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| GERMANY
: OVERVIEW |
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Study in Germany
German Higher Education in Brief
Germany is the most ideal destination for higher education
and research right in the heart of Europe. More than 300
German universities provide research and teaching facilities
of the highest order and a wide range of subjects in 400
different courses of study. Many German Institutions of
higher education offer courses leading to an international
Master or PhD. which are taught in English. However, basic
knowledge of German can be very helpful. There are almost
no tuition fees in Germany for international students
too as these Institutions receive subsidies from the German
Government. A small administrative fee ranging in between
25 to 100 Euros per semester is charged which also covers
transportation. Living expenses range from 540 to 670
Euros per month.
German institutions of higher education are characterized
by the quality and diversity of courses on offer. They
combine established university traditions with modern
facilities, research and teaching. The Federal Government
operates a range of measures and programmes to support
the internationalization of the higher education landscape.
German institutions of higher education now offer a large
number of internationally compatible courses (Bachelor's,
Master's). Many postgraduate courses in particular are
conducted in English.
Germany's universities also offer those who already have
an academic degree – whether Bachelor, Masters or
Diploma – further education opportunities. Postgraduate
courses take either one or two years and lead to a further
degree – such as a Masters – or a certificate.
You can obtain more information on application and admittance
at the various university institutes and departments.
Life in Germany is characterized by the wide range of
cultural activities in many university towns and cities.
Germany is bordered by nine European neighbors, and has
eight further close partners within the European Union
alone. Distances are relatively short; for many countries
no visa is required if you are living and studying in
Germany.
German Universities
Germany's universities combine age-old traditions with
modern technologies. More than 300 universities are featured
on Campus Germany: from time-honored institutions offering
students the classical repertoire of subjects such as
Medicine, Law, English and German to innovative new institutions
of higher education with inter-disciplinary study programs.
German universities are open to anyone who fulfills the
prerequisites and academic freedom is one of the basic
principles of the German university system.
Universities here combine research and study. They've
been the scene of many groundbreaking discoveries and
they're internationally renowned. German universities
attract faculty and students from around the world. Modern
German universities also combine theoretical work with
its practical application. They both educate and train
- basic research is augmented by applied research. Interdisciplinary
cooperation is common and many of them cooperate closely
with multinational firms and with other research institutes
in Germany and abroad. In the end, this increases the
graduates' chances on the job market.
A variety of universities of applied science in Germany
offer balanced academic training necessary for a professional
career. Practical experience in regional companies is
often part of the curriculum. German companies are interested
in attracting well-trained graduates from abroad. And
in many cases, these former students can continue to work
for the company as a foreign spokesperson once they return
home. Students at universities are largely free to determine
their course of study themselves. They decide which lectures
to attend or which professor to take an exam with. But
there are certain guidelines that have to be followed.
A university degree isn't paramount to job training, but
it does give you the scientific qualifications needed
on the job market.
University of Applied Sciences :
A university of applied sciences is the right choice for
you if you would like to combine academic and scientific
knowledge and apply it in the working world. The courses
and subjects at Germany's 160 universities of applied
science are arranged much like they are at universities,
but the curriculum is tailored to your career choice.
Research is becoming more and more important at universities
of applied sciences, though their main focus remains teaching.
The faculty at universities of applied sciences usually
comprises experienced professionals and managers who know
exactly what the firms will expect of the students once
they've left school. They offer a flexible, international
education. Universities of applied sciences graduates
have excellent job opportunities on the free market.
College of Art and Music
For those who dream of becoming an artist or musician
in Germany, a degree from one of the 56 state-recognized
art and music colleges is a must. These prestigious schools
focus on preparing the young generation and are only open
to those talented few students who pass the difficult
entrance exams.
Students interested in studying at an art college will
need to submit a portfolio with their art work. Selected
applicants will then be invited for an aptitude test,
during which they will be asked to complete a series of
practical, artistic and compositional tasks intended to
show their overall ability. Sometimes it’s possible
to gain entrance to one of the art colleges without having
the German “Abitur” or the equivalent high
school diploma.
The art colleges focus primarily on courses of study in
painting, graphic design, sculpture, and art education.
Additional courses in architecture, stage design, ceramics,
glass painting, restoration work, and art media round
out the program offerings and differ from school to school.
Students studying applied arts receive a diploma or certificate
at the end of their course of studies; those who study
the ‘free’ arts often leave school without
a formal degree or title.
The course of study at a music college includes a wide
range of subjects: composition, directing, training on
an instrument, voice, and at some schools even church
music, jazz, music theater, stage dance, and music education.
Before starting a course of study, applicants must pass
a rigorous aptitude test, during which they will be asked
to demonstrate their ability in pitch recognition and
harmony by playing an instrument or singing. Those interested
in studying music education must submit proof of the German
“Abitur” or an equivalent high school diploma.
For all other courses of study, entrance is based on talent
and the aptitude test.
Students interested in studying in the media fields will
also find plenty of opportunities in Germany. But as the
media schools are so popular and the number of positions
available is significantly lower than the number of applicants,
students interested will be required to pass practical
and oral entrance exams before entering the school.
College of Education
Colleges of education exist as independent institutions
only in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. Colleges
of education in all the other states have been merged
with universities and are now faculty departments at these
institutions.
Colleges of education have the task of training teachers
for Germany’s “Grundschulen,” “Hauptschulen”
and “Realschulen” as well for special schools
for mentally or physically handicapped children. Students
at these colleges study teaching methods in subjects appropriate
for the type of school they will work in as well as the
basics of their chosen subjects. In addition, the curriculum
includes subject areas such as General Teaching Methods,
Educational Theory, and Educational Psychology. Future
teachers planning to work in “Grundschulen”
must, in addition to their major subject field, decide
on another subject area (specialist instruction or music/arts).
Training in Early Education is also included in the curriculum.
Practical internships are a mandatory and essential part
of a teaching degree. Four “day internships”
(one day a week for the entire semester) are required
by all teaching degree programs, as are two four-week-long
“block internships,” conducted when classes
are not in session. For many students, these internships
are a good opportunity to see if they are up to the challenges
of teaching. At the end of the degree program, there is
an 18-month preparation course and a practical training
seminar.
Prerequisites for study at a German college of education
are like those at a university: a school diploma equivalent
to the German “Abitur.” Those who elect to
study art, music or physical education as a subject area
must also take a eligibility test.
Private College and University
Private colleges and universities have been springing
up in Germany for several years now. However, not every
institution lives up to what it claims in its promotional
material. Therefore, an important sign of quality is official
government recognition of each particular college or university.
Private institutions which are not named in the “Higher
Education Compass” of the Higher Education Rectors
Conference are not officially recognized. That means that
their definition of higher education does not necessarily
correspond to independent scientific or application-oriented
research and/or the teaching methods of state or church-run
institutions.
There are currently more than 50 officially recognized
private colleges and universities. They are financed and
maintained in different ways. Support comes partly from
the private sector or foundations and partly through additional
funds from the state. They all have one thing in common:
students must pay for at least part of their education.
The amounts vary—from 15,000 euro for an entire
study programme at the University of Witten-Herdecke till
upto 4,000 euro per semester at the Leipzig Business College.
As a rule, private schools recruit students themselves.
Good grades (in many cases a very good first diploma)
are important, but in order to get into the desired school,
a high degree of competence and personal initiative is
essential. Many private schools offer internships at partner
schools abroad or work in close cooperation with companies
in their particular fields.
Of course, studying at a private college or university
does not guarantee a top-notch career later on, but it
does provide a strong foundation in a well-defined period
of time that can smooth the road right on up to the top.
Vocational University
One alternative to studying at a university or a university
of applied sciences is the vocational university in the
federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Saxony, Thuringia
and Berlin. A vocational university offers students courses
in the social sciences or the business administration
or engineering fields. A prerequisite to study at a vocational
university is a school leaving certificate giving right
of entry to higher education (Abitur) or an equivalent
diploma. Potential students must also secure a training
contract with a company that is a participant in the school’s
training program.
A course of study at a vocational university consists
of six semesters on the “two-track plan.”
That means that university-level coursework is combined
with on-the-job training at a company or social services
institution. Students participate in the real world of
work, interacting with colleagues, clients and day-to-day
business matters while receiving theoretical training
at the university, with a clear-cut degree program, end-of-semester
exams and homework. Practical and theoretical training
phases alternate every twelve weeks. Students receive
a training allowance of around 500 euro per month, even
during the periods the student spends in the classroom.
Diploma after Three Years
Students can receive their first official job qualification
after two years of study. After three years, students
can apply for a degree. A diploma from the vocational
university carries the same weight as a bachelor degree.
Many companies nowadays highly value this alternative
to traditional university study, since students who have
just graduated already have significant real-world work
experience.
The number of vocational university graduates going on
to careers in their chosen field of study stands at 90
per cent. Some companies participating in the training
program even offer students a limited-term contract after
they’ve received their degrees. After all, these
companies have invested at least 60,000 euro in the students
(allowances, training expenses, etc.)
Some vocational universities, for example the school in
Stuttgart, offer international programs that allow students
to spend some of their time abroad, either during an internship
phase or part of the theoretical study.
University Education
The Academic Year
The academic year is divided into two semesters or terms.
The summer semester usually runs from April 1 to September
30, the winter semester lasts from October 1 to March
31. The semester may begin or end one month earlier at
some universities of applied science. About a third of
the academic year consists of breaks, time away from the
lecture halls. But these months can hardly be called vacation
though; you'll need the time to write research papers,
work on presentations and finish your homework. Some professors
schedule examinations or tests during this time. You may
also need the time to acquire work experience through
internships.
General Studies and Specialization
University education is divided into general studies and
a period of specialization later on. The general education
part offers students the tools they need and teaches the
basics of scientific work in the discipline they have
chosen to study. In many schools, general education ends
after four semesters with an intermediate examination.
Your specialization begins after passing the intermediate
exam. For the next two or three years, students are taught
detailed, specialized information about the discipline
they have chosen as their major course of study. A final
examination is held before graduation.
Lectures, Seminars and Classes
There are many different ways to study and teach at German
universities: lectures, seminars, and study groups, for
instance. During lectures, the professor or lecturer speaks
and the students take notes. The students are expected
to review the material at home. Many professors give additional
assignments. In many classes, the information from the
lectures can also be discussed in tutorials. Graduate
or post-graduate students usually host tutorials, where
practice problems are solved and the topics are discussed
in more detail.
Faculty and students go over material together in seminars.
Many universities have two different types of seminars:
Proseminars for students still working on their general
education and other seminars for graduates. In many courses,
students are asked to present a report, which is then
discussed by the entire class. Certificates of Achievement
can be awarded for work in seminars.
Certificates are needed in order to successfully complete
a degree. They are proof of participation in a seminar,
lecture or practical examination. Audit certificates are
awarded for simply being present. Other certificates must
be earned through homework, giving a report or taking
an examination. The examination regulations for each subject
details which certificates you have to have before you
can sign up for an intermediate examination or your graduate
exams.
Postgraduate Studies
Germany's universities also offer those who already have
an academic degree – whether Bachelor, Masters or
Diploma – further education opportunities. Postgraduate
courses take either one or two years and lead to a further
degree – such as a Masters – or a certificate.
There are different kinds of postgraduate courses. Some
are based on former courses, either from the same or from
a similar subject area. They build up on previously acquired
academic knowledge. Supplementary postgraduate courses,
however, offer students knowledge in other subjects.
In order to register for an additional course of study,
students need to possess an academic degree. Additional
courses offer specialized knowledge on the previous, completed
course of study.
Students without a first degree can also step beyond their
usual course studies. In order to gain a supplementary
qualification certificate, students only need to take
part in a course at their university.
Overview-Degrees
The traditional certificates offered at German universities
are the "Diplom" and the "Magister Artium"
(Master of Arts). Would-be teachers, attorneys, pharmacists
and doctors also have to take the so-called "Staatsexamen",
the German Civil Service Examination. The average degree
in the "Diplom" and "Magister Artium"
programmes supposed to take eight semesters to complete.
But it actually takes longer in many departments, because
the amount of work cannot be completed in the time available.
Students at universities of applied sciences usually graduate
after six semesters, and are awarded a "Diplom (FH)".
Doctorate degrees and qualification as a university professor
(Habilitation) can only be obtained at a university.
Internationally Recognised
By 2010 the modularised B.A. and M.A. degree courses will
have almost completely replaced many of the qualifications
outlined above. This was what was set out in the Bologna
Declaration of 1999. The aim of the Bologna Process is
to create a common higher education landscape within Europe
by 2010, one which guarantees a greater transparency in
the comparability and quality of the degrees from different
countries, as well as promotes academic mobility between
countries.
At the moment there are more than 4600 B.A. and 3000 M.A.
courses on offer at German universities, many of which
are taught through the medium of English. The introduction
of these internationally recognised Bachelor's and Master's
degrees a few years ago started a small revolution at
Germany's universities because the programmes give students
the opportunity to complete their education more quickly,
and so to move on into the working world. It generally
takes between six and eight semesters to complete a B.A.,
and a further two to four for the M.A.
International Studies
Almost all German universities also offer internationally
oriented B.A. and M.A. degree courses for both German
and foreign students. These courses are usually taught
in English. You can enroll in these courses even if you
don't speak German. You can always visit German language
courses during your studies. Many of these modularised
degree courses also have an international component to
them. In 1 in 5 courses, spending time abroad is part
of the course, and almost all degree courses are graded
according to the internationally recognised credit point
system. This means that all the new qualifications can
be compared not only nationally, but also internationally
- which means that changing to a university in another
country will be easier and more attractive.
In addition, there will be a greater focus on the job
market in the new B.A. and M.A. degree courses. Potential
employers are actually actively involved in around two-thirds
of the courses. Students can, of course, also get in touch
with companies by doing work placements or when carrying
out fieldwork.
Of course, foreign students can study in Germany for one
or two semesters. There are some 19,000 exchange programmes
between German universities and universities abroad. Cooperation
agreements between these universities mean that the grades
acquired while abroad are acknowledged by the home university.
These exchanges are very popular with students, researchers
and lecturers alike.
The Doctorate
The doctorate, the gaining of a doctoral diploma or Ph.
D. certificate, requires an excellent academic degree
as a prerequisite – with the exception of medical
subjects. In these subjects, students can write their
doctorate thesis and complete their oral exams during
their normal course of studies. However, future doctors
can only use the official title upon completion of their
studies.
The various university doctorate committees decide about
applications for the doctorate diploma. Both applicants
from abroad and graduates from colleges of applied sciences
(Fachhochschule) should inquire about the acceptance of
their academic degrees here in good time.
The completion of the doctorate's thesis usually takes
several years and is supervised by a professor. A doctorate
is often a prerequisite for a scientific career. In the
sciences, for example, the writing of a thesis often accompanies
a university teaching position in the same, or a similar,
subject.
The goal to graduate may be the same, but in Germany there
are different basic conditions for a thesis: Most common
is working individually with a professor who provides
support from topic definition to scientific information
and checking.
A special form of promoting students who are working on
their doctorates are the so-called "Graduiertenkollegs",
or postgraduate tutorials which is small groups ten to
15 people, that work for a limited period on a closely
defined task before dissolving again. These institutes
are financially supported by the German Research Foundation
(Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft).
In contrast to the postgraduate tutorials, Graduate Schools
have been created, but they are attached to the university
on a permanent basis. Interestingly for international
researchers is the fact that the training offered is predominantly
in English and that approximately a third of the full-time
scholarships are held for international scientists.
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