natural sciences as a combined subject.
The German school curriculum includes a range of subjects that may be familiar in content but carry unfamiliar names:
For children still learning German, it is worth speaking to the school about available support, such as additional language classes or a Deutschförderung programme.
German school days and timetables can feel different from what expat families are used to. Many German schools, especially at primary level, traditionally ended at lunchtime, though all-day school (Ganztagsschule) is increasingly common. Lessons (Stunden) are typically 45 minutes long. Children may have a varying number of lessons on different days, and the timetable often changes each school year.
It is standard practice for schools to send home a printed timetable at the start of the year. If yours arrives only in German, this guide should help you read it.
Many German schools have support programmes for children who are learning German as a second language. These may be called Deutschförderung, DaZ (Deutsch als Zweitsprache — German as a second language) or something similar depending on the state. Ask your child's school as early as possible what support is available; do not wait for problems to arise.
Yes, significantly. Education in Germany is managed at the state level, so the subjects taught, the terminology used and even the school types available can differ between, say, Bavaria and Berlin. If you move between states, your child's school placement may need to be reassessed. Your local Schulamt (school authority) can advise on how your child's previous schooling maps onto the local system.
Understanding the German school system takes time, but learning the key terms is a great first step. If you are unsure about any aspect of your child's schooling — from subject choices to language support — the school's secretary's office (Sekretariat) is usually the right first point of contact. For broader questions about school enrolment or switching schools, your local Schulamt can help. The more you engage with the system, the easier it becomes — for you and your child.
Source: The Local
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