The Gymnasium provides an in-depth general education that qualifies students for university studies and for vocational training. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the Gymnasium is either an 8-year (G8) or a 9-year course of education (G9).
Achievable school-leaving qualifications at the G8 Gymnasium are:
- After grade 9, a qualification comparable to the Hauptschulabschluss. Promotion at the end of grade 9 entitles the student to attend the introductory phase of the gymnasiale Oberstufe and the educational programs of the Berufskolleg. Students with particularly good performance is granted the right to attend the qualification phase of the gymnasiale Oberstufe.
- At the end of the introductory phase (grade 10), a qualification comparable to the secondary school leaving certificate after grade 10 or the intermediate school leaving certificate (Fachoberschulreife) is acquired.
- Students who leave the gymnasiale Oberstufe before the Abitur can acquire the scholastic part of the Fachhochschulreife at the earliest at the end of the first year of the qualification phase, provided they have achieved the appropriate performance.
- General university entrance qualification (Abitur) after grade 12
.
Achievable school-leaving qualifications at the G9 Gymnasium are:
- After grade 9, a qualification comparable to the Hauptschulabschluss
.
- The intermediate school leaving certificate (Fachoberschulreife) after grade 10. Promotion at the end of grade 10 entitles the student to attend the introductory phase of the gymnasiale Oberstufe and the educational programs of the Berufskolleg. Pupils with particularly good performance are entitled to attend the qualification phase of the gymnasiale Oberstufe.
- Students who leave the gymnasiale Oberstufe before the Abitur can, with appropriate performance at the earliest at the end of the first year of the qualification phase, acquire the academic part of the Fachhochschulreife.
- General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) after grade 13
.