Study Guide to Germany
The German education system is different in many ways from the ones in other countries and the classes are conducted in German. Public universities are financed by the government and do not charge tuition fees or just charge a small amount of money as Administration Fee at the start of academic every year. Private universities in-contrast are financed by the fees paid by students and these can be quite expensive. Germany has a larger number of public universities than private ones. German law says that education should be offered to everyone and everyone should be able to afford adequate education. Therefore, in some areas, the tuition fee was abolished, while in other areas it's very small.
Popular student destinations
One of the most popular destinations for students in Germany is Berlin. The top universities in Germany are Heidelberg University, Technical University of Munich, Free University of Berlin, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, and the Humboldt University of Berlin.
Safety in Germany: Germany is generally a safe country, and while crime in Germany exists, it is rather low-scale. Violent crime in Germany is rare. Most Germans don't feel that their safety is threatened by terrorism. The need for security measures in public spaces has also increased in Germany in recent years.
Weather: German summers are hot and the winters are cold and snowy, but rains are unpredictable and common during all seasons. The average winter temperature is 3°C and in summers it is 22°C. Maximum temperatures commonly reach -10°C in winter and 35°C in the summer months. The country is divided into 16 states and has an exceedingly varied landscape, so it is difficult to generalize the weather for the whole country.
Accommodation
Firstly, you need to decide whether you want to live in university managed accommodation, or with a private landlord. Choosing university managed accommodation can also give you a catered or self-catered option. The catered accommodation offers the benefits of your meals being cooked for you and a degree of certainty with meal costs.
If you have an idea about what you prefer, the accommodation office at your university will be able to tell you what accommodation they have available, so that's the place to start. If you are thinking of renting from a private landlord or if your chosen university can't offer you anything in its own residential premises, the accommodation office should be able to provide you with a list of private properties and landlords in the area.
Requirements
Students applying for an undergraduate course in Germany have to undertake a one - year bridge programme as it is to compensate for 13 years of schooling requirement in Germany compared to 12 years in India. In order to be eligible for this bridge course, students from India must have basic knowledge of the German language. International applicants have to take a language test for Germany like TestDaF (Test of German as a Foreign Language) or DSH (German Language University Entrance Examination) before they can enroll in a degree programme.
For each course, Indian students will need to meet a minimum German language requirement. Along with that, a minimum academic record of 70% and above in Standard XII will be required. Foundations and Diploma programs are available for students who have secured around 60%. The student should have completed 18 years of age before joining a degree program.
It is important to note that these numbers are just for reference purpose, the actual numbers may differ from university to university. The following documents also need to be submitted:
Attested copies of mark sheets of Standard X, XII, and the Bachelor's degree (if applicable)
At least, two Academic reference letters from professors who have taught you most recently.
If you have work experience then two letters of recommendation (LOR) from the employer/manager who knows you well and can comment on your professional abilities
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Resume
Photocopied score reports of language tests and GRE/GMAT (if applicable)
Portfolio (in the case of students applying for art and design courses or architecture programmes)
Others (Certificates/achievements at the state and national level and extracurricular activities)
Proof of funds
Health insurance
Timeline
Most of the colleges in Germany accept online applications. You will have to visit each college's website to apply. In most cases, you will have to make an account on the college website, that requires you to provide your basic information, submit the scanned version of your documents, pay application fees. You will be informed about the application process and stages through this account. Please refer the website of the colleges of your choice to know the process of applying.
Application fee: All colleges require that you pay an application fee while applying. The fee amount will differ depending upon the college and course being applied to, so check with individual colleges about their application fee.
Steps:
Search for colleges and courses
Contact schools and visit websites for information
Narrow down your list of schools
Take the entrance exams like language tests, GMAT/GRE
Write SOPs and ask for LORs
Apply to the colleges which fit your interests
Appear for video interviews of the colleges that shortlisted you
If accepted, apply for the student visa
SOP: A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is your introduction to the college and admission officers. It is always written in the first person and describes the reason for applying to a particular college. It needs to highlight why you are a perfect fit for the college and why the college should accept you. The style of writing could differ from formal to casual, but it is important to remember that it should reflect your personality as well.
Essay: Essays are also required to be submitted by a prospective student. Essays are an important part of the university admissions process. Students may be required to write one or two essays, along with a few optional essays too. Common topics include career aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, skills, experiences, and reasons for considering a particular school.
LOR: A letter of recommendation (LOR) is a reference letter written by a third party describing the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the prospective student to recommend him to the college in terms of that individual's ability to perform a particular task or function. The third party could be a professor, direct manager etc.
Intake seasons
The main intake season for all German universities is September. So the deadlines would be from February till May across different courses and universities. A few universities offer admissions in March as well. The deadlines for this intake would be from November till January.
Language exams
TestDaF (Test of German as a Foreign Language) and DSH (German Language University Entrance Examination) are the standardized language tests which are required to be taken for the purpose of getting admission to colleges in Germany. You can take the TestDaF at a testing centre in India or in Germany, while the DSH is only administered at German universities. These both follow different formats, structure and result bands. These tests are all different in various ways but many colleges ask for any one of the results. So it's up to the student to decide which exam to appear for.
Scholarships
Fee waivers are awarded to international students on the criteria of merit and the need of it. Candidates with strong academics, good performance on standardized exams and extracurricular achievements would be eligible for scholarship awards and financial assistance. To benefit from these opportunities, one has to make sure to send all the required documents by particular deadlines. In addition to this, the presentation of the application is also important because one is judged by the image one projects.
Since German institutes are comparatively more generous than other nations, getting a fully-funded education in Germany isn't very difficult.
Loans
Student eligibility criteria: The first thing is to be aware of whether you are eligible to apply for the loan or not. The general eligibility criteria followed by all the banks are -
You should be an Indian national
You must have a strong academic record
You must be seeking admission to a professional, technical or other courses of study.
Most banks maintain that the selected course should be job oriented
You must have secured admission to a foreign university institution
You must be above the age of 18 years or else your parents can avail the loan.
Loan amount: If your total fee is Rs 10 lakh, the bank may offer to give a loan of 80% of the amount and you will have to put in the balance 20%. This is called the margin amount. The maximum loan amount for studies abroad is generally around Rs 20 lakh by the bank. If your tuition fees amount is Rs 30 lakh, you'll have to manage the rest of the funds by yourself. Some banks charge a processing fee, while others don't. It may be a fixed amount or a percentage of the total loan amount. So if the bank charges you one percent as processing fee, that will be an additional cost you'll have to cover.
Documentation required: You will have to provide the acceptance letter sent by the university reflecting that you have been selected for the course and the schedule of fees. You will also need to show the mark sheet of the last qualifying examination to show your academic record.
All banks have different requirement for documentation, so you need to confirm with the bank first.
Repayment: Repayment starts only after the course period. If the student gets employed within one year after completion of the course, the repayment should start immediately after the expiry of one month from the date of employment.
If you do not secure a job within a year of completing the course, then repayment starts irrespective of whether or not you are employed. The loan is generally to be repaid in 5-7 years after commencement of repayment. If the student is not able to complete the course within the scheduled time extension for completion of course, he may be permitted for a maximum period of two years. Generally, you will get up to a maximum number of 10 years to repay the loan.
Conditions
To stay in Germany for more than 90 days as a student, you are required to get a residence permit. You will need to prove to the visa officer that you have finances for one year. The amount would be €685 - €750 per month. A residence permit issued to students is valid for maximum two years. It needs to be renewed if the duration of the course is longer than the stated two years.
A Residence Permit costs between €56-100. It can take a long time to be issued, which is anywhere between eight to 12 weeks. Since this means two to three months, international students are advised to apply as soon as possible.
1. You will have to apply for your visa in person. Visa fees amount to €60 (to be paid in INR). In addition you should provide two sets of application documents photocopies containing the following documents:
2. Application form
3. Declaration stating the information provided is true and complete information
4. Cover Letter explaining the reason for your visa application. You may be required to submit a German translation of this document
5. Letter of Admission from a German university
6. University Certificates and transcripts - Degree certificates and mark sheets
7. Proof of Language Proficiency (German language test scores). This document is mandatory for the visa process, even if it is not required by the German university. Applicants for PhD studies and Erasmus Mundus Scholarship holders are exempt from this rule.
8. Proof of funds
Work permit
According to German visa rules, a student can work 180 days halftime or 90 days fulltime in an academic year. Presently, Germany is the only country where a student can do part-time technical job in the related industry. Some universities also offer part-time jobs on campus called as Hi/wi. Students will have to contact institute's student placement cell to get into this job.
Visa for spouse
Spouses and children may be permitted to reside in Germany while you study, but this is conditional. These conditions include having enough and appropriate financing and a living space. Cases are decided on an individual basis at the Germany embassy, and special consideration may be given to your case if you are able to explain your situation to the Consulate effectively.