Why and how to study in

Germany

Germany a country rich in Higher

Education Institutions
372 Higher Education Institutions - 2.0 million Students
- 102 Universities and Technical Universities
- 167 General Universities of Applied Sciences
- 49 Colleges of Art and Music

German Higher Education

Two main types of higher
education institutions:
Research Universities:
undergraduate, graduate and
doctoral programmes
Universities of Applied
Sciences (Fachhochschulen):
practice-oriented Bachelors and
Masters programmes

Research in Germany
-

Unity of teaching and research

Co-operation with industry in

appropriate disciplines of applied
sciences

R&D expenditure in Germany is among

the highest of the world (2.3% of GNP):
researchers find well-equipped
laboratories and libraries.

Germany has a network of particular

non-university based research facilities,
working closely together with
universities:

Research in Germany
-

Leibniz Science Association

Fraunhofer Society (FhG)

Max Planck Society (MPG)

Helmholtz Association of
National Research Centres
www.research-in-germany.de

Recent Developments: Bologna

Process
The Bologna Process: Creating a
European Higher Education Area
(European Credit Transfer System)
Three-tier degree Structure:
Bachelor, Master, PhD
(typically 3 + 2 + 3 years)
> 600 International Degree
Programmes taught in English

Five good reasons for studying in

Germany
1. First-class service for international students
2. Wide choice of degree programmes
3. Excellence in research and teaching
4. Close links between theory and practice
5. Strong international focus

1. First-class service for international students

Germanys universities offer an all-round-service

Support in:
- finding a place to live or a job
- planning your studies
- legal advice
-

2. Wide choice of degree programmes

Enormously wide and diverse
range of studies and
qualification opportunities
Find your degree programme that
suits your personal skills, talents
and interests!
www.higher-education-compass.de

3. Excellence in research and teaching

Great importance of basic research
Close unity of research and teaching:
leading researchers also teach at their university

4. Close links between theory and practice

Basic research and applications work together:

close cooperation between universities and industry
Learn how research findings develop into products
Get an insight into the working world!

5. Strong international focus

Numerous programmes facilitate cooperation
between researchers
Wide range of study opportunities promote
international student exchange
German degrees are recognized all over the world

Student life is affordable in Germany

- In contrast to other countries, tuition fee is
very affordable: About 500 Euros a
semester*.
*variable by institution, not at all universities, not in all
programmes

- The monthly cost of living averages out to

around 630 , although strong regional
differences do exist

How to get Information on

Programmes?

Searchable database of all programmes taught at German

universities
www.higher-education-compass.de
www.study-in.de (Course search)
Choose between the following options:
a) first degree studies?
b) graduate studies?
c) doctoral studies?
d) International Programmes?

How to get Information on

Programmes - Example
You are looking for first degree studies.
choose the subject area you wish to study
(e.g. Engineering)
choose a specific subject within the subject area
(e.g. studies subject: Environmental technology,
Energy engineering)
You get a list with the results of your choice:

How to select your Programme Example

How to choose your University

Choose your university among the higher education
institutions
www.study-in.de (UniversityUniversity profile) helps
you to
a) get information about the university profile (address,
number of students...)
b) find information about courses (degree programmes,
special graduate studies) offered by each university

How to choose your University

Example
Look up the university profile of the University
of Aachen
Then, search further information about Special
graduate studies
Results (detail only):

University ranking

Ranking that can help you find the university

that suits you best
www.university-ranking.de
Within the ranking you can select
a) a subject
b) a university
c) a city in Germany.

University ranking Example

Quick Search:
Subject: Electrical Engineering and Information
Engineering
You get a Ranking Overview that lists the universities
with a broad assessment in five key criteria.
Results (detail only):

Planning your studies

First point of contact: International Office
(Akademisches Auslandsamt) of your chosen
university (addresses at www.study-in.de)
The staff will be able to tell you about
- procedures
- dates and deadlines
- admission requirements
- selection processes
- tuition fees

Admission
Important requirements for the admission:
Higher education entrance qualification:
Secondary school leaving certificate (Apolitirion, A-Levels)
Advice: For certificates of private schools get a confirmation from the
Ministry of Education that the diploma is equivalent to the certificate of
public schools

German language proficiency (DSH or TestDaF)

exception: International Degree Programmes
Possibly, proof of particular aptitude (selection procedures)
Possibly, practical training of several weeks before your studies

Admissions restrictions
Some subjects have admissions restrictions (NC =
numerus clausus) based on the grade point average
of your school leaving certificate
Nationwide admissions restriction for subjects like:
medicine, psychology, dentistry etc. (for all
universities that offer this subject)
www.zvs.de
Local admissions restriction (admissions restriction
applies only to individual universities, not to all)

Applying for admission

To be admitted to a degree programme: send
your application either to the university of your
choice or to uni-assist
The International Office can tell you where to
send the application
Check if the university of your choice is a
member of uni-assist: www.uni-assist.de

What academic degrees do

German universities offer?
Bachelor
Master
Diplom
Staatsexamen
Magister
Doctorate
By 2010 German universities aim to replace the
traditional German degrees with the international
degrees (Bachelors and Masters)

Can I get a scholarship or grant for

my studies in Germany?
Many organisations in Germany that award
scholarships and grants to international
students
Scholarship database: www.fundingguide.de
German Research Foundation: www.dfg.de
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation:
www.avh.de

For more information

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD):

www.study-in.de

Information on Germanys higher education institutions:

www.higher-education-compass.de

Information about International Bachelor, Master and Doctoral Programmes:

www.daad.de/international-programmes

Funding resources:
www.funding-guide.de

Information about Germanys research landscape:

www.research-in-germany.de

Access to the major science and research organisations in Germany:

www.daad.de/research-explorer

Variety of Germany
16 federal states with their characteristics
Many interesting cities, variety of culture and
science

Dear friend, all theory is gray, And green the golden tree
of life. (J.W. Goethe: Faust)
Discover the variety of Germany. Discover your
Germany!

We hope to see you

soon in Germany!

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respective owners.