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Master's Degree in Germany: how to apply, how much does it cost, types of Master's degree, career perspectives
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Advanced search| Exams | 136 USD |
| Registration fee | 79 USD |
| Flight | 102 USD |
| Rent | 678 USD/month |
| Food | 169 USD/month |
| Transport | 79 USD/month |
| Visa | 85 USD |
| Insurance | 113 USD/month |
| Study materials | 23 USD/month |
There is no centralized submission system in Germany, but some universities are connected to the Uni-Assist system to collect applications from foreign students. Depending on the chosen university and program, Uni-Assist can:
There is no limit to the number of applications. Uni-Assist will charge 85 USD for the first submission and 34 USD for each subsequent submission within the same semester[5]. Some universities pay this fee for students, such as the Goethe University Frankfurt, Westphalian University of Applied Sciences, and the University of Potsdam.
If the selected university is connected to the Uni-assist service, one must:
If the university is not integrated with this system, then the application process should be clarified on its website.
Approximate list of documents for admission:
The exact requirements need to be clarified on the website of the chosen university. Some universities set additional selection criteria — entrance tests and interviews. This usually applies to educational institutions with an admission quota (Numerus clausus). They ask for the results of GMAT, GRE, and other additional exams, a course description, a research plan, and proof of work experience in the relevant field. Sometimes applicants are also interviewed.
German universities also accept C1 telc Deutsch and some other exams that meet the criteria of the Ministry of Education[7]. If the language level is lower than required, some universities may still accept the student — on the condition that they fit the rest of the criteria and will go through a language course either before admission or at an early stage of the Master’s studies. An important side note is that the university itself must provide such courses. Also, when placing an application, you must already state the intention to go through them.
English-language programs require one of the following certificates of proficiency in English at the B2-C1 level (depending on the program): C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS or TOEFL.
For admission to any Master's program, applicants go through a diploma recognition procedure. To do this, check the Anabin registry. It contains the list of German-accredited universities worldwide. There are three possible categories:
If a diploma is not recognized or only partially recognized, this does not mean that admission is not possible. Candidates can contact one of the qualification recognition centers ENIC-NARIC (European Network of Information Centers in the European Region and National Academic Recognition Information Centers in the European Union).
If the qualification has not been recognized, a training course at the Studienkolleg must be taken, followed by the Feststellungprüfung test in accordance with the program.
In Germany, universities set their own deadlines for filing applications. The exact dates can be found on the website of a university. Typically, applications for the winter semester end in mid-July and for the summer semester — in mid-January.
The number of international students in Germany is growing steadily: from 2014 to 2019 it increased by 30.9%[8]. The number of English-taught Master's programs is also large — more than a thousand[9]. These are mainly STEM majors: Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Physics and Engineering. Various program options can be found in the DAAD catalog.
| THE ranking | University | City | Program | Duration | Cost/year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) | Munich |
| 2 years | 324 USD |
| 41 | Technische Universität München | Munich |
| 2 years | 325 USD[10] |
| 42 | Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg | Heidelberg |
| 1-2 years | 3,390 USD[11] |
| 78 | Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen | Tuebingen |
| 2 years | 3,390 USD[12] |
High-ranking universities in Germany offer strong programs in Medicine, Engineering, Mathematics, and Biology. 35% of students choose the STEM direction[13]. Humanities are also popular, such as foreign languages, art history, literature, and economics.
| University | City | Programs | Duration | Avg. cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg | Heidelberg |
| 1-2 years | 3,390 USD[11] |
| Humboldt-Universität | Berlin |
| 2 years | 712 USD[14] |
| Freie Universität | Berlin |
| 2 years | 678 USD[15] |
| Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn | Bonn |
| 2 years | 678 USD[16] |
Tuition is also free in public universities, students only need to pay semester fees — up to 1,130 USD per year. An exception is the state of Baden-Württemberg, where the academic year costs about 3,390 USD, and private universities. Programs there may be shorter — a year instead of two. However, the cost is high and can reach 39,550 USD for a full course. At the same time, private universities of applied sciences are usually more expensive, because the budget must cover the costs of maintaining laboratories. It is also expensive to train in specialties such as engineering and MBA.
However, there are private universities where cheaper programs can be found:
| University | City | Avg. cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE) | Hamburg | 13,560 USD[17] |
| SRH Hochschule Berlin | Berlin | 11,300 USD[18] |
| Berlin International University of Applied Sciences | Berlin | 13,560 USD[19] |
As a rule, MBA programs are taught completely in English. Requirements for language proficiency are high — the minimal requirements are to provide a certificate of at least C1. Additionally, candidates must pass entrance exams. While not all universities set a specific benchmark, it is best to have GRE 150+ / GMAT 600+ scores. Some business schools have an "early bird" discount. There are usually several deadlines, each has a different discountable amount. Applicants who applied before the first deadline sometimes pay 3,390-5,650 USD less.
| Ranking QS | Business School | City | Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | The University of Mannheim Business School | Mannheim | 12-15 months | 44,635 USD |
| 17 | Frankfurt School of Finance and Management | Frankfurt am Main | 12 months | 39000 EUR[20] |
| 23 | WHU — Otto Beisheim School of Management | Berlin | 12 months. | 40500 EUR[21] |
| 26 | ESMT Berlin | Berlin | 12 months. | 48,590 USD[22] |
| 37 | HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management | Leipzig | 15-21 months | 38000 EUR[23] |
As a rule, in Germany, the degrees are Master of Arts and Master of Science. There are also special degrees for some specialties — Master of Engineering, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Music.
Germany has European credit system. To obtain a Master's degree, students need to get 120 credits — 90 over the course of study and 30 for scientific work or an individual project. The academic year consists of winter and summer semesters, vacations — in February and August, and the exact dates of the start of studies differ in the universities of specific federal states. The organization of the lessons and the types of assignments depend on the type of educational institution:
Assignments are rated on a five-point scale, with 1.0 being the highest grade and 4.0 being the minimum threshold. The final grade is made up of ECTS credits.
Research work or a project — Abschlussarbeit — is done in the second year of study. At the beginning of the third semester, students choose a topic. Then they need to choose a supervisor — usually, they need to provide a plan to do so. After that, the main part of the work begins, for which the last semester is allocated: the academic analysis of the topic, the theoretical part, the research itself or the project, and the analysis of results. After finalizing their thesis, students present it to a commission. They need to show their proficiency in the material and knowledge of the topic and then answer the questions of the commission.
A distinctive feature of a Master's degree in Germany is the ability to write a Master's thesis in a company. Students are offered to work on a company project during an internship, or they find such an option on their own. This format has a number of advantages:
However, a corporate degree work is not the most popular choice:
By law, international students have the right to work 120 full or 240 part-time days a year[25]. To find out if it is possible to work longer, applicants need to contact the Employment Center (Agentur für Arbeit) or the Foreigners' Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde). The decision will often depend on the unemployment rate in the particular federal state. An exception is academic positions such as Teaching Assistant. In addition, foreign students are prohibited from freelancing or working as self-employed[26].
In Germany, the minimum wage is set at 1,824 USD/month[27]. If the salary is less than 508 USD/month, it is not subject to taxes. If the salary is higher, a tax number (Steuernummer) is needed. The company will withhold certain amounts on a monthly basis, but a tax refund can be issued at the end of the year[25].
Students often find work on campus: they can help in archives or with administration, and also be a Teaching Assistant (wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft). These jobs are the best paid, while temporary off-campus jobs are unlikely to earn enough for a living.
Internships can be paid or unpaid. Regardless of whether they are paid or not, they are counted as working hours. And students mustn’t work more than 120 days a year in total. The exception is internships which are part of the compulsory program, as well as academic positions. The duration of the internship ranges from several weeks to several months and depends on the company.
Where to look for an internship:
The language of communication in many large companies is English, but knowledge of at least B1-B2 level German will be an advantage and will expand the opportunities. An employee's portfolio usually includes:
Applicants undergo an oral interview, where they show not only their professional qualities but also soft skills.
Internships are a good option to gain work experience in a German company, but they are not very suitable for making a living. Most of the contracts are not paid.
There are three sources of funding for graduate students: universities, the government, or foundations. The average amount is 791-1,130 USD/month, which more or less covers the living expenses. The most popular options are:
After graduation, alumni can apply to the local Foreign Office for a residence permit, Aufenthaltstitel, which is valid for 18 months and allows them to look for work in the country during this period[29]. In case of successfully signing a contract, they must apply for the Temporary Residence Permit. Usually, it is valid for the same period as the contract with the company. More information about the procedures can be found on the website of the German government.
A diploma from a German state university will be recognized not only in Germany, but also in other countries of Europe and the world. In 2020, the Skilled Immigration Act was passed. It is part of the policy to attract professionals from non-EU countries. Thanks to it, those wishing to find a job in Germany have the following opportunities:
The unemployment rate in Germany is 4.5%. This is one of the lowest rates in Europe (average figure — 7.5%)[3]. Trading Economics predicts an improvement in the situation: 3.7% rate is expected in 2022, and 3.4% — in 2023[31]. Many large international companies are based in the country — Adidas, Allianz, BMW, Puma, Siemens and Volkswagen. Smaller state-owned enterprises also come to the overseas market. The reason for it is Germany’s developed economy. Germany consistently ranks fourth among other countries in the world, with a GDP of 4.6 trillion dollars in 2020. By 2024, economists estimate that it will be worth 4.9 trillion[32]. All this makes Germany a promising career destination.
| Specialties in demand[33] | Annual income |
|---|---|
| Engineer | 56,499 USD[34] |
| Manager | 50,849 USD[35] |
| IT-specialist | 57,629 USD[36] |
| Sales Specialist | 57,629 USD[37] |
The modern format of doctoral studies — independent research and a scientific work — is a German invention. Most universities adhere to this structure, but there are universities with more options. In general, there are two types of programs:
Although foreigners do not often teach at universities, it is still possible. There are several main ways of developing an academic career. In addition to the classic, similar to the American, career model — from a junior lecturer to professor — one can pass the "habilitation procedure" (Habilitationsschrift). It is similar to a second doctorate: within 4-6 years a PhD writes another scientific work, and also teaches and publishes in scientific journals. Regardless of the path chosen, they can become a professor only after passing the commission check — the procedure is called Berufungsverfahren.
| Position | Type of contract | Average salary / month[38] |
|---|---|---|
| Junior professor (Juniorprofessor) | Non-tenure | 5,085-5,876 USD |
| Professor extraordinarius (außerordentlicher Professor) | Tenure | 5,989-7,458 USD |
| Professor ordinarius (ordentlicher Professor) | Tenure | 7,119-8,475 USD |
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