Germany ranks third in the world in the number of international students that come to the country every year for higher studies. The country has both modern and traditional elements. Each city has a different vibe that attracts the students. Nearly each city in Germany has one university that is among the best universities in the world. 13 German universities are among the top 250 while 30 universities are included in the top 500. Apart from this, the high quality of life with relatively low tuition fees and great scholarships are some of the other factors why international students go to Germany for higher education.
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Top Universities in Germany
- University of Freiburg
- Technical University Munich
- University of Wuerzburg
- Free University of Berlin
- Humboldt University of Berlin
- University of Bonn
- Technical University Berlin
- University of Muenster
- Ulm University
- University of Hamburg
- RWTH Aachen University
What to study in Germany?
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Natural Science
- Engineering
- Business and Economics
- Psychology
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Architecture
Cost of studying in Germany
Germany is cheaper than many other destinations for higher education and hence ranks 15 in terms of accommodation in a recently conducted survey. It is cheaper than Italy, Denmark, the UK, France, Norway and others.
There are no tuition fees at the public universities in Germany for undergraduate courses for international students. Students are however required to pay a nominal fee per semester. This fee covers areas like student support, administration and other costs. For studying Masters Degree programs, you will have to pay tuition fees. This is applicable for those students who have not completed their Bachelors course in Germany.
Undergraduate programs cost 500 to 20000 EUR per year
Graduate programs cost 20000 to 30000 EUR per year
Doctoral programs are free of cost (250 EUR administrative fees, per semester)
University of Mannheim, University of Stuttgart, and University of Bremen are free of cost but there are universities which charge affordable amount as tuition fees.
Other expenditure and cost in EUR per month
- Accommodation and utilities -300 to 500
- Health insurance- 100
- Food expenditure- 200 to 250
- Internet and phone- 30
- Travel costs- 94
- Books and supplies- 20 to 25
Scholarships available in Germany
Government-funded scholarships
- Erasmus +
- DAAD Scholarships
Non-Government scholarships
- Einstein International Postdoctoral Fellowship
- Awista Scholarship
- Kurt Hansen Science Scholarships
- The Helmholtz Association
- Deutschland Stipendium
University-specific scholarships
- Heidelburg University
- DRD Scholarships for Sub-Saharan Africans
- Universitat Hamburg Merit Scholarships
- RWTH Aachen University Scholarships
- KAAD Scholarships for Developing Countries
Visa application
Obtain a visa from your nearest German embassy before you go to Germany. Also, make sure that you get a residence permit made too. Apply for a National Visa rather than the Schengen Visa. Applying for the Schengen Visa will allow the student to stay for three months in Germany. For the residence permit, you will need to have a health cover, proof of finances, passport, and tenancy agreement. This is valid for two years and after that, you need to get it renewed.
Jobs after studying in Germany
After the completion of the degrees, a student can stay in Germany for a span of eighteen months to get a job. Basic knowledge of the German language has been found to be useful for international students in bagging a job in Germany.
Top job sectors in Germany include health, automotive and mechanical sector, building and construction sector, information technology and telecommunications, electrical and electronics technology.
Read also: 13 Reasons Why You Should Study Abroad
