Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
6th Edition
The Most Important Questions at a Glance
9 Timeline
What do I have to do and when?
22 Learning German
How much German do I have to know?
30 Applications
How do I apply for a degree programme?
28 Scholarships
Are there any scholarships available?
25 Living expenses
How much does rent, food, etc. cost?
68 Finding a job
Can I work during my studies?
26 Health insurance
Do I need health insurance?
36 Visa
Do I need a visa?
40 A place to live
How can I find a flat?
42 Checklist
Planning a study visit
Studying in Germany
A Practical Guide for
International Students
6th Edition
2 Studying in Germany
Publisher DAAD
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
German Academic Exchange Service
Kennedyallee 50, 53175 Bonn (Deutschland)
www.daad.de
Project Coordination Dr. Ursula Egyptien Gad, Katharina Kohm, Julia Enke, Marie Buchta
Photo Credits David Ausserhofer / Peter Himsel (p. 46), Thomas Ebert (cover, pp. 34, 67),
Dörthe Hagenguth (p. 59), Jan Jacob Hofmann (p. 74), Norbert Hüttermann (pp. 7, 39, 50),
other photographs: private
The DAAD strives to use language which applies equally to women and men.
In this publication, however, the use of gender-equal forms was not always possible,
as the explicit mention of both forms would have encumbered readability.
© DAAD
Contents
Good luck! 76
Appendix 77
Index 88
6 Studying in Germany
Studying in Germany?
A Good Idea!
1.
Preparing for your study visit
! Timeline
1.1
Selecting your degree programme
and university
The more choices you have, the harder What kind of colleges and
it is to choose. This especially applies universities are there?
to your situation, as there are so many
opportunities to study in Germany. Deciding on a college or university is
somewhat easier as there are only three
There are 426 officially recognised institu- types to choose from in Germany:
tions of higher education in around
170 towns and cities throughout Germany. ■ Universities
The map on page 18 shows the location of ■ Universities of applied sciences
these institutions. In total, German univer- ■ Colleges of art, film and music
sities and colleges offer over 18,650 degree
programmes. And from all of these, you Studying at a university is a good idea if
will have to choose one. Here we’ve put you are interested in a scientifically-oriented
together some information to help with education. Universities offer a broad range
your decision. of courses and subjects. Some schools
specialise in certain disciplines, such as
advanced technology, medicine and edu-
cation. If you would like to enter a doctoral
programme in Germany, then a university
is the perfect place for you.
A perfect match!
I was thrilled when I stumbled across a
degree programme in „Cognitive Science“
while looking for Computer Science
programmes online. This bachelor‘s degree
programme, offered in Osnabrück and
Tübingen, offers a combination of Com-
puter Science, Psychology and Biology. It
was perfect for me!
What I especially like is that they give you
a lot of freedom to design your programme
according to your interests. And the students
are very, very motivated.
Degrees conferred by
Did you know … German universities
Doctoral degrees
There are many opportunities for you Some states in Germany have set up
to attain a doctorate from a German graduate schools where most of the
university. courses are taught in English. In contrast
Basically, you can take two routes – to research training groups, graduate
either research independently and schools are permanent fixtures at their
write a dissertation under professorial universities. This is where young, highly
supervision, or enter a doctoral pro- qualified researchers can receive intensive
gramme that provides a fixed structure. and individual advising.
Option 1: You first have to find a univer- There are also a wide range of interna-
sity professor (Doktorvater or Doktor- tional doctoral programmes (see p. 15).
mutter) to supervise your dissertation. For more information about all of these
Since instructors are not obliged to international structured doctoral pro-
take on every candidate, your research
grammes, visit www.daad.de/inter-
idea must be compelling. Find out in
advance which university and professor national-programmes.
would be best suited for your research
project. For more information, visit Please note: The information in this
brochure – especially pertaining to the
the HRK website www.higher-edu-
admission requirements and the struc-
cation-compass.de and the DAAD’s ture of the academic programmes –
Research Explorer at www.daad.de/ primarily applies to the bachelor’s and
research-explorer. master’s degree programmes. If you
are interested in entering a doctoral
Option 2: You can enter a structured
programme, you can find more relevant
doctoral degree programme in Germany.
The most significant of these include: information at www.research-in-
germany.de/phd. Our “PhDGermany”
■ Research training groups
database (www.phdgermany.de) con-
■ Graduate schools
tains an extensive collection of doctoral
■ International doctoral programmes
positions especially suited to international
Research training groups are university candidates. Once you have found a posi-
programmes that promote young tion that interests you, you can apply
scientists and researchers. These training directly via the DAAD portal by clicking
groups allow doctoral candidates to the link provided in the job offer.
embed their dissertation in a compre-
hensive research programme. Such
programmes are generally interdisci-
plinary and are supervised by several
scientists. Visit the webpage of the
German Research Foundation (DFG)
for a list of the research training
groups which it is currently funding:
www.dfg.de/gk.
Selecting your degree programme and university 15
As you look for a suitable degreee pro- Get as much advice as you can! There are
gramme, we recommend using the search also academic consulting and advising
engine on www.study-in.de. It offers ex- services in your home country to help you
tensive information about all programmes plan your study visit in Germany. If you
currently offered at state-recognised need advice, please contact the following
universities in Germany. You will also find people or agencies:
important information provided by the
HRK database on admission requirements, ■ The DAAD-Information Centres (ICs)
application deadlines and contactaddresses. and the DAAD branch offices (for
addresses, see pp. 82–87)
We also recommend visiting www.univer- ■ DAAD-affiliated instructors and
sityranking.de. This site evaluates the lecturers at foreign universities
strengths and weaknesses of degree pro- ■ Goethe-Institut or Goethe-Zentrum
grammes at some 310 German universities ■ The German diplomatic missions –
in 39 popular subjects. i. e. embassies and consulates
Your most important contact in Germany Remember, you are not alone. We’re here
is the International Office (Akademisches to help you!
Auslandsamt) at the university of your
choice (for a list of addresses, visit
www.daad.de/aaa). The International
Office provides information about study
opportunities in specific disciplines and
degree programmes, admission require-
ments, study preparation, languages tests,
internships, financial aid and assistance
with planning your studies.
1.2
Meeting the admission
requirements
Those who wish to study at a German The database will then inform you whether
university require a Hochschulzugangs- your certificate:
berechtigung or higher education entrance
qualification. Although the term is daunt- ■ is recognised as a qualification for
ing, the idea behind it is simple – it is a direct university admission,
school-leaving certificate confirming that ■ is only recognised as a qualification for
you are qualified to begin your university subject-restricted study (i. e. only for
studies. In Germany, after students graduate admission to a certain range of subjects),
from secondary school, they receive a ■ is only recognised in combination with
general university entrance qualification proof you have successfully completed
(Abitur) or qualification for a university of one or two academic years in your
applied sciences (Fachhochschulreife). home country, or
■ is not recognised as a higher education
Will they recognise my entrance qualification.
higher education entrance
qualification? Your school-leaving certificate is usually
recognised as a university entrance qualifi-
How can you determine whether your cation in Germany if you come from an EU
higher education entrance qualification will country, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway or
be recognised in Germany? A good place Switzerland and your certificate is also rec-
to start is the DAAD online admission data- ognised as a university entrance qualification
base at www.daad.de/admission. Simply there. This also applies to those who
enter the country where you received your have received their Abitur from any of the
school-leaving certificate. 140 German Schools abroad.
20 Studying in Germany
A wonderful time!
I spent one year in a foundation course pre-
paring for my bachelor’s degree programme
- with students from all around the world
who were also new to Germany. It was super
exciting!
The DAAD online admission database only your choice about specific requirements
provides a general overview. The database and whether you meet the prerequisites
at http://anabin.kmk.org can give you de- for admission.
tailed information with a more extensive list
of countries and school-leaving certificates What if my school-leaving
(select “Schulabschlüsse mit Hochschul- certificate is not sufficient?
zugang” – “Suchen”, German only).
If your school-leaving certificate is not
In some cases, especially gifted applicants sufficient for university admission, you
may be admitted into artistic degree will have to take a qualification assess-
programmes without a higher education ment examination in Germany, called a
entrance qualification. Depending on the Feststellungsprüfung.
university, candidates must either submit
a work portfolio or pass an aptitude test. You can prepare for this examination in
a foundation course (Studienkolleg) in
Ultimately, the university you apply to Germany. These are special programmes
always has the final say concerning your offered at universities and universities of
admission. Therefore, before submitting applied sciences. They include modules
your application, be sure to enquire at the with a focus on certain subjects.
International Office at the university of
Admission requirements 21
The examination assesses a student’s is help available – the Test for Academic
proficiency in several subjects that are Studies and / or propaedeutic courses.
crucial to the degree programme. One
component of the qualification assessment With the Test for Academic Studies
examination is a language test. However, (TestAS), you can assess your ability to
students must have some basic German cope with the demands that German uni-
language skills to even participate in a versities place on their students. The
foundation course – approximately the result could also help you narrow down
B1 level based on the Common European your choices for a degree programme.
Framework of Reference for Languages After taking the test, you will be able to
(see infobox on p. 23). In the examination, more realistically assess the likelihood
you must demonstrate that you possess of completing a degree programme at a
the language skills necessary for your German university. Furthermore, passing
intended course of study. the TestAS significantly increases your
chances of gaining admission to the uni-
Subject-specific foundation courses usually versity of your choice. Please find out
take two semesters to complete. Students whether your university requires the
who demonstrate above-average achieve- TestAS and what advantages it has for you.
ment may be permitted to take the qualifica- The TestAS is administered several times
tion assessment examination after only a year at TestDaF testing centres around
one semester. Foundation courses provide the world and possibly in your country as
about 32 hours of instruction per week. well. For a list of testing centres and infor-
mation about TestAS examination fees,
Participation is usually free of charge at visit www.testas.de.
public universities in Germany. However,
like normal students, foundation course Propaedeutic courses are another way to
participants are also required to pay the prepare for the demands of university
semester contribution (see pp. 24–25). study. These university preparatory courses
If you wish to attend a foundation course, are offered to international applicants by
you must apply in advance. some universities. They provide students
the language and academic skills they
More information?
www.studienkollegs.de
Prerequisite: Internship
1.3
Planning your finances
Your financial resources are an important In some states students are charged an
aspect of your plans. Before you leave your administrative fee which can range from
home country, you must secure sufficient 50 to 75 euros a semester.
funds to finance your stay.
The semester contribution at many uni-
What expenses will I have? versities also includes the cost of a public
transportation ticket. This semester ticket
Be prepared to pay for the following allows you to use public transportation in
expenses during your stay in Germany: and around your university town for six
months free of charge. Depending on the
■ Semester contribution
■ Basic living expenses (rent, food,
clothing, books, telephone, etc.) Example: Semester contribution
■ Health insurance coverage at the Freie Universität Berlin
■ Tuition fees (if applicable)
Winter semester 2016/17
Semester contribution Enrolment fee € 50.00
Total € 304.29
One part of the semester contribution
covers social services. This helps finance,
for example, the student dining halls,
student halls of residence, athletic facilities
and administrative services.
Planning your finances 25
city and the range of the ticket, you can a student hall of residence or a shared flat
expect to pay between 25 and 160 euros (see pp. 40–41).
per semester for the ticket.
Students are eligible for numerous price
! Living expenses concessions. Theatres, opera houses, cin-
emas, museums and other cultural venues
Compared to other European countries, frequently offer concession rates to stu-
Germany is not overly expensive. The dents who show their student ID at the
price for food, accommodation, clothing, ticket counter.
cultural activities, etc. are approximately
equivalent to the EU average. In fact, the
approximate cost of living is relatively low How much does it cost?
compared to that of Switzerland and the
average
Scandinavian countries.
Supermarket:
It is difficult to say exactly how much
1 kg potatoes € 0.75
money a student in Germany needs per
1 kg rice € 2.40
month. The cost of living varies from
500 g spaghetti € 0.50
city to city. Generally students can live
1 loaf of bread (ca. 500 g) € 2.00
on less money in smaller cities than in
1 l of milk € 0.70
large cities. Of course the amount of
1 bottle of mineral water (1 l) € 0.50
money you will need greatly depends
on how economically you live. 1 frozen pizza € 1.80
Before you begin your studies, you will have You now have an idea of the costs you
to show how you intend to finance your can expect. But you might not have to pay
stay. You must provide what is called a for everything yourself. There are numer-
Finanzierungsnachweis or “proof of finan- ous scholarships and funding possibilities
cial resources”. In most cases, you are that can help students pay for their study
required to include this document with your visit in Germany.
visa application. At the latest, you will need
it when you apply for a residence permit
(see p. 54). At present, foreign students
! Scholarships
must prove they have about 8,820 euros International students can apply for scholar-
per year at their disposal. ships from numerous organisations, such
as the DAAD, politically-affiliated founda-
Proof of financial resources can be tions, religious institutions and businessre-
provided in various ways. As a rule, the lated organisations. You should find out
following forms are accepted: whether you are eligible for scholarships
and financial aid from organisations in
■ Your parents submit documents your home country, as well.
certifying their income and
financial assets. The DAAD offers an extensive scholarship
■ A resident in Germany provides the programme for German and international
Aliens’ Registration Office a guarantee students, academics and researchers.
to cover your expenses. Please note: Neither the DAAD nor the ma-
■ A security payment is deposited into jority of funding institutions offer scholar-
a blocked account. ships for beginning undergraduates.
■ You submit a bank guarantee.
■ You receive a scholarship from a Funding for
recognised scholarship provider. European students
Be sure to enquire at the German embassy There are special exchange programmes
in your country as to which form of finan- for students from the EU countries and Ice-
cial proof is required. land, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey and the
Please note: International students are former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
only allowed to work in Germany under
certain conditions. A part-time job may For example, Erasmus+ promotes the ex-
supplement your budget, but it almost change of European students in bachelor’s,
certainly won’t be able to cover all your master’s and doctoral programmes. Students
living expenses (see pp. 68-71). receive grants to study abroad for a period
of three to twelve months. The exchange is
arranged on the basis of bilateral university
Planning your finances 29
More information?
ec.europa.eu/programmes/
erasmus-plus
30 Studying in Germany
1.4
Applying for a degree programme
!
In this section we tell you the most important things
you should know about applying for admission to a degree
programme at a German university.
Where you submit your application choice or contact the university’s Interna-
depends on: tional Office.
■ the country you come from, and A list of universities which cooperate with
■ whether you have a German higher uni-assist is available at http://www.uni-
education entrance qualification assist.de/universities.html.
(see p. 19–20).
But as mentioned above, please enquire
The following applicants are required to about the application procedures at the
submit their application for admission International Office at the university of
to degree programmes with a local or your choice.
national Numerus clausus to the Foundation
for University Admission (Stiftung für What is uni-assist?
Hochschulzulassung):
The University Application Service for
■ Applicants from EU member states, International Students (uni-assist) is a
competence centre specialised in review-
as well as Liechtenstein, Iceland and
ing international certificates. Uni-assist is
Norway commissioned by member universities to
■ Applicants who have received their determine whether submitted certificates
secondary school-leaving certificate in qualify the applicant for admission to
Germany or at a German School abroad university in Germany. Most universities
also commission uni-assist to review
More information? additional documentation, such as lan-
guage certificates.
www.hochschulstart.de
You can apply to several universities at
All other applicants should submit their one time via uni-assist. You only have
applications directly to the university of to submit your transcripts and language
certificates once. Uni-assist quickly
their choice, or apply through uni-assist.
reviews your application materials and
informs if you have forgotten any impor-
How do I apply for tant documents. If everything appears
other subjects? to be in order, uni-assist forwards your
applications electronically to the universi-
If you wish to study a subject with no ties of your choice. For selected universi-
centrally restricted admission policy, you ties, uni-assist will send you a certificate
called the preliminary review documenta-
should submit your application to uni-
tion (VPD). With this document, you may
assist (see info box). If the university of your apply to the respective university directly.
choice does not work together with uni-as-
sist, then send your application directly to Please note that the university (not
uni-assist) makes the final admission
the university’s International Office or the
decision.
Student Administration Office. For more
information about application procedures, More information?
www.uni-assist.de
visit the website of the university of your
Applying for a degree programme 33
You are required to provide a number You can obtain an application form from
of documents and certificates with your the university of your choice, uni-assist,
application for admission to a German the DAAD website or the Foundation for
university. In most cases, you will also University Admission (Stiftung für Hoch-
be charged a processing fee. Be prepared schulzulassung).
to pay the following charges and fees:
Additional documents are also required,
■ Fees for notarising copies and such as:
translations
■ Examination fee for the TestDaF ■ Notarised copy of your secondary
or DSH (the cost of which depends school-leaving certificate
on where you take the test) ■ Notarised copies of all previous
■ Processing fee for the application university degree certificates
(see below) ■ Passport photo
■ Photocopy of your passport
The cost of the processing fee depends identification page (the page with
on where you apply. photo and personal info)
■ Certificate of language proficiency
Through uni-assist: For the first university, (see pp. 22–23)
all applicants are required to pay 75 euros
for the evaluation of international certifi- Please note: Copies of documents will
cates and the preliminary examination of only be accepted if they have been
the application documents, and another notarised and are accompanied with a
15 euros for each additional university in notarised translation in German. The
the same semester. German mission in your country, for
example, can notarise copies and trans-
Directly to a university: Some universities lations of your certificates. Some univer-
charge a processing fee for reviewing sities also accept copies of documents
your application and supplementary in English or French.
documents.
Your application will only be processed if
Please remember that your application you have submitted all the necessary docu-
will only be processed after you have paid mentation and paid the processing fee.
the fee!
1.5
Entering and staying in Germany
St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tonga, What kind of visa do I need?
Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United Arab
Emirates, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City The type of visa you need depends on
and Venezuela. – among other things – whether you
have already received your notification of
The same applies to nationals from Albania, admission from a German university.
Bosnia, Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldo-
va and Montenegro who hold a biometric Important: Do not enter the country as a
passport. For nationals from Hong Kong, tourist (with a so-called “Schengen visa”)!
Macau, Serbia and Taiwan, these rules A tourist visa cannot be converted to a
apply for holders of passports with special student or applicant visa.
features. These provisions were valid as of
November 2016. For current information Applicant visa
and an overview of visa requirements, visit
http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/ If you have not yet received notification
EinreiseUndAufenthalt/Staatenliste of admission to a university or university
Visumpflicht_node.html preparatory course, you should apply for
an applicant visa.
Visit the DAAD website at www.daad.de/
deutschland/download for more details This three-month visa allows you to meet
on the legal regulations for entering and the admission requirements. If you find
staying in Germany. that three months is not long enough,
you may extend your visa to a maximum
The German Federal Foreign Office pro- of six months. If you are admitted to the
vides answers to frequently asked questions university or a university preparatory
regarding visas and current visa require- course within this period, you may apply
ments for every country in the world at for a student visa, or a residence permit
www.diplo.de/visa. for purposes of study.
1.6
Finding accommodation
before you leave
!
In this section we tell you how to start looking for
accommodation in Germany before you leave home.
There is a wide variety of private accommo- You don’t have a place to stay when you
dation in every city. You will find offers arrive in Germany? Before you leave, you
for empty rooms and fully furnished should decide where you plan to spend
apartments. the first few nights. There are a number
of possibilities which the International
Therefore, you could look for a flat or Office at your university can tell you
room to let. Rooms in shared flats are more about.
often available, as well.
In some cities, the Studentenwerk and
A shared flat (WG) is one in which several university community offer new students
people live. Each flatmate has a room of affordable places to stay for the first days.
his / her own and shares the kitchen, Of course, you always have the option of
bathroom and sometimes the living room, staying at a private Pension (a small hotel),
as well. The cost of rent, telephone and a youth hotel or a youth hostel. If you wish
internet is divided between all the flat- to take a room at a youth hostel, you must
mates. This form of accommodation is be a member of the International Youth
very popular among students. Hostel Federation. You can apply for
membership directly at the youth hostel
In most cases, tenancy contracts must be for a small fee.
signed in person on location. This means
that you will have to wait until you arrive More information?
in Germany before you can finally secure www.daad.de/wohnen
private accommodation. But you can www.jugendherberge.de
already prepare for your search by looking www.hostelbookers.com
into possibilities via the internet right
before you leave, and perhaps arrange an
appointment to view a flat. To learn how
this works and where to find housing
advertisements, see p. 51.
42 Studying in Germany
1.7
Planning your study visit:
Step by step on your way to Germany
!
Checklist
18 months before arrival
Making the big decisions: Where, what and how long do I want to study?
I know
■ where I can find information about study visits in Germany
and have used one of the following contact options:
■ www.study-in.de and www.daad.de
■ DAAD branch office in my country
■ German instructor at my university
■ Higher education fairs in my country
■ approximately how long my study visit should be.
■ what type of degree I want to pursue.
■ what subject I want to study.
■ what type of university is right for me.
■ which universities offer my desired major.
Final Check
These important papers and documents I need to bring along:
■ Passport, valid for as long as I wish to stay in Germany
■ Visa, if applicable (see pp. 36–38)
■ Notification of admission from the German university or the confirmation that the
application is being processed
■ Proof of financial resources (see p. 28)
■ Originals with certified copies and certified translations (!)
of the following documents:
■ Birth certificate
■ Secondary school-leaving certificate
■ University diplomas, language certificates, if applicable
■ Confirmation of health insurance coverage from the provider if the policy is
recognised in Germany (see p. 26)
■ Vaccination card, if applicable (contact the German foreign mission in your country
for information about required vaccinations)
2.
Getting started in Germany
2.1
Getting help
Perhaps the most important contact for The Studentenwerk is a national association
international students is the International that provides a wide range of services
Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt). Every for students at German universities. For
university has an International Office example, it allocates rooms at student halls
responsible for fostering international of residence and operates the dining halls
university relations. at the university.
When you were planning your stay in Some Studentenwerk organisations offer
Germany, you probably contacted the special service packages to international
International Office at your German univer- students. These services make it easier for
sity. The staff at the International Office foreign students to adapt to studying and
can also help you with problems you living in Germany.
encounter after you arrive in Germany.
The specific services included in these
The International Office can provide you packages vary depending on the university.
with all the necessary information for In most cases, they include:
your first days in Germany. It can assist
you with formalities, such as enrolling ■ Room in a student hall of residence
(see p. 52) and help you find a place to live. (see p. 40)
■ Social fee and occasionally a semester
The addresses of the International Offices ticket (see pp. 24–25)
at all German universities are listed on ■ Cultural events and excursions
www.daad.de/aaa. Like most university ■ Meal vouchers for the dining hall
offices, the International Office is usually ■ Assistance with taking out a public
open to students during the semester or private health insurance policy
in the mornings from Monday to Friday. (see p. 26)
Getting help 47
Anna Yuwen comes from the United States and is Lena Wiemer studied English and Media Studies
enrolled in the North American Studies master’s at the University of Bonn and volunteered in the
degree programme at the University of Bonn. Study Buddy Programme there.
Getting help 49
2.2
Finding accommodation
What do I need to know Offers for free rooms and flats can be
when looking for a flat? found in flat advertisements – and these
can be found in many different places.
As we’ve mentioned earlier, it’s best to start At some universities, the Studentenwerk,
looking for accommodation in Germany student union or International Office offer
before you leave home, particularly if you’d an accommodation service for students.
like to live in a student hall of residence There you can find addresses of private
(see p. 40). landlords who have rooms to let. There is
also a notice board at the university called
However, if you’d rather take private a Schwarzes Brett with offers for rooms to
accommodation – a small flat or a room let. You can also leave a message on the
in a shared flat (see p. 41) – you should board saying that you are currently looking
start looking intensively once you’ve for a room.
arrived in Germany. Usually landlords or
flat-tenants only let rooms to people Apartment-finding websites on the Internet
they’ve met in person. This means you are also very helpful. Some specialise in
will have to view the flat and speak with finding accommodations especially for
the landlord personally. If you like the students, and usually they don’t charge for
accommodation and agree to the terms, want ads. For example:
and the landlord accepts you as a tenant,
you can then sign a tenancy agreement. www.studenten-wg.de
Enquire at the International Office for www.wg-suche.de
www.wg-gesucht.de
52 Studying in Germany
2.3
Enrolling at your university
Before you can study at a German uni- You have to bring several documents with
versity, you first have to enrol. This proce- you when you enrol. Please enquire at the
dure is called enrolment or registration International Office about which ones are
(Immatrikulation). Once you’re formally required at your university. In any case,
enrolled, you may attend courses at your the registration officials are sure to ask for
university, take examinations and finally the following two documents:
receive an academic degree. Enrolment
also allows you to access all facilities at the ■ Your notification of admission
university, for example, the library, sports ■ Confirmation of health insurance
grounds and computer rooms. coverage
You may enrol at your German university Once you’ve enrolled, you will immediately
as soon as you receive your notification of receive written confirmation. This
admission (see p. 35) from the International confirmation serves as your student
Office or the Foundation for University identification until you receive your official
Admission. The notification also includes student ID by post. You will require this
information concerning the enrolment confirmation of enrolment, for example,
period. Please note that the enrolment when you apply for a residence permit at
period can be rather short and you have the Aliens’ Registration Office (see p. 54).
to show up at your university’s Registrar’s
Office in person in order to enrol.
Taking care of formalities 53
2.4
Taking care of formalities
So, you’ve found a room or flat? Now you You may also be asked to provide confir-
will have to take care of some formalities. mation of enrolment or a copy of your
But don’t worry – you can count on the passport. Before you go, we recommend
International Office for help. enquiring at your International Office
about exactly which documents you should
What do I have to do at the bring along.
Residents’ Registration Office?
After you have filled out a registration
Once you have found accommodation, form, you will receive confirmation of
you have to inform the Residents’ Registra- registration. Make sure to take good care
tion Office (Einwohnermeldeamt) of of this document as you may need it later
your place of residence. In some cities, this to verify your place of residence.
office is called the Bürgeramt or Bürger-
zentrum. In larger cities, it is usually Please note: Anyone who lives in Germany
located in the district office or Bürgerbüro and moves to a new location is required to
responsible for the city quarter in which inform the Residents’ Registration Office
you live. Ask the International Office for of their new place of residence within one
the address. week after moving in.
2.5
Organising your studies
Studying at a university is very different event is usually included along with your
from going to school – perhaps even more notification of admission.
so in Germany than in other countries.
While secondary school pupils are provid- What kind of courses
ed with a fixed timetable, university stu- are there?
dents have more freedom in planning their
studies. They can often choose between There are several kinds of courses you can
many different courses that interest them. take at German universities. Their impor-
tance depends on your degree programme
The freedom to organise your studies re- and the type of university you attend.
quires a certain amount of independence
and initiative. This doesn’t mean, however, The most important forms of instruction
that you have to make every decision your- are lectures, seminars / courses, tutorials /
self. Take advantage of the advising servic- practical sessions, revision courses and
es at your university. There are orientation colloquiums.
events for new students at the beginning
of every semester. These events are offered Lectures (Vorlesungen) are held by uni-
by the student union and the departmen- versity instructors on a certain theme.
tal committees (see p. 49) and provide Although there is generally no limit to
information about the university, its how many students may attend, there
facilities and the structure of your degree is also no open discussion during the
programme. lectures.
Discussions with the professors and other In some subjects, revision courses (Repe-
students play a central role in seminars titorien) give students the opportunity to
(Seminare) and courses (Kurse). The review the course material together with a
number of participants is often restricted. university instructor in order to prepare
for an examination.
In a tutorial (Tutorium), students may
review and further investigate the content Colloquiums are events at which students
of a lecture in more detail. These sessions can share and discuss ideas with one
are taught by tutors (often upper-level another right before the final examination
or graduate students). Such courses, phase.
which accompany lectures and seminars,
may also be taught by lecturers, assistant Some universities have also developed
lecturers, assistant researchers, etc. online learning modules. They are intend-
These courses are often called practical ed to supplement other courses offered at
sessions (Übungen). the university. You can find internationally
oriented e-learning programmes at www.
Some degree programmes also offer daad.de/international-programmes.
working or learning groups. These groups
provide students the chance to review More and more MOOCs (Massive Open
the course material, prep each other for Online Courses) are being offered as well.
upcoming exams or collaborate on joint These online courses are free and open
projects. to everyone. You can find a listing of
MOOCs offered at German universities
at http://iversity.org.
Depending on the study regulations, stu- Usually you are required to register for the
dents require 180 to 240 credit points for a seminars and lectures which you select for
bachelor’s degree. 60 to 120 credit points your module. Most institutes allow stu-
are required for a master’s degree. dents to register for their courses online.
58 Studying in Germany
3.
Making the most of your stay
3.1
Making contacts
Academic success is certainly not the only Tipp 1: Participate in the orientation
factor that determines how comfortable events for new students. These events
you are in Germany. The quality of life is are usually organised by the student
largely influenced by the personal contacts union, your institute or department, or the
you make. International Office. Orientation events are
ideal for meeting students who – like you
University life is different in every city – are yet unacquainted with the university.
– perhaps because every university is dif-
ferent. Some universities are rather small Tipp 2: Attend pub evenings, join uni-
and familiar. Others are vast institutions of versity societies and sports courses, go
learning and research where it’s not always to parties. In Germany, social life often
easy to get to know other students. takes place in cafés, pubs and restaurants,
and as a result, students like getting
Therefore, we’ve listed a few ideas below together at their favourite pub. Some insti-
to help you make contacts easier. Of tutes and university organisations arrange
course, you will surely discover other ways so-called Stammtische or pub evenings.
to make friends and establish contacts At a Stammtisch you can get to know your
yourself. fellow students better and perhaps make
plans to do something later on.
We build bridges …
for intercultural exchange. AEGEE helps
international students forge contacts and
become acquainted with German culture.
We organise excursions around the area,
but also day trips to Berlin or the Christmas
market in Nuremberg. We also offer
“ice-breaker” weekends and a Stammtisch.
Lots of students participate in our
events at the beginning of the semester,
but their number decreases as time goes
on. But that’s a good sign – it means they
quickly find friends in Germany thanks
to the jumpstart we’ve given them.
3.2
Learning to speak (better) German
How can I improve my German? Another way to learn more German in your
home country is to participate in a language
Ideally you should learn as much German tandem (see p. 66) via Skype or e-mail.
as possible before you come to Germany.
German courses are offered, for example, If you wish to improve your language skills
at the many Goethe Institutes around in Germany or have to increase your
the world (www.goethe.de). proficiency in order to be admitted into a
degree programme, there is a wide range
In addition to classroom lessons, you can of opportunities available.
participate in online language courses at
the Goethe-Institute at the A1 to B2 levels. German universities offer language
Deutsche Welle also offers free online courses during the semester, for which
courses (www.dw.com, “Deutsch lernen”). students often have to pay an extra course
And the website www.deutsch.info offers fee. Some universities host intensive
self-study German courses, along with prac- summer courses which offer German
tical information about life in Germany. language instruction to international
66 Studying in Germany
students at varying levels. These courses The traditional (and often expensive) lan-
generally take place between June and guage courses are not the only way to
September. learn German. Have you ever considered
finding a language partner? In a language
More information? partnership, two people get together and
www.summerschools.de teach each other their native language. They
meet on a regular basis and practice speak-
There are many other institutions which ing in one language and then the other.
offer German courses as well. These
include the Goethe-Institut in Germany International Offices and international
(www.goethe.de) and adult education student organisations often have lists or
centres (www.volkshochschule.de), as websites which help students find suitable
well as many other, mainly privately funded tandem partners. You can also post a
language schools. Fees are charged for message on one of the many notice boards
these courses, however. on campus, saying that you’d like to find
a language partner.
A good place to start looking for courses
and schools is the database offered by You might also find a tandem partner
the Association for German as a Foreign online – for example, on your university’s
Language (FaDaF): www.fadaf.de/de/ Facebook page.
daf_angebote/sprachkursangebote.
3.3
Gaining work experience
during your studies
!
In this section we tell you how you can gain experience
on the German labour market through part-time work and
internships – and what you have to be aware of.
Perhaps you wish to take advantage of your Waiting tables at cafés or pubs is tradition-
time studying in Germany to gain some ally popular among students, as well.
work experience in the German labour Other students find work at copy shops,
market. Part-time jobs and internships assist visitors at trade fairs, drive delivery
offer a perfect opportunity to do this. trucks, work as cycle couriers, housekeep-
Above all, working is a good way to make ers, babysitters, etc.
professional contacts.
If you are looking for a job, check the
And, of course, a part-time job can help notices and help-wanted ads on the
you earn some extra money. Keep in mind, Schwarzes Brett at your university, in
however, there is no guarantee you will libraries, supermarkets, etc. Many uni-
find a part-time job in Germany, and if versities offer a job-finding service for
you do, you probably won’t earn enough to students. Contact your Studentenwerk
cover all your living expenses. German la- or the local employment agency for
bour laws restrict how many hours foreign more information.
students are allowed to work.
More information?
What kind of part-time jobs www.daad.de/job
are available to students?
More information?
www.daad.de/job
72 Studying in Germany
3.4
Finding employment after
graduation
Perhaps you like Germany so much that your costs of living and that you are seri-
you’re thinking about staying here after ous about seeking employment which
graduation. And you might be wondering corresponds to your level of academic
how to enter the German labour market qualification. While looking for a perma-
and apply the knowledge and qualifications nent position, you are allowed to work
you’ve gained during your studies. part-time for as many hours per week as
you wish.
If this is your wish, you are certainly not
alone. About 40 percent of international If you succeed in finding a job within this
graduates decide to stay (at least tempo- time, you are allowed to stay in Germany.
rarily) in Germany after completing their
studies.
I was thrilled …
spending my holidays as a pupil in
Germany. Even back then I knew I
wanted to come back and study here.
My degree programme was extremely
well-structured, but I still had a lot
of freedom. That’s how I’ve found life
in Germany too – well structured,
safe and free. And that’s why I’m still
very happy to be here. Not only do I
receive high-quality specialist training,
but also the chance to conduct my
own research.
You can have your residence permit con- Art History is overqualified to take a job
verted to one for the purpose of engaging waiting tables at a museum café.
in gainful employment.
If specific conditions are met, you may
There is one stipulation, however – your apply for a permanent residence permit
new position must correspond to your uni- (Niederlassungserlaubnis) after only two
versity degree. In other words, you have to years of qualified employment. After eight
find a job that has something to do with years of legal residence in Germany, you
what you’ve actually studied. Furthermore, are eligible for German citizenship if you
you may not be overqualified for the posi- fulfil certain requirements (for example,
tion. For example, in the first case, a grad- knowledge of German). In most German
uate who studied Medicine is not suited states, the time you spent studying in Ger-
for a job as a computer programmer. In many also counts toward the eight-year
the second case, a graduate who studied residence period.
74 Studying in Germany
Finding employment after graduation 75
Good luck!
Further reading
Appendix
78 Studying in Germany
German-educated * 85,711
foreign-educated * 235,858
Bulgaria 6,739
* International students are comprised of The figures above were taken from the
German-educated (Bildungsinländer) DAAD publication “Wissenschaft weltof-
and foreign-educated (Bildungsaus- fen 2016” and are based on the 2015
länder) students. academic year. Additional sources include
official university statistics and the Social
German-educated students have received
Survey by the Deutsches Studentenwerk.
their higher education entrance qualifica-
tion in Germany or in a German School
abroad, foreign-educated students at a
foreign school.
80 Studying in Germany
“Change by exchange” is the motto and Today, the German Academic Exchange
primary goal of the DAAD. Since 1925, the Service is the world’s largest funding
DAAD has helped young academics gain organisation of its kind. It is strongly
international experience around the world. devoted to internationalising the German
Awarding scholarships is just one of the research and educational sector. Thanks
many facets of its diverse programme. The to its efforts, Germany has become more
DAAD promotes internationalisation at tolerant and open-minded – and certainly
German universities, strengthens German more competitive in a globalised world.
Studies and the German language abroad In 2015, a total of 238 member univer-
and helps developing countries establish sities and 107 student governing bodies
more efficient universities. The DAAD belonged to the DAAD.
is an important German foreign policy
partner in matters of culture, science, Budget
education and development.
The budget of the DAAD is mainly
The DAAD is comprised of a vibrant com- financed through public revenues from
munity of committed individuals. In addi- various ministries, in particular, the
tion to scholarship holders and alumni, Federal Foreign Office, the Federal
who return home with experience from Ministry of Education and Research, and
Germany and cultivate contacts for years to the Federal Ministry for Economic Coop-
come, the DAAD depends on academics, eration and Development. The European
whose expert opinions serve as the basis Union is now the organisation’s third
for decisions on scholarship applications largest financial backer. Additional financ-
and project proposals. Specially appointed ing is provided by companies, organisa-
students and graduates from German tions and foreign governments. In 2015,
universities incorporate their perspectives the DAAD oversaw a total budget of
into the work of the DAAD. And natural- 471 million euros, an increase of seven
ly, there is the global network of DAAD percent from the previous year.
employees, many of whom received grants
or lectureships themselves and benefited
from the opportunity of international
experience.
About the DAAD 81
Related links
Azerbaijan Canada
DAAD Information Centre Baku DAAD Information Centre Toronto
info@daad.baku.az daadca@daad.org
www.daad.baku.az www.daad-canada.ca
Belarus Chile
DAAD Information Centre Minsk DAAD Information Centre Santiago de Chile
daad-ic-minsk@bntu.by ic@daad.cl
www.daad-ic-minsk.by www.daad.cl
Egypt Hungary
Cairo Branch Office DAAD Information Centre Budapest
German Academic Exchange Service mail@daad.info.hu
11 Sharia Saleh Ayoub www.daad.info.hu
Cairo-Zamalek (Egypt)
Tel. +20 (2) 27 35 27 26 India
Fax +20 (2) 27 38 41 36 New Delhi Branch Office
info@daadcairo.org German Academic Exchange Service
www.daad.eg DLTA Complex
R.K. Khanna Stadium
Ethiopia 1 Africa Avenue
DAAD Information Centre Addis Ababa 110 029 New Delhi (India)
office@daad-ethiopia.org Tel. +91 (11) 66 46 55 00
www.daad-ethiopia.org Fax +91 (11) 66 46 55 55
info@daaddelhi.org
France newdelhi.daad.de
Paris Branch Office
Office Allemand d’Echanges Universitaires DAAD Information Centre Chennai
Hôtel Duret de Chevry chennai@daadindia.org
8, rue du Parc-Royal www.daaddelhi.org/en/
75003 Paris (France)
Tel. +33 (1) 44 17 02 30 DAAD Information Centre Pune
Fax +33 (1) 44 17 02 31 pune@daadindia.org
info@daad.asso.fr www.daaddelhi.org/en/
paris.daad.de
Georgia
DAAD Information Centre Tbilisi
info@daad.org.ge
ic.daad.de/tbilissi
About the DAAD 85
Indonesia Jordan
Jakarta Branch Office DAAD Information Centre Amman
German Academic Exchange Service info@daad-jordan.org
Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Kav. 61–62 www.daad-jordan.org
Summitmas II, 14th Floor
12190 Jakarta (Indonesia) Kazakhstan
Tel. +62 (21) 520 08 70, 525 28 07 DAAD Information Centre Almaty
Fax +62 (21) 525 28 22 daad@mailbox.kz
info@daadjkt.org www.daad.kz
jakarta.daad.de
Kenya
Iran Nairobi Branch Office
DAAD Information Centre Tehran German Academic Exchange Service
info@daad-iran.org 3rd floor, Upper Hill Close
ic.daad.de/tehran 00800 Nairobi (Kenya)
P.O. Box 14050
Iraq 00800 Nairobi (Kenya)
DAAD Information Centre Erbil Tel. +254 (20) 272 97 41
IC_erbil@daad-iraq.info Fax +254 (20) 271 67 10
www.daad-iraq.info info@daadafrica.org
nairobi.daad.de
Israel
DAAD Information Centre Tel Aviv Korea, Republic of
director@daad-israel.org DAAD Information Centre Seoul
info@daad.or.kr
Italy www.daad.or.kr
DAAD Information Centre Rome
info@daad-italia.it Kyrgyzstan
www.daad-italia.it DAAD Information Centre Bishkek
info@daad.kg
Japan www.daad.kg
Tokyo Branch Office
German Academic Exchange Service Latvia
German Cultural Centre DAAD Information Centre Riga
Akasaka 7-5-56, Minato-ku ic@daad.lv
107-0052 Tokyo (Japan) www.daad.lv
Tel. +81 (3) 35 82-59 62
Fax +81 (3) 35 82-55 54 Malaysia
daad-tokyo@daadjp.com DAAD Information Centre Kuala Lumpur
tokyo.daad.de info@daadkl.org
ic.daad.de/kualalumpur
86 Studying in Germany
Romania Spain
DAAD Information Centre Bucharest DAAD Information Centre Madrid
info@daad.ro info@daad.es
www.daad.ro www.daad.es
Index
Abitur (higher education Magister Artium (traditional German
entrance qualification) 19 university degree) 13
Akademisches Auslandsamt Master’s degree 13
(International Office) 17, 45 Modul (module) 56–58
Aufenthaltserlaubnis Numerus clausus (NC)
(residence permit) 54 (restricted admission) 30–32
Bachelor’s degree 12 Praktikum (internships) 21, 70–71
Bewerbung (application) 30–35 Promotion/PhD (doctoral degree) 13–14
DSH 22-23 Semester 16
Deutschkenntnisse Semesterbeitrag
(language skills) 21–22, 64–66 (semester contribution) 24
Diplom (traditional German Semesterticket 24–25
university degree) 13 Seminar 56
Erasmus+ 28–29 Sprachkenntnisse (language skills) 22–23,
Fachhochschulreife (higher education 64–66
entrance qualification to a university of Staatsexamen (state examination) 13
applied sciences) 19 Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung
Fachschaft(svertretung) (Foundation for University
(departmental committee) 49 Admission) 32–33
Fakultät (faculty) 56 Stipendium (scholarship) 28–29
Feststellungsprüfung Studentenwohnheim
(assessment examination) 20–21 (student hall of residence) 40
Förderungsmöglichkeiten 28–29 Studiengebühren (tuition fees) 24, 27
Graduiertenkolleg (graduate school) 14 Studierendenvertretung 49
Higher education Studium-Interessentest 15
entrance qualification 19 Studienkolleg (foundation course) 20–21
Hochschulreife (higher education TestAS 21
entrance qualification) 19 TestDaF 22–23
Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (higher Tutorium 56
education entrance qualification) Übung (tutorial) 56
19–20 uni-assist 32–33
International Office 17, 45 Visas 36–38
Job 68–75 Visum (visas) 36–38
Krankenversicherung Vorlesung (lecture) 55
(health insurance) 26–27 Vorlesungsverzeichnis
Lebenshaltungskosten (course prospectus) 57
(living expenses) 25, 27 Wohnen 40–41, 51
Lehrveranstaltung 55–58 work 68–75
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