Study in Germany

Many students these days look for a second country to complete their studies in. Often, the reason for this is the lure of going to a new place and the status gained once the course has been completed. In addition, studying overseas is sometimes a pathway to permanent residency, which is sometimes the key reason for studying in another country. Because of these lures, Germany has become a popular destination for young people to choose for study purposes. In particular, there are several good reasons why a student would select Germany as a study destination.

The scope of study in Germany

• Germany Offers World-Class Degrees

Germany over the years has built up a reputation for offering high-quality goods and services, and this applies to education as well. A degree obtained from one of the country’s top universities makes a student stand out amongst the best. This is particularly the case in the science and engineering fields.

• A Huge Choice of Educational Facilities

Germany’s system of higher education offers all sorts of possibilities to students. It has around 450 universities that have been accredited by the German government, and 17,500 degree programs. International students have the option to study for bachelors, masters, and doctorates. Scientific areas are covered the best, but Germany’s top universities offer arts subjects too.

Is Studying in Germany Hard?

It’s not too difficult to pass a master’s in Germany, or even a bachelor’s degree, but getting the best grade isn’t quite so easy. You can’t just learn up the material from a textbook; you are expected to have an in-depth understanding of the subject matter in order to get a good grade. You can access the best grades if you put in enough work while studying your course.

English Speakers are Welcome

You don’t need to have complete fluency in German to study at the country’s universities. For master’s degrees in particular, many are offered in English. You can study in English in Germany.

A big International Student Community is Present in Germany

German universities offer mentoring programmes for international students, making it much easier for them to adjust. There is a large international student community, which offers a great environment for study in Germany for international students to both achieve and enjoy. So, studying in Germany isn’t too difficult for international students.

Tuition Fees are Affordable

Unlike many countries, Germany is an exception in that it subsidises higher education. This means that there are either no tuition fees or they are very low, even for the international student. Usually, no tuition fees are levied on bachelor’s programmes, and fees charged for master’s courses are far less than in any other countries.

Living Costs aren’t Too High in Germany

Day-to-day living costs in Germany are quite reasonable, especially when compared to other European countries. The price of food and rent work out to be the same as in neighbouring countries. In addition, there are discounts offered to students, such as for visits to museums and theatres.

Is Studying in Germany Worth it?

Because there are many study scholarships available, even to international students, it’s definitely worth studying in Germany. International students who have built up an excellent academic record are allowed to apply for a scholarship, which is designed to help them financially to complete their courses. The German Academics’ Exchange Service (DAAD) is considered to be one of the world’s biggest scholarship organisations. Students can quite easily source a scholarship using this organisation.

Germany is a Beautiful Country

It’s not just study opportunities that lure students to Germany, but also its beauty. It’s endowed with a rich historical and cultural heritage. It has natural attractions like the Moselle valley and Bavaria, and it also has world-class cosmopolitan cities where every possible convenience can be found.

German is a Good Language to Learn

Even though fluency in German isn’t necessarily required to study in Germany, invariably students who study in the country for long enough will become sufficiently fluent in German that they can add it to their CV. This makes their skills highly sought after on the international market and can help to spark off an international career.

Checkout The Best Resources for Learning the German language

Requirements to Study in Germany

What is Needed to Study in Germany?

For undergraduate study, a diploma from a high school, the leaving certificate from the last attended school, or results from a university entrance examination is usually enough. Some courses will ask for proof of proficiency in the German language, and there may be other requirements depending on the selected course of study.

University Entrance Qualification for Studying in Germany

If your high-school leaving certificate isn’t one of those recognised for study in Germany, you may gain an entrance qualification to your chosen German university by undertaking a foundation course called “Studienkolleg”. There is an entry exam you need to pass before you can start a foundation course.

How much Money do I need to Study in Germany?

Although there is no fee for studying at one of Germany’s public universities as an undergraduate student, there is, however, a charge for enrolment for each semester, which covers administration costs. This is around €250 for each semester, although this does vary depending on the university.

German University Admission Requirements

You will need to provide the following documents:

• A fully completed application form

The application form of the university must be duly completed, which includes the facts about your personal data, your education, and your professional experience. Many of the German universities have online application forms. You may need to scan all your supporting documents and upload them with your online application.

• Proof of entrance qualification

If you don’t have a high-school leaving certificate recognized in Germany, you are required to enrol in “Studienkollegs,” the foundation course, and pass the “Feststellungsprüfung,” which is the qualification required for university entrance. These courses are based on your preferred field of study and last for up to two semesters or a single calendar year. These don’t usually attract a fee.

Submit Academic Certificates

These will depend on your proposed course of study, but could include some or all of the following:

• Any certificates from any earlier education are required and must be translated by an appropriately registered translator, and these translations should be certified by a notary
• A university entrance qualification/a school leaving certificate
• An official academic record or transcript
• A graduation certificate
• A bachelor’s or master’s certificate, if required
• A diploma supplement
• Certificates of activities, if any, such as working as a volunteer

Student Visa Requirements to Study in Germany

German university admission requirements, and the requirements to study in Germany for more than 90 days, are that you are to submit an application for a national visa for study purposes, and not a Schengen visa, which only allows stays in Germany for up to three months at a time. In addition to a national visa, you will on arriving in Germany be required to apply for a residence permit.

Requirements to Study in Germany for a Master’s Degree

Germany is famous for its approach to charging for higher education at public universities, and 15 of its 16 states don’t charge any tuition fees at all to eligible students, even for a master’s degree, regardless of your nationality – whether you are German, an EU or non-EU student, everyone is treated the same.

German University Admission Requirements for a Master’s Degree

Most German universities require that the student has a four-year undergraduate degree certificate for admission to MSc courses. It doesn’t need to be a German university bachelor’s degree, but it has to be recognized by the German university.

Scholarships in Germany for International Students

DeutschlandStipendium, or the German National Scholarship Programme, offers both financial and non-financial student support to both committed and high-achieving students from throughout the world for entry into all participating German universities. The scholarship doesn’t take either personal or parental income or nationality into consideration when offering the scholarship. The scholarship is worth €300 a month and is granted for two semesters or more, but could be provided for the full duration of the study.

DAAD Scholarship Program

DAAD is a unilateral organisation of Germany’s institutions for higher education and is responsible for the promotion of international academic relations, mainly through exchange of academics, students, and researchers. The DAAD scholarship has scholarships and funding available for scientists, foreign students, and graduate students in Germany who require money to support their studies, teaching assignments, or research work. For students who come from developing countries the scholarship most often awarded is the DAAD scholarship for postgraduate studies related to development.

To know more visit: DAAD Scholarships

Germany Foundation Scholarship Program

Some German religious and political foundations offer scholarships to international students who originate from many diverse backgrounds with varied qualifications and interests. These can be found at studentwerk-berlin.de.

Erasmus Scholarship Program in Germany

German universities commonly participate in study programmes that are paid for by Erasmus Mundus and Erasmus scholarship programmes. These scholarships may offer financial backing to international students who wish to take part in a German programme.

German Residence Student Permits

German residence for studies is offered to foreigners who wish to enter and stay for a while in Germany to:

• Enrol in studies at a university
• Participate in student study exchange programmes
• Enrol in a study preparation course
• Enrol in vocational training and internships
• Enrol in a preparatory language course
• Enrol in studies at school level

A residence permit for study is issued for no more than two years. This sort of residence permit may be extended if the holder hasn’t yet completed the intended studies, as long as he or she is likely to complete them.

German Student Residence Permit Requirements

The residence permit is designed for foreigners wishing to remain in Germany to enable them to study at their chosen German university, either if the study has already begun or if they are conditionally admitted for studying at a German university.

The fee required for the residence permit is between €EUR and €100 for initial application, and €49–96 for an extension. For Turkish people, it’s €28.80.

German Student Visa Checklist

The main requirements for a residence permit to study in Germany are as follows:

• A document, such as an official acceptance letter, confirming that the stude0nt has been admitted to the educational institution
• Evidence of health insurance cover for at least €30,000
• Documents indicating there is sufficient money available to cover accommodation and living costs in Germany
• Documents showing knowledge of German or another language, depending on the language used on the course to be studied
• A letter of consent from a parent or legal guardian for those under 18.

For the initial application, a form for a residence permit application (“Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels”) has to be completed, and included with it should be the following:

• A national passport that is valid
• A recent biometric photograph
• Health insurance cover

When renewing the residence visa, certain documents are required as follows:

• Documents that prove German residency
• A home registration certificate (“Meldebestätigung”)
• A rental agreement and a letter of confirmation for the accommodation (“Einzugsbestätigung”) written by the landlord
• Documents showing evidence of sufficient cash to live and be accommodated
• A bank account in a German bank which is holding a minimum of €8,640 in a German bank
• A commitment letter completed and signed by the host in Germany (“Verpflichtungserklärung”)
• A certificate for a scholarship award
• A parental signed declaration confirming financial support for the child while staying in Germany, plus documents that confirm their income for the previous six months
• The residence visa extension bank statements for the last six months
• Documents showing study intentions
• A certificate showing university enrolment
• A conditional admission letter from the university

How to Convert a Student Visa to a Work Visa in Germany

Germany has a liberal attitude when it comes to international students following their graduation path. Students can work throughout their studies, and once they have graduated can continue to work and live in Germany for up to 18 months after they have finished. A student can begin a normal job using this permit and alter their permit as soon as they have successfully completed a probationary period.

How Long does it take to get a German Student Visa?

This will depend on the German embassy in your country, as you will need to arrange an appointment for a visa interview. You should put your student visa application in at least three months before you expect to come to Germany. The processing for your application could take 25 days.

What Documents need to be Translated for a German Student Visa?

If any of your documents are not in German, you should get them translated before you submit your application. These should include the following:

• Academic transcripts
• A medical report
• Health insurance cover
• A degree or certificate
• A parental consent form
• Proof of funds for your living costs

To know more read this: Student Visa Permit

FAQs

Is it Possible to Study in Germany for Free?

Generally, tuition fees at public universities attracted no cost in 2014, but if you are a non-EU/EEA student, some fees were introduced in Baden-Württemberg in 2017. Even these fees are far lower than in any competing countries. In other states there is a nominal registration fee of undergraduate-level tuition of €250 (about US$225). There is, however, a fee for postgraduate study.

What Qualifications are Offered in Germany?

All German universities offer internationally recognised BA and BSc (Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science) qualifications. They take three years to complete. MAs and MScs are both offered as well.

What are the Entry Requirements for Studying in Germany?

You need a higher education entrance qualification, or “Hochschulzugangsberechtigung” (HZB). To become an undergraduate student, you will need a high-school diploma or a school leaving certificate.

Is it Necessary to Speak German?

Usually, courses are taught in German. Proficiency tests that are accepted to prove competency in German are the German Language University Entrance Examination for International Applicants (DSH), the Test for German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF), the Goethe Institut German Language Diploma (GDS), and the German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs, Level II.

Is a Student Visa Required to Study in Germany?

Students from the EEA and EU and those from Norway, Iceland, Switzerland or Liechtenstein don’t require a student visa. Anyone from the USA, Canada, New Zealand Australia, South Korea, Israel, Japan, or South Korea don’t require a student visa, but they still need to register for a residency permit when arriving in Germany.

Where can I Study in Germany?

Forty-five German universities fit the QS World University Rankings®. The Universities of Berlin or Munich are good choices.

Can I Cover Living Costs with a Scholarship?

There are many organisations, such as DADD, that offer scholarships to international students.