Today
we will speak about studies
in Germany:
how to find university, program etc.
Germany
has very good and developed higher education system which you can
take part in even if you don’t speak German. So why not to study
in Germany?
First
you have to decide what you would like to study and what certificate
you want to get after finishing the university.
There
are mainly two types of higher education organizations:
- Universität – focused on researches and theoretical work
- Hochschule – more practically-oriented with obligatory internships
Types
of degrees:
- Diploma
- Bachelor
- Master
- Ph. D
Although
almost courses and programs are in German language some universities
offer international study programs
in such fields like Management, Computer Science, Engineering.
A
very good place to search for this type of programs is DAAD
website which
is a very good resource about studies in Germany. And here is a list
of International
study programs.
Study in Germany – General entry requirements:
- School-leaving certificate / previous degree certificates.
If
program is held in English you’ll have to prove the knowledge of it
or you need to reside/study in English speaking country more than a
year.
- Average English language test requirements are:
IELTS:
min 6th level; TOEFL: 580-paper, 240-computer, 96-internet;
These
are the average requirements so it’s recommended to check the
university’s webpage you’re interested in for more detailed
information.
Study in Germany – Costs and fees:
Remember
that costs of living and housing really depend on the city and
location. Expect Berlin and the cities on the eastern side to be
cheaper than Munich, Hamburg and western side of Germany.
Costs
of studies: can vary but average expenses are the
following:
- Undergraduate: 250-500 €/ semester – tuition fees. Many universities do not have such fees.
- Postgraduate (Masters, Doctors): may vary. Around 6,500 – 15,000 € and more.
- 250 €/ semester – enrolment fees (semester fees) including student service fees, public transportation ticket etc.
Accommodation:
- Living in dorms – 160-250 €/ month – can be really good because it will be already furnished and will include such facilities as w-lan internet, furniture and so on. Ask your university for such dorms. In Berlin there is an organization Studentwerk Berlin where you can find a room for you.
- Sharing a room in apartment – 200-350 €/ month. Look at websites such as Student flats.
- 1 bedroom apartment – from 300 €/ month
- 2 bedroom apartment – from 400 €/ month
- The biggest search website for flats is Immoscout.
Miscellaneous:
- Food – 150-300 €/ month
- Books, study materials – 100€
- Health insurance – 60-150 €/ month. Mandatory if you don’t have an international one. I strongly recommend you not to joke with this. For example, one of my acquaintances got in trouble with her visa because she saved on health insurance during her studies – Foreign office has sent her to her home country.
- Cafes, parties etc. – 50 €/ month and up. Depends on you, of course.
- This is a basic information about “Study in Germany” topic. I’ll cover this topic in the later posts as well.
