Why Study in the Germany ?

The German university system is one of the oldest in the world and has set the standard for higher education in many countries.

The degrees awarded by German universities are highly regarded and recognized throughout the world by employers and academic institutions. The principal degree awarded in Germany for scientific subjects is the "Diplom" or Diploma, which is considered to be equivalent to the Master of Science or Master of Engineering degree awarded in, for example, the United States or the United Kingdom . Most students aim at achieving the “Diplom”, which is a professional qualification. The "Vordiplom" - 'prediploma' - is an intermediate stage in Germany , considered to be roughly equivalent to the level reached for a Bachelor of Science degree in America or Britain , although it is not a degree. The German higher degree, the doctorate, is equivalent to any in the world.

For the international student an important feature of most German universities is that they do not charge tuition fees. University education in Germany is federally funded.

Another important and attractive feature of the German system is the freedom that you have to plan and organize your own work. Each faculty provides timetables and study plans, but the regulations permit students to individually vary the timing of courses and the content of particular seminars and projects. This enables you to construct a program of study that is tailored according to your own personal needs and interests.

Attendance at lectures and tutorials is for the most part not compulsory. But your course projects will be regularly assessed. These assessments, together with examinations, ensure that you meet the high standards required by the course.

Differences
German universities have been the scene of many groundbreaking discoveries, gaining them international renown. 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 learning institutions cooperate closely with multinational firms and with research institutes in Germany and abroad. In the end, this increases graduates' chances on the job market.

Many of today's students no longer want a purely theoretical education. A variety of comprehensive universities and 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.

It is prudent to start well in advance, as the procedure is a long one. A student should also enroll into a German language program as soon as he decides to pursue higher education in Germany . The doors of a university are open to a student only after he proves that he's entitled to be admitted to an institution of higher education. This is good for those whose educational qualifications or certificates are recognized as equivalent to those in Germany . If this is not the case, the student must undergo an eligibility test. In this case, each Federal State lays down the decisive criteria for evaluation of foreign qualifications required for admission. The preparatory institutions attached to the institutions of higher education are responsible for preparing students to take the eligibility test.

T he following documents are generally required :

Academic Credentials
Certified copies of your academic transcripts and degree certificates. If the certificates are in a language other than English, German, or French, you are expected to send official English or German translations of the certificates.

Personal Statement or Statement of Purpose
Most universities may ask you to send an essay or personal statement. This should include the reasons for you wishing to pursue a particular course in Germany , and specifically in that particular university. Your essay is assessed not only for its content but also for your clarity of thought, your language ability, your goals, and other relevant things.

Recommendations
Recommendations are expected to be from your professors, lecturers or employers. A lot of weightage is given to the letters of recommendations in making the admission decision. Some universities send their own recommendation forms with ratings, while others may expect them on official letterheads. The recommendation letters have to be sealed and the person recommending you should sign on the cover.

Deadlines and Submission
German universities are very particular about deadlines. Any application reaching late is not processed, no matter how impressive. The deadlines are as follows:

Winter Semester (October)---July 15th
Summer Semester (April)---January 15th
In case you need to send your applications for central assessment first, then the deadlines are as follows:

Winter Semester (October)---May 15th
Summer Semester (April)---November 15th

After your qualifications are cleared, you have to then apply to the respective universities before the above-mentioned deadlines.

Preparatory Studies for Foreign Students
Applicants whose certificates aren't recognized still have a chance to study in Germany . They can enroll at a College of Preparatory Studies for Foreign Students (Studienkolleg). Enrollment for the preparatory courses is handled by the university. As with every other authority in Germany , one needs to apply in writing. The Foreign Students' Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt) at the various universities will provide you with more details.

The preparatory program lasts for one year at the end of which foreign students have to take a final examination. If they pass the exam they are considered to be up to the academic level they need to study at a German university and can apply for admission.

The preparatory courses are conducted in German, so language proficiency is a must.

The German language diploma of the Culture Ministers, Level 1 ("Deutsches Sprachdiplom") as well as the GoetheInstitute's "Zentrale Mittelstufenprufung" are considered proof of your language fluency