Caught in Germany vs. Canada conundrum? Which is the better country to pursue higher studies in? Both Canada and Germany are amongst the fastest growing global economies and they are both ideal higher education destinations for global students including those from India. Both countries offer a superlative quality of life along with diverse career opportunities and rewarding experiences. Being top-rated destinations for international students, it is hard to choose between these two study abroad destinations. However, there are several parameters that might help you make an informed choice in this regard.
Germany vs. Canada as a Study Abroad Destination: Highlights
Factors
Germany
Canada
Language of instruction
English, German
English, French
Average cost of study
Public universities: €500-€700/year
Private universities: €25,000 – €40,000/year
CAD 25,000/ year
Average cost of living
€10,500/year
CAD 15,000/ year
Exams required
IELTS/TOEFL, Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (TestDaF)/DSH, GMAT/GRE
IELTS/TOEFL/PTE and GMAT/GRE
Intakes
Two intakes in a year – Summer and Winter
Three intakes in a year – Fall, Spring, and Summer
Funding sources
The German government aids the education of students at public universities. Still, there are part-time jobs and scholarships to provide extra support to the students.
Before understanding which country is better in Germany vs Canada, it is essential to understand the education system of both the countries. Germany is well-known for its high reputation around the globe. The higher education system in the country is offered by three types of universities – Universities, University of Applied Sciences, University of Music and Art. Most public universities offer a degree free of cost at a minimal semester fee. This makes it one of the most popular study abroad destinations.
On the other hand, Canada has two types of educational systems offering high-quality education – university and colleges, both private and public. The Canadian education system offers more than 10,000 graduate and undergraduate programs across 213 public colleges and 223 public and private universities.
Study in Germany
Type of University
Characteristics
Academic universities
These are research-driven institutions offering a degree in all types of disciplines. These universities focus on developing theoretical rather than practical ones.
Universities of Art/Science
Students with artistic talents in photography, architecture, design, etc. are deemed fit to be a part of this institution.
Universities of Applied Sciences
Students are required to conduct research on projects in association with companies. The curriculum also includes teachings from industry experts and mandatory internships.
Study in Canada
Type of Institution
Key points
Colleges
Also known as Institutes of Technology or Science, Community Colleges, or Colleges of Applied Arts or Applied Technology, these colleges offer training in applied fields of work.
Universities
Most universities offer undergraduate and graduate programs. However, some also train students to excel in applied fields of work.
Top Universities: Germany vs Canada for Indian students
There are many popular universities both in Germany and Canada that excel in several aspects of teaching and research. Listed below are the top institutions in both the countries as per QS World Rankings 2022 and their average tuition fees.
Germany
Canada
Universities
Average annual tuition fees
Universities
Average annual tuition fees
Technical University of Munich
No tuition fee
University of Toronto
CAD 30,000 – 58,000
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
International students are exempt from tuition fees
Popular Courses in Canada vs Popular Courses in Germany
In the tussle between Germany vs Canada which is better, it depends on the students the courses they want to pursue. Both the countries offer a host of courses in engineering, business management, and medicine which are widely opted by students across the globe.
Popular Courses in Germany
Popular courses
Duration
Average annual tuition fees
BSc Mechanical Engineering
3 years
€10,000
Bachelor of Medicine
5+1 year of internship
€3,000
BBA
3-3.5 years
€6,000
MBA
1 year
€35,000
MSc Computer Science
2 year
€12,000
M.Eng
1-2 years
€12,500
MSc Economics
2 years
€5,000
MS Data Analytics
1-1.5 years
€1,500
Popular Courses in Canada
Popular courses
Duration
Average annual tuition fee
BSc Nursing
2-4 years
CAD 33,000/ year
LLM
1-2 years
CAD 20,000/ year
MSc Nursing
2 years
CAD 44,000/ year
MEng Aerospace and Engineering
3 years
CAD 38,000/ year
MEng Industrial Systems and Engineering
2 years
CAD 45,000/ year
MBA
1-2 years
CAD 38,000/ year
MSc Business Management
1 year
CAD 29,000/ year
MA Media Studies
2 years
CAD 35,000/ year
Academic Requirements/Eligibility Criteria: Germany vs Canada
Germany
Canada
Undergraduate/bachelor’s degree
Must have completed a total of 12 consecutive years of education
Must have completed school education till class 12th or cleared JEE advanced, one year bachelor degree or Feststellungsprüfung
Language requirements – IELTS/ TOEFL for English, TestDAF for German
Must have completed 12 years of schooling
SAT/ACT exam scores (if required by the university)
English language proficiency test – IELTS/TOEFL
Masters degree
Recognized bachelor’s degree of three or four years
Entrance exams if any
Language requirements – IELTS/ TOEFL for English, TestDAF for German
Must have completed 16 years of education (12 years schooling + 4 years undergraduate studies)
Bachelor’s degree with minimum GPA 3.0
English language proficiency test – IELTS/TOEFL
Academic Cycles/Intakes: Germany vs Canada
Australia
Canada
Summer intake for the summer semester spanning from March to August or April to September; with deadlines before January
Winter intake for the winter semester running from September to February or October to March; with deadlines usually falling before July
Fall intake spanning from September–December/early January; with deadlines falling between December to March
Winter intake from January–May; with deadlines falling between September and November
Summer/Spring intake running from May-August; with deadlines usually falling in February
In the battle between Canada or Germany, which is better, Germany is definitely a winner here providing the lowest cost of study to aid students from all financial backgrounds. The German government funds its state universities. Therefore, students get an opportunity to study free of cost or at a very nominal tuition fee at public universities. However, they need to pay some semester contribution fees of € 150 to €200 per semester for the other facilities available at the universities. Private universities do charge tuition fees that can amount to €20,000 per year.
On the other hand, education in Canada for international students is much higher than for local students. They are also required to pay for student services and other school-related activities. The average annual cost for a bachelor’s degree in Canada can range from CAD 8,000 – 35,000 and CAD 10,000 – 52,000 for a master’s degree.
Living in Germany vs. Canada- Which is better?
The cost of living in Germany and Canada for international students depends on the life of the students. Students wanting to know if Germany is better than Canada in terms of living expenses can refer to the table below.
Germany vs Canada: Annual Salary in Top Job Sectors
Area of specialization in Germany
Average annual salary
Area of specialization in Canada
Average annual salary
Healthcare
€1,02,036
Healthcare
CAD 68,611
Data Science & IT
€62,658
Statistics/Data Science
CAD 87,248
Engineering
€74,888
Chemical Engineering
CAD 75,768
Finance
€64,372
Management
CAD 86,733
Research
€56,703
Electrical & Electronics Engineering
CAD 56,794
Germany vs. Canada- Which one is Better for Education?
Canada is recognized for its expertise in educational fields like business management, engineering, media, nursing, medicine, hospitality, and computer science. Whereas, Germany is known for its educational expertise in computer engineering, civil engineering, business management, chemical engineering, finance, data science, life sciences, electrical engineering, civil engineering, and mechanical engineering.
Canada
UG courses require completion of 12 years of schooling in Canada and SAT examination scores. 4-year degree courses are available along with 2-3 year diploma courses. PG courses require GMAT scores if applying for management programs and GRE scores for engineering admissions. Students have to appear for language tests including IELTS or TOEFL irrespective of their degree.
Germany
Every university regulates its own cut-off and eligibility criteria. UG courses necessitate students to clear the 12th standard and either one of JEE Advanced or a year of bachelor’s degree education from a recognized university in India. They should also clear the entrance examination for various universities or the Feststellungsprüfung. Some universities may seek 90% and higher in secondary school examination results although clearing JEE Advanced means this cut-off is relaxed to 50%. PG courses necessitate a bachelor’s degree in relevant subjects along with GRE/GMAT scores for some universities. Some may require TOEFL/IELTS scores and working knowledge of German. For programs taught in German, TestDAF or DSH are required.
Both Germany and Canada are well-known for offering amazing landscapes, best universities, and a highly developed economy. Tabulated below is a list of the best student cities in both countries.
Germany
Average cost of living per year
Canada
Average cost of living per year
Berlin
€10,248
Toronto
CAD 22,000
Munich
€10,800
Montreal
CAD 15,000
Frankfurt
€11,400
Vancouver
CAD 17,000
Hamburg
€10,200
Ottawa
CAD 15,000
Aachen
€13,200
Quebec
CAD 20,000
Germany vs Canada: Permanent Residency Opportunities
Many students want to stay back and get a PR in the country they are pursuing their studies. Here’s a comparative look at the PR process in Canada vs Germany for international students.
PR in Germany
PR in Canada
Eligible for PR upon living in Germany for 5 years on a residence permit.
Can apply for German citizenship after living in Germany for 8 years or marrying a German citizen.
PR in Canada is easy when compared to other countries.
Students can apply for a PR under the Canadian Experience class while having a post-study work permit.
Study Abroad with upGrad Abroad
Students wanting to study in Germany or Canada can choose from a variety of universities and courses from upGrad Abroad. They get to study for the first year at a partner university in India and then move abroad to study on-campus at an institution of their choice.
Which country has lower cost of living- Germany or Canada?
Germany has slightly lower cost of living owing to its comparatively lower tuition and accommodation fees. Canada is cheaper by way of utilities and food among other costs
Which country is better for Indian students- Germany or Canada?
Germany offers higher employment opportunities, slightly lower cost of living and high quality of life while Canada offers high quality of life, slightly cheaper utility and miscellaneous costs and a more competitive job market. However, attaining permanent residency is easier in Canada than in Germany.
Living in Germany or Canada- Which is better
Quality of life is superlative in both Germany and Canada. The former slightly outranks Canada as per global studies on this count. Germany offers superior public education, better weather, good healthcare, lower costs of living and higher employment opportunities. Canada offers a robust system of healthcare, easier permanent residency applications and good public facilities.
A post graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, Pratishtha enjoys penning down things significant. What interests her the most is exploring and researching on gamut of study abroad.