University and Career Guidance

To give students an early insight into the world of work, a two-week work experience placement is an integral part of the curriculum in lower secondary education. Gymnasium students complete their placement in Grade 10, while Realschule students do so in Grade 9. The placement gives students their first hands-on experience in a professional environment and allows them to explore and reassess their career interests. Each student is supported by a teacher, and placements can be completed anywhere in the world. At the beginning of each school year, students take part in a peer-learning session, sharing their experiences through short talks, posters or presentations. They also document their placement in a work experience portfolio, which forms the basis for the final assessment and certification.

Our Lunch Talks: University Insights series gives students regular, first-hand insights into university life and career paths. DSS alumni and invited guests share their experiences of higher education, discuss the career decisions they have made and offer valuable advice based on their own journeys. These talks inspire students, help them explore their options and give them the opportunity to learn directly from people with relevant experience. They broaden horizons and support students in making informed decisions about their academic and professional futures.

Alongside inspiring talks by our alumni in the Lunch Talks: University Insights series, our students regularly receive guidance from external partners, including the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), representatives of German and international universities, and the German Federal Employment Agency. These sessions cover degree programmes, admission requirements and career opportunities in Germany and around the world. Our experienced guidance team also provides practical advice through events such as After the Abitur – What's Next?, application workshops and excursions to companies, universities and institutions based in Shanghai.

Our annual Career Day gives students the opportunity to explore higher education and career paths through direct conversations with professionals. Speakers from a wide range of industries share their experiences, offer expert advice and answer students' questions. The event helps students discover new possibilities, gain valuable guidance and explore potential directions for their academic and professional futures. It is a key highlight of German School Shanghai's university and career guidance programme.

What am I particularly good at? Where do my strengths lie? And which areas do I find challenging or need to work on? At the beginning of the career guidance process, such questions can sometimes create more uncertainty than clarity. Our team therefore offers open consultation hours twice a week, providing students with a supportive space for honest self-reflection, realistic self-assessment and individual questions about their academic and professional futures. These one-to-one conversations complement our larger guidance events and help students develop a clearer picture of their own goals and aspirations.

We see university and career guidance as a whole-school responsibility. Alongside external partners, we therefore actively involve parents in the process of helping students plan their futures. Regular parent information evenings provide opportunities to learn more about the options available and support students in making informed decisions. We also hold dedicated sessions on the next steps for Realschule students, bringing together experts from our upper secondary school and the Fachoberschule (FOS). Parents and students receive recommendations and guidance on entry requirements, school-leaving qualifications and the academic and professional opportunities each pathway offers.