Education in Germany

Geographical features of Germany:

Germany,  the Federal Parliamentary Republic of sixteen states is a country in Central Europe.  It is surrounded by the North Sea, Denmark and the Baltic Sea to the north, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands to the west, Austria and Switzerland to the south, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east.  Germany is the 63^rd largest country with a total land area of 357,021 km² (137,847 sq mi).

Myths about Education in Germany:

Many of us have a misconception that studying in Germany will not be comfortable for non-German speaking students.  But German Universities and educational institutes always focus on international students while designing the educational curriculum.  In German education system, the educational instruction is optional so that one can choose English or German as their medium of instruction.  However most of the universities provide free German language courses in order to motivate the students to learn the local language.

Why study in Germany?

The German education system is one of the oldest in the world and has set the standard for higher education in many countries. German universities provide a wide and diverse range of degree programs that are internationally recognised.  Research in scientific field is a fundamental aspect in German universities which is funded by the government and the industries.  Students have ample opportunities to involve in the research activities and gain knowledge.

Apart from this the universities also offer an excellent service to ensure that you can quickly settle into your studies and life in Germany.  The university coordinators take care of your accommodation and insurance before your arrival and try their best to get you acquainted with the new place.

Student life in Germany:

The cost of living in Germany depends on the personal spending habits as well as on the location of the university. Students enjoy numerous benefits such as accommodation in student hostels, discounted monthly passes for public transportation and inexpensive health insurance.

University towns are full of life with cafes, music pubs, bookshops, museums and a wide range of sporting activities. When you are done with the city registration after your arrival, you will be provided with a set of free tickets  to visit these places.

How to apply?

Application forms are available at the International offices of the universities or can be downloaded from the university’s website.  Some universities also provide facilities to apply online wherein you can fill in the required details and upload the certificates.  In other cases, you have to post the filled application form along with the authenticated copies of your certificates to the university.  You will also have to include authenticated copies of certificates confirming your German knowledge, if required.

The winter semester starts in October and the Summer semester in April.  The application deadlines are 15^th July and 15^th January respectively.

Scholarships and Funds:

Several organizations offer financial support for a course of study in Germany.  Some organizations award scholarships specifically to the first year students, while others only to the doctoral students.  Several organizations are directly supported by the German government or industry, whereas others are run by the church or other private organizations.

DAAD: It is a publicly funded independent organization of higher education institutions in Germany. DAAD supports undergraduate and graduate students as well as doctorates from Germany and abroad.

Hans Böckler Foundation: is a German Trade Union Association which funds socially committed students.  The main aim of this foundation is to promote the exchange of ideas between the academic world, the working world and the unions.  Applicants who have work experience have good chances of receiving this grants.

Erasmus Mundus: is a cooperation and mobility programme in the field of higher education that aims to enhance the quality of European higher education.  Erasmus mundus scholarships are offered by the European Commission to non European students.

Visa Processing:

One should apply for a student visa in order enter Germany for their studies.  The visa processing takes around 4-12 weeks and it is initially granted for a period of three months, later it has to be extended in Germany.

The documents required for student visa:

• Completed visa application form
• Passport
• Photographs
• Visa application fee
• Evidence of admission
• University certificates
• Proof of language proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS)
• Proof of adequate financial support

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