Germany

Study in Germany

Germany is the third most popular destination among international students in the world. More than twelve percent of students at German universities come from abroad just like you. Germany is an attractive place to study and German university degrees are highly respected by employers worldwide.

1. YOU HAVE A TOP-CLASS DEGREE RECOGNIZED AROUND THE WORLD! German higher education is one of the best in the world! Whether it’s cars or education, people everywhere recognize “Made in Germany” as a seal of quality. You can benefit from Germany‘s long and famous university tradition especially in the fields of engineering and science. A German university degree is highly respected by employers around the world.
2. YOU HAVE A DIVERSE RANGE OF STUDY OPPORTUNITIES! Germany’s higher education system has something for everyone! There are almost 450 state-accredited universities with some 17,500 degree programs in Germany. German universities offer degree programs in every possible subject and academic level – be it bachelor’s, master’s, state examinations or doctoral degrees. General universities focus strongly on scientifically oriented study in a wide range of disciplines. Universities of applied science, on the other hand, are very practice-oriented. If you’re more interested in artistic subjects, you can enroll at a college of art, film or music.
3. YOU CAN STUDY IN ENGLISH! More and more courses and degree programs are being offered in English, especially at the master’s degree level. This is good news if you don’t know any German or if your German is not good enough yet.
4. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!Around twelve percent of students at German universities come from foreign countries, just like you. You can make friends from around the world, become acquainted with different countries and expand your horizons. The universities offer support to make your start in Germany as easy as possible. There are many mentoring programs available, such as “Buddy” and “Tandem” programs.
5. YOU PAY VERY LOW TUITION FEES – AND SOMETIMES NONE AT ALL!Students normally don’t have to pay tuition fees at German universities, and if so, the fees are very low. Most German universities receive considerable financing from the government. Bachelor’s degree programs are usually tuition-free at public universities. Some master’s degree programs, however, come with tuition fees, but they’re not as high as in other countries.
6. YOU HAVE VERY AFFORDABLE LIVING EXPENSES! Compared with other European countries, the cost of living in Germany is reasonable. The cost of food, rent, clothing and cultural activities are equivalent to the EU average. There are also a number of concessions available to students. You can receive reduced prices at theaters, museums, opera houses, cinemas, swimming pools and other institutions. All you have to do is present your student ID.
7. YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM MANY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS!As an international student with outstanding academic achievement, you have good chances of receiving a scholarship to finance your studies in Germany. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is one of the largest scholarship organizations in the world and offers countless scholarship programs. No matter what your country, subject or status, you’ll find a scholarship that matches your profile and needs in the DAAD scholarship database! And not only does the database contain programs offered by the DAAD, but also many other organizations in Germany.
8. YOU LIVE IN A SAFE COUNTRY! Germany is a safe country – also on an international scale. The police are reliable and help you in every situation. Whether you live in a big city or in the country, you can move freely day or night without having to take any special precautions.
9. YOU LIVE IN A DIVERSE COUNTRY IN THE HEART OF EUROPE! Beaches and mountains, medieval city centers and pulsating metropolises, and above all, lots of nature. Germany is a diverse country with many facets! Living in Germany means living in the middle of Europe surrounded by many other countries. Whether you’d like to visit Paris, Prague, Rome or Copenhagen, you have a wide range of destinations at your doorstep. Within a couple of hours by train or plane, you can experience an entirely different culture and language.  Weekend trips are no problem and affordable.

• YOU LEARN A LANGUAGE WHICH CAN OPEN MANY DOORS!German is one of the ten most spoken languages in the world. Some 185 million people worldwide can speak German. You can still study in Germany even if you don’t know German, but having some knowledge of the language can make everyday life easier and help you make friends faster. Knowing a foreign language also looks great on a résumé! Nobody says that German is an easy language, but there are many ways to learn German – in a course, with a tandem partner or with German flat mates.

10 Great reasons to study in Germany

• Free-tuition education in most universities (and very low fees in others)
• World class education by highly qualified staff
• Hundreds of academic courses to choose from
• Interesting country to explore with a profound history
• Cultural diversity and students from all over the world
• Practice speaking both English and German
• Endless opportunities to work in Germany after you graduate
• You can study every subject in English, no need to speak German.
• The cost of living, on average, is around 700-800€ including rent, food, transport, health insurance, telephone/internet, study materials and leisure activities.
• Besides studying, you have the chance to live and explore one of the world’s most developed countries and its unique culture, history and landscape.

Recognition of your secondary school-leaving certificate

If you want to study at a German university, you will need a “Hochschulzugangsberechtigung” – or “university entrance qualification”. This is a school-leaving certificate which qualifies you for university study. If your secondary-school certificate is deemed insufficient for study in Germany, you will have to attend a foundation course (“Studienkolleg”) before you are allowed to enrol. If your secondary school-leaving certificate is not recognized in Germany, you can gain entrance qualification to German university by completing a foundation course (“Studienkolleg”). You first have to pass an entrance examination to participate in a foundation course. Good German language skills are a prerequisite (B1 level of the European Framework of Reference for Languages).

At the conclusion of the foundation course, you will be tested in several subjects which are relevant to the subject of study you intend to pursue. This test is called the “university entrance assessment examination” (“Feststellungsprüfung”). One part of the examination is a language test.

Foundation courses usually take two semesters to complete and provide 28 to 32 hours of instruction per week. If your grades are very good, you are allowed to take the “Feststellungsprüfung” after only one semester.

Course at studienkolleg

There are Studienkolleg preparing for Universities of Applied Sciences, and those preparing for Research Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences. In addition, the courses are designed for special study areas: Universities

M = Medicine, Biology, (Chemistry) Pharmacy T = Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry (also in M), technical subjects W = Economics, Social Sciences, Business Studies etc. G = Humanities, German literature and language S = Languages

Universities of Applied Sciences (Hochschulen/Fachhochschulen) TI = Technical and Engineering Sciences WW = Business Studies GD = Art, Design and related fields SW = Social Sciences How long do the courses take and what kind of

German skills: German is a prerequisite – but not always

For most degree programmes, knowledge of German is a prerequisite for admission to German university. You can prove your German language proficiency by taking a language test, such as the TestDaF or DSH. However, you don’t need to know German if you intend on enrolling in an international degree programme. You can attend a language course to improve your German language skills.

Master’s Degree Programme.

Requirements: 16 years of education / IELTS 6.0 / 6.5

Major Universities:

1. Free University of Berlin
2. Technical University of Munich
3. Ludwig Maximilian University
4. University of Bonn
5. Humboldt University Berlin
6. University of Heidelberg
7. University of Konstanz
8. University of Freiburg
9. Technical University of Berlin

• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Proof of financial resources

Before you begin your studies, you will have to prove that you have enough money to support yourself. The document you need is called a “Finanzierungsnachweis”, or proof of financial resources. You are asked for it when you apply for an entry visa. At the latest, you will need to present it when you apply for a residence permit in Germany. In most cases, applicants have to prove that they have around 8,100 euros at their disposal for one year.

Required Documents for Visa

• Two visa application forms

(Please make sure that both forms are filled out and signed mentioning especially the address of your future residence in Germany (question 15) as well as your complete address which includes telephone No. and e-mail address in Nepal)

• signed Declaration on True and Complete Information
• three bio-metric passport pictures ( http://bundesdruckerei.de/ )
• visa fee (equivalent of Euro 60,– in NPR)

• valid passport or travel document (with a validity of at least 12 months)
• two copies of your passport data pages
• Citizenship Certificate, original and two copies
• proof of admission to the relevant university or institution or scholarship certificate, original and two copies
• School Leaving Certificate and mark-sheets, original and two copies
• Higher Secondary Education Board Certificate and mark-sheets, original and two copies
• proof of previous studies in the relevant area (e.g. Bachelor Degree, transcripts) if applicable, original and two copies
• self-written letter explaining your motivation and reasons for studying in Germany
• If required by the university for the respective course:

– proof of knowledge of the German language (“Zertifikat B 1”, or English language (TOEFL, IELTS), original and two copies.

Only one of the following certificates can be recognized (levels are minimum requirements):

1. “B 1 GER” of ALTE (Assoc. of Language Testers in Europe). In Nepal at the moment only certificates by the Goethe Centre Kathmandu in Thapathali, phone +977-1-4250871, E-Mail: [email protected]
2. The “Advanced Level Certificate German” of the Campus of  International Languages of Tribhuvan University are recognized as proof of knowledge.

• proof of financial means to cover the costs for the time of your studies by one of the following documents:

– Confirmation of scholarship / stipend

– Formal sponsorship letter from a sponsor living in Germany

(“Verpflichtungserklärung” according to Art. 68 German Residence Act)

– Blocked account (“Sperrkonto”) in Germany in the name of the

Applicant showing a minimum balance of Euro 8.100,– and the remark that the account holder can dispose of a monthly amount of Euro 659,– (12 months # Euro 659,– including handling fee for the bank)

For obtaining information with regard to the procedure of opening a blocked account in Germany please contact a bank in Germany or any international bank of your choice.

• Flight reservation

• Health insurance valid for Germany and covering at least the first three months of your stay in Germany, original and two copies (to be submitted only after the visa is approved)