Studies in Germany - fields of study, requirements, costs, reviews
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What is studying in Germany like?
Germany is an increasingly popular destination for studying abroad.
Every year, over 5,000 Polish students choose to study in Germany!
Why do Poles willingly choose to study in Germany?
- High quality of education – according to the prestigious Shanghai Ranking, 4 German universities are in the TOP 100 of the best universities in the world.
- Short distance – the distance from Poland to Germany is a great advantage for students, the opportunity to study at a reputable university while being close to home is considered a great asset.
- Low cost of study – public universities in Germany are free, and many private universities are available for a low fee or with additional funding.
- Post-graduation work – graduates from a German university enjoy one of the highest employment rates in the global labor market.
It is also worth remembering that studying in Germany is not time-consuming – in general, there are 3 days of classes, the remaining 2 days are for additional work, internships and learning.
There are several types of higher education institutions in Germany, but the most popular are:
- Universities – most often they are public universities that focus on high quality theoretical teaching and prepare for research and theoretical work or for continuation of higher education at master’s studies
- Universities of Applied Sciences – these are universities focused on practical teaching of majors and preparing their students to enter the labor market. There are many private universities, but there are also public ones where you can expect very low tuition fees.
How long do studies in Germany last?
It all depends on the type of university, and the professional internship which may be included in the study program.
| Type of university | What majors are offered? | Example of universities | How long are bachelor’s studies? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universities | Engineering, Philosophy, Politics, Chemistry, Economics, Sustainable Development, History, Education, Lingustics | Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Heidelberg University, Technical University of Munich, University of Bonn, University of Freiburg, Leipzig University | 3 years |
| Universities of Applied Sciences | Engineering, Computer Science, Business Management, Digital Design, Marketing | Berlin University of Applied Sciences, CODE University of Applied Sciences, University of Europe of Applied Sciences, Stralsund University of Applied Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt | 3,5 - 4 years (the internship period is included) |
Study in Germany - Fields of study
German universities offer many courses. Generally, students appreciate a wide range of technical faculties. You can find them at Universities as well as Universities of Applied Sciences.
The most popular fields of study are:
- Engineering
- Information technology
- Business and Economy
What is worth remembering about engineering is the variety of fields related to it – mechanical engineering, aeronautical engineering, electrical engineering and others.
The other popular fields of study in Germany also include Psychology, Physics, Mathematics, Philosophy, or fields related to sustainable development.
Study in Germany in English
In Germany you will find a wide choice of studies in German as well as studies in English.
We can certainly look for technical and business majors in English.
Public universities in Germany offering free studies mainly offer courses in German, which account for about 90% of their offer. A minority of the available majors are in English.
In addition to public universities, there are also many private universities in Germany. This type of universities has a wider range of courses in English:
- Marketing
- Linguistics
- International Management
- Photography
- Computer Graphics
- Information Technology
- Engineering
Despite the cost of tuition, Germany has an attractive offer for many students from around the world. This also makes studying in Germany an interesting solution for Poles.
Law studies in Germany
Universities in Germany are known for high-quality technical courses – what about social sciences and humanities?
Law studies in Germany are very popular.
The most common solution to include law classes in your course is opting for business studies.
Law classes are included in business studies or international management studies.
Can you study law?
Only three private universities offer bachelor’s degrees in tax law and business law: Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Leuphana University oraz Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences.
When it comes to law studies strictly giving the right to practice and developing legal knowledge, bachelor’s studies can be continued on master’s studies – most often in the fields of tax, international or European law.
Medical studies in Germany
Germany is regarded as one of the best countries to study medicine abroad. Universities in Germany are distinguished by high quality of education and good preparation for the profession (e.g. Heidelberg University, Technical University Munich, Hannover Medical School).
Medical studies in Germany are free at public universities. However, it should be noted that in Germany you can’t find bachelor’s studies in English – we can only consider medical studies in German.
This applies to both undergraduate and graduate studies.
An alternative to medical studies in Germany are studies in the field of medicine – Dentistry, Radiology, Diagnostics, Epidemiology or such fields as Health Management.
Here, universities in Germany already have courses in English – importantly, only at the level of master’s studies!
If you are interested in studying medicine at the bachelor’s level, remember that knowledge of German will be necessary and will be one of the requirements to get into the university!
Study in Germany - Master's Degree
Master’s studies last between 1 and 2 years.
Universities in Germany offer a large and varied list of graduate courses taught in English.
An example here may be the legal or medical studies mentioned above.
Examples of second-cycle studies in Germany at Universities:
- Advanced Optical Technologies
- Applied earth science
- Medical Physics
- Cartography
- Climate science
- Politics and Society in the Middle East
- Linguistic programming
Examples of second-cycle studies in Germany at the Universities of Applied Sciences:
- Business Analysis and Statistics
- Management of luxury goods
- Big Data
- Design and mechanical engineering
- Digital Transformation
- Sustainability in Fashion
Most universities offer specialized master’s studies focused on developing specialization in a given field and gaining experience needed on the labor market.
In addition to the typical full-time Master’s studies in Germany, you can choose from part-time studies.
Unlike most European countries where you can study part-time, in Germany such studies are adapted to the work of students and classes take place mainly on weekends.
Extramural studies in English in Germany are most often included as part of master’s studies – the fields that can be chosen as part of such studies are:
- Management
- Consulting
- Entrepreneurship
- Finances
- Political Science
Not all universities offer extramural studies, so if you are interested in such courses, make sure that the university gives you such an option.
Study in Germany - Requirements
Are you considering studying in Germany, but you don’t know what an application looks like?
The main requirements that must be met when applying to German universities are:
- Matriculation Certificate (Matura exam) or IB Diploma
- Certificate of completion of a high school or technical school
- Language proficiency test (German for German studies and English for English studies)
A German certificate passed on C1 is usually required when applying for studies, in the case of an English certificate, the required level will be B2-C1.
Note! Some universities may ask for German certificates even if the studies are conducted in English.
The most popular German certificates are: DSH, DSD II and TestDaF.
The most popular English certificates are IELTS, TOEFL and CAE.
Language tests are usually the only entry university exams you need to prepare for during your application.
How to get into university?
When recruiting for studies in Germany, there are no precisely defined score thresholds, and applications are assessed individually.
The application takes place online – usually through the university’s website. When applying, you must attach confirmation of your qualifications – school results, Matura exam and language certificate (or send them as soon as you receive your Matura/IB results). In addition, the necessary documents usually include a cover letter, CV, additional certificates confirming completed internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering.
One of the required documents is a high school diploma – what if we do not have these qualifications?
Here, the solution may be to start studies without a high school diploma / Matura exam.
One of the universities offering a solution for students without a high school diploma is Lancaster Leipzig University, University of Europe for Applied Sciences or Karlshochschule International University, which offer studies at Foundation Year – in year zero.
Year zero is a great solution for students who want to improve their language or technical skills that will be needed in a given field of study.
Foundation Year is definitely worth considering if you are afraid of how you will cope with classes in English or German.
More details can be found in the How to get page?
Study in Germany - Costs
Another important aspect when choosing a country to study abroad is the cost – how much does it cost to study in Germany?
One of the main reasons for choosing Germany as your study destination is the low cost of tuition fees.
Public universities in Germany are free. The only costs that need to be taken into account are the term fees, which is not related to tuition fees, but to the costs of organizing life at a given university.
The term fee amount depends on the university and can be between 100 and 350 euros.
Private universities in Germany offer paid studies. The costs vary depending on the field of study and the given university and range from 1,500 to 7,000 euros per term (the prices quoted on the websites of universities in Germany are usually term prices).
Since extramural studies are most often offered at private universities, you have to take into account similar costs here.
Given the higher costs, in Germany we will find options for co-financing studies at private universities.
One such option is student loans offered by Chancen eG.
Also DAAD, which is an organization for student exchange, offers scholarships for students. Here, however, there will be more options for second-cycle students.
Scholarships for studies – whether master’s or bachelor’s – are offered by many non-governmental organizations, e.g Fundacja im. Friedricha Naumanna czy Fundacja im. Heinricha Bölla.
Many non-governmental organizations also award scholarships for chosen fields of study, such as environmental protection or history.
You can read more about the costs and scholarship opportunities in the Costs page.
Study in Germany - Reviews
At first glance, studying in Germany has many advantages – and what do students and graduates of German universities think about it?
On the forums you can find a lot of positive feedback.
Students emphasize:
- low tuition costs,
- great quality of education,
- practical approach to teaching,
- many job opportunities after graduation.
Some students, however, emphasize that apart from the low cost of tuition, you need to remember about the additional finances needed to move to a new country.
Students and graduates also point out that it is good to learn German on the spot in order to have a basic knowledge of German – it makes it easier to deal with various matters during studies.
Application to study in Germany with Educat
Have you read the article and want to apply to study abroad?
Do you have any questions about the application?
EduCat will help you with the application process to study abroad. Our Mentors support students at various stages of preparing for the application – whether you need help with the application system, issues before going to university or the entire process from start to finish. You can use all the support in one place – on the EduCat platform.
In the meantime, write to us and we will try to answer all your questions and help you prepare for your studies abroad.
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