Katharineum zu Lübeck

School Profile Overview

The Katharineum zu Lübeck, founded in 1531 by Protestant reformer Johannes Bugenhagen within the historic medieval Franciscan monastery of St. Katharinen, is situated at the center of the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town of Lübeck. Famous as the alma mater of Nobel laureate Thomas Mann and his brother Heinrich Mann (immortalized in Buddenbrooks and Professor Unrat), it represents the pinnacle of North German humanist and musical scholarship.

Educational Profiles & Specializations

• Humanist Education: Latin from Year 5, Ancient Greek (Graecum) from Year 8, classical rhetoric, and European philosophical history.
• Musisches Profil (Music Profile): Intensive music education with dedicated instrumental classes, choir training, and masterclasses in collaboration with the Lübeck Academy of Music (Musikhochschule Lübeck).
• Literature & Cultural Heritage: Literary seminars, creative writing workshops, and historical research on the Hanseatic League and Thomas Mann.

Language Learning & International Programs

• Certificates: Latinum, Graecum, DELF, and Cambridge English certificates.
• Classical Excursions: Educational research journeys to Rome, Magna Graecia, and Greece.
• International Exchanges: Partner school relationships with grammar schools in Great Britain, France, Italy, and Sweden.

Extracurricular Activities, MINT & Enrichment

• Acclaimed Katharineum Symphony Orchestra, Big Band, Chamber Strings, and the famous Katharineum Choir.
• Traditional rowing program on the Trave and Wakenitz rivers (Katharineum Ruderriege).
• Student theatre performing classical Greek drama and modern German literature.
• Debate society (Jugend debattiert), philosophy colloquium, and participation in Jugend forscht.

Campus Facilities & Digital Infrastructure

• Spectacular historical monastery complex featuring the 14th-century cloister (Kreuzgang), Gothic refectory, historic library, modern science wing, and music rooms.
• High-speed wireless campus infrastructure, interactive screens, and tablet learning integration.

Admission & Transition Process

Standard admission in Year 5 through the Hanseatic City of Lübeck registration process.