Bachelor Studies in Germany
Germany’s higher education institutions enjoy an excellent reputation. Teaching and research provide key impulses for innovation and progress. German universities combine research and studies and have been the scene for ground-breaking discoveries such as the printing press, computer and mp3 that have become an inseparable part of our modern lives.
Every year, thousands of young men and woman from abroad decide to begin or continue studying at a German university. There are very good reasons for this, which include among others International degree Programmes (IDP) taught in English medium, excellent quality of education, low or no tuition fees, career opportunities after graduation and above all social security.
What is the German university system like?
There are mainly two types of institutions of higher education in Germany :
- Universities (including Universities of Technology, abbr. TU) are research-oriented and offer a wide variety of subjects. These can award doctorate degrees.
- Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen, abbr. FH), on the other hand, are practice-oriented and offer courses mainly in engineering, business administration, social sciences and design. These have strong links to the industry and offer possibilities like joint supervision of the professor and a company for a master thesis. Fachhochschulen do not award doctorate degrees, however as a master degree holder from a Fachhochschule, one is in principle eligible to apply for a doctoral position at a University.
Your interest and inclination should define which of the two kinds of institutions you choose!
Which is the best university in Germany?
The German answer to this question is : There is no "best university", neither in one subject and certainly not across all subjects. What Germany offers instead is a multidimensional ranking, considering various criteria like student and staff judgments on quality of teaching, atmosphere at the university, library and other equipment, student numbers, average study duration, number of graduations, third party funding etc. Several tables based on these considerations give you a detailed picture of the strengths and weaknesses of each university onDAAD-CHE Ranking. Here you can find your programme by selecting a subject, a university or even a city in Germany!
What kind of bachelor programmes does Germany offer?
There is wide range of study programmes with
- English as the sole or primary medium of instruction, called International Degree Programmes (IDPs). A database of such programmes is available here.
- German as medium of instruction. A comprehensive database of all study programme in Germany is available here.
Am I eligible to apply for a bachelor degree course?
In Germany, every university is autonomous. This means that every university / study programme has its own set of criteria for admitting students. So please check the university website, and specifically the programme you are interested in to find out the exact admission requirements. Universities will ask for very good German language skills in case you want to take up a programme / Studienkolleg in German medium. In such case, your knowledge of German needs to be certified through examinations like the TestDaF.
In principle you are eligible to apply for a bachelor programme if you fulfill one of the following criteria :
- Successfully completing the first year of a bachelor programme from a recognized university in India in the relevant subject field.
- Successfully clearing the IIT Joint Entrance Examination for admission to courses in technology and natural sciences.
- Passing the qualification assessment examination in Germany, called Feststellungsprüfung.
The Feststellungsprüfung is an examination conducted by universities that assesses your proficiency in subjects that are crucial to your chosen degree programme and also in German language. A foundation course (Studienkolleg) in Germany can help you prepare for this examination. This is a full-time course with about 32 hours of instruction per week and usually takes upto two semesters to complete. The two components of the course are German language and subjects relevant to the study programme you want to register for later.
The minimum eligibility criteria for enrolment in a Studienkolleg are a valid school leaving certificate (12th) with relevant subject combination and proficiency in German language (approx. B1 level based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). Your subject knowledge and if applicable German language proficiency will be tested in an entrance exam (Aufnahmeprüfung) by the course coordinators before you enroll yourself in foundation course.
On successfully taking the Feststellungsprüfung, which has a written and an oral component, you are eligible to apply for a bachelor degree course. Please remember that success in this examination does not automatically lead to an admission to a university or FH.
What kind of budget should I have in my mind?
In Germany, education is subsidized by the state and therefore most of the institutions of higher education charge no or very little tuition fee – to the tune of 500 Euro per semester. Thus, in Germany virtually every student gets a scholarship! However, you will need to pay semester contribution ranging from Euro 50 to 5000, depending upon the university and the services or benefits included. For certain special courses you may need to pay higher tuition fees. Apart from the tuition / semester fees you will require about Euro 740 per month for subsistence i.e. housing, food, clothing, study material and other expenses such as health insurance and leisure activities. This amount can vary from city to city, and of course from lifestyle to lifestyle!
Are there any scholarships available?
Funding in Germany is available in principle for research and in some cases at the master level.
Can I work in Germany – as a student and later as a professional?
As an international student, you are permitted to work for 120 full days or 240 half days in a year. This will help you in getting a bit of extra pocket-money! After completing your degree in Germany, you can stay on in the country for up to 1.5 years to look for a job that is in keeping with your education. Once you find a job, the residence permit issued to you for the purpose of studying, can be converted into a residence permit for taking gainful employment. Germany has always had a very strong industry-academia linkage. A lot of scientific research is funded by the industry as well. During your studies you can get the opportunity to do internships with German companies, which can open new vistas for your professional career.
To know more about Education in Germany, pls visit Jupiter Consultants
Master Studies in Germany
Germany’s higher education institutions enjoy an excellent reputation. Teaching and research provide key impulses for innovation and progress. German universities combine research and studies and have been the scene for ground-breaking discoveries such as the printing press, computer and mp3 that have become inseparable parts of our modern lives.
Every year, thousands of international students and scholars choose to study in Germany. There are very good reasons for this. These include among others International Degree Programmes (IDP) taught in English medium, excellent quality of education, low or no tuition fees, promising career opportunities and above all the vibrant social and cultural milieu.
How do I choose a university in Germany?
There are various kinds of institutions of higher education in Germany. A majority of these belong to either of the following categories :
- Universities (including Universities of Technology, abbr. TU) are research-oriented and offer a wide variety of subjects. These can award doctorate degrees.
- Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen, abbr. FH), on the other hand, are practice-oriented and offer courses mainly in engineering, business administration, social sciences and design. These have strong links to the industry and offer possibilities like joint supervision of the professor and a company for a master thesis. Fachhochschulen do not award doctorate degrees, however as a master degree holder from a Fachhochschule, one is in principle eligible to apply for PhD at a university.
Your interest and inclination should define which of the two kinds of institutions you choose!
Which is the best university in Germany?
Germany offers a multidimensional ranking , considering various criteria that are important from a student’s perspective. For example, student and staff judgments on quality of teaching, atmosphere at the university, library and other equipment, student numbers, average study duration, number of graduations, third party funding etc. You thus get a detailed picture of the strengths and weaknesses of each university on www.university-ranking.de Here you can find your programme by selecting a subject, a university or even a city in Germany!
What kind of master programmes does Germany offer?
There is wide range of study programmes with
- English as the sole or primary medium of instruction, called International Programmes. A database of such programmes is available here.
- German as the medium of instruction. A comprehensive database of all study programme in Germany is available here.
Am I eligible to apply for a masters degree course?
In Germany, every university is autonomous. This means that every university / study programme has its own set of criteria for admitting students. So please check the university website, and specifically the programe you are interested in to find out the exact admission requirements.
Some generalisation is, however, possible and one can say that as a bachelor degree holder from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal or Sri Lanka, your degree is treated at par with a German bachelor degree and most universities will consider you eligible for masters provided you fulfill other criteria.
Some universities may ask for your TOEFL/IELTS/GRE/GMAT scores, depending upon the subject you choose to study. For example, GMAT may be asked for if you want to study economics or law. Universities will ask for very good German language skills in case you want to take up a programme in German medium. In such case, your knowledge of German needs to be certified through examinations like the TestDaF or DSH.
Do I need to know German?
As you have already read, Germany offers numerous International Degree Programmes (IDPs) with English as the sole or primary medium of instruction. But as a student in Germany, your life will not be limited to the university campus. You will surely want to interact with people, travel through the country-side and make the best of your time there. This is where knowledge of German will present a great advantage! Universities offer beginner and well as advanced level courses where you can learn German. But you can start learning the language while you are still in your home country at the Goethe-Instituts (Max-Mueller Bhavan) / Goethe-Zentrums.
What kind of budget should I have in my mind?
In Germany, education is subsidized by the state and therefore most of the institutions of higher education charge no or very little tuition fee – to the tune of 500 Euro per semester. Thus, in Germany virtually every student gets a scholarship! However, you will need to pay semester contribution ranging from Euro 50 to 5050, depending upon the university and the services or benefits provided. For certain special courses you may need to pay higher fees. Apart from the tuition fees, if any, you will require about Euro 740 per month for subsistencei.e. housing, food, clothing, study material and other expenses such as health insurance and leisure activities. This amount can vary from city to city, and of course from lifestyle to lifestyle!
Are there any scholarships available?
Funding in Germany is available in principle for research and in some cases at the master level.
Can I work in Germany – as a student and later as a professional?
As an international student, you are permitted to work for 120 full days or 240 half days in a year. This will help you in getting a bit of extra pocket-money! After completing your degree in Germany, you can stay on in the country for up to 18 months to look for a job that is in keeping with your education. Once you find a job, the residence permit issued to you for the purpose of studying, can be converted into a residence permit for taking gainful employment. Germany has always had a very strong industry-academia linkage. A lot of scientific research is funded by the industry as well. During your studies you can get the opportunity to do internships with German companies, which can open new vistas for your professional career.
Where can learn more about students' experience in Germany?
If you want to know more about universities and student life or read what other international students have to say about Germany, visit Jupiter Consultants.
