Study in Germany

Here is an article for our international community who are seeking to study in Germany. While many scholars look towards going to the US, Canada or UK, considering Germany will be one of the best decisions to make as an international scholar. Sooner you’ll know why.

Germany is a wonderful place to be in as an international. Continue with the article to know why Germany was rated an average of 8.8 out of 10 and ranks 11th place in terms of student satisfaction by international students. You could study tuition free in Germany especially for the undergraduate level, since Germans believe education should not be a commercial product.

The  universities in Germany for maintain their high quality as they’re also among the best in the world.

Why study in Germany?

The proper question would have been why not study in Germany as an international student. For the sake of the community of scholars who hasn’t tasted the beauty and quality of Germany, we’ll elaborate on some of the reasons many international student come to Germany to complete their higher education.

1. Tuition-free at Public Universities

Yes, you read that right. Public universities in Germany are tuition-free for both domestic and international students. In recent past Germany has been struggling on an agreement to be met by it’s 16 federation concerning tuition-free education for both domestic and foreign nationals. However in 2014, a consensus was reached by all the federation of Germany for a tuition-free education regardless of your origin.

The government believe education holds the key to the economic growth of the country. Such agreement has peaked the interest of the international community to study in Germany. However, German universities differentiate between “consecutive” and “non-consecutive” Master’s programmes. Consecutive programmes refers to those that you can enroll in immediately you finish your Bachelor’s degree while non-consecutive programmes usually require that students have post-Bachelor work experience.

There are however, tuition fees for non-conservative programs even though they are minimal.

2. Excellent Higher Education

Even thought public institution are free, Germany still maintains his quality of education. It in fact, possesses one of the best educational systems in the world. Study in Germany to experience world-class education.

Most public universities in Germany date far back to the middle ages and are known for a maintained level of qualitative education while bearing a prominent name in specific fields. The excellent infrastructure in German universities provide the comfortable environment any international student would wish for.

The high growth of young experts from German universities are tied to the diversified professional staff and optimal facilities that contribute to a detailed curricula and learning practices best suited for any scholar regardless of the chosen field.

3. Degrees from Germany are Internationally Recognized

Degrees in Germany no operate under the Bologna reform. This ensure that whatever degree gotten are internationally recognized and unified be it bachelor’s, masters or PhD.

Aside that, degrees in Germany are highly sought for in other parts of the world. It beautifies your resume as an international student.

4. Programs are taught in English

Here’s another interesting reason most international students love to study in Germany. Since English is a international language, German universities have upgraded to teach international students in English. You don’t need to know the German language before you can study in Germany. As an international student, you’ll be presented with such a rare opportunity of learning a new language in the right learning environment.

5. Wonderful Job Opportunities

Even with the free tuition, it’s may be shocking to know that studying in Germany does not come entirely for free since the free tuition offered does not cover all other living expenses you’d face as an international student in Germany. However, Germany has that wonderful work-study environment.

You get the opportunity to work and study as an international student. It is easier for EU students to get job opportunities in Germany that non-EU scholars since they’re not limited my major restrictions.

However, non-EU students are must apply for a work permit before they can work while studying in Germany. Working hours for non-EU students are limited to 190 full days or 240 half days per year.

6. Opportunity to Stay After Your Studies

The law permits international students to stay in Germany for 18 months after graduation to find work. It’s an opportunity ever international student loves to explore. You sure would love to study in Germany and explore this opportunity.

Education in Germany

German’s institutions of higher education are internationally recognized and accredited. Germany has 6 of it’s universities among the top 100 universities and 18 among the top 200 universities according to the Academic ranking of World Universities. Study in Germany to experience first hand some of the oldest and most established universities in the world.

Germany has over 400 Public institutions which are attended by 95% of the population. These institutions are state-funded, meaning that students don’t pay tuition fees except for some administrative cost at the beginning of the semester. There are over 120 private universities in Germany. They do not receive funding and are responsible for setting their tuition fees.

Germany recently adopted the three-tier degree system of the European Higher Education Area established under the Bologna System. Instead of a long one-tier degree system, Germany now offers undergraduate courses which result in a Bachelor’s degree, and postgraduate courses which result in a Master’s or PhD (Doctorate).

Degrees in Germany include:

• Bachelor’s Degree : It has a standard period of study of 6 semesters or 3 full years of study.
• Master’s Degree: It takes 2-4 semesters to complete a master’s degree in Germany, which amounts to about 2 years of full time study
• PhD Degree: There is no standard time for completing a doctoral degree in Germany.

Top universities in German for international students

While you want to study in Germany as an international student, you’d also like to study among the best universities in Germany. All other institutions in Germany are wonderful, but there are bests among bests.

Below is a list of the top 20 universities in Germany:

1. Humboldt University Berlin
2. Freie Universität Berlin
3. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
4. RWTH Aachen University
5. Technische Universität Berlin
6. Technische Universität Dresden
7. University of Freiburg
8. University of Tübingen
9. University of Göttingen
10. Universität Hamburg
11. University of Bonn
12. TU Darmstadt
13. University of Cologne
14. University of Mannheim
15. Goethe University Frankfurt
16. FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
17. Friedrich Schiller University Jena
18. University of Stuttgart
19. Ulm University
20. University of Münster

Check out our article on >> Study in USA

Average Undergraduate Cost to study in Germany

Though you can study in Germany for free as an international student, there is a charge you’ll pay per semester. This charge covers enrolment, confirmation and administration. This charge is typically not more than €250, although it may vary in different universities.

You may face additional charges for purchasing a “Semesterticket”. The semesterticket covers public transportation expenses for six months. The price of the semesterticket varies with your choice of type. Exceeding the standard period of study for more that 4 months may probably attract higher long-term fee charges. Charges for exceeding the standard period could be as much as €500.

Private institutions depends on tuition fees. There are very few private institutions in Germany compared to public institutions. Since the depend on the tuition fees of the scholars to be maintained, you’d expect a tuition fee to be anything on and beyond €20,000 a year

Average Cost to Study in Germany for Masters and Post-Graduate

If your masters degree is classified as consecutive, then usually free. However those classified as non-consecutive aren’t tuition free. They may vary from university to university to university and could be anything thing around €20,000 per academic year for public universities and €30,000 for an academic year in a private institution.

Consecutive programs refer to those that follow after completion of a bachelors degree in Germany. Non-consecutive degrees refers to those that follow after gaining a bachelors degree somewhere else in the world.

For the consecutive degrees, there is also a small charge for enrolment, confirmation and administration and semesterticket.

Once again, tuition is free at the PhD level to study in Germany and for all universities, for the first 6 semesters at least. PhD students are still required to make a semester contribution of no more than €250 or so for administration and other cost.

General Cost of Living in Germany

Even with the tuition-free universities, the cost of living in Germany can be quite unavoidable. The average cost of living in Germany varies and is more expensive in some areas than others. Munich for example is considered the most expensive city in Germany, with an average annual living expense to be €12,000. Generally, the average annual living expenses in Germany is €10,200.

While you study in Germany, accommodation will be the largest expenses you’ll make monthly. The table below will give you the expected average of the general cost of living in Germany.

It’s an experience like no other to study in Germany. Get to experience this first hand. Scholarships are also available for international students who want to study in Germany. Germany values it’s international scholars especially the talented ones. For more information of scholarships available for international students in Germany click the link.

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