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Germany vs Canada : Which is Better for Study Abroad?

Updated on 01 February, 2024

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.

Read More: Cost of Studying in Canada | Cost of Living in Germany

Germany vs. Canada as a Study Abroad Destination: Highlights

FactorsGermanyCanada
Language of instructionEnglish, GermanEnglish, 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/yearCAD 15,000/ year 
Exams requiredIELTS/TOEFL, Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (TestDaF)/DSH, GMAT/GREIELTS/TOEFL/PTE and GMAT/GRE
IntakesTwo intakes in a year – Summer and WinterThree intakes in a year – Fall, Spring, and Summer
Funding sourcesThe 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.Part-time jobs, scholarships, bursaries, grants, fellowships
Types of degreesBachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral, Diplom or Magister, Work-study degreesAssociate Degree, Undergraduate Degree, Graduate Degree, Doctorate Degree
Top coursesEngineering, Business Management, Humanities, Maths and Computer ScienceComputer Science and IT Engineering, MBA, Business and Finance, Media and Journalism
Best student citiesBerlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Aachen, StuttgartToronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Quebec, Calgary, Waterloo

Popular Study Abroad Programs in Germany and Canada

Germany vs. Canada Education System

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 UniversityCharacteristics
Academic universitiesThese 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/ScienceStudents with artistic talents in photography, architecture, design, etc. are deemed fit to be a part of this institution.
Universities of Applied SciencesStudents 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 InstitutionKey points
CollegesAlso 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.
UniversitiesMost 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.

GermanyCanada
UniversitiesAverage annual tuition feesUniversities Average annual tuition fees
Technical University of MunichNo tuition feeUniversity of TorontoCAD 30,000 – 58,000
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität HeidelbergInternational students are exempt from tuition feesMcGill UniversityCAD 21,000 – 56,000
Ludwig Maximilian University of MunichNo tuition feeUniversity of British ColumbiaCAD 32,000 – 55,000
Freie University of BerlinNo tuition feeUniversity of MontrealCAD 18,000 – 36,000
Humboldt University of BerlinNo tuition feeUniversity of AlbertaCAD 13,000 – 49,000 
KIT, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology€3,000McMaster UniversityCAD 25,000 – 60,000
Technical University of BerlinNo tuition feeUniversity of WaterlooCAD 30,000 – 62,000
RWTH Aachen UniversityNo tuition feeWestern UniversityCAD 21,000 – 52,000
Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg€3,000University of OttawaCAD 16,000 – 32,000
Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen€3,000University of CalgaryCAD 18,000 – 36,000

Read More:

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 coursesDurationAverage annual tuition fees
BSc Mechanical Engineering3 years€10,000
Bachelor of Medicine5+1 year of internship€3,000
BBA3-3.5 years€6,000
MBA 1 year€35,000
MSc Computer Science2 year€12,000
M.Eng1-2 years€12,500
MSc Economics2 years€5,000
MS Data Analytics1-1.5 years€1,500

Popular Courses in Canada

Popular coursesDurationAverage annual tuition fee
BSc Nursing2-4 yearsCAD 33,000/ year 
LLM1-2 yearsCAD 20,000/ year 
MSc Nursing2 yearsCAD 44,000/ year 
MEng Aerospace and Engineering3 yearsCAD 38,000/ year
MEng Industrial Systems and Engineering2 yearsCAD 45,000/ year 
MBA1-2 yearsCAD 38,000/ year 
MSc Business Management1 yearCAD 29,000/ year 
MA Media Studies2 yearsCAD 35,000/ year 

Academic Requirements/Eligibility Criteria: Germany vs Canada

 GermanyCanada
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

AustraliaCanada
  • 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

Read More: Reduce the master’s cost abroad by 20 lakhs

Cost of Studying: Germany vs Canada

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. 

Expenses Average cost per year in GermanyAverage cost per year in Canada
Rent€2,400 – €13,200

On-campus accommodation: CAD 8,000

 

Shared Apartment Off-campus: CAD 9,000

Food and expenses incurred on dine-out€600 – €1,800CAD 6,000
Transportation€360 – €1,080CAD 1,200
ShoppingAbove €600 CAD 4,500
Medical ExpensesAbove €840CAD 12,935
Study in Germany
MBA in GermanyMIM in Germany
MS in Data Science in GermanyMS in Computer Science in Germany

Germany vs Canada: Annual Salary in Top Job Sectors

Area of specialization in GermanyAverage annual salaryArea of specialization in CanadaAverage annual salary
Healthcare€1,02,036HealthcareCAD 68,611
Data Science & IT€62,658Statistics/Data ScienceCAD 87,248
Engineering€74,888Chemical EngineeringCAD 75,768
Finance€64,372ManagementCAD 86,733
Research€56,703Electrical & Electronics EngineeringCAD 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.

Read More: Start Studying from home country and earn credits in COVID

Germany vs Canada: Best Student Cities

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. 

GermanyAverage cost of living per year CanadaAverage cost of living per year 
Berlin€10,248 TorontoCAD 22,000
Munich€10,800 MontrealCAD 15,000
Frankfurt€11,400VancouverCAD 17,000
Hamburg€10,200OttawaCAD 15,000
Aachen€13,200QuebecCAD 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 GermanyPR 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.

Important Scholarships to Study Abroad:

 State Scholarship | Fulbright Scholarship | Vidya Lakshmi Portal | Narotam Sekhsaria

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Pratishtha Ghosh

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.

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