Education in Germany

Foundation — Preparatory programs in Germany

There are special preparatory institutions for international students in Germany — Studienkollegs. If the education system in a student’s home country is not equal to German, studying in a Studienkolleg before applying to a university is mandatory. Check if your certificate or diploma is recognized in Germany here. See a list of all existing Studienkollegs here.

There are two types of such schools: Universitätskollegs prepare for admission to any higher educational institution, Fachhochschulkollegs — for admission to universities of applied sciences only. Universitätskollegs offer five specialized courses:

Fachhochschulkollegs offer four specialized courses:

Studying at Studienkollegs lasts one academic year, divided into two semesters. Please note that courses are taught in German — this program doesn't imply language training. At the end of classes, students pass a final exam — Feststellungsprüfung.

Applicants are accepted in the Studienkollegs after the entrance test (Aufnahmetest), which assesses their level of the German language and basic knowledge in the chosen field.

Students can also sign up for the final test without studying at Studienkolleg, but through self-study (externe Feststellungsprüfung). The following documents are required:

• Proof of inability to attend Studienkolleg;
• Proof of high academic performance at secondary school;
• Proof of language proficiency;
• Payment of administrative fee (169-226 USD).

Further, there are two options: either a student arrives in Germany or passes the exam remotely in a home country at one of the Goethe Institutes or DAAD centers. The exact dates and details of the test can be found on the website of a particular institution^[9].

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College — Professional education in Germany

There are two types of professional education institutions in Germany:

• Berufsakademien / Hochschulen dual offer practical-oriented programs consisting of theoretical and on-the-job training. The main difference from the university is that a student's work experience is a vital part of the educational process — programs are developed jointly with the employer. Training takes two years on average. The theoretical part lasts about three months, and the rest of the time is devoted to practice at the workplace. Besides possible scholarships, students receive a salary of 400 to 1,808 USD per month. After the final exam, graduates receive a diploma, or in some cases a bachelor's degree, if the university has the appropriate accreditation.
• Fachschulen / Fachakademien provide further education for students who have already graduated from a specialized college. Some universities also require experience in a selected field. Fachschulen offer programs in the following areas: agricultural economy, design, technology, business, social work. Training lasts 1-2 years, there are full-time and part-time programs. Fachakademien are located in Bavaria and have the same functions.

Doctoral studies — Postgraduate in Germany

Germany doesn't see doctoral studies as the third step in a course of studies, but as a separate achievement in the scientific field. Education here lasts 3-4 years. For admission, besides the documents listed above, a university might ask for a research proposal and letters of recommendation.

There are two types of doctoral programs:

• Traditional PhD means conducting a research project with a supervisor (Doktorvater / Doktormutter). A candidate can choose to work at a university, research institute, or any other accredited organization. Students defend their research projects before a commission of two specialists at the end of the studies.
• Structured doctoral programs are taught mainly in English and are usually offered by private universities and international companies. Scientific dissertation here accompanies theoretical studies, collaborations, and work in other research centers. For successful completion, it is necessary to get 180-240 credits. Besides defending the thesis, students take exams that test knowledge gained in the classroom.

Scholarships and grants in Germany

Although most programs at German universities are free, this rule does not apply to them all. The cost of living in Germany can also be quite high for international students. Because of this, the German government and international student organizations offer applicants a large number of scholarships and grants. Government-sponsored are DAAD scholarships and The Deutschlandstipendium. The DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) is the world’s largest funding organization for the international exchange of students and researchers. In 2016, the DAAD funded more than 131000 German and international scholars worldwide. The funding opportunities range from a year abroad for undergraduates to doctoral programs, from internships to visiting lectureships, and from information gathering visits to assisting with the establishment of new universities abroad^[16]. The Deutschlandstipendium is a Germany-wide scholarship program available to gifted students at state and state-recognized universities since 2011. Every month students receive 339 USD — one half is sponsored by the government, the other one — by private investors.