StudiumStudienberatungStudy in Germany

Study in Germany

Studying in the country of poets and philosophers. Culturally, everybody can find something he likes. The most populous country in the EU is a multicultural society. Not just in the big metropolises Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne or Munich but also in the smaller cities people from all places of the world are forming the image. Across the republic there are festivals whose publicity goes far beyond the region: carnival in Cologne, wine festivals in the Palatinate and drinking beer at the Oktoberfest in Munich. Also the German landscape is multisided: Swimming in the North Sea, a boat trip on the Rhine or hiking in the Alps.

How many universities do exist?

Altogether there are over 500 universities (universities and universities of applied sciences - public and private, but accredited by the government). In some federal states you can also find universities of cooperative education ("Berufsakademien"), a specific type of education in the tertiary area of education.

What types of universities do they have in Germany?

The area of higher education in Germany is multisided. Different types of universities offer different specific subjects: universities represent the sciences and their alumni are appreciated for their professional knowledge and their scientific methods. In comparison to that universities of applied sciences offer application-oriented courses. Students thereby can early integrate the practice in their education. The most practical experience is integrated in the studies at a university of cooperative education. Beside the theoretic professional studies the education is partly absolved in an enterprise (Dual Study).
Which university is the right one for me? >

How are the studies organised?

In Germany you don't count in years of studies or in terms but in half years of studies - "semester". The summer semester takes from the 1st of April to the 30th of September, the winter semester takes from the 1st of October to the 31. March. In the semester break students have to write thesis, at universities of applied sciences students have tests during that time.

How can I apply?

To apply at a German university, you need a university entrance requirement like that one you would need to study in your own country, for example High School Diploma, Matura, A-Levels, Bachillerato. Check in the database of the minister of education conference, if your university entrance requirement is equal to the German one:
https://anabin.kmk.org/anabin.html

To give a roughly idea of the application deadlines you can say: most of the courses of study in Germany start in the winter semester. Regulary, the deadline for courses whose admission restriction is determined by the university itself, is the 15th of July. For courses without admission restriction the closing date for the inscription is generally in the middle of September.
Checklist for foreign students >

Specifics?

The German Higher Education area is multisided and connects tradition with modern. Next to the dignified universities there are lots of practical orientated educational institutions. You should research exactly and watch out for the little differences between the single federal states. Because Germany is federally organised and the federal states are responsible for the education.

Important links

Database of the minister of education conference / Information system to accredit foreign graduates
https://anabin.kmk.org/anabin.html
Central office for the allocation of courses of study
www.hochschulstart.de
Checklist for foreign students coming to Germany
https://studieren.de/checklist-germany.0.html

Useful information

Checklist for foreign students

Study in Germany, but how? Until foreign students get a place in German lecture rooms, they have to manage some obstacles. Anyhow, foreign students at German universities represent 10% of the student body. studieren.de has compiled the most important information about the admission. Mehr >

Bachelor and master FAQ

With the bachelor the students attend a final degree already after 6 to 8 terms. The bachelors' and masters' degree classify your course: only who wants to deepen his knowledge goes on to the master-degree. By this new structuring of the courses the professional qualification shall be improved, the mobility of the students elevated and the time of studies be shortened. Mehr >

Diploma Supplement - core element of the Bologna-Process

Diploma Supplement is an addition to the leaving certificate in the academic area of education that was introduced in the course of the Bologna-Process. It is awarded by academies along with the original certificate. The Diploma Supplement describes the courses' properties, contents and type of degree and should be devoid of value judgements, recommendations or approval of any kind. It does not replace the original certificate. Mehr >

Dual study, university of cooperative education

The curriculum consists of a combination of theory and practically learned know-how. This knowledge is transmitted at two different locations: During the practical terms the student is learning in a company, during the theoretical terms at a university / academy. This change of practical and theoretical terms lasts during the whole study, that's why a dual course is different to a normal course in terms of higher practical reference. Mehr >

University, academy, which is the right one

Universities are schools of higher education, which completely represent the sciences. That means that you find a wide range of courses that covers the natural and engineering sciences, the social sciences, humanities, law and economics, and so on. The offers of universities are standing on two columns: research and education. Mehr >