Study in Germany
Study at Germany’s top universities.
Germany is a federal parliamentary republic in western-central Europe consisting of 16 constituent states. Its capital city and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 square kilometres (137,847 sq mi) and has a largely temperate seasonal climate. With 80.6 million inhabitants, it is the most populous member state in the European Union. Germany is a major economic and political power of the European continent and a historic leader in many cultural, theoretical and technical fields.
Germany is a federal country. German higher education sector is regulated partly at federal, but predominantly at state level.
In Germany, higher education is offered at three types of Higher Education Institutions.
Universities (Universitäten)
These institutions offer the whole range of academic disciplines. In the German tradition, universities focus in particular on basic research so that advanced stages of study have mainly theoretical orientation and research-oriented components.
Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen)
These institutions concentrate their study programmer in engineering and other technical disciplines, business-related studies, social work, and design areas. The common mission of applied research and development implies a distinct application-oriented focus and professional character of studies, which include integrated and supervised work assignments in industry, enterprises or other relevant institutions.
Universities of Art/Music (Kunst- und Musikhochschulen)
These institutions offer studies for artistic careers in fine arts, performing arts and music; in such fields as directing, production, writing in theatre, film, and other media; and in a variety of design areas, architecture, media and communication.
The institutions of higher education are to be made more efficient by according them further autonomy, allowing them to build an individual profile in a particular area and encouraging more competition. Further reforms concerning the staff structure and recruitment requirements for professors were introduced through the Act’s amendment in 2002. An alternative to institutions of higher education is provided by Berufsakademien. These professional academies have taken the principle of the dual system of vocational education and training and applied it to the tertiary sector.
Admission to programmes in Germany is granted on the basis of previous academic record. However, for some management courses a GMAT is required, and some engineering programmers require a GRE score. You will need to check the requirements of the university you are applying to.
The TOEFL is a standard test required for programmers’ that have English as a medium of instruction.
Admission to Undergraduate Studies
Students applying for an undergraduate course in Germany have to undertake a one – year bridge program. This is to compensate for 13 years of school education in Germany compared to 12 years in India. In order to be eligible for this bridging course, students from India are required to have an excellent academic record up to Senior Secondary Level (10 + 2), and must have basic knowledge of the German language (G III Level of Max Mueller Bhavans).
After completion of the bridge program, Indian students are required to pass an assessment test in order to get admission into a German institution for the equivalent of the Bachelors degree. Students who have cleared the IIT Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) will be exempted from the assessment test.
Students who have successfully completed two years of undergraduate studies are also exempted from the assessment test. However, they have to prove their proficiency in the German language.
Admission to Postgraduate Courses
German universities have recently introduced international courses leading to a Master’s degree. Some courses begin with English as a medium of instruction. Students need an Indian undergraduate degree to qualify.
- Valid passport copy
- IELTS 7.0 or Test DAF
- Copy of Bachelors degree+transcripts
- 2 recommendation letters
- Statement of purposes
- CV (Resume)
Some universities also accept the three years Indian Bachelors degree.
Two dates you should mark red in your calendar: January 15th and July 15th.
If you wish to begin your studies in the winter semester (October) the submission period is from the beginning of June to 15th July.
If you rather prefer to start your studies in the summer semester (April) the submission period is from the beginning of December to 15th January.
The DAAD offers many scholarship programmes targeted at German and foreign students, graduates and researchers. Please note that the DAAD and most other institutions for that matter do not provide scholarships for entire degree programmes, i.e. from the first to the last semester. The selection process is very rigorous and first-time students are rarely eligible for funding. You should bear in mind that no applicant is ever entitled to a scholarship!
Erasmus+ provides scholarships for periods of study and internships abroad for three to twelve months (for studying only) or for two to twelve months (for internships only). Depending on your phase of study, you may be eligible for a total of twelve months of Erasmus+ funding. You can receive this funding per each cycle of your studies.
Visa requirements for your country
To enter the country, you will most likely need a visa, which you can apply for before your trip at a German diplomatic mission in your home country. There are exceptions for specific countries, depending on the duration and purpose of your trip.
The German embassy or consulate in your home country will provide more information about all visa application matters. You can find the addresses of all German diplomatic missions on the website of the German Federal Foreign Office.
The Correct Visa
The type of visa you need depends on whether you have already received your notification of admission from a German university. (Do not enter the country as a tourist! A tourist visa cannot be converted to a student visa or student applicant visa!)
There are two types of visas:
1. Student applicant visa („Visum zur Studienbewerbung“)
If you have not yet received notification of admission to a university or foundation course, you should apply for a student applicant visa.
This three-month visa allows you to meet the requirements for admission to a German university. If you find that three months is not long enough, you may extend your visa to a maximum of six months. If you are admitted to the university or foundation course within this period, you may apply for a student visa.
2. Student visa („Visum zu Studienzwecken“)
If you have received your notification of admission to university or a foundation course, you should apply for a student visa. Student visas are usually valid for three months. Within these three months, you will have to apply for an extended residence permit at the Alien Registration Office in your university town.
Required Documents for Visa Application
You can obtain a complete list of documents required for a visa application from your German diplomatic mission in your home country. Normally, you are asked to present:
- Certificate confirming health insurance coverage
- Proof of financial resources
- Certificates of past academic work and achievements
- Certificate of German language proficiency or proof that you intend on attending a language course in Germany
- For a student applicant visa: university entrance qualification recognised in Germany
- For a student visa: notification of admission from your German university (or a statement from the university confirming that your prospects of gaining admission are good).