French and German Schools and the Bac and Abitur: What to Know Before You Choose

This guide is for parents preparing a move to Asia who are considering a school that teaches the French or German curriculum. It briefly explains the baccalauréat and the Abitur, and what to check for later university plans, using only what official sources say. Details differ by school, so please confirm with the school and the university at the end.

The French school network abroad

According to a French foreign ministry memo (January 2024), the network of homologated French schools abroad has 580 schools in 139 countries and 392,000 pupils. The AEFE keeps the network coherent through a shared homologation framework and teacher training.

The same memo says over half of baccalauréat holders from the network go on to study in France. In 2023, about 39% of those accepting a French university place were French nationals. So the path to French universities is fairly clear within this network. Whether it suits your child is something to discuss with the school.

German schools abroad and the Abitur

The Standing Conference of Education Ministers (KMK) says the Abitur at German schools abroad follows the same standards as in Germany. Seven core subjects (German, mathematics, English, history, biology, chemistry and physics) use shared regional exam tasks. Exams consist of three written subjects and one oral subject, among other elements.

The German International Abitur (DIA) was introduced at about 90 schools in 2016/17, with first exams in 2018/19. It combines German standards with multilingualism. Which schools run the DIA differs, so ask directly.

If you are thinking about universities in Japan

MEXT's "Entrance Qualifications for Universities in Japan" (posted August 2024) lists holders of the IB, Abitur, Baccalauréat, GCE A Levels, International A Levels and the European Baccalaureate as eligible. Those who completed a 12-year school course abroad are also included. If schooling was completed in a country with fewer than 12 years, an additional designated preparatory course is needed.

Universities may also admit other applicants through an individual assessment. Confirming with your target university is the surest step.

If a return to Korea is possible

The Ministry of Education's overseas education portal describes the 'full-curriculum' route as covering students who completed all primary and secondary schooling at schools abroad. The benchmark is 12 years. Systems of 12 and 11 grades are counted as they are locally, while systems of 10 grades or fewer are not recognised as-is. There is an exception when the gap is covered by local university study. A gap of up to one semester (six months) when moving between different school systems may be accepted.

Each university's admissions guide decides eligibility. When choosing a school, it helps to check how many years the system runs and whether a mid-course transfer would create a gap.

When a student joins a Korean primary or secondary school, documents from the overseas school normally need an apostille or consular confirmation. The Ministry publishes a list of schools exempt from this step (as of 14 November 2025). The list does not vouch for school quality and does not apply to university admissions.

Where many curricula sit side by side: Thailand

The International Schools Association of Thailand says schools there offer American, British and IB programmes alongside other national curricula, including French and German. By law, every international school must be accredited by a recognised overseas agency by the end of its fifth year, and also by the national body ONESQA. Accreditation rules differ by country, so confirm the rules of your destination with the government authority or the school.

Checklist

• Is the school homologated by the French education ministry?
• For a German school, does it hold the Abitur, and does it offer the DIA?
• Have you counted whether your child's grades and school systems join up into a 12-year route?
• If your child moves between different school systems, is any gap within six months?
• If you are considering Japanese universities, have you checked the target university's entrance requirements?
• If a return to Korea is possible, have you checked whether the school appears on the document-simplification list?
• Have you checked the destination country's school registration and accreditation rules from a government source?

Ask the school

• Is the school homologated by the French ministry (or does it run the Abitur or DIA)? Up to which grade does it operate?
• Where do graduates mainly go for university, and to which institutions?
• What language level is needed at entry, and is language support offered afterwards?
• How are graduation and grade records issued for applications to Korean or Japanese universities?
• Which accreditation bodies has the school used, and can you see its latest evaluation?

Rules and standards can change and differ by school and university. This article reflects the as-of dates of each official source, so confirm directly with the official bodies, the school and your target university before deciding.