Study In GERMANY

Why studying in the Germany is the best destination for an international student

Germany, a “Land of Scholars” boasts the birth of foundational pioneers from quantum physics to organic chemistry, with the emergence of leading technology and advanced sciences. Germany ranks 3rd in giving the greatest number of Nobel Laureates. The stringent emphasis on quality of education has garnered more than 106 globally ranked Universities. With refinement in education & research Germany emerges as the most preferable destination to pursue STEM fields. Being an industrialist country, German Universities are global leaders in Engineering, medicine, and pharma specifically.

In a fast pace world, where education is becoming a costly affair Germany is the only top-notch study destination that offers “Free Education’ in public universities of Germany. The prospect of tution-free universities and affordable education makes Germany stands out as the eminent option when choosing to study abroad. From an international student's vantage point, the cost of study or affordability tops the evaluation criteria while selecting the best destination without compromising on the quality of education. In this instance, Germany becomes the prime option to consider as the tuition fees and living costs are relatively low, as compared to other European countries.

After securing a residency permit in Germany, an international student can explore other European countries and get exposed to varied cultures, ethnicities, languages and regions. A wonderful opportunity to expand your social network and to find employment opportunities all while being adventurous with a German Student Visa.

German Universities allow immigrant students to work part-time while studying gives financial leverage infused with work experience gained throughout the study. Germans are one of the world’s most accommodative and welcoming societies that offers the best multicultural experience.

Germany has a skilled-deficit workforce, Vacant jobs and zest to upscale their global power makes the employment opportunities more desperate and lucrative to explore. With proficiency in the German language and strong academic background will welcome you to the group of “German Excellence”.

Visa Rules And Obligations

Indians are the second-largest international student body in German Universities. The quest for academic excellence leads masses of international students to migrate to Germany. In pursuit of securing admission to prestigious German universities, aspiring students need to understand the Visa process, requirements and obligations in detail.

Depending upon the purpose & duration of visit in Germany there are two types of Visas: Schengen Visa (also known as C Visa) this visa is short-term and usually valid for only 3 months and to study beyond that there’s a German National Visa (also known as D Visa).

Depending upon the circumstances of study, there are mainly three types of German Student Visas: The Student Visa- If the student already got acceptance by a German university, then this visa is the right choice. This visa is usually valid for 3 months which gives sample time to enter Germany, get settled, register your address and get the residence permit, which then permits you to stay for your entire studies. But if the student hasn’t got an acceptance letter yet, or the student needs to prepare in Germany for their studies by taking up a language course as part of academic obligations then the Student Applicant Visa will be apt for such students. A language Course Visa allows students to study German in Germany for a duration of 3 months to 1 year.

The Indian students have to apply for a German National Visa at the nearest German Embassy/Consulate. The D Visa is valid for three months and allows one to enter Germany and apply for a residence permit which is valid for one year. It can be renewed/extended to let the immigrant student live in Germany for the duration of their studies. The student can start applying for the D Visa to study in Germany as early as 6-months before the commencement of the degree programme.

*The online mode to apply for a german visa is not available, and students need to visit physically to start the visa application process. The Student Visa charges will be €75 and must be paid by a bank transfer.

The immigrant student needs to open a Blocked bank account before arriving in Germany. It is a special bank account to demonstrate the proof of financial security that a student has sufficient funds to live in Germany for up to 1 year. The international student needs a minimum of €934 per month and a total of €11,208 in their blocked bank account before even applying for a Student Visa.

Within 2 weeks of arrival in Germany, the immigrant student needs to register their address with the Resident Registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt) and get their residence permit. The mandate resident permit allows one to stay & study in Germany for a long term. The residency permit then allows you to travel visa-free in the whole Schengen Area, an opportunity to explore varied cultures, languages and regions while you study. Then, students have to officially enrol at the university to be able to participate in their studies. The process is called “Matriculation” where students have to submit the requisite list of documents at the student’s affairs office “Studentensekretariat”.

Additionally, students also have to pay a semester fee before getting the student ID and password. The foreign student also has to furnish the list of mandate documents governed by the German Mission which are a Copy of passport, Academic documents, Letter of acceptance, Statement of Purpose, Proof of financial means, Confirmation of payment of first two semester fees and Travel health insurance. The student also has to prove language proficiency based on the medium of instruction, TOEFL and IELTS are accepted if MOI is in English and if in case you applied for a German-taught program, then proofs like TestDaF, TELC and Goethe Certificate should work.

The next didactic strategy is to get a mandate APS certificate. It is a prerequisite document for Indian students applying for a German student visa. The APS certificate in Germany is to check the authenticity of the educational biographies as well as corresponding educational certificates.

The immigrant student also needs to abide by the general laid-ground rules of German universities which are to maintain a minimum of 80% of attendance and should pay tuition fees by the census date of each term. Academically students are expected to maintain the required academic progress. The students are allowed to work part-time for 120 full days a year or up to 20 hours per week. The immigrant student needs to register for a residence permit within 3 months before their Visa validity expires. They also need to open a bank account, N26 bank account is a convenient option for an international student. After arriving in Germany, the student is expected to take the mandate of public health insurance. This outlines the general specific requirements to maintain the valid status of student visa.

Academic Obligations For Bachelor’s Studeis In Germany

Besides, fulfilling the Visa requirements & obligations, the immigrant student has to be well-versed in the German Education System which requires 13 years of schooling to get into a Bachelor’s programme while the Indian Education System follows 12 years of schooling. To bridge the 1-year indifference gap, the immigrant student has to enrol in a Foundation course (also known as Studienkolleg). They are either affiliated with a university or a university of applied sciences. This foundation course generally comprises two semesters that prepare a student to adjust to German academic culture. After student clears the final exams of Studienkolleg, they can apply to any University in Germany. The students will have options to choose from state-run Studienkolleg which is tuition-free with degree validity all over Germany and another option is private Studienkolleg which charges tuition fees of approx. 5000 Euros and might not be valid all across German Universities.

The Studienkolleg offers varied specialised programmes which students can select based on their interest in the study. The courses are T-course for mathematical, science or technical degrees, W-course for business, economic and social science degrees, M-course for medical, biological and pharmaceutical degrees, G-course for humanity degrees or German studies, and S-course for language degrees. The University of applied sciences Studienkolleg offers specialised preparatory courses such as TI-course for technical and engineering degrees, WW-course for economics and business degrees, GD-course for design and art degrees, and SW-course for social science degrees. At the Bachelor’s level majority of the courses are offered in the German Language. Thus, a student requires to be proficient up to C1 level in the German language.

Since, enrolling in Studienkolleg is not only challenging but also an expensive affair, the immigrant student will not be allowed to work while enrolled in Studienkolleg and also will not be entitled to any grants thus, it is pivotal to explore other feasible options to offset the high tuition charges by Studienkolleg.

To meet the Direct university entrance qualification (HZB) requirements, students can explore these options: Students who qualified JEE Advanced will be exempted from Studienkolleg, The student can also complete 1-year of Bachelor’s degree in their native country which they can show as 13 years of academic curriculum (student after completing 1-year can drop out of the college) and if a student holds International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or studied from a Cambridge school will also be exempted from Studienkolleg. These are the alternatives which aspiring students can explore and choose from.

Work Permit In Germany

The German EU Blue Card is a residence permit for work which is intended to facilitate and promote the permanent immigration of highly-qualified non-EU nationals intended to work in skilled positions in Germany. The EU Blue Card is a temporary residence permit that is issued initially for a period of 18 months that can be further extended for another 18 months hence, three years as a matter of principle.

There are pre-conditions to apply for an EU Blue card which are as: a candidate must have a higher academic degree (either from Germany or from an equivalent recognized University) The candidate must have an employment contract or a binding job offer and must have a minimum annual gross salary of 58,400 Euros that means your salary should be higher than the national average. If the candidate matches the requisite requirements, they can avail of numerous benefits apart from the employment opportunities which include relaxation of the conditions for family reunification and Faster acquisition of a settlement permit.

Holders of an EU Blue Card will receive a settlement permit after 33 months in Germany if they have been in highly-qualified employment and paid contributions into a pension fund during this period, and are able to make themselves understood in German on a basic level. The qualification period is shortened to 21 months for persons with adequate knowledge of German (level B1).

The prospects of evolving professionally in Germany are immense!

Germany Scholarships For International Students

The unwavering robust education system in Germany has remained the backbone & reason for garnering the title of “German Excellence” ever since. Encouraging intellectual vitality, the government has made professional & vocational courses for free in Public Universities where even an international student can extract benefits. The tuition fees in these universities are either nil or meagre.

The infamous status quo, “free education” is enchantingly lucrative yet highly competitive, which inevitably makes securing admission to these prestigious German universities seemingly implausible.

Students need not be dejected as the door of private universities welcomes international students with less competition relatively and equivalent quality education. These Universities offer generous financial support to international students through various scholarships programme that can be availed by Universities, Private organisations and through German government as well. The options to offset the financial burden are limitless.

There are sundry scholarships for Indian and International students in Germany and students can apply all the ones they deem fit. These monetary aids will help the students to ease their financial burden. Germany Government Scholarships – Several Govt-funded scholarships are available depending on the financial condition of the student and the value ranges from €150 – €800 per month. DAAD Scholarship awards €860-€1200 for an excellent academic record. Erasmus Scholarship program awards €9960 along with health coverage. Non-Government Scholarships funded by all entities other than the government may vary according to the host institution in terms of value and eligibility. Bayer Foundation awards €30,000. Marie Curie International Incoming Student Fellowship awards €15,000 for all post-doctoral researchers. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Scholarship awards €12,000 plus allowances. Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Scholarships and Heinrich Boll Foundation Scholarships award €10000 - €12,000 plus allowances for all post-graduate and PhD students.

University-Specific Scholarships in Germany which are available for UG, PG & PhD students. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences Scholarship for bachelor’s & master’s, awards €1,800 for one semester. Humboldt University International Research Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers, in law, anthropology, history, political science, sociology, geography and economics. The fellowship awards €2,670 for 6 to 24 months. RWTH Aachen University Scholarship for Advanced Research Opportunities Program (AROP) awarded to doctoral and postdoctoral candidates with a monthly stipend of €1,800 for 6 months and an additional travel allowance of €1,000. Frankfurt School of Finance & Management Scholarship for doctoral candidates studying mathematics, finance, business administration, or accounting. This scholarship covers the cost of living and given as a stipend of €1,820 per month. ULM University Scholarship for the doctoral program awards €1,200 per month. There is plethora of options for students from STEM background particularly.

As an ideal destination for international students, Germany offers the best environment to pursue a degree and enjoy an authentic German experience. Not only this, the universities in the country are putative and highly ranked worldwide. Students get to choose innovative programs with low tuition fees and accommodation costs that are even backed up by various scholarship programmes mentioned above. The prospect of umpteen academic advantages with inexpensive living expenses & cost of study. Germany emerges as a paradise for every student who aspires to the best education and learning experience.