Germany

ABOUT

Germany is a Western European country with a landscape of forests, rivers, mountain ranges and North Sea beaches. One-third of Germany is still covered in forests and woodlands. Germany is a member of the European Union. Germany is one of the most popular destinations among international students in the world and holds the top spot for international students in the EU as of 2018.

WHY GERMANY

• Government subsidizes courses making most courses with no tuition fee or minimum fee

• Provides excellent job and Ph.D. opportunities after completing study program

• Has one of the best healthcare system that includes medical services for international students

• Study programs available in English as a medium

• Chance to apply for EU Blue Card

POPULAR COURSES

• Engineering

• Business Management

• Humanities

• Math and Computer Sciences

• Fine and Applied Arts

EDUCATION SYSTEM

Three types of higher education institutes are present in Germany, which are:

• TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE (Technical higher education schools): These higher education schools pay emphasis on the traditional form of education. Usually, these institutes teach subjects such as science, engineering, and technology.

• FACHHOCHSCHULEN (Universities of applied sciences): These institutes offer courses that focus on practical training related to business, design, economics, and the social sector.

• KUNSTHOCHSCHULEN (Colleges of art and music): These colleges offer creative and artistic programmes such as music, fine arts, fashion designing, and film-making.

Master’s programmes in Germany are either consecutive or non-consecutive. Consecutive master’s programmes follow on from a related undergraduate degree and usually do not cost much in terms of fees. On the other hand, non-consecutive programmes are focused on specialised areas of study. 

FEE STRUCTURE

Private institutions are not regulated by the government and can cost up to 20,000 EUR per year. This fluctuates depending on institution of study and chosen degree program – engineering or business degrees are usually higher in cost than social sciences, for instance. As of 2014 German universities are fully funded by the German government, meaning that neither home nor international students pay tuition fees. Students need only to pay a fee of around 60-200 EUR per semester for administrative, travel and food facilities.

INTAKES

If you want to apply at universities for Study in Germany two dates you should keep in. These are January 15th and July 15th if you want to join the university in winter semester (October). Applications can be submitted from the period beginning of admission (start of June) to 15th July. If you want to join the summer semester (April) the submission period is from the beginning of December to 15th January.

VISA REQUIREMENT

The best time to apply for a German student visa is immediately after receiving the university letter of admission and securing the necessary funds to live and study in Germany. A German student applicant visa is the visa to apply for if you are planning to go to Germany to apply for university admission in person. This visa is initially issued for three months, but can be extended for another six months upon your arrival in Germany if necessary.Required documents to enroll in university studies in Germany as an international student are:

• National Passport/national ID Card. It must show you have a valid entry visa for studies if you’re a citizen who qualifies for a visa to enter.

• Confirmation of admission in studies.

• German University Entrance Qualification. Or, equally recognized qualification, permitting you to start university studies in Germany.

• Recent passport-sized photographs.

• Student Health Insurance.