A postgraduate course in Germany lasts for two years generally and is sometimes completed in one year, depending upon the nature of the course. A postgraduate program or a second-degree program done from the German universities can be exceptionally helpful in the international job market, especially in the technical, scientific and arts subject areas. There are different kinds of postgraduate courses available in the country of Germany:

1. Some are based on previous courses, either from the same or from a related subject area. They build up on previously acquired academic knowledge.
2. Some are offered as supplementary postgraduate courses, which offer students knowledge in other subject areas.

The postgraduate programs, which are offered as an additional course of study in Germany, require that the students should hold an academic degree. Additional courses offer specialized knowledge on the previous completed course of study. Students without a first degree can also step beyond their usual course studies. In order to gain a supplementary qualification certificate, students only need to take part in a course at their university.