Student Guide to Germany

Hannover
Frankfurt
Munich
Hamburg
BERLIN
CAPITAL
GERMANY

Munich
Average Air-Travel Time
8 Hours (Non-Stop)
National Currency Currency Conversion Rate
Euro ( ) 1 Euro = 82 (INR)
Total Population
of Germany
Total Indian
Population
Total Indian
Population
1.1 million
(2013)
1,10,000
(2006)
6,000
(2013)
Top Ranking Universities
Technical University of Munich
Reprecht Karl University of Heidelberg
Free University of Berlin
Technical University of Berlin
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Humboldt University of Berlin
RWTH Aachen
Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg
Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main
Dresden University of Technology
Weather
Average Yearly
Temperature
14 C to 25 C
Time Difference from IST
Central European Time Zone
-3:30 Hours (from IST)
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Education System
The German education system is different in many ways from the ones in other countries and the class-
es are conducted in German. Public universities are financed by the government and do not charge tuition
fees or charge just small amounts of money. Private universities in contrast are financed by the fees paid
by students and these can be quite expensive.In Germany, much more public universities can be
found than there are private ones.German law says that education should be offered to everyone and
everyone should be able to afford adequate education. Therefore, in some areas tuition fee was aboli-
shed, while in other areas it’s very small.
Education in Germany is in some aspects more the oretical than in other countries, with the professors
taking many lectures. At the end of every term the students get grades for their final examination and
for speeches, assignments and practical projects. Depending on the subject the composition of these
parts can differ. Practical education can also be offered in internships which are an obligation in some
subjects.
The top universities in Germany are:
Heidelberg University,
Technical University of Munich,
Free University of Berlin,
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and
Humboldt University of Berlin
*in no particular order.
Berlin is the centre of all the renowned academic institutes. Most of the best colleges in the country are
situated in cities like Munich, Baden-Wurttemberg, Frankfurt, and Heidelberg. About 5,038 Indian students
were studying in Germany during the academic year 2010 - 2011. Engineering, Business Studies, IT/
Computing, Tourism & Hotel Management, and Visual Communications are the popular courses Indian
students pursue in Germany.
Safety in Germany
Germany is generally a safe country, and while crime in Germany exists, it is rather low - scale. Violent
crime in Germany is rare. Most Germans don’t feel that their safety is threatened by terrorism.The need for
security measures in public s paces has also increased in Germany in recent years. As a result, security
cameras have become common in public areas and in buses, local trains and trams. Signs indicate the
presence of video monitoring.
German summers are hot and the winters are cold and snowy, but rains are unpredictable and common
during all seasons. The average winter temperature is 3°C and in summers it is 22°C. Maximum temp-
eratures commonly reach -10°C in winter and 35°C in the summer months.The country is divided into
16 states and has an exceedingly varied landscape,so it is difficult to generalise the weather for the whole
country.

Lifestyle tips
Germany is a multicultural country although it has a homogenous bearing. Customs and traditions
of people of various backgrounds maintain their distinct identity and so do foreigners residing there.
Germans believe in maintaining a globalised outlook. The Germans are very fond of socialising and like to
indulge in interesting conversations. One can take part in several festivals that are celebrated with great
fervor throughout the year. Living expenses in Germany are quite affordable so those visiting or planning to
settle there permanently need not worry about having to spend too much.
Indians living in Germany
The population of Indian immigrants living in Germany is nearly 110,000. Berlin, Dresden, Hamburg,Cologne
and Munich are the cities where most Indians reside.
Student life
Accommodation :-
Firstly, you need to decide whether you want to live in university managed accommodation, or with a private
landlord. Choosing university managed accommodation can also give you a catered or self-catered option.
Catered accommodation offers the benefits of your meals being cooked for you and a degree of certainty
with meal costs.
If you have an idea about what you prefer,the accommodation office at your university will be able to tell you
what accommodation they have available – so that’s the place to start. If you are thinking of renting from a
private landlord or if your chosen university can’t offer you anything in its own residential premises, the acc-
ommodation office should be able to provide you with a list of private properties and landlords in the area.
Wherever you choose to live,you should make sure that you know your contractual rights and responsibilities.
In most cases you will be asked to enter into a tenancy agreement, which you should read thoroughly before
you sign.
Orientation:-
Orientation week is mandatory for international students so you want to be sure and arrive before it starts.
This is the time when you will be introduced to the university and its services,as well as enroll in your classes.
It is essential that you read your guidebook, which is provided by the college.The guide explains each part of
the admission process.
Activities :-
Along with sports, colleges offer a range of extra - curricular activities as well. Music,drama,science and lit-
erary societies are offered in all colleges, and students have opportunities for outdoor education and other
leisure activities.Visits to theatres and concerts, to places relevant to the courses of study such as art galler-
ies and museums,religious centres or historical sites, scientific companies and projects are all part of college
life.

Admission process
Requirements
Students applying for an undergraduate course in Germany have to undertake a one - year bridge
programme as it is to compensate for 13 years of schooling requirement in Germany compared to 12
years in India. In order to be eligible for this bridge course, students from India must have basic knowledge
of the German language. International applicants have to take a language test for Germany like TestDaF
(Test of German as a Foreign Language) or DSH (German Language University Entrance Examination)
before they can enroll in a degree programme.
For each course, Indian students will need to meet a minimum German language requirement. Along with
that a minimum academic record of 70% and above in Standard XII will be required. Foundations and Dip-
loma programs are available for students who have secured around 60%. The student should have complet-
ed 18 years of age before joining a degree program.
It is important to note that these numbers are just for reference purpose, the actual numbers may differ from
university to university.
The following documents also need to be submitted:
Attested copies of mark sheets of Standard X, XII, and the Bachelors degree (if applicable)
Atleast, two Academic reference letters from professors who have taught you most recently.
If you have work experience then two letters of recommendation (LOR) from the employer/ manager
who knows you well and can comment on your professional abilities
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Resume
Photocopied score reports of language tests and GRE/GMAT (if applicable)
Portfolio (in case of students applying for art and design courses or architecture programmes)
Others(Certificates / achievements at the state and national level and extracurricular activities)
Proof of funds
Health insurance
Note: Not all higher education degrees are recognised for all study programmes across Germany. If your school-leaving
certificate does not directly qualify you for admission to study in Germany, you are required to take a “Feststellungsprüfung”,
or assessment test. Check here whether your higher education entrance qualification will be recognised in Germany.
Most of the colleges in Germany accept online applications. You will have to visit each college’s website to
apply. In most cases you will have to make an account on the college website to provide your basic informa-
tion, submit the scanned version of your documents, pay application fees.You will be informed about the app-
lication process and stages through this account. Please refer the website of the colleges of your choice to
know the process of applying.

Admission process
Application fee: All colleges require that you pay an application fee while applying. The fee amount will differ
depending upon the college and course being applied to, so check with individual colleges about their application fee.
Steps: Given here are the common steps to applying for admission:
Search for colleges and courses
Contact schools and visit websites for information
Narrow down your list of schools
Take the entrance exams like language tests, GMAT/ GRE
Write SOPs andask for LORs
Apply to the colleges which fit your interests
Appear for video interviews of the colleges that shortlisted you
If accepted, apply for student visa
SOP: A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is your introduction to the college and admission officers. It is always written in first per-
son and describes the reason for applying to a particular college. It needs to highlight why you are a perfect fit for the college
and why the college should accept you. The style of writing could differ from formal to casual, but it is important to remember
that it should reflect your personality as well.
Essay: Essays are also required to be submitted by a prospective student. Essays are an important part of the university
admissions process. Students may be required to write one or two essays, along with a few optional essays too. Common
topics include career aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, skills, experiences, and reasons for considering a particular
school.
LOR: A l etter of recommendation (LOR) is a reference letter written by a third party describing the qualities, characteristics,
and capabilities of the prospective student to recommend him to the college in terms of that individual’s ability to perform a
particular task or function. The third party could be a professor, direct manager etc.
Intake seasons
The main intake season at all German universities is September. So the deadlines would be from February till May across diff-
erent courses and universities. A few universities offer admissions in March as well. The deadlines for this intake would be
from November till January.

Exams
Language exams TestDaF (Test of German as a Foreign Language) and DSH (German Language University
Entrance Examination) are the standardised language tests which are required to be taken for the purpose of getting
admission to colleges in Germany. You can take the TestDaF at a testing centre in India or in Germany, while the DSH is
only administered at German universities. These both follow different formats, structure and result bands. These tests are all
different in various ways but many colleges ask for any one of the results. So it’s up to the student to decide which exam to
appear for.
Note: Students wishing to take an international degree programme, which could be Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD, do not
necessarily have to take a German test. The teaching language in these courses is usually English. To study a degree course
in English, an English language exam like TOEFL or IELTS may be required.
General exams
GMAT – Since almost all MBA programs in Germany are in English, the language of teaching would be English with a bit of
German thrown in. German B-schools like admitting multi-lingual candidates, so it will be a bonus if you know German as well.
Because of the bilingual clause, GMAT is the standard exam for getting admitted into business schools. GMAT is used to mea-
sure the abilities of the potential MBA aspirant to undertake higher education in the field of business or management. It meas-
ures mathematical, English, and reasoning skills of the student.
GRE - Some universities do recommend or require a GRE score , although it is not a mandatory requirement while conside-
ring a Masters in Germany. You will come across many options without GRE requirement.
Repetition and Fee: You can give GMAT unlimited number of times, subject to five times a year and a gap of 30 days
between two tests. The cost of GMAT is Rs 16,000 and GRE is Rs 12,000.

Cost of living
The cost of living depends heavily on what part of Germany you will be living in, along with the how much you will socialise.
Some of the basic elements for living as an international student in Germany are:
Accommodation rent (on-campus or off-campus)
Groceries and food
Utilities like power, water, gas, internet
Phone bills
Text and reference books
Airfare for travelling back to India
Other elements which may differ from person to person would be:
Dinning out
Travel and vacation
Car rent and car insurance
Cable TV connection
In Germany, the cost of education is quite low,and at some universities there is no fee.Most German universities are financed by the state
government and just a small amount of tuition fees may be required to be paid.The tuition fee amount depends on the location of the uni-
versity as every federal state can decide the amount on its own. If it has enough money to abolish tuition fees, it can choose not to charge
any fee or if it needs additional fees, then it may charge a certain nominal amount. States like Bayern, Niedersachsen, Hamburg and
Nordrhein - Westfalen charge some amount of tuition fees. All other states do not charge tuition fees. The private universities in Germany
are financed by the fee paid by students and the fee here is much higher. The students may have to pay up to 20,000 Euros per year.
School expenses
On an average, an international student needs approximately 670 Euros per month in Germany. Prices differ a lot in the big cities and
small towns all across Germany.
Living expenses
Particulars Cost
Meal, inexpensive café €8
Milk (one litre) €0.75
Coca Cola can €2
Coffee €2.5
Lunch from campus café €6.5
Meal at a restaurant €40
One minute cell phone call €0.9
Taxi 1 km €1.7
Petrol 1 litre €2
Movie ticket €9
1 room apartment in city centre €570
1 room apartment suburbs €420
Health insurance from private providers in India may be recognised in Germany.
You will have to enquire with your health insurance provider and get a confirmation
that you are exempt from compulsory public health insurance coverage.This letter
of confirmation will be essential in your application process, as only with it will you
be permitted to enroll at a university. You will not be able to switch to a German
public health insurance provider once your studies begin. If your Indian insurance
policy is insufficient, you will have to purchase a policy in Germany itself. Many
universities offer service packages for international students which include acco-
mmodation, meal plans and a health insurance policy. You will have to check with
institutes for such packages.
Fee waivers are awarded to international students on the criteria of merit and the need of it. Candidates with strong academics, good performa-
nce on standardised exams and extracurricular achievements would be eligible for scholarship awards and financial assistance. To benefit from
these opportunities, one has to make sure to send all the required documents by particular deadlines. In addition to this,the presentation of the
application is also important because one is judged by the image one projects. Since German institutes are comparatively more generous than
other nations, getting a fully-funded education in Germany isn’t very difficult. Click here for the complete list of scholarships available
within Germany.
Scholarships

Loan
Student eligibility criteria: The first thing is to be aware of whether you are eligible to apply for the loan or not.
The general eligibility criteria followed by all the banks are –
You should be an Indian national
You must have a strongacademic record
You must be seeking admission to a professional,technical or other course of study. Most banks maintain that the
selected course should be job oriented
You must have secured admission to a foreign university institution
You must be above the age of 18 years or else your parents can avail the loan
Eligibility of course: You may not get a loan on every course. Here are the kinds of courses that qualify for the educa-
tion loan.
For Graduation: Job oriented professional or technical courses offered by reputed universities
For Post Graduation: MCA, MBA, MS or even diplomas
These courses could be from foreign universities or institutes approved by the state and central government.
Loan amount: If your total fee is Rs 10 lakh, the bank may offer to give a loan of 80% of the amount and you will have to put
in the balance 20%. This is called the margin amount. The maximum loan amount for studies abroad is generally around Rs
20 lakh by the bank. If your tuition fees amount is Rs 30 lakh, you’ll have to manage the rest of the funds by yourself. Some
banks charge a processing fee, while others don’t. It may be a fixed amount or a percentage of the total loan amount. So if the
bank charges you one per cent as processing fee, that will be an additional cost you’ll have to cover.
Documentation required: You will have to provide the acceptance letter sent by the university reflecting that you have been
selected for the course and the schedule of fees. You will also need to show the mark sheet of the last qualifying examination
to show your academic record.
All banks have different requirement for documentation, so you need to confirm with the bank first.
Repayment: Repayment starts only after the course period. If the student gets employed within one year after completion
of the course, the repayment should start immediately after the expiry of one month from the date of employment. If you do
not secure a job within a year of completing the course, then repayment starts irrespective of whether or not you are
employed. The loan is generally to be repaid in 5-7 years after commencement of repayment. If the student is not able to com-
plete the course within the scheduled time extension for completion of course, he may be permitted for a maximum period of
two years. Generally, you will get up to a maximum number of 10 years to repay the loan.
Conditions
To stay in Germany for more than 90 days as a student, you are required to get a residence permit. You will need to prove to
the visa officer that you have finances for one year.The amount would be €659 – €7,908 per month. A residence permit issued
to students is valid for maximum two years. It needs to be renewed if the duration of the course is longer than the stated two
years.
A Residence Permit costs €60. It can take a long time to be issued,which is anywhere between eight to 12 weeks.Since
this means two to three months, international students are advised to apply as soon as possible.
Visa
You will have to apply for your visa in person. Visa fees amount to €60 (to be paid in INR). In addition you should provide
two sets of application documents photocopies containing the following documents:
Application form
Declaration stating the information provided is ‘true and complete information’
Cover Letter explaining the reason for your visa application. You may be required to submit a German translation of this
document
1.
2.
3.
4.

Letter of Admission from a German university
University Certificates and transcripts - Degree certificates and mark sheets
Proof of Language Proficiency (German language test scores). This document is mandatory for
the visa process, even if it is not required by the German university. Applicants for PhD studies and
Erasmus Mundus Scholarship holders are exempt from this rule.
Proof of funds
5.
6.
7.
8.
Work permit
According to German visa rules, a student can work 180 days halftime or 90 days fulltime in an academic year. Presently,
Germany is the only country where a student can do part-time ‘technical job’ in the related industry. Some universities also
offer part-time jobs on campus called as Hi/wi. Students will have to contact institute’s student placement cell to get into this
job.
Visa for spouse
Spouses and children may be permitted to reside in Germany while you study, but this is conditional. These conditions include
having enough and appropriate financing and a living space. Cases are decided on an individual basis at the Germany emba-
ssy, and special consideration may be given to your case if you are able to explain your situation to the Consulate effectively.
Things to check after
submitting application
Pre-departure list
Book airline tickets
Arrange accommodation in Germany
Arrange transportation to/ from the airport to home in Germany
Arrangeyour banking – consider buying traveler’s cheques
Check baggage and customs limitations
Clear all paperwork with your home educational institution
Get your documents in order and make photocopies to store in your baggage and keep at home, including:
Passport
Airline tickets
Travel insurance certificate
Letter of Acceptance by the educational institution
Key addresses and Phone numbers
A bank statement showing proof of funds
Prescriptions for any medication you are carrying
Traveller’s cheques—if applicable
Medical and immunisation records
Academic history and university transcripts

Once you
land
Enrolling at your university Before starting a course at a German university, you have to enroll. This procedure is
called enrollment/registration. Once you’re enrolled, only then you may attend courses at your university, appear for exams
and receive an academic degree. Enrollment allows you access to all facilities at the university, like the library, sports grounds
and computer rooms. At the end of each term, you have to re-enroll before a given deadline.
Residence permit
You will have to register yourself with the state if your study programme should last longer than 90 days. When applying for a
residence permit, be sure to bring the following documents with you:
Confirmation of registration fromyour Resident Registration Office
Proof of private or public health insurance coverage
Student ID from your German university (certificate of enrolment)
Proof offinancial resources if you didn’t provide it when you applied for your entry visa
Valid passport with visa
Health certificate
Rental contract of your accommodation
Passport sized photos
Money to pay for the residence permit fee
Homesickness: Homesickness is a predictable problem faced by most students at one point or another. It may occur
at the beginning or even well into your year.
Homesickness will pass.Be patient. Give it at least two weeks.If you are feeling sad, explain what is happening to your friends.
Do not hide in your room; if you do, the feeling will only worsen. Find your counselor staff with whom you can talk about hom-
esickness or other problems. Homesickness might be made worse by frequent, long telephone calls home. Most homesick
students feel more homesick after a call home than they did before they picked up the phone. Try to limit yourself to one call
home every week. The sooner you integrate into the university experience, the sooner your homesickness will pass.
Learning basic cooking: Cooking for yourself will save you money. Indian food is expensive in Germany. It will also
satisfy your urge to eat ‘your food’ during moments of homesickness. Indian spices are not commonly available in smaller
cities, but there are often shops on campus where you can get ingredients used in most Indian food.
Travel: Each large city offers different modes of public transportation, such as buses, taxis or trains. You might wish to rely
on a private car for transportation. Even with the rising cost of petrol, private cars are the most economical and convenient
mode of transportation because you get a lot of flexibility and freedom with your car. You can travel wherever and whenever
you want, and don’t have to depend on the schedule of public transport. However, before you buy your own car, you will have
to use public transportation or ask friends for rides.

Post Study options
Placements Indian students are used to the concept of campus placements and on-campus recruitment for getting
jobs where companies visit campuses and hire graduates. There is no concept of placements in Germany, like most
other countries. Most German universities have a Career Services cell, which helps you get jobs and helps you prepare
for interviews. They may refer you to companies or help you get in touch with HR managers. The job search is mostly
self - driven in European countries, where it is considered your prerogative.
Work visa
After graduating from a German university, international students are granted a residence permit for one year, in which they
are expected to secure a permanent job which is relevant to their discipline. If a student finds a job within this one year, they
can then apply for a residence permit with a work permit, at the local Aliens Department or Ausländerbehörde.
To explore more study options in Germany,
MBA in Germany B.E./B.Tech in Germany MS in Germany
Did you find this guide useful? We would love to hear from you. Write to us at: www.worldwidecollege.in

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