Germany

Why Study in Germany?

• Universities in Germany offer world-class services for international students
• A wide array of degree programs
• Excellent facilities for research and training
• Development of skills and emphasis on practical training
• International standard of education and a globally recognized degree
• Subsidized and affordable fee structure due to state funded education
• Supportive environment for scientific research
• Industry links help a student to understand more about his/her chosen field
• Many research projects are funded by industries in Germany
• One can do internships or training while studying in Germany
• A student can stay back for 1 year to gain work experience

Admission Process

For higher education, there are two types of institutions in Germany:

• Research-oriented Universties: These offer a plethora of courses in numerous subjects. These universities like Universities of Technology (TU), etc can award doctorate degrees.
• Universities of Applied Sciences: These universities [Fachhochschulen (FH)]) offer courses in social sciences, business administration, engineering, and design. They encourage practical application of knowledge with strong links to the industry. A student can work on a project while being supervised by a professor as well as a company, thus, a student can learn about his/her field in detail. These universities do not award doctorate degrees. However, with a master degree from FH one can apply in a university for a doctoral position.

A student can apply for a bachelors degree programme if he/she fulfills the following conditions:

• After completing the first year of a bachelor programme from a recognized university in India in the same field.
• After clearing the IIT Joint Entrance Examination for admission in technology courses and natural sciences.
• After clearing 'Feststellungspruefung'—the qualification assessment examination in Germany. 'Feststellungspruefung' assessment includes checking a student's proficiency in German and other subjects related to the degree. There is a foundation course too called 'Studienkolleg' that helps a student in preparing for this exam. The course includes 32 hours of study period per week and takes upto two semesters to complete. The two main components are subjects related to the degree or field of study the student wishes to take up later and German language.
• The following things are required for enrolling in ' Studienkolleg':
• A valid school leaving certificate and relevant subject combinations must be there.
• Proficiency In German (approximately B1 level based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

Before the enrollment in the foundation course, the course coordinators will take an entrance exam called ' Aufnahmepruefung' in which subject knowledge and German language (if applicable) will be tested.

If one has a bachelor degree from a recognized Indian university then it will be treated at par with a German Bachelor degree and that student will be eligible for Masters degree in Germany. Some universities consider one year additional masters so in case a student has three years Bachelors degree, it is advisable to contact the course coordinators to confirm. According to the subject one chooses, TOEFL/IELTS/GRE/GMAT scores may be asked by the university. For example, for studying Economics or Law, GMAT score is important.

In case a student is applying for PhD, Master degree from a recognized Indian university is treated at par with a Master degree from Germany and makes one eligible for applying to a doctoral programme. Additionally, different universities will further assess other conditions for eligibility. Proof for English language proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS scores) may be asked by some universities.

Student Visa for Germany

Once a student gets the admission letter for study abroad in Germany and applies for the student visa, the whole process can take approximately two months.

Proof of funding for the first year of study period which comes out to be aproximately INR 4-5 Lakh in the form of a blocked account with a German Bank or proof of scholarship/sponsorship needs to be produced and shown in the German Embassy and the Consulates. For second year of study period, financial statements or any other instrument which is available can be shown. Study abroad in Germany for Indian students also means they need to apply for hostels. International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt) of the university can help you with this.

Cost of Living and Studying in Germany

The biggest plus point of studying in Germany is that the tuition fee is subsidized by the state so most of the institutions for higher education charge no or very little tuition fee (sometimes up to 500 Euro per semester). Therefore, it is almost like getting a scholarship.

However, semester contribution is there which varies from Euro 50 to 250. This depends upon the university and services/benefits that a student gets. For special courses, a student may have to pay a higher fee.

For living in Germany (including housing, clothing, food, health insurance, etc), a student needs around Euro 740 (approximately INR 45,000). However, this may vary a bit from person to person and living standards.

Scholarships in Germany

Scholarships and funding are available in German universities in principle for research and also sometimes at the Master Level.

For more information on colleges and universities in Germany, study programmes in Germany, study in Germany for Indian students, overall education in Germany, students can contact a good Germany education consultant or a global education consultancy which has expert counselors who will help a student from the pre-admission stage till the completion of course.