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Hey Buddy! My small navigator! Ready to explore Germany or not? You better be ready. Cause in a short while we’re gonna take a trip. Yes! You and your very own BuddyBee!
Before starting our journey, tell me something! When you think about Germany, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?
Think!
Think!
Think!
You better hurry, Lil dreamer!
Are your associations connected to the country’s beautiful destinations or the German traditions? Is it the smooth acceleration of a premium automobile as it launches onto the Autobahn? Or is it the way the River Rhine snakes its way among picturesque castles, each one more beautiful than the last?
Or let me guess! Maybe it’s that dream of yours — that prestigious foreign degree from your bucket list into your cap! Whatever it is, guess what! It’s a complete package, buddy! 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 countryside and make the best of your time there. This is where knowledge of Germany will present a great advantage! So, without further ado, let’s start digging GERMANY!
Germany is an interesting country no doubt. With so much going on there, Germany is also recognized as one of the favorite study abroad destinations in Europe.
Who wouldn’t like to study in Berlin or in Munich? Tempting, huh!
But with so many to choose from, it’s not always easy to navigate your way through the university landscape. Don’t worry. Buddy’s here to help!
Let me start with the common queries you may have in your mind right now!
⦁ What’s the German University System like?
There are mainly 2 types of institutions for 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, you will be eligible to apply for a doctoral position at a University. [2]
Do you wanna know what should define which of the two kinds of institutions you choose?
— Your interest and inclination. Yeah, that’s the right answer.
⦁ What kind of Bachelor’s and Master’s programs does Germany offer?
There is a wide range of study programs with —
⦁ German as the medium of instruction
⦁ English as the sole or primary medium of instruction, called International Programs. [1]
You wanna go for German or English? Which one, buddy?
⦁ Am I eligible to apply for a Master’s degree course?
In Germany, every university is autonomous. This means that every university or study program has its own set of criteria for admitting students. What you need to do is — check the university website and specifically the program you are interested in to find out the exact admission requirements.
Some generalization is, however, possible and one can say that a four-year Bachelor’s degree from your own country will be treated at par with a German Bachelor’s degree and most universities will consider you eligible for a Master’s. In case you have a three-year Bachelor’s degree, do get in touch with the course coordinator before applying. [2]
Some universities may ask for your TOEFL/IELTS/GRE/GMAT scores, depending upon the subject you choose to study. And in case you want to take up a program in German medium, your German knowledge needs to be certified through examinations like the TestDaF or DSH.
⦁ How do I go about applying?
The German academic year is divided into 2 semesters:
⦁ Winter semester (October - March) and
⦁ Summer semester (April - September)
Accordingly, German universities have 2 intakes. The following timeline refers to courses beginning with the winter semester. In case you find a course that begins with the summer semester, you just need to calculate the months accordingly and you are ready to proceed. [1]
⦁ Do I need to know German?
I can reckon that I’ve already answered the question. Let’s see if you remember! Even if you don’t, it’s absolutely fine, buddy. Let me repeat that for you. Say, you are interested in a program / Studienkolleg in German medium, your dream university will definitely ask for very good German language skills. In such a case, your knowledge of German needs to be certified through examinations like the TestDaF. [1]
You must be thinking about this ‘Studienkolleg’ thing. Wait! You don’t need to google it. Let me demonstrate that for you. Actually, a majority of students from other regions need to go through the bridging course called ‘Studienkolleg’ which mainly necessitates fluency in German (approx. B1 level). However, the number of Studienkollegs in English medium is low, and so is the number of Bachelor’s programs in English medium.
⦁ What kind of budget should I have in my mind?
⦁ Tuition Fees: Not only can you expect a world-class education when you study in Germany, but also, at most universities, it is even for free. That’s right! In Germany, education is subsidized by the state, and therefore, state-funded institutions of higher education charge no tuition fee. However, of course, there are some exceptions — mostly private schools, or study programs for students with prior professional experience.
⦁ Semester Contribution: However, you will need to pay a semester contribution of around Euro 300, depending upon the university and the services or benefits provided. For certain special courses, you may need to pay higher fees. Good to know: If you decide to stay and work in Germany after graduation, you can often deduct previous tuition fees from your income tax. [5]
⦁ Cost of Living: Living costs in Germany are relatively modest when compared to other Western European nations. Apart from the tuition fees, if any, you will require about Euro 860 per month for subsistence i.e. housing, food, clothing, study material, and other expenses such as health insurance and leisure activities. Rents in certain metropolitan areas, such as Hamburg or Munich, maybe high, although in no way comparable to cities like Paris or London. [6]
The amount can vary from city to city, and of course, from lifestyle to lifestyle!
⦁ 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! [2]
After completing your degree, you can choose to stay in Germany for up to 18 months and 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. During your studies, you can also get the opportunity to do internships with German companies, which can open new vistas for your professional career. Sounds great to me. What do you say?
⦁ Can I bring my spouse and children to Germany while I am studying over there?
The answer to your question is — YES! Family reunification is possible. But, you have to have a residence permit in Germany and the duration of your stay has to be longer than one year. There is one more thing! In order for them to join you in Germany, you have to be able to support them without burdening social assistance in any way. [4]
⦁ Can my spouse/husband who will accompany me to Germany work too?
If you are planning on having your husband or wife accompany you during your studies in Germany and hope they’ll be allowed to work, they must fully disclose their intention to work when applying for the visa.
⦁ How can I get the residence permit?
Persons who are coming to Germany with a visa and who intend to stay for a longer period must have a residence permit. For the residence permit, you will need a certificate of enrollment from the university, registration from the authorities, proof of financing, and a valid health insurance contract. A residence permit for the purpose of studying is issued for a period of two years and has to be extended before the two years run out.
Done with queries? Buddy’s answered all your questions or not?
Ready to conquer Germany yet? Well…well, are we missing out on something? What about the application process?
See! Buddy’s in control. Come along with me. Follow these 8 steps one by one to keep track of where you are right now. Let’s climb the stairs of your dream!
Germany is rightly proud of the quality of its higher education system and its universities examine applications very carefully. However, the German Admission Process is fair and welcomes genuine international students (over 2,50,000 of whom already study in Germany). [3]
So, are you ready to make your dream of studying in Germany a reality?
Hey, do you have any more questions? Do you need BuddyBee to help you in the application process?
Know that Buddy’s right here, always for you! BuddyBee just wants to watch you make your dream come true :)