An axis of the best research and training institutes worldwide, Germany has set the path for modern higher education. The country has surpassed the United Kingdom as the most popular non-English-speaking destination for international students. 

According to data from 2019, 30% of international students came from the Asia Pacific, 17.7% from the Middle East, and India and China accounted for about 20% of all international students. The best part is that from October 2014 onwards, higher education has been made free for German and international students at publicuniversities in Germany.

A Few Things You Need to Know Before Studying in Germany

Are you planning to study in Germany? You must keep the following points in mind before applying to any university in Germany:

Economic Outlook

Germany is Europe’s leading economic power and the world’s fourth. The German economy is a highly developed and competitive social market economy. The current GDP of Germany is 4.31 trillion US dollars (approx.).

In 2019, Germany’s economic performance had been strong over the last decade, with a record of a low unemployment rate and healthy public and private balance sheets. Germany has a diverse economy where the automobile industry is the country’s main sector.

Relations with India

The bilateral relations between India and Germany have always been strong. Germany is India’s most important trading partner in the EU. Since 2001, India and Germany have had a Strategic Partnership, which has been enhanced through Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC), allowing for a thorough examination of cooperation and identifying areas of engagement in India. Not only that, Germany is the seventh-largest foreign direct investor in India since 2000.

Career Prospects

If you are planning to study in Germany, you must be aware of the career prospects in the country. The employment rate in the country increased from 2.88 million in 2012 to 32.16 million in 2017. There is also a newly launched law, The Skilled Immigration Act, for qualified overseas students, which has made it easier for international students to get a well-paid job in Germany. Some popular career prospects in Germany are engineering, healthcare, IT consultant, software development, etc.

Education Prospects

Germany provides you with an international and multicultural environment. The tuition cost is free in public universities, and in private universities, it goes up to 26,000 to 40,000 EUR (INR 23 Lacs to INR 35.5 Lacs) per year.

Germany is world-popular for its engineering, management and computer science courses. In addition, there are around 380 universities in the country (almost 160 public and over 80 private universities) offering over 17000 study courses, out of which 46 of them are featured in the QS World University Rankings 2021.

According to QS World University Rankings 2021, 12 German universities are listed in the top 200, including Technische Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, KIT (KarlsruherInstitutfürTechnologie), Rheinisch-WestfälischeTechnische Hochschule Aachen, Technische Universität Berlin, Technische Universität Dresden, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen and Universität Freiburg.

In Germany, most undergraduate programs are [RS1] taught in German, but there are about 220 universities, including Hochschule Mannheim – University of Applied Sciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Berlin International University of Applied Sciences, etc., that offer programs in English too. Apart from English, French and Spanish are some common foreign languages.

According to the latest Project Atlas by IIE, a total of 3,01,157 international students enrolled in the universities of Germany, out of which, total enrolments of Indian students were 20,562.

Universities in Germany are divided into three categories:

• Research Universities:Mainly focus on theoretical approaches rather than practical applications.
• Universities of Applied Sciences:Mainly focus on the application of research results.
• Academies of Arts, Music and Film:Offer artistic training.

In Germany, the academic year has two semesters: Winter and Summer. The winter semester is from October to March. The summer semester is from April to September. However, overseas applications are accepted all-round the year.

Academic Requirements: A Copy of Passport/ID Card | High School Transcripts | Sufficient TOEFL scores if your course is in English| Income Proof | Proof of Public Health Insurance |German Visa.

Fun Facts

Germany has 1500 types of Beer & Sausages and 300 types of bread. They love their beer, sausages and bread. Home to some of the longest words, about 65% of German highways don’t have any speed limit.

Local Cuisine

Brot&Brötchen, Käsespätzle, Currywurst, Rouladen and Schnitzel are some of the most famous local cuisines in Germany.

Famous Travel Destinations

Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, Cologne Cathedral, The Black Forest, and many others are among Germany’s most well-known travel destinations.

Final Words

After completing studies, international students who decide to stay in Germany must apply for a new visa at the Foreigner’s Registration Office and have their visa extended before it expires. Furthermore, students must apply for a residence permit while still in their last year of university study to be eligible for job possibilities.

Different types of work permit visas include general employment permits, EU Blue Cards, university graduate permits, highly skilled worker permits, student permits, self-employed permits and scientific researcher permits.

After residing and working in Germany legally for two consecutive years, an international student can apply for permanent residency in Germany. Overall, if you wish to study abroad, Germany is an excellent choice. But, do complete research before applying to any university because having an opportunity to study in Germany is indeed a big one!

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