Germany is referred to as the ‘land of poets and thinkers’ for it has produced gems like Kant, Adorno, Bach, Beethoven, and more than 90 Nobel Laureates, including Robert Koch, Max Planck, and Albert Einstein. These personalities it has produced directly reflect on its able education system and culture. No wonder, in recent times, aspirants from all over the world want to study in Germany. As per official data, there were roughly 320,000 international students in Germany’s higher education institutions in the 2019/20 academic year, representing a growth of 6% and following a growth of 7% the previous year. Indian students make up 13% of the total international student population!
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Most of the top-notch German public universities have a rich history and tradition of educational excellence. Other institutes that were founded after WWII or even recently, follow up in the footsteps of legacy institutions while making the curriculum relevant to the modern age. Apart from the curriculum, German universities also excel in infrastructure facilities and in terms of skilled professors and trained staff. All of this adds to the entire college experience of a student and sets them up for a promising future after graduation, regardless of the discipline. The German education system follows practice-oriented studies, innovation, and international cooperation to offer the best education to the students.
German universities operate under the Bologna reform, thereby ensuring that all the students get internationally recognized degrees at all levels – from undergraduate to doctorate and beyond.
The degrees in German are broken down semester-wise in the following manner:
Master’s in Arts or Science is 2-4 semesters, depending on the program
PhD is 4-6 semesters, depending on the program.
This is true for all fields of study except for law, pharmacy, and medicine. These courses last a few more semesters than a regular bachelor’s course.
English as the Language of Communication
While German is the native language, professional and higher education degrees are English-taught for the benefit of international students who want to study in Germany.
No Tuition Fee at Public Universities
The state funds most of the higher education in Germany. This is the reason both domestic and international students can study in Germany for free. Though public universities offer free education, they have limited English taught courses and required B1 Level German language proficiency as well as a good GRE score. This is where the University of Applied Sciences make more sense for students looking to study high-quality education in Germany without learning the German language. While the tuition fee is waived, you will still need to bear additional costs including the cost of living, transportation, etc. As per various surveys, 867 euros a month is the average living cost for international students in Germany.
Working After Graduation and Job Opportunities
Non-EU students who graduate from German universities need a work permit that allows them an 18-month stay back to find a job in their field. To find work, it’s very useful if you have a good knowledge of the German language. Meanwhile, in these 18 months, you can take any employment to support yourself.
As soon as you’ve found a job role you’d like to accept, you should apply for a German residence permit or EU Blue Card. Germany is a business hub that fosters new-age job roles and innovations. You can bag a lucrative job, provided you have the right qualifications and skills.
The practice-based universities (University of Applied Sciences) in Germany have tied agreements with large organizations to help students with internships. These internships will definitely set a good foundation for your professional life in Germany.
Indian aspirants who want to enrol in Germany for higher education must check if their previous qualifications are recognized at German universities. Every school-leaving certificate attained in the home country must be compared and translated into German qualification terms. In India, the 10+2 education is recognized for admission to bachelor’s courses. However, Germany has a 10+3 education system. Indian students who want to enrol in bachelor’s programmes in Germany will have to undertake a one-year preparatory course known as Studienkolleg. Depending on your study field you want to study in Germany, you’ll be required to attend one of the following Studienkolleg courses:
G-Kurs: German, History, German Literature, Sociology and Statistics
For master’s admissions, one must have a recognized bachelor’s degree and work experience (if needed).
Scholarships in Germany for International Students
Germany has generous scholarships for international students, including grants offered by DAAD or the German Academic Exchange Service across all levels of education. Other notable scholarships and fellowships include Erasmus+, EMS Undergraduate Scholarship, ESMT Women’s Academic Scholarship, and Humboldt Research Fellowship.
Pursue a Master in Data Science in Germany with upGrad Abroad, jointly offered by IIIT-Bangalore and IU-Germany. Get a dual alumnus status on completion of the course – meaning double the connections and double the network. upGrad takes care of most of the documentation work for you and allows you to have relaxed English proficiency requirements while providing specialized training and curriculum. To enrol, get in touch with our counsellors.
Why is education in Germany free for international students?
The state funds most of the higher education in Germany. This is the reason both domestic and international students can study in Germany for free. Though public universities offer free education, they have limited English taught courses and required B1 Level German language proficiency as well as a good GRE score.
Which are the best universities in Germany?
Most public universities in Germany rank high on QS and THE scales. Some top-ranked institutes in Germany are – Technical University of Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Heidelberg University, Humboldt University of Berlin, Free University of Berlin, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.
What are the most popular scholarships to study in Germany?
Germany has some generous scholarships for international students including grants offered by DAAD or the German Academic Exchange Service across all levels of education. Other notable scholarships and fellowships include Erasmus+, EMS Undergraduate Scholarship, ESMT Women’s Academic Scholarship, Humboldt Research Fellowship, among others.
She is an experienced writer and journalist who has extensively covered the education sector in India and Abroad. Now helping Indian aspirants realise their foreign education dream by providing them with relevant content and information through upGrad Abroad. Amateur traveller, loves to read Architectural Digest!