This is the first & foremost question any student would have. To answer this Question various aspects need to be considered. Undeniably the following factors play a key & influencing role in deciding the destination of study.
Quality of Education
Germany is Synonymous with Quality. This holds true even in the field of education. Most of the Universities or colleges are state funded. So there is no concept of buying a degree as practised in other favoured education destinations. Merit is the only criteria for admission & there is no doubt about it. According to German law, universities are not permitted to discriminate against or grant preferential treatment to persons on basis of race, ethnic group, gender, or social class.
Germany is the land of ideas. Education, Science & Research has been playing a central role in the German society. To name a few inventions – Aspirin, Phenol, MP3, Diesel Engine, Tachometer, Electromagnetic radiation, Gauss, Hertz, Ohm, Roentgen, X-ray Crystallography, Automobile, Zeppelin all come from Germany. Time is testimony of the fact that Germany has produced 103 Noble laureates.
What is the worth of Education which lacks application of knowledge to solve real world problems? German Education guarantees practical knowledge in addition to solid theoretical foundation. Above all it provides a platform to launch a career by making internships compulsory & Bachelor/Master Thesis in an industrial environment.
Germany Offers free education for pupils between 6 to 18 years.
Age 3 to 6 – Children may attend Kindergarten
Grade 1 to 4 – Elementary school/ Grundschule is mandatory
Based on the recommendation of Elementary school teachers, academic ability of the pupil & parents choices, students attend one of the 3 different kinds of secondary schools
Hauptschule
Grades Covered: 5 to 9 (some schools offer 10th grade)
Duration: 5 to 6 years
Age level: 10 to 15 years
Degree: Hauptschulabschluss
Direction: Leads to part-time enrollment in a vocational school combined with apprenticeship training until the age of 18
Realschule
Grades Covered: 5 to 10
Duration: 6 years
Age level: 10 to 15 years
Degree: Mittlere Reife
Direction: Leads to part-time and higher vocational schools
Students with high academic achievement may switch to Gymnasium
Gymnasium
Grades Covered: 5 to 13
Duration: 9 years
Age level: 10 to 18 years
Degree: Abitur
Direction: Prepare students for university study or for a dual academic and vocational credential
Gesamtschule
Grades Covered: 5 to 10
Duration: 6 years
Age level: 10 to 15 years
Degree: Hauptschulabschluss in the 9th grade/Mittlere Reife in the 10th grade
Direction: May follow one of the directions from either Realschule or Gymnasium
Higher Education
Post secondary education, students have a wide choice from more than 200 University of Applied Sciences & 300 universities offering variety of courses & degree programs.
University
More theory oriented
Degrees offered includes Bachelor, Master & Doctorate
Research plays an integral part of the study
Gaining knowledge & not practical application is the goal
Faculties include Education, Law, Medicine, Social & Cultural sciences, Business Management
Technical University / Technische Universität t
Offers courses only in Engineering & Science
Degrees offered includes Bachelor, Master & Doctorate
Research plays an integral part of the study
University of Applied Sciences / Fachhochschule
More practice oriented
Offers Bachelors programs in general
Some institutions also offer Masters Program
Though research is gaining importance but the focus remains at application oriented study
Excellent job opportunities owing to the close tie up with industry
College of Arts & Music
College of Music offer courses in composition, directing, training on an instrument, voice, jazz, music theater, stage dance, and music education
College of Arts offer courses in Painting, Graphic Design, Sculpture and art education, architecture, stage design, ceramics, glass painting, restoration work, and art media
To get admission one should have demonstrate ability & exceptional talent
Required documents:
- Application form
- Passport
- 2 photographs
- Demand draft for visa fees
- Letter of Admission
- Mark sheets and certificates
- Proof of English Language proficiency
- Proof of financial means
- Declaration of authenticity of documents submitted
Please Note Applicants are requested to prepare 2 sets of the above mentioned documents along with their photocopies. Additional documents may have to be presented, if required.
Application Form for a Student Visa
The form then needs to be saved and printed and finally signed by the applicant to be submitted along with the other required documents.
Passport and Photograph
Passport
The passport should have a minimum validity of 12 months.
Please note: Passports containing illegible data will not be accepted.
Photograph
The photograph must be 35 mm X 45 mm in size with the face covering about three quarters of the area of the photograph. The background of the photograph should be light in color.
Letter of Admission
Applicants are required to submit the original and an A4 sized copy of the letter of admission from the German University.
Mark sheets and Certificates
Applicants are requested to submit the original and A4 sized copies of their mark sheets and degree certificates. Only course completion certificates are not sufficient.
Proof of English Language proficiency
Applicants are required to submit the original and A4 sized copies of proof of English language proficiency such as TOEFL or IELTS.
Proof of Financial Means
Applicants are required to submit the following documents to prove that they can bear their financial expenses during the entire period of study in Germany:
- Confirmation of Scholarship or stipend received by them
- Formal letter of sponsorship from a sponsor living in Germany (“Verpflichtungserkl�rung” according to Article 68 of the German Residence Act)
A students blocked account (“Sperrkonto”) in Germany in the name of the applicant showing a minimum balance of Euro 7.908,- and the remark that the account holder can dispose of a monthly amount of EURO 659,- (please note if your balance is not fulfilling the mentioned conditions your application can not be processed)
For information with regard to the procedure of opening a blocked account in Germany please contact a bank in Germany or an international bank of your choice.
It is highly recommended that the money transfer is made by international bank transfer. Do not send bank drafts, money orders or cheques to open the blocked-account.
- Confirmation of an annually renewable bank guarantee from a bank in Germany to the tune of € 7,908.
Declaration of Authenticity
A Declaration of Authenticity is required to be signed by the applicant as a guarantee that all information and documents provided by the applicant are genuine. Knowingly providing false information may result in the applicant being denied a visa or being deported from Germany, should a visa already have been issued.
Application Deadlines:
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.
Documents Required:
- Two Visa Application Forms (please make sure that both forms are duly filled out and signed indicating especially the address of your future residence in Germany – (question 15) as well as your complete address including telephone No. and E-Mail-address in India).
- Signed Declaration on True and Complete Information
- Three passport pictures according to biometric specifications
- Visa fee to be paid through Demand Draft made out to the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in New Delhi
- Valid passport with a validity of at least 12 months along with two copies of all printed pages
- Cover letter from applicant, explaining the exact purpose and duration of your stay in Germany
Letter of admission from the German University
- Proof that study fees have been paid, if applicable. In case the fees are not paid or due yet, proof has to be provided that the necessary amount will be at the applicant’s disposal in due course of time
- School Leaving Certificate of Secondary School
- University Certificates (Degree Certificates and Mark Sheets)
- Proof of Language Proficiency (TOEFL / IELTS, original and A 4 sized copy). Exemptions do apply in case of a written confirmation from the University that this requirement may be waived, for applicants for PhD / Doctorate studies and Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Holders.
- Proof of accommodation is required in order to fill the same in visa form & to attach in the file.
Proof of financial means to cover the costs for the time of your studies by any of the following means:
- Confirmation of scholarship/ Stipend
- Formal sponsorship letter from a sponsor living in Germany (Verpflichtungserkl�rung according to Article 68 German Residence Act)
- Blocked account (Sperrkonto) in Germany in the name of the applicant showing a minimum balance of Euro 7905, & the remark that the account holder can dispose of a monthly amount of Euro 659.
- For information with regard to the procedure of opening a blocked account in Germany please contact a bank in Germany or an international bank of your choice.
- Confirmation of an annually renewable bank guarantee from a bank in Germany in the amount of Euro 7905
It is highly recommended that that the money transfer is made by international bank transfer. Do not send bank demand drafts, money orders or cheque to open the block account.
From the moment of entering the Federal Republic of Germany you are upon request required to provide proof of a valid Health Insurance. This may be done through a regular Travel Health Insurance bought in India.
However, as soon as you formally register & enroll with the German University & begin your studies a regular Travel Health Insurance loses its validity. You are required to get a valid Health insurance from a German Insurance provider. equired to provide proof of a valid Health Insurance. This may be done through a regular Travel Health Insurance bought in India.
Resident Permit / Visa
Citizens of European Union, Australia, Canada, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Switzerland & USA do not need a Visa to study & are totally exempted. All other nationals (contact the nearest German Embassy for rules & restrictions) need one of the following Visas issued in the home country or the nearest German mission to pursue education in Germany.
Language course visa
Valid only for the duration of the language course exclusively. This visa cannot be converted into a student visa.
Study applicant Visa
This Visa is valid for 3 month period. After enrolling at the University, this visa must be converted into Resident Permit for study purposes at the Local Foreigners Office (Ausl�nder Beh�rde).
Resident Permit
Generally a Resident Permit for study purposes is issued upon enrollment & admission to a University for duration of 1 year & extendable based on the proof of financial support for the duration of study.
Steps to apply for a Visa
– Valid Passport
– Biometric photos
– Admission letter to University in Germany
– Proof of previous academic performance
– Proof of Financial support for the duration of study
– Medical fitness certificate
– Some other documents may also be needed in a case to case & country to country basis
Local German Embassy can provide checklist or detailed info on the Visa application process. The Visa application is to be submitted to the local German Embassy or Consulate & this process may sometime take longer than 6 weeks. So apply as early as possible.
Housing
A major part of the expenditure incurred depends largely on the cost of accommodation. Statistically Germans spend 1/3 of their income towards accommodation. It is highly recommended to take up accommodation in the student hostels. Looking for private accommodation should be the last choice at least during the initial days.
Depending on the city, location, size of room, services provided rental in University hostels vary from 150 Euro to 250. Approach the Studentenwerk to know more. Generally the hostels provide a private room with shared kitchen (equipped with multiple electric stoves, Refrigerator, Freezer, Electric Oven, Cupboards, dining table with chairs etc), bath & toilet. The rooms are equipped with at least
- A cot with bed
- A small wardrobe,
- Closet,
- Study table with lamp & a chair,
- Electrical sockets,
- Room heaters,
- Big windows &
- Personal keys to access the hostel building/ room
- Internet/ Telephone connection may or may not be available depending on the services provided
Advantages with hostels
- Close to University
- Rules are not complex to follow
Disadvantages with Private accommodation
- For a furnished accommodation, rent is high
- For an unfurnished apartment, setting up all furniture such as for kitchen etc is a daunting task.You have to bother about disposing the furniture when you plan to shift or move out
- For short duration, rent will tend to be high
- Plenty of written & unwritten rules to follow
- Difficult to search & convince the owner to rent it to you
Some Universities provide assistance in searching private accomodation to incoming international students. In such scenarios, it depends & varies on a case to case basis & the very same disadvantage could turn out to be an advantage.
Home search companies could charge more than 3 months rental as brokerage. For self search the following websites are useful
www.wg-gesucht.de
www.immobilienscout24.de
Home Search Company:
homeconsultancy@googlemail.com
Work Permit
Students are allowed to work during study. Non European citizens or citizens of the new EU member states are however allowed to work on 180 half working days or 90 full working days without even applying for a work permit. Some states have laws allowing to work only during summer vacations. However some other states allow working up to 20 hours a week even during the semester. In fact in some cities work inside the University is unrestricted as long as it does not impact studies. Mandatory Internship, Project work or Thesis work are excluded from the work restrictions or work permit necessity.
After completion of study at the university, foreign student is allowed to stay up to 1 year in order to apply for jobs. Upon receiving a Letter of Interest or Work contract one may apply for a Work Permit at the Local Employment Office. Issuance of a work permit may take around 4 to 6 weeks.
