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Study in
Germany


Why Study in Germany?

One of the most famous non-Anglophone country in the world, this one is known for its cars, beer, bread, sausages, cathedrals, Castles, Football but most importantly its free education. There are over 3,24,000 international students in Germany coming from China, India, Russia, Austria, Italy, France, Cameron, Ukraine, Turkey and Bulgaria.

Cost of Studying in Germany

In 2014, Germany abolished tuition fee in 16 states, for both domestic and international students. You will find a lot of universities with less or no tuition. The Federal State of Baden-Wuerttemberg are exceptions where the government still charges about 1500 euros tuition fee. All universities are supposed to charge a semester contribution, which can be about 250 euros on an average per semester. In some universities, students have to pay an extra administrative fee of about 50 euros per semester. Students require about 850 euros to survive the month. Your accommodation may be your largest expense going somewhere from 210 euros to 350 euros. Like the UK, even in Germany, students are entitled to numerous concessions upon showing the ID card. The health insurance costs about 80 euros. In all, you may spend a little over 800 euros per month. Find more details about the Cost of Surviving in Germany.

Education System in Germany

There are two types of universities: Public and private. Public universities don’t charge tuition fees. There are a total of 400 public universities in Germany. Private universities are few (120) and can be very expensive. Also, many German universities believe in ‘academic freedom where students don’t have to attend fixed classes and can make their choices. A Bachelor’s degree lasts for three to four years and a Master’s degree is generally just for 2 years (lasting for 2 to 5 semesters). You get a masters degree with a total of 120 ECTS credits. 90 of these will be earned through modules, coursework and exams. The remaining 30 account for your research work and dissertation.


Types of intakes:

  1. Summer (April)- popular deadlines for international students- 15 Jan
  2. Winter (Sept/Oct)- popular deadlines for international students- 15 July

It is truly impossible to accommodate all students in one intake and hence there are two intakes. The class size is larger during winter intakes. Work opportunities and assistantships are greater during winter intakes because a lot of professors begin their research then. Winter is also better for extra curricular activities. Visa approvals are irrespective of any intake. If your favourite course is available only starting summer, you must not miss out. 

 University Categories:

  1. Research Universities: These carry out original academic research work in various works. They award Masters and Phd degrees. Also known as Universität.
  2. Technical Universities: Known to excel at science, technology and engineering research. Also known as Technische Universität.
  3. Universities of Applied Sciences: The target is provide more practical education in engineering, business and social sciences. They often have co-ops and partnerships with business organizations. Also known as Fachhochschulen.
  4. Colleges of Art, Film and Music: These universities offer guidance in creative fields.

Life in Germany, Health and Safety

Average cost of health insurance in Germany is 80 euros per year. Students suggest that it is completely normal to feel homesick. In the end, it depends on one’s perspective. One can join various ethnic and curricular social groups. It is important to stay connected with one’s family back home. There is nothing wrong in seeking help for mental health, if required. Each university has a mental health program with support groups.

Few Things to Know about Germans:

  1.  As an incredible gesture of taking care of each other, Germans hang regular lost items on the trees! 
  2. Germans are very punctual so learn how to be on time. 
  3. One may get ill-treated if one behaves in a dumb manner.
  4.  Germans drink fizzy water so ask for tap water or carry from home.
  5. Known to be too bureaucratic and formal in their regular lives.
  6. They work too hard during the weekdays, prefer to have no after-parties on Saturdays and rather quiet Sundays.
  7. Brutally honest and straightforward people.



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Popular Cities and Courses

In some aspects, it is known that the students need to learn more theory than practical. Yet the quality education is high, and there are some popular universities to explore. 

Popular course level for international students: Postgraduate degree (1,32,000 students)

Most preferred: Engineering (37%) 

Second most: Law, Economics and Social Sciences (27%)

Least preferred: Sports (Less than 1300)

Popular cities to study in Germany are

  • Munich
  • Berlin
  • Frankfurt
  • Bonn
  • Nuremberg

Popular free universities in Germany for masters with No Tuition Fee (especially for international students):

  • Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich
  • Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg (Heidelberg University)
  • Humboldt University of Berlin
  • Free University of Berlin
  • University of Göttingen
  • University of Hamburg 
  • University of Stuttgart

Popular courses to study in Germany:

  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Law
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Engineering (General)
  • Mathematics and Computer Science
  • Natural Sciences (Pure Sciences)
  • Business and Economics
  • Architecture
  • Psychology
  • Earth Sciences

Job prospects in Germany

Legally, as an international student, you are permitted to work for 120 full days or 240 half days each year with a German Student Visa. However, these may vary based on a lot of factors, like location, type of job (if you are supposed to put in extra man hours for the work), etc.

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Steps to apply for Germany Student Visa

As Germany is known to be a country with free education, the visa regulations and university applications can’t be very lenient. For starters, the student visa costs about 60 euros. If you want to study in Germany, apply for the visa at least three months in advance. You can fill the online visa application form depending on where you are located.

Documents Needed: 

  • Completed application form
  • two photographs
  • university offer letter (look at exceptions below)
  • academic transcripts, German or English Language proficiency depending on language of the course
  • Show proof of sufficient funds required to survive in Germany for a year (roughly 8700 pounds of living plus university charges)
  • Health insurance certificate (80 euros per month)
  • Declaration of the authenticity of your documents
  • Show that you don’t have any criminal record

For how long can I stay in Germany after my course?

International students with a residence permit can extend their stay and can seek work for up to 18 months after graduating provided that the job is related to their field of study. Graduates from EU/EEA countries can stay on to seek work without any restrictions or permits. After two years of employment in Germany, once can try applying for a permanent residency status. It is not essential but definitely beneficial to be proficient in the German language when seeking work in Germany. 

Read the below articles to know more about studying in the Germany

FAQs

  1. What are the minimum IELTS score to study in Germnay?
    • The minimum requirement is 6.5 for most of the technical courses. A student can send their IELTS score to 5 Universities within a month of getting your exams.
  2. Can a student take their family with them on a student visa?
    • It is possible for an international student studying in Germany to bring their parents to stay with them during their study period, subject to certain requirements.
  3. Is it hard to learn German, considering its the local and commonly conversed language there?
    • Students normally live in the misconception that German is a difficult language to learn, when in reality, it's not nearly as hard to learn as many think.

Watch the below videos to know about MS in the Germany