The secondary part of European Schools is divided into three cycles: 

• Observation Cycle: It comprises the first three years of the Secondary School (s1-s3).

• Pre-orientation Cycle: It comprises the 4th and 5th year of the Secondary School (s4-s5)

At the end of this Cycle, pupils having successfully completed s5 can receive the Junior Laureate Certificate or the "Mittlerer Bildungsabschluss des Saarlandes".

• Orientation Cycle or European Baccalaureate Cycle, which comprises the last two years of the secondary school (S6-S7)

The European Schools’ leaving certificate is called the European Baccalaureate Diploma. It is recognised as a qualification for university entrance in all the EU Member States, as well as in several other European and third countries.