Studying in Germany

Study in Germany

What are requirements for studying in Germany in master’s degree? Do you intend to continue your study in Germany? Do you know anything about studying in Germany? What is higher education system of Germany? Is study in Germany valid in international level? What are conditions of studying in Germany in bachelor degree? What are conditions of studying in Germany in PhD degree? How much does it cost to study in Germany? How long does it take to study in Germany? Is it possible for the student to take members of family with himself during study in Germany? Does study in Germany guarantee that you will get permanent residence? This article provides useful information about study in Germany. This article belongs to MIE Counseling Institute.

Germany with most creditable universities and high scientific ranks among universities of the world, free education, dynamic economy and suitable job market is considered as the main destinations of international students for continuing higher education.

Germany educational structure

In Germany children enter nursery school when they are three years old. Elementary school begins from 6 years old and continues for 4 years; After that students study in high school in two grades for six and two years. General courses of high school will be completed in 6 years during which general education is delivered to students; then students who are going to continue their study in university will pass a two years grade. Education in levels of elementary and high school is mandatory and free for all students.

Study in German universities is free in German language and students should just pay registration fees which is 380 Euros for students of European Union members and 760 Euros for citizens of other countries (each semester). Non-German speaking students should submit certificates indicating their mastery in German language (B2 level).

Higher education in Germany is divided to 3 degrees of bachelor (4 years), master’s degree (2 years), and PhD (3 to 5 years). Academic semester in German universities begins in September (some universities offer courses in January, too). Students should submit their level B2 German language certificate and prove that they can afford paying living and study expenses for at least one year (in the case that they study in private universities charging tuition). Students should translate their birth certificate, academic documents, transcripts and other required credentials and submit them to Germany embassy for confirmation. In the case the student has level B1 language diploma, he will have the opportunity to reinforce his German language level in related colleges and after obtaining the required certificate proceed for registration in university.

Higher education institutes in Germany are classified as following:

• Universities
• Universities emphasizing on applied and theoretical sciences
• Commercial management universities
• Technical occupational institutes (Fachhochsehule)
• Music and art colleges (Masikana kunsthochschule)
• Teacher training colleges
• Physical Education College (Sporthochsehule)

Bachelor Degree

Bachelor degree in Germany is offered in four years in German language; so students willing to study in bachelor degree should have level B2 German language certificate. Also, it is required that applicants have diploma average higher than 14 to be admitted in bachelor courses of German universities. In bachelor degree, students are allowed to work 10 hours a week and the level of income in Germany for each hour is equal to 8-10 Euros.

Master’s Degree

Bachelor degree in Germany takes two years; students willing to study in master’s degree should have got their bachelor degree certificate in related fields. In some cases the bachelor degree certificate of student gained from universities in other countries may not be confirmed and student will not be allowed to continue his study in master’s degree in Germany. Master’s degree is offered in German language and so it is necessary to have level B2 German language certificate. Some limited universities and majors offer their master’s degree in English language. In this case, students should submit their academic IELTS language certificate with the score of 6.5. Study in private universities in English language is possible if you pay the charged tuition. Master’s degree students are allowed to work 20 hours a week.

PhD

PhD degree courses in Germany are offered in a 3-5 year period depending on the major. Considering that some majors especially technical and engineering are offered in English language, it is required that applicants have academic IELTS language certificate with 7 score and having German language certificate in these majors are not mandatory. If PhD degree is offered in German language, then students should have German language certificate in level B2. PhD courses are research centered and students are obliged to present class 1 research thesis. Hence, students who are willing to be admitted in Germany PhD majors, should find a good advising professor for supporting their PhD thesis initially besides having good average and obtaining their master’s degree related to their PhD major from reputable universities. PhD degree students are allowed to work 30 hours a week and may earn 8-10 Euros for each hour work. It is also possible to gain academic scholarship in PhD level, but considering the intense competition among foreign students, it is difficult to gain academic scholarship.

Cost of study in Germany

Germany universities are free and no tuition is charged for public universities but living expenses (meal and dormitory) in Germany compared to other European countries are moderate and about 800 Euros in a month.

Residence after study

Students after finishing their study in Germany should find a job appropriate to their field of study in maximum 18 months. For this purpose they should register their residence application in Foreign Citizens Department.

How may family members join the student?

In Germany students are not allowed to take their companions (spouse and under 18 years old children) with themselves, when their academic visa is just issued, but after the student has registered and attended university, their family members are allowed to join them.

This article is composed by MalekPoor Legal Institute, collaborator of Austria MIE Institute, to provide required information in the field of study in Germany so that applicants will be acquainted with subjects such as conditions of study in Germany in bachelor, master’s and PhD degrees, duration and costs of study in Germany, work during study, how may family members join the student and decide with certainty about study in Germany in higher education courses.

Costs of living and study in Germany