Concept and costs

UNIVERSITAS is a state-approved, inclusive comprehensive school with preschool, primary school and upper secondary school.

UNIVERSITAS (Latin) means totality:

The entirety of the individual, related to the personality, as well as
the entirety of the world, related to the school subject matter and the individual living environment.

The following aspects shape our concept:

INDIVIDUALITY

Respectful treatment of individuality is the foundation of our school concept.
Class sizes of a maximum of 16 students in primary school and a maximum of 18 students in the orientation and secondary levels provide the foundation for individual work – from preschool to the desired qualification (vocational qualification/intermediate school leaving certificate/Abitur).
The concept of giftedness promotion helps discover personal strengths and develop them, for example, through preschool,
individual support plans, advanced and remedial classes, a wide range of leisure activities, cross-grade work at the learning levels, learning office work, weekly plans, work plans,
individual homework support/assistance, and the
inclusion and participation in shaping the everyday world.

PERFOMANCE

Learning and discovery are fun.
We create a stimulating and aesthetically pleasing learning environment in which students feel comfortable, can and want to try new things, and discover the world, preparing them for the demands of the future.
We support our students in learning how to learn and present their results, focusing on competency-based and independent work at their own pace.
As a certified STEM school, we engage intensively with scientific topics. Annual offerings as part of the Long Night of Science and regular research weeks are evidence of our commitment. During the research weeks, all UNIVERSITAS students explore scientific topics in an age-appropriate manner. From grade 5 onwards, the research weeks include learning research methods and applying them to self-selected research questions.

Learning foreign languages ​​is another focus: students begin learning English in grade 1, and Spanish lessons begin in grade 5. Students can also optionally take French courses starting in grade 5. A native speaker teacher, regular trips abroad, and the high cultural diversity among the student body promote foreign language skills and intercultural exchange.

Individual projects, regular assessments of learning progress, participation in competitions and motivating verbal assessments give students and their parents direct insights into their performance.

RESPONSIBILITY

Everyone is responsible for their own actions and their own path in life.
We respect the community, view social diversity as beneficial, and help one another. We are also interested in art and culture, engage in non-violent interactions, and encourage active participation, for example, through clear assignments and expectations, learning mentorships, the design of the learning environment, and the annual Rescuer Day, which empowers and encourages students to serve the community and help in times of need. In this way, we develop and strengthen skills for peaceful coexistence in society.

INDEPENDENCE

We develop and encourage independent thinking and action. We help students do this themselves, for example, through regular discussion groups, rituals, individual weekly and work plans, as well as student councils and student conferences. Teachers act as advisors.

HEALTH

We value and promote our health.
We structure our day and our school year. We take time for relaxation and recreation. Three healthy meals, some of which are prepared with student participation, five sports lessons per week including water sports and yoga, Kneipp therapy during the school day, continuous learning, and occupational health management are the foundations for a healthy lifestyle in the UNIVERSITAS environment.

FULL-DAY SCHOOL WITH PRESCHOOL

We offer supervision from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., live and learn together, regularly alternate between stress and relaxation, create a harmonious daily routine, work together in a spirit of trust, wear school uniforms as a sign of identification with our school, and help balance family and work. We also offer a wide range of leisure activities for our students (including chess, game testing, theater, musicals, creative classes, book club, French, math support, puzzle solving, bouldering, obstacle courses, band, experiments, a farm, Kneipp therapy, reading aloud, nature fun, sports games, guitar lessons, and homework time) and for the staff (English regulars’ table, running group, yoga class).

The UNIVERSITAS Preschool marks the beginning of the regular school career at UNIVERSITAS. Children are admitted in the year before compulsory schooling begins, regardless of whether they have been determined ready for school. The preschool enables the smoothest possible transition from kindergarten to primary school. The basic idea of ​​our preschool work is targeted preparation for everyday school life and a gentle transition into the environment and life at our school. The children get to know each other, the school building, the school structures, their future class teacher, and the team. Experience with the preschool concept shows that students in Grade 1 learn significantly more intensively and quickly because they are already familiar with the learning environment, the learning processes, and their classmates.

Especially at the beginning of preschool, many familiar rituals from daycare are adopted and gradually expanded to include school habits, rules and content depending on the preschooler’s level of development. Play in particular plays a large role in preschool. Other focus areas are aesthetic and musical education, movement units, the practice of motor skills, discovery-based learning, the development of language skills and social education. Children at this age are particularly receptive and highly motivated to learn new things. This thirst for knowledge and discovery is catered for by appropriate offerings such as short teaching sequences, research days, nature and excursion days, baking and cooking units and experiment lessons, etc. In addition, the children are particularly enabled to behave and learn independently with a view to their later school careers.
The preschoolers are looked after by a key educator who works closely with the elementary school teachers.

(EARLY) CAREER ORIENTATION

Early career orientation begins in preschool.
We explore our world, emphasize comprehensive general education and needs-based skill development, utilize the diversity of new media in everyday lessons and in presenting results, sharpen an appreciation of nature, provide opportunities to discover interests and strengths, utilize learning spaces outside of school (Hof Pölchow, Frieda 23, Circus Fantasia, etc.), facilitate a variety of practical experiences – including abroad – and collaborate with partners from the city and industry.

We are happy to provide further detailed information about the school concept during the admission interview.

The following COSTS apply for schooling and support at UNIVERSITAS :

Independent schools have significantly less financial resources than state schools. Therefore, independent schools must charge tuition fees and rely on the support of partners. As was the case with the founding of UNIVERSITAS in 2007, our goal is to reflect social diversity in our student body. To this end, we offer individualized tuition fees that, if necessary, take into account the income and family situation of the parents. This is also enshrined in the German Constitution (see Article 7).

Against this background, there is an official and transparent school fee table that shows differentiated school fees depending on income and family circumstances. The basis for this is the family’s net income (calculated using the current income tax assessment) including transfer and social benefits (child benefit, etc.).

The following procedure is used to calculate the relevant family net income for a school fee reduction:
The sum of the positive income according to the income tax assessment of all contracting parties and all persons liable to support the child is multiplied by 0.66 and then divided by 12 (months). Transfer and social benefits (including child benefit and, if applicable, maintenance payments for the child in question) are added to the calculated amount. The amount thus determined represents the family net income per month, which is decisive for the school fee reductions listed below:

* Upon presentation of a “full-day” eligibility certificate; otherwise, the costs will increase.

We will submit the corresponding application for a reduction in school fees in accordance with the above-mentioned system together with the contract documents.

A flat rate of €130 per month covers breakfast, lunch, coffee, and beverages for the children. There is also a one-time enrollment fee of €565. Additional costs apply for school trips; the materials required for school are already covered by the tuition fees.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Your UNIVERSITAS team