FAQ: Study abroad in Germany

What’s the benefit of studying abroad in Germany?
Germany is not only an important country of Europe, but also a very significant international commercial, political and economic partner to other countries.  Universities in Germany have extensive networks with universities all over the world as well as rigorous curriculum and top notch teachers recognized by the entire world. Students here have more than to learn about Germany and other cultures. Most schools in Germany do not collect tuition, only a small registration fee. German higher education is very well developed, with nearly 300 universities. Most of which accept foreign students.

What are the categories of German higher education institutions?
In general there are three categories:

A) Comprehensive research University: These institutions have a large variety of disciplines, focusing on systematic and theoretical study as well as education and research.

B) Universities of applied science: These schools are generally smaller, with fewer curriculum, and fewer disciplines. They are more focused on the accumulation of hands-on experience for students.

C) Art College and Music College:  These colleges are few in number and small in size. Most of these colleges can adjust their course to the students, allowing very small class or even one on one teaching.

What is the tuition of universities in Germany?
The vast majority of universities in Germany are public schools sponsored by the government. These schools usually do not collect tuition or just collect a very small fee. Tuition is roughly €500 per semester plus miscellaneous fees. (Registration fee ranges from €25 to €150) Germany’s 16 constituent states can decide whether its universities collect tuition. The actual implementation can vary greatly:

A) Some constituent states use tuition system: all students need to pay tuition that do not exceed €500 per semester.
B) Some constituent states only collect tuition to students that are either taking too long to finish their degree or studying for second degree.
C) The rest constituent states do not collect tuition.
Tuitions for private universities in Germany are much higher than public universities, but the exact tuition cost for each school also varies greatly. Some school can charge up to €20,000 a year.

What are the conditions for applying universities in Germany?
1) Students who have completed 12 years education. After high school, one passed the formal college entrance exam and entered into a (an):

a) Key Universities 4 year undergraduate curriculum and finished at least one semester.
b) Ordinary Universities 4 year undergraduate curriculum and finished at least 3 semesters. If one only finished one semester, he is required to either study one year of pre-college courses or take the “College Entrance Qualification Exam” in Germany.
c) Student with associate degree can study the pre-college course or take the “College Entrance Qualification Exam” to gain entry right away.

2) Students who have completed 11 years education. After high school, one passed the formal college entrance exam and entered into a (an):

a) Key Universities 4 year undergraduate curriculum and finished at least three semester.
b) Ordinary Universities 4 year undergraduate curriculum and finished at least 5 semesters.

3) Students of other methods of education. After earning bachelor degree, one should first submit a copy of certificate for verification. After the verification, it will be handled on a case by case basis.

Do I have to study German in a university in Germany?
Those studying abroad in Germany can choose to take courses in German or apply for international courses taught in English. You can study German for a period of time domestically in China, or study German after coming to Germany. Therefore, TestDaF score is not a requirement for studying abroad in Germany. However, to fully enroll in a university in Germany, one must pass language test, it is usually easier than TestDaF exam. Especially the DSH in certain cities are easier for Chinese students to take. The pass rate is generally high.

For English, is it necessary to take TOEFL or IELTS?
Most students who wanted to use German to study in Germany have thought about abandoning English learning. They thought English study would interfere with the effective understanding of German, therefore they give up English. Our experience tells us, one should never abandon English to learn German. Learning German with a good foundation of English is the icing on the cake. To abandon English in order to put all effort into German study is not a wise decision. IELTS and TOEFL sore will help with the application, but by no means necessary.

What’s the percentage of foreign students in universities in Germany?
Germany is currently the country with third largest foreign student population, only after United States and Great Britain. With high academic quality and well recognized diploma, Germany is one of the most favorite destinations for foreign students. Currently there are around 2 million university students in Germany, in which there are 260,000 foreign students. Thus, international student occupies 13% of the total number of students. In 2013, there are around 25,000 Chinese students studying in Germany, occupies 27% of foreign students in Germany.

Can I do part time or full time work while studying abroad in Germany?
In April 2012, Germany introduced the EU High Skill Migrants Directive. The realization of this directive will leave long lasting influence on foreign students wishing to stay in Germany. According to the directive, a student studying in Germany is allowed to work part time up to 120 days. In addition, foreign student who graduate from a university in Germany can apply for job searching visa, in order to find a fitting job in Germany. There is no limit on part time work during this time period. After working at a full-time position for two years, one can apply for permanent residence.

Information regarding German financial institution
After arriving in Germany, one should open a bank account as soon as possible. Sometimes you can open an account in your own country, and you just need to confirm it upon arrival. Deutsche Bank is very prominent internationally, therefore many students choose to open bank account in Deutsche Bank. Most payments, such as: cellphone contracts, rents, even health insurance, are usually directly withdrawn from bank accounts. Some banks offer free bank account to full-time students. When choosing a bank, other than considering the cost of operation, one also need to consider factors such as the location of the company, availability of English service system, and cash withdraw fee etc.

What’s the living condition in Germany?
Most new students that just arrived in Germany would choose to apply school hostel. It is very convenient and the living condition is decent. German government put heavy emphasis on improving the standard of living for its residents. As early as right after the Germany unification, the government had put great effort into improving housing qualities. Most houses are renovated to modern standard, including schools. Over 95% of school housing is facilitated with individual shower and water heating system, even open kitchen, providing a great study environment for foreign students. For working needs, one can look to rent an apartment near their work location. In Germany, it is more economical and practical to seek roommates to live together. It is also a good method to learn about different cultures, to fit into the society faster. Rental fee is about €150 to €400 per month.

Security deposit and cost of living in Germany
Studying abroad in Germany general require advance security deposit of €7000 to €8000 into a bank account. (This number varies depend on the city) On average, all the expenses a Germany university student incurs will be in total about €600 per month, including €200 for rent, €50 insurance, €150 for transportation, registration and books, and €200 on food and drinks. Therefore, this security deposit is in place to insure student’s daily living cost.

Here you can find further links about studying in Germany:

DAAD - Ziel Deutschland (English version)
DAAD - Studieren in Deutschland (English version)
DAAD - Das deutsche Hochschulsystem (English version)