Germany is one of the leaders in higher education and welcomes students from all parts of the world - without charging them exorbitant fees. Germany is the most populous country of the European Union (EU) and its economic powerhouse. With more than 350 institutions of higher education, Germany has one of the densest university landscapes in the world. Due to a unique combination of theory, research and application, German academic degrees are internationally highly valued and widely accepted.
Apart from its rich cultural heritage and beautiful landscape, Germany has been a country of technological innovation for centuries. Gutenberg's movable type, Benz's and Daimler's automobile, Berliner's grammophone record, Zuse's computer or Brandenburg's MP3 files all bear testmony to this. It is the above inventers together with companies like BMW, Bosch, Daimler Benz, Siemens and Zeiss who turned their ideas into products that have made Germany today's leading exporter of advanced technology.
Internationally, Germany enjoys an excellent reputation for its achievements in scientific research and technological development. It is, therefore, not surprising that its attractiveness as a study location for ambitious young people has been constantly growing over the years. In 2008, about 233,000 international students were enrolled at German universities. During the past decade their number has more than doubled. Together with the US, UK, Australia and France, Germany is now one of the five most popular study destinations for young people worldwide.
Due to comprehensive state subsidies, fees at public universities in Germany are generally not more than Rs. 90,000/- per year. At some universities the yearly fees do not exceed Rs. 10,000/-! International students are legally entitled to work part-time during their studies and can look for suitable full-time employment after graduation.
For master and doctoral students there are programmes that are conducted fully in English. However, in order to work part-time you need to be able to communicate in the local language. The German government runs a number of excellent training centres in several Indian cities, the so-called Max Mueller Bhavan. In many other countries similar institutions exist under the name of Goethe Institutes. At these institutes you can acquire elementary language skills, which form a good basis for more advanced courses after your arrival in Germany.
University education in Germany is of high academic standard and has a strong research orientation, even at the undergraduate level. Therefore, only good students will be able to successfully complete the demanding curriculum. Most universities require candidates to have achieved a GPA of at least 70% (for some programmes 75% or 80%) in their previous studies. Please contact us to find out the requirements for individual programmes. The school leaving exam of most non-European countries (including India) is not considered a sufficient basis for undergraduate studies (i.e. bachelor programmes) in Germany. The universities, therefore, run one-year foundation courses that bring prospective students up to the necessary academic level.
Germany enjoys one of the highest living standards and most comprehensive social security systems in the world. Nevertheless, costs of living are moderate compared to other West European countries and the US. For people coming from India, however, Germany remains an expensive place. You will need app. 8,000 EUR or Indian Rs. 5,00,000/- per year to support yoursel (including university fees). Scholarship options for Indian students are largely restricted to the doctoral level. However, all international students in Germany are allowed to work part-time within certain limits.
Germany's institutions of higher education are closely interlinked with universities throughout Europe. There is a growing number of prestigious European master degree programmes that require students to study in at least two countries of the EU. With additional international exposure and a double degree in their pocket, graduates of these programmes have excellent job prospects in a world that is becoming more globalised by the day.
For more details and personalised counselling contact:
Dr Chris G Kiem
Education Counsellor
germanstudycentre@gmail.com
http://chris-g-kiem.blogspot.com/