Deutsche Schule Athen

Kindergarten / Vorschule: The German School of Athens admits children from age three into Kindergarten. Vorschule accepts five-year-old children. Priority is given to children who have already attended Kindergarten; therefore new admissions to Vorschule are only possible when places are available. Applications for the upcoming school year are generally accepted from January to March; a personal appointment with the Kindergarten and Vorschule management should be arranged. A pre-registration PDF is available. Grundschule (Kl. 1-4): Admission is open to children of all nationalities. German language proficiency is expected at a very high level because the children learn here in German. Other prerequisites include language abilities and the availability of sufficient places in the class. Children from Vorschule are given preference; otherwise only a few places are available. Admission decisions are made by the Grundschulleitung. Inquiries should be emailed directly to the Grundschulleitung; inquiries should preferably be between October and March before the relevant school year, and a personal meeting with the parents and child with the Grundschulleitung is required during this period. Timelines: since 2022, the cutoff for entry into the first grade is December 31; all children who turn six by December 31 can start in September. Admission decisions for the following school year are usually made in April or May; inquiries in May or later have only a small chance of a place. Families should contact early; the Grundschulleitung begins preparations in October; the first inquiry date does not guarantee acceptance. The transfer to Grundschule should ideally occur in summer; exceptions may be possible by agreement. Anmeldung der Kinder aus der Vorschule der DSA: For all Vorschule children, the Grundschule holds a place; the transition from Vorschule to Grundschule is not automatic and depends on conditions such as language ability and overall readiness. The language ability is assessed over time, with a second-half-year evaluation and, if needed, a school suitability test. Parents are advised to use the kindergarten's extensive advisory services and to discuss any concerns with the Vorschule staff. Quereinsteiger: Children who did not attend Vorschule can generally be admitted to any grade; admissions decisions are made by the Grundschulleitung; inquiries should be sent via email; inquiries should ideally be between October and March; a personal meeting with the Grundschulleitung is required. The school emphasizes that places are limited and early contact improves chances; for Greek-school students in Athens, a place is offered only in exceptional cases, and consideration of entering the DSA profile E after 6th grade is advised. Aufnahmeverfahren: After the initial family contact (via email to the Grundschulleitung), a personal meeting with the child and at least one parent is typically arranged; online meetings are only in exceptional cases; it helps to send any existing certificates or reports from the kindergarten in advance. The admission decision is typically made in April or May for the following school year. Anmeldung für kurze Zeit: Besuchskinder: Short-term admissions are possible only in exceptional cases for important reasons; interested families should contact the Grundschulleitung.

Studienstipendien der Deutschen Schule Athen: A scholarship fund, established around 2013 with proceeds from Oktoberfest and the School Association, continues to support a number of DSA graduates in pursuing studies in Germany. The fund is funded by Oktoberfest proceeds, additional donations, and funds provided by the School Association; recipients are supported for the duration of the undergraduate program (3 years / 6 semesters) with regular payments. The ideal scholarship candidate demonstrates above-average academic achievement and social engagement inside or outside school and is expected to serve as an ambassador for their class and as a point of contact for study-related questions. Selection is carried out by a committee that includes members of different school community groups and a representative of the German Embassy. DAAD scholarships: The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers scholarships to students with German nationality who wish to study in Germany, starting from the first semester. As part of the government program to support German Auslandsschulen, DSA may nominate three candidates for DAAD scholarships each year.