Germany is now one of the leading study-abroad destinations for Indian students. In fact, the number of student visas issued for Germany this year at 34000 is almost 40% of the total visas issued for Indian students heading to the US, traditionally the largest destination for higher education seekers. This has increased from less than 20% five years ago when as few as 15000 Indian students pursued higher education in Germany. Germany offers students a very high-value proposition that is unique to their education system and vastly differentiated from what major destinations such as the US, Canada, UK & Australia offer.
The purpose of this blog is to enlighten such aspirants to comprehend the associated steps to pursue higher studies in Germany. Let us explore each step in proper detail:
The first and foremost crucial step for an Indian student aspiring to study in Germany is to shortlist the most appropriate university and program (course)depending on his/her interests, preferences, future goals/aspirations and financial budget. Do you know that Germany houses more than 400 accredited higher education institutions and offers more than 18,000 courses? Does this sound overwhelming toyou as an aspirant? Please do not worry. Commencing your planning and assessment months in advance will enable you to make the most informed and accurate choice.
While most students from India travel to Germany to pursue master’s programmes, there is a growing interest amongst bachelor’s and MBA degree seekers as well to travel to Germany for their higher education. In this section, let us talk about the admission requirements for each of these levels of education.
Let us first look at what undergraduate studies in Germany offer students. There are two different education propositions available to students from India depending on their academic background.
Indian students who want to pursue undergraduate education in Germany should submit the following documents:
The German education system which comprises technical universities and universities of applied sciences is highly sought after by meritorious Indian students for very specialized courses that give them an opportunity to work in Germany, the fifth largest economy in the world.
In particular, Germany is a world leader in automobile & mechanical engineering, electronics, mechatronics, information technology, biotechnology, biomedical engineering and pharmaceuticals. Indian students seeking advanced careers in electronics and mechatronics world-leader Bosch to pharma giants Bayer and Merck prefer to pursue a relevant education to gain this desired employment. At present, an international student can work for up to 18 months in Germany after graduation.
However, highly meritorious candidates who excel at the workplace would receive their employer’s assistance to continue to work in Germany for a longer period of time. This makes pursuing a master’s degree in Germany a highly attractive proposition for an Indian student.
For students proficient in the German language, there is the opportunity to study for free or at highly subsidized tuition fees. Such master’s degrees are typically offered by public universities. There are also a few English-taught masters programs available; however, applicants from India are encouraged to have learnt German to be able to seek internships and jobs after graduation.
A high CGPA from a UGC-approved university, a balanced GRE score and German language proficiency are required for admission to masters programs at TUs, UAS and other competitive institutions.
Indian students who want to pursue a master’s education in Germany should submit the following documents:
German companies which are innovation leaders in their fields continuously seek to increase their global market share. They value the techno-commercial insights Indian management professionals bring to their corporations, especially for their understanding of emerging markets.
This has made MBA in Germany an aspirational choice for Indian professionals and Mannheim Business School, ESMT and WHU Koblenz, all ranked in the Financial Times’ top 100 feature amongst the top choices for candidates seeking a European business school experience.
Apart from a minimum of three years of full-time work experience, applicants should appear for the GMAT. Knowledge of German is a bonus to seeking internships and employment though most MBA programmes in Germany are taught in English.
Indian students who want to pursue management education in Germany should submit the following documents:
Once you have completed your online applications and all the necessary documents (including written documents), it will be time for you to submit your applications. Most German universities follow the UniAssist platform and you need to submit your applications via that platform.
Once you have submitted your applications, the German universities will take some time to notify you via email regarding their final decision, considering that Germany collects a sizeable number of international applications.
After you obtain the admission letter from a German university, it will be time for you to apply for the German Student Visa. Please ensure you adhere to the following document-related requirements for a German student visa.
It will be better for you to finalise your accommodation (individual apartment, shared apartment etc. – depending on your paying capacity) before you arrive in Germany. There are several resources available online which can help you identify and finalise your accommodation options. Once your accommodation is finalized, you must have your address registered in Germany.
Manya – The Princeton Review offers end-to-end study abroad services encompassing admissions consulting services, test preparation, English language training, career assessment, and international internship opportunities to study abroad aspirants. Founded in 2002, Manya holds an impeccable track record of enabling more than 4 lac students to accomplish their study abroad dreams through its network of 47+ centers across India.
Manya has formed long-lasting global alliances with several market leaders in the education industry in order to maximize the benefits of its large service portfolio. Their list of esteemed partners and affiliations includes – The Princeton Review (TPR), Cambridge University Press (CUP), Cogito Hub, British Council, Tuding to name a few. Manya has also forged 600+ partnerships with international universities across top study abroad destinations.
Book your Free Counselling Session now!If you are applying for a program that is taught in the German language. Thus, you need to pass either TestDAF or DSH to prove your proficiency.
Public universities do not charge tuition fees irrespective of students’ nationality. However, you may be charged an administrative fee every semester. Private universities in Germany charge tuition fees.
The DAAD scholarship, Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarship, Deutschland Stipendium National Scholarship Program. Others are Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarship, Erasmus Scholarship Program, and The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Scholarship, etc. Thus, these are some popular scholarships available for students who wish to study in Germany.
If you are applying for finance, management, or business courses in Germany, you will have to take the GMAT. Moreover, some management courses consider GRE scores. GRE test scores are accepted by most universities in Germany.
The entrance exams required to study in Germany are usually specific to the university you are applying for. It is better to check with the university before you take the required tests.
