Study abroad in Germany

More about Germany

Before starting the studies

The universities in Germany are open to students from all countries. Currently in Germany there are about two million enrolled students, 250,000 of them are international students. With over 10 % international students Germany is the world's favorite place to study! The diversity of Germany's higher education system may perhaps confuse you as your start, but it enables you to make the best choice for your future studies.

Types of Higher Education Institutions

Theere are 102 universities operating in Germany at present focus of teaching methodological and theoretical knowledge. Research and teaching are closely combined with each other. Most of the universities are so-called full universities which offer the whole spectrum of academic subjects. As a rule, these include law, arts and humanities, cultural studies, natural sciences and business and management, teacher training and, with some exceptions - among them medicine.

Universities of Applied Sciences offer great practical relevance and focus as well as well-founded academic training for degree programmes in the field of technology, business and management, social studies, media and design. If you like learning and working in the applied field, then this will be an interesting option for you.

Colleges of Art, Film and Music are for those who whishes to turn their artistic talent into a profession. The range of programmes extends from painting, design and architecture to directing, music and drama. The entry threshold is high, the training excellent. One to one teaching or classes in small groups ensure that the young artists get the finishing artistic touches.

Church-maintained Colleges are for students interested in a career in the field of social work, education, special needs education or curative/therapeutic education. They also teach nursing and health care professionals, as well as church musicians.

Despite the high tuition fees - around 1,800 to 4,700 euros per semester - private universities are becoming a popular option in Germany. Some of the reasons for this lie in the good reputation, small study groups, strong ties with business and industry, very practical focus, strong international orientation, short studies and good career prospects to name a few. But before you sign a contract with a private university, be sure to check that the university is state recognized. If it is not, the academic degree you gain will not be recognized, which could lead to problems when you start looking for a job or apply for further education after graduating.

Universities of Cooperative Education are not higher education institutions. Nevertheless, their certificates and degrees are partly recognised as equivalent to Fachhochschulen qualifications. Berufsakademien offer academic studies (focuses on business, technology, social studies) in combination with vocational training, i.e. cooperative education. This dual training alternates between courses taken at the academy and practical (workplace) training in a company. Some of the Berufsakademien even deliver the training bilingually: German-English. This profile has resulted in many companies showing a strong interest in Berufsakademie graduates, including, in particular, global players with their branches around the world.

University Development

Many higher education institutions in Germany are currently introducing internationally comparable Bachelor's and Master's programs. This means that degree programs completed in Germany and qualifications gained there are becoming internationally compatible. At the same time, this development makes it easier for students from abroad and overseas to enter and study at a German higher education institution. In addition, ever more multilingual degree programs are being offered; most of these are held in English and bring the students up to speed for the global employment market.

Language Study in Germany

The International degree programmes offer you an opportunity to take German language courses parallel to the degree course itself, because these degree courses are partly or even completely instructed in English in the first academic year. For all other degree courses you should definitely begin attending German courses while still in your home country. Before being admitted to higher education for a full degree course you will be required to take a German language proficiency test (DSH) to show your level of German language proficiency.

Read more about studying in Germany here.