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Germany

Study Bachelor in Germany 2024

Study in Germany

A large country in central Europe containing 16 states and a member of the European Union, Germany is officially referred to as the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) and holds much political and economical influence among all other EU countries.

The Chancellor presides over Germany's democratic government that enforces a system of law based on principles described in the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany.

Essential Facts about Germany

- The sixteen states comprising Germany are called Länder, with each state possessing its own constitution.

- Contributions by Germans to the fields of science, mathematics and technology cannot be emphasized enough. Brilliant individuals like Einstein, Max Planck, Herman von Helmholtz, Johannes Gutenberg, Gottfried Leibniz and Carl Gauss are just a few German scientists who have supplied the world with famous inventions.

- Germany is one of the world's most technologically advanced manufacturers of coal, iron, cement, steel, machinery, vehicles and chemicals. It also has large investments in green energy, especially solar power and the use of windmills for electricity.

- Popular tourist attractions in Germany include the Bavarian Alps, the Black Forest, the Rhine Valley and its ancient castles and the artsy capital Berlin.

Germany's Legal System

Three sets of regulatory laws comprise Germany's legal system: public, private and criminal law. Public law (also includes criminal law) deals with legal matters between an individual and the state. Private law mediates relationships between companies and two or more people. Germany law is highly influenced by Roman law as well as Napoleonic law, or the Napoleonic Code.

Judges play an active role in Germany's legal procedural system. Although similar to the type of legal system used by other democratically run countries, Germany does not have jury trials due powers allocated to a judge that allow him to make a final decision. One judge or several judges can comprise a "tribunal", which is essentially a substitute for a jury. Lay judges, or citizens who are chosen by a special committee before a trial begins, can also be included in a tribunal.

In Germany, ordinary courts hear matters concerning marriage, criminal, family and civil disputes. Alternately, special administrative courts hear cases involving government actions. Labor, financial and social law courts are other specialized German courts that adjudicate cases related to work, taxes and social benefits.

Change currency

Basic monthly living cost

  • Rent in a shared flat

    507
  • Share of utilities

    91
  • Internet subscription

    43
  • Local transportation

    60

Sample lifestyle cost

  • Fast food combo

    9
  • Cinema ticket

    12
  • Pint of local beer

    4

About Germany

Higher Education in Germany

Several of the top universities in the world are found in Germany, such as Heidelberg University (Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat Heidelberg, founded in 1386);

Freiburg University (founded in 1457);

Munich Technical University (Technische Universitat München);

and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig. The majority of Germany's universities are public and currently charge tuition fees of approximately 60 euros or $80 U.S. dollars per semester.

Teaching is emphasized in German universities over research, with research being the focus of independent institutes known for their traditional approach to the social sciences. For students who wish to pursue a degree in psychology, anthropology, philosophy or sociology, acceptance into one of these research universities is extremely competitive and geared towards students who have showed exceptional talent and brilliance towards a particular field.

Another type of university popular with international students is the Fachhochschule (FH), University of Applied Science. Courses offered at a Fachhochschule are designed to

prepare students for employment in particular professions that are not academic-oriented, such as information technology, nursing and business.German states and its federal government also maintain several FHs that train students who want careers in the civil service.Students cannot earn doctorates at a Fachhochschule.

Colleges of art, film and music provide creative programs for students who desire careers in the fine arts, fashion design, graphic arts and music.For centuries, Germany has made a tremendous contribution to the world of fine arts, literature and music by producing such brilliant writers, artists and composers as Mozart, Brahms, Hesse, Max Ernst and Nietzsche and continues to be a powerful force in the world of the fine arts, filmmaking and fashion.

Attending a German University

All students wanting to attend a university in Germany will need to provide a copy of their Abitur, a document also used in Estonia and Finland to designate the successful completion of final exams given in their final year of secondary education.While German citizens who

do not have an Abitur can take another test called the Begabtenprüfung (literally aptitude test) in order to attend a university, international students, in most cases, will need to show ACT or SAT scores of at least 28 and 1300, respectively, to qualify for admission. High school diplomas similar to those earned in the U.S. are not considered the equivalent of an Abitur and generally will not promote a student's chance of admission to a German college or university.

Some universities and colleges award scholarships to students to pay for books and living expenses. However a law called Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz ensures that economically disadvantaged students receive up to 650 euros ($860 U.S.dollars) each month for the four or five years it takes to earn a bachelor's degree. Typically, half of this amount will need to be repaid to the government as an interest-free loan.

Generally, the language of instruction is German, so students wishing to attend a German university should have adequate knowledge of the German language.

German Visas for International Students

For short stays of up to three months (students taking summer courses, for example), a Schengen-Visa is required to remain in the country. Students should be aware that they must leave Germany at the end of the three months if they choose to obtain a Schengen-Visa and should plan accordingly before applying for this type of visa.

National visas are necessary if you plan to stay longer than three months. Students should make it clear why they require a National visa and state on the form whether they are completing a doctorate or enrolling in a full program. In addition, the following documents will be needed before students can apply for a visa: letter of admission, health insurance card, proof of pre-admission examination results and proof that you know how to speak and read German or that you plan to take German language courses as part of your curriculum.

Why Study in Germany?

Germany has been named by several international educational groups as one of the most supportive countries for students wishing to earn degrees in a country other than their own. Complementing this recognition is the fact that tuition charged by many German universities is minimal to none, further making studying in Germany an attractive and exciting prospect for students wishing to attend school in a country different from their own.

Visa Requirements

  1. Language Course Visa (Visa for Language Learning) – the perfect option for those that want to learn the German language in Germany.
  2. Student Applicant Visa (Visum Zur Studienbewerbung) – if you want to study in Germany, but are still trying to find the right program or you still haven’t got the confirmation letter from your University.
  3. Student Visa (Visum Zu Studienzwecken) – if you have already been accepted to a German university.

What type of Visa do you need?

Visa name

Language Course Visa; Student Applicant Visa; Student Visa

Price and currency

EUR 60

You should expect to pay €60 (~US$74) for your student visa to Germany.

Who can apply for the visa?

For citizens from the EU or from Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, or Liechtenstein, it is only necessary to have an identity card to enter Germany. It is not necessary to have a visa.

Citizens from Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, and the USA can apply for their visa even after they arrived in Germany.

For citizens from other countries, it is necessary to apply for a visa before coming to Germany.

If staying less than 90 days in Germany, there are even more regulations. Citizens from certain countries can enter Germany for this time without a visa. These are Venezuela, Vatican City, Uruguay, Singapore, Seychelles, Paraguay, Panama, Nicaragua, Mexico, Mauritius, Malaysia, Macau, Croatia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Chile, Brunei, Brazil, Bolivia, Bermuda, Barbados, Bahamas, and Argentina.

Visit the website of the German Federal Foreign Office for the latest visa requirements for all countries: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/einreiseundaufenthalt/visabestimmungen-node

Where can you make the application?

German embassy or consulate

You’ll need to apply for a visa from the German embassy or consulate in your home country.

Website:

How to make the application?

First, you need to schedule an appointment for a visa interview. On the day of the interview, you should offer your visa application documents.

The documents you typically need are:

  • Completed application form
  • Valid passport
  • Two photographs
  • Letter showing you’ve been accepted by a German university
  • Transcript of academic record
  • Certificate of German language proficiency or proof that you intend on attending a language course in Germany (if studying in German)
  • Proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself while living in Germany (€8,700 per year, which is roughly ~US$9,390)
  • Certificate showing you’ve purchased health insurance
  • Declaration of the authenticity of documents submitted

Dependent on the embassy, you may also need to show proof that you don’t have a criminal record.

Everyone needs to register with the local registration authorities (Einwohnermeldeamt) in the first week of arriving in Germany. You’ll need to take your passport/national ID (and visa if appropriate), proof of your address in Germany (eg. a rental agreement from your landlord) and possibly the registration certificate from your course. You’ll be given a confirmation of registration.

When should you apply?

Examination of the visa application usually takes about 6 to 8 weeks for a language course. However, if the language course is longer than three months, the time taken for processing the application can extend up to 8 to 10 weeks. And during peak travel season, applications can be sent under the waiting period. Thus, students requiring a student visa for Germany should submit their applications well ahead of time before the commencement of the course. You should apply as soon as possible, and at least three months before your move to the country.

Study visas are valid only for the length of the course or program. The resident permits are usually issued for a year but may be extended.

Processing time

8 Weeks

Work opportunities

Citizens of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland can work freely in Germany but for no more than 20 hours a week during term time.

EU/EEA/Swiss citizens (now including Croats as of July 2015) are permitted to work up to 120 full or 240 half days a year (including voluntary work) without permits. You can work more hours if employed by the university as a student or graduate assistant; for other types of employment you will need permission from the Agentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) and the Aliens' Authority to exceed the 120/240 limit. Studienkolleg and language students need permission from these authorities in order to take on any work. Students can’t be freelancers or self-employed.

Hours per week

20

Why do you need this type of visa?

These are the main reasons why your visa application for a German student visa may be rejected:

  • Poor financial status
  • Poor academic profile
  • Lack of preparation for your interview
  • Insufficient language level (German or English)
  • Inconsistency with your choice of study program