Study in Germany
ABOUT GERMANY
Located in the heart of Europe, the Federal Republic of Germany stands to be the second most populated country in the continent. Situated between the Baltic, the North Sea and the Alps, Germany shares its borders with some of the major countries in Europe including Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Netherlands. It often experiences a temperate climate which makes summers warm and winters cold. While most people would know Germany for its role in the two world wars, its history goes way back to the Germanic tribes with its region forming a central part of the Holy Roman Empire. This explains its rich cultural inheritance and contribution to the world with some of the most famous personalities like Ludwig van Beethoven, Thomas Mann and Werner Heisenberg. While Berlin as its capital stands to be the most populated city, Munich, Cologne, Hamburg and Frankfurt have also become a hub for students to come and attend German universities. Germany also shares one of the largest economies in the continent and stands 4th in the rank of largest economies in the world by nominal GDP. It ranks very high in the Human Development Index with its policy to provide social security, universal health care and tuition free education. While its contributions to the European Union is often spoken about, the country plays a key role in most multilateral forums such as the United Nations, NATO, the G7, the G20 and the OECD.
STUDY IN GERMANY
Germany holds more than 400 state recognised higher education institutions which offer around 20,000 different study programs that range from applied sciences, school of arts, film and music.In the most comprehensible way, the German higher education system can be well described as a structure of three different cycles. They are:
Bachelor’s or the First Cycle: A bachelor’s degree in Germany is the first level of educational qualification that one can hold in their steps to complete a full cycle of higher education. During the course of their bachelor’s degree, students are usually exposed to the fundamentals of their academic subjects that help in creating a strong profile for them to either pursue their Master’s or a professional career. Such a degree usually takes upto 3-4 years depending on the course and the university. Students can choose an array of subjects to pursue their bachelor which range from science, arts, engineering and medicine.
Requirements to study Bachelor’s in Germany:
- Successful completion of class 12 with 70% and above
- German language proficiency
- An average TOEFL score of 90
- IELTS score of 6.5 and above
Master’s or the Second Cycle: A Master’s degree in Germany is what follows the Bachelor’s degree for students wishing to study in Germany. During their Master’s degree, students are often exposed to the practice of research, group work, experimental training which either extends the depth of their knowledge or the breadth of their understanding of the subject. Master’s in Germany usually take upto 1-2 years to complete depending on the course and the university. After the successful completion of their master’s degree in Germany, students are equipped with a specialised and practical understanding of their subject of choice which help them find either a suitable job or a research idea to pursue their PhD in.
Requirements to study Master’s in Germany:
- Successful completion of class 12 with 70% and above
- Successful completion of Bachelor’s degree with 70% and above
- German language proficiency
- An average TOEFL score of 90
- IELTS score of 6.5 and above
PhD or the Third Cycle: After the successful completion of their Master’s degree, students aspiring to become scholars in their field of choice, have the option of pursuing a doctoral degree which involves them writing and defending an independent research paper under academic supervision. While a PhD goes on upto 5 years, students are often funded with a grant by the university itself as their study would eventually contribute to the German and international academic circle.
Requirements to study PhD in Germany:
- Successful completion of class 12 with 70% and above
- Successful completion of Bachelor’s degree with 70% and above
- Successful completion of Master’s degree with 70% and above
- German language proficiency
- An average TOEFL score of 90
- IELTS score of 6.5 and above
COST OF STUDYING IN GERMANY
The annual tuition fees in Germany generally differ from university to university. While the Government in October 2014 did abolish the system of paying tuition fees for undergraduate and postgraduate international students in public universities, its federal structure allowed some states to still maintain an average tuition fees to cover administrative expenses. For instance, the south west state of Baden-Wurttemberg re-introduced tuition fees in October for non European students in 2017. However, students wishing to pursue a Master’s degree in Germany will not have to pay for their education as long as their degree program is immediately after a Bachelor’s degree. If not, they may have to pay an annual tuition fee of upto EUR 5000 – 30000 (around INR 420000 – 2500000).
A basic accommodation for students living in a German city may range from EUR 450 to 1200 (around INR 42000 to 100000) per month depending where and how they choose to live. Germany has one of the finest public transport systems where buses and trains connect cities at a quite reasonable rate. An average bus ticket will cost EUR 1 (around INR 84) while train fare may range from EUR 19 – 40 (around INR 1600 – 3300).
WORK IN GERMANY
With a basic knowledge of native German language, students can also work part time of up to 20 hours a week to contribute to their living costs in the country;. They are likely to find abundant jobs in the service sector such as cafes, restaurants or even offices where they meet the basic requirements. The maximum untaxed amount that a student can earn per month is EUR 450 (around 38000). This will not only help them earn while they study but also create a valuable professional experience which will help them later after their graduation.
After they graduate, students are given the option of opting for a Temporary Residence Permit or a EU Blue Card to remain in the country and work full time.
- Temporary Residence permits are issued to students that will allow them to stay and work in the country for a year. They can apply for the same before the end of their studies or the first 18 months after their graduation.
- A EU Blue card however, validates the work permit for 4 years with also the possibility to apply for a permanent residence permit after working for 33 months or 21 months with excellent German proficiency. However, such a permit is only issued to applicants who have a job offer with an annual gross salary of at least EUR 55,200 per month (around INR 4600000)
Nevertheless, working full-time in Germany guarantees a minimum salary of EUR 1600 (around INR 13500) per month. Since it is one of the major exporters to the EU, Germany offers a variety of employment opportunities in areas like IT, medicine, engineering, business management and idea cumulation.
VISA REQUIREMENT FOR GERMANY
To receive a student visa for Germany, any applicant must have:
- A valid passport that does not expire within 6 months
- A letter of acceptance from the university
- A certificate of German proficiency
- A proof of sufficient funds to sustain the study in Germany
- A certificate of health insurance
SCHOLARSHIPS IN GERMANY
While most universities have their set of scholarships to help cover the living costs of students, the federal government itself provides a number of financial assistance for international students. Some of them are:
- The DAAD Scholarship program
- The Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarship
- The Deutschlandstipendium National Scholarship Program
- Konrad – Adenauer – Stiftung Scholarship
- The Erasmus Scholarship
- The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Scholarship