Germany is a country in Western and Central Europe that is home to over 80 million people, making it the second-most populous in the continent. Germany is a European and world superpower, with one of the largest economies in the world, leading the way in many industries such as car production, medical and biochemical innovation, and more.
Germany also has fairly liberal policies when it comes to immigration, which attracts a large number of internationals to the country, including many students who can enjoy the free and high-quality education that Germany has to offer. In this article, we will tell you all you need to know about how you can apply to a university in Germany.
1. Select What Subjects you want to study kn German Universities
The first step in applying to universities in Germany is to find a suitable course that matches what you want to learn in university. The options in German universities are limitless, and if you do a little research, you may be able to find something that interests you even more than the subject you originally planned for. So, doing a thorough research of the different universities and the courses that they offer should be a major priority.
Considering the quality of German universities, students go there to study all different types of subjects. However, the two most popular are engineering for men and German studies for women, according to the latest reports.
After that, computer science and medical studies are also very popular. But, even if one of those is not your desired major, you will still be able to find a number of very good programs in whatever it is that you want to study.
2. Meet the German Requirements if applicable
German is obviously the most common language of study across German universities. Most bachelor’s degrees are in German. To enroll in a German-taught program, you need to provide a language certificate. The accepted language certificates are as follows: TestDaF, DSH II or III, Goethe-Zertifikat C2, DSD II, and telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule.
The minimum score you need to be accepted varies from university to university. Here are the requirements for the Free University of Berlin. Thus, if your coursework is in German, you need to meet the German requirements before applying to German universities.
3. Meet English Language Requirements if Applicable
With a large number of international students in Germany, the number of English-taught programs has also increased over the years. A lot of master’s programs are available in English, while there is also an increasing number of bachelor’s programs available in that language as well.
For example, the Agribusiness B.A. offered in the Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences is entirely taught in English. To prove your efficiency in English, all of the most common exams are accepted, such as TOEFL and IELTS, and just like with German language tests, the minimum score to be considered varies depending on the university that you’re applying for.
4. Prepare to Fulfill the Prerequisites of Applying to Universities in Germany
In order to find specific application requirements, you first need to make a list of a few universities that interest you and go to their website to see how exactly you can apply. For reference, here are the application requirements for the University of Hamburg.
In general, though, proof of language proficiency, proof of financial resources, and health insurance coverage will be required when you apply to most universities in Germany. These are requirements for both bachelor’s and master’s programs.
To go into more detail, bachelor programs will also require your high school diploma to be recognized in Germany. If it isn’t recognized, which is the case with most non-EU students, you may need to attend a year-long preparatory course known as Studienkolleg. There is also an aptitude test called TestAS, which is specifically made for international students who come from outside the EU.
The main requirement for studying master’s in Germany is that your bachelor’s degree matches what you wish to continue studying, and while the bachelor’s degree doesn’t have to be completed in Germany, it has to be recognized by the university that you are applying to. Here you can find the application requirements for all master’s programs offered at the University of Freiburg.
5. Select Which Universities in Germany that you are going to apply
With so many good universities in the country, it can be hard to select which German universities to apply for. However, since most of the universities have some subjects that they are particularly known for, you can begin your search by looking at which universities are the best for studying the subject of your choice.
There are also certain higher education institutions such as medical, business, or engineering schools that strictly focus on subjects relating to that area of study, and they would be a great option if you are set on some of those subjects. Technical universities, in particular, are very popular in that regard.
Some of the highest-ranked and most popular universities in Germany are LMU Munich, Technical University of Munich, Heidelberg University, the Medical University in Berlin, the University of Freiburg, and more. These are not only the best in Germany, but some of the top-ranked universities in the world, and you can research whether they have a program that may be of interest to you.
6. If finances is important to you, look for affordable universities in Germany
Studying in public German universities is free, except for a few small administrative fees. So, if you are on a tight budget, you should think about fees while you apply to universities in Germany. If so, selecting one of the very high-quality public universities may be the best option.
However, you need to have in mind that you will have other expenses that you need to worry about. Rent, in particular, can be quite costly, especially in larger cities. In order to afford to live in Germany, many international students take on a part-time job during their studies to help with expenses. Private institutions rely on tuition fees for funding, so they sometimes charge quite hefty fees that can go up to around $20,000 per year.
Master’s studies are usually free in German universities, but only if you finished a bachelor’s course in Germany. If that is not the case, you will need to pay anywhere up to $30,000 for a master’s program in both public and private institutions.
7. In addition, apply for scholarships
While you apply to German universities, you should think about scholarships as well. Scholarships are offered in both private and public universities in Germany. Despite being free, public universities also offer monthly allowances for those students that may need it. This comes in the form of a couple of hundred euros per month that can help with paying for rent, books, food, and other expenses. The amount is usually fixed, but exceptions can often be made for students that are in need. If you manage to secure both a scholarship and a part-time job, this should be more than enough to cover all of your expenses.
Private universities, on the other hand, offer scholarships that can fully cover the entire program fee for students, or at least a large portion of it. This, however, is reserved only for students that have shown significant academic or extracurricular success prior to applying to the university. If you think you may be able to qualify for a scholarship, you should take a look at the scholarship requirements on the university website.
I hope that this article on how to apply to universities in Germany was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Europe Scholarships Category!
