German colleges and universities can be divided into three categories according to the nature of their roles.

I. Comprehensive Universities (Universität)
Such universities are with a relatively large number of subjects and rather complete majors and they put strong emphasis on systematic theoretic knowledge and value both teaching and scientific research.
Such study courses as engineering (Ingenieurwissenschaft), sciences (Naturwissenschaft), arts (Geisteswissenschaft), laws (Rechtswissenschaft), economy (Wirtschaftswissenschaft), sociology (Sozialwissenschaft), theology (Theologie), medicine (Medizin), agriculture (Agrarwissenschaft) and forestry (Forstwissenschaft) are available in these universities. 

Similar colleges and universities include technological universities (Technische Universitaet, TU), normal universities (Pädagogische Universität / Hochschule, PU/PH), general universities (Gesamthochschule, GH), sport universities, public administration universities and national defense universities.

General universities are founded at the beginning of the 1970s. A general university is the integration of a traditional comprehensive university, a normal university, a university of applied sciences and a university of arts and majors and educational courses covering multiple disciplines and levels are available.

II. University of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule, FH)

Most of these universities are short in history and small in scale. Generally there are only one or two or several majors at the most. However, the specialty of such a major is very prominent. These majors include engineering, technology, agriculture and forestry, economy, finance, business administration, designing, nursing, etc. In principle there are no majors of art of the general sense. Except for the essential basic theories, most of the courses and their contents lay particular stress on application. The majors are highly categorized, the teaching schedules are very intense and the length of schooling is short.

III. Colleges of Arts (Kunsthochschule, Kunstakademie) and Colleges of Music (Musikhochschule), including Colleges of Drama (Theaterhochschule) and Colleges of Film (Filmhochschule)
Such colleges and institutes are relatively fewer and smaller in scale. Students are taught according to their respective aptitudes in small classes or individually to cultivate and develop the individuality and the talents in arts of the students.

The above three kinds of colleges and universities are of the same level. The Master’s Degree or an academic degree of the corresponding level can be granted to a graduate after he or she has passed the graduation test and the graduation paper defense and the certificates of professional qualification of the same level are state-recognized.

 * The special term Fachhochschule in German was originally translated as “Senior Technical School” in China and is often confused with the Chinese term “Junior College”. However, they have major differences in such areas as the entrance qualification, the term of study, the educational courses and their contents, and the academic degree after graduation. This kind of misunderstanding also occurs in other countries. So in German the term Fachhochschule (FH) is used with the companion of its English translation, University of Applied Sciences. The name of the university can be translated into "institute”. For example, Fachhochschule für Technik und Design Mannheim can be translated as Institute of Technology and Design of Mannheim.