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Higher education in Germany

June 22nd 2019

By Expatica

Germany is an increasingly popular choice for international students who want to study abroad. There is a plethora of world-class universities spread right across Germany, more and more courses are taught in English, and most universities don’t charge undergraduate tuition fees.

 Germany has a high number of world-class universities. There are 42 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2014-15, which is more than any other country after the United States and the United Kingdom. There are 28 universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2014-15 top 400, with six in the top 100: Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (29), University of Gottingen (67), Heidelberg University (70), Humboldt University of Berlin (80), Free University of Berlin (81), and the Technical University of Munich (98).

There are more than 2.5 million students enrolled in German universities and more than a quarter of a million of these are international students. About 85 percent of these students arrange to study in Germany themselves while the remaining 15 percent come to Germany on exchange programmes. Additionally, some 15 percent of TU9 top technological universities in Germany are international students.

In September 2014, all tuition fees for undergraduate courses at state universities were abolished for international students as well as German students. The German government continues to invest large sums – EUR 2.4bn approved in the last two years alone – in its higher education institutions as part of its Excellence Initiative and has a focus on technology.

There are around 450 state-accredited universities in Germany, offering more than 17,500 programmes, including more than 1,000 courses taught in English. You can search for university courses in Germany.

The academic year is divided into two semesters at German universities, generally from September/October to February/March and then March/April to August/September. Dates vary from university to university.

 

Types of universities in Germany

There are state-funded and private universities in Germany, including universities, universities of applied science, and colleges of art, film and music. Some universities were founded back in the Middle Ages, while others were established after World War II.

The majority of universities in Germany are state-funded and the responsibility of individual states (länder). Most German students go to state universities. About 5 percent of universities are private but recognised by the state and are usually universities of applied sciences, which have strong links with industry and an international focus. A few universities are run by either the Protestant or Catholic church and usually specialise in specific subjects, like social work, education and, obviously, theology. Some information about private universities can be found at www.private-hochschulen.net (in German).

 

Qualifications awarded in Germany

Almost all Germany’s courses are now the two-cycle Bachelor/Master courses, following the Bologna ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System). Some technical and engineering courses still award a Diplom (four to six years, includes the equivalent of post-graduate education)while medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law, food chemistry and some teaching degrees are Staatsexamen. Note that the degrees offered by some private universities in Germany may only be recognised internationally if the university itself is officially recognised by the German government.

 

Study exchange programmes and scholarships in Germany

German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst or DAAD) is a funding organisation for the international exchange of students and researchers, with a global network of offices and information centres. You can search for scholarships through the DAAD scholarship database.

Also see the website of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung or BMBF) for information.

The EU funds international students to study in Germany through its Erasmus+ programme. US students can take part in the German-American Fulbright exchange programme. You can check exchange programmes and scholarships opportunities with individual universities in Germany or in your home country.

 

Student visas and permits to study in Germany

If you’re a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you don’t need a visa or German residence permit to live and study in Germany. However, if your stay will be longer than three months, you must register with your the registration office, Einwohnermeldeamt or Bürgeramt, in your area. 

If you’re from Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea or the United States you can also come to Germany without a visa and register at the local Residents’ Registration Office and the Aliens’ Registration Office (Ausländeramt) to get a German residence permit after your arrival.

Students from Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino only need a visa if they want to work before or after their studies.

All students should be able to prove that they have sufficient funds to support themselves during their course, hold health insurance valid in Germany, and may also be asked to prove German language skills.

 

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