At last count, there were nearly 250,000 international students enrolled in German universities, accounting for over 10 per cent of the country’s total student population. Indeed, it is one of the most popular study destinations in the world. This is due, no doubt, to its plethora of world class universities.
There are an impressive 42 German universities in the top 500 of the 2016 QS World University Rankings®, 15 of which make the top 200. These high quality institutions are made even more appealing by the low cost of tuition, which will cost you no more than €250 a semester, and in some regions, nothing (universities are administered by regional rather than federal authorities).
Internationalization is a big priority for a lot of German universities, so as well as a warm welcome, you’ll find support groups, programs and events for international students in place. Another major consequence of this drive towards internationalization is a coming into line of the structure of German higher education with the rest of post-Bologna Declaration Europe. You’ll find bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs of the same length and of equivalent weight as you would almost anywhere else.
There are three types of German higher education institution. The first are known simply as Technical universities or Universitat. These are largely multi-disciplinary, research focussed establishments. Next are Fachhochschulen and Hochschule –universities of applied sciences – which are focussed on preparing students for workplaces that require specific skills and knowledge. Courses at these establishments will often feature practical elements or internships. The third category, colleges of arts, film or music, are more inclined towards creative vocations and often have special admission requirements, such as aptitude tests.
Though a range of courses are taught in English, particularly at graduate level, the majority are conducted in German. Most universities offer intensive courses, and there are options, such as Goethe institutes and the TestDaF that allow you to arrive prepared. Socially, though many Germans speak very good English.
QUICK FACTS
- Name: Germany Federal Republic of Germany
- Capital City: Berlin (3,440,441 pop.) (4,429,847 metro)
- Germany Population: 81,147,265 (2013 est
- Ethnicity: German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish)
- GDP per capita: $39,100 (2012 EST.)
- Language: German
- Religion: Protestants 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3%
WHY STUDY IN GERMANY?
- Safe country to live and study
- World class degrees recognised around the world
- Diverse range of study opportunities
- 17,500 degree programmes offered
- Scientifically oriented study in a wide range of disciplines.
- Lowest tuitions fees
- Affordable living expenses
- Ample number of scholarships on offer
EDUCATION SYSTEM
Higher education in Germany are divided into
- Universities;
- Universities of ‘Applied Sciences’
- Colleges of Art and Music;
- The entire system in Germany totals nearly 400 higher education institutions, with roughly 120 universities
- 189 universities of public administrative sciences
- 50 art colleges.
COST OF STUDY
- €500 per semester
COST OF LIVING
- 8640 Euros for first year.
INTAKES
- April /October
WORK RIGHTS AND STAY BACK
- 240 days part time or 120 days full time in a year .Students can work for more hours subject to approval from foreign authority
- 18 months Residence permit
- Authorization to work 20 hours per week
Entry requirements
Overall GPA 2.75
MASTERS
- 15 & 16 year Education with 75% or 2.75 GPA.
- IELTS – 6.5 overall or TOEFL – 85points (IBT)
MBA
- IELTS – 6.5 or TOEFL – 85points (IBT)
- Work Experience 2 – 3 year at managerial level GMAT – 550
- GMAT – 550 (exceptionally required)