As Western Europe's richest and most populous nation, Germany remains a key member of the continents economic, political, and defense organizations. Germany and 10 other EU countries formed a common European currency, the euro. The German economy - the fifth largest economy in the world in PPP terms and Europe's largest - is a leading exporter of machinery, vehicles, chemicals, and household equipment and benefits from a highly skilled labor force. The Federal Government of Germany supports and attracts international students by offering wide choice of fields of study. Its capital is Berlin.
Why Study in Germany?
German Universities are well known for the outstanding choices of courses that are internationally recognized. The Federal Government endorses partnership programs with a list of international Universities. Independent cultural organizations of Germany support students by awarding scholarships, funds, award for travel costs among other types of financial help.
The Top Five Programs :
· Engineering
· Business
· Law
· Medicine
· Arts
Education system in Germany :
The Bachelor degree is fairly new to Germany. To obtain a Bachelors degree you need to have 180 study points in European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). The study period is minimum 3 years. One or two year study program equals 120 ECTS points. A Bachelors degree is required to apply for a Masters study program. A Masters degree is valued the same as a German ‘Diploma’ or ‘Magister’ degree. You can apply for a PhD after completing your Master’s program. You would be required to write a dissertation and give an oral exam to attain the Doctorate title (PhD). Students that are working on their dissertation are called Doktoranden.
Admission :
The admissions requirements often differ for foreign students coming to Germany because they enter from a different educational background and generally have to prove their proficiency in German. Admission to various universities depends upon the type of institution chosen.
Major Intakes:
· March
· September
Required tests :
GMAT is required for admission process for MBA program. GRE (Graduate Record Examination) measures the potential of a candidate for the purpose of admission in different streams like Graduate studies, Fellowships Programs and Research Programs. TOEFL to check English language proficiency.
Cost of Education :
Legally, universities can require up to 500 Euros ($660) per semester in tuition for some undergraduate programs & about 2000 – 6000 Euros for some masters program from students.
Accommodation and living expenses :
Rent in Germany runs fairly high but differs substantially from city to city. Rooms in student halls of residence are provided by the student services organization (Studentenwerk) at the university. To get a room in a hall, you have to register early because the cheapest rooms – including shared bathroom and kitchen - are very popular. Munich is currently the most expensive, while Leipzig offers some of the cheapest apartments. Many students have to rent private rooms or flats. The cost of living in Germany is relatively high. Statistically speaking, students should plan on spending around 700 Euros a month.
Work prospects :
International students are allowed to work a maximum of 90 days per year, or alternatively, 180 days part time (up to 4 hours per day), without having to obtain a work permit. If as a student you earn more than 325 Euros per month, you will have to pay contributions into the German pension fund. These contributions are transferable within the European Union. Students from non-EU countries can claim a refund after they finished their studies and leave Germany. Depending on your income and the duration of your paid employment, you might have to pay other social contributions as well.
