Are you curious about pursuing your educational journey in Germany? Have you ever wondered what makes the German education system unique, or what academic opportunities are there for you? In this blog, we'll explore everything you need to know about studying in Germany and what makes the education system in Germany popular for international students.
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Overview - Education system in Germany
Germany offers a distinctive and appealing education system for international students, renowned for its quality and fairness. Here’s how education system in Germany works:
Universities and institutions in Germany
Germany has a mix of public and private universities. Public universities charge minimal to no tuition fees to international students, making it a financially attractive option. There are also Universities of Applied Sciences that focus on practical and industry-oriented education, ideal for students aiming for specific careers.
Types of degrees to pursue in Germany
Bachelor’s Degree
Master’s Degree
Doctoral Degree
Cost of living in Germany
Costs vary significantly between cities, with larger cities like Munich or Frankfurt being more expensive. On average, a student might need between 850 and 1,200 EUR (76,420 and 1,07,889 INR) per month.
Work opportunities for international students in Germany
International students are allowed to work part-time for up to 120 full days or 240 half days per year. This helps many students finance their studies and living expenses.
Post-study opportunities
Germany offers a “job seeker visa” that allows international graduates to stay in the country for 18 months to find a job relevant to their studies. This is part of Germany’s strategy to attract skilled workers.
Read more: IELTS for Germany
Structure of the education system in Germany
The education system in Germany is well-structured and comprehensive, catering to various stages of a student's development. It can be divided primarily into the following levels:
Tertiary education:
Universities (Universitäten): Offer a wide range of subjects and focus on scientific research. They confer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen): Focus more on practical knowledge and applied sciences. They offer similar bachelor’s and master’s degrees but usually do not award doctoral degrees.
Technical Colleges (Technische Hochschulen/Technische Universitäten): Specialise in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Adult/Continuing Education:
Includes non-degree courses for personal or professional development, offered by various institutions.
This structure provides multiple pathways for students, allowing for flexibility in choosing a career or academic path suited to individual abilities and interests.
Different types of universities in Germany
In Germany, higher education institutions are categorised mainly into three types, each with a distinct focus and offering different kinds of degrees. Here’s a brief overview of each type:
Type of university | Focus | Degrees offered | examples |
|---|---|---|---|
Universities (Universitäten) | Emphasise theoretical knowledge and research across a broad range of disciplines. | Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral (PhD) degrees. | University of Heidelberg, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich |
Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen) | Provide more practical and industry-oriented education, focusing on applied sciences and technical disciplines. | Mainly Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, with some offering opportunities for doctoral degrees. | Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Munich University of Applied Sciences |
Technical Universities (Technische Universitäten) | Specialise in engineering, technology, and natural sciences, combining academic study with application of scientific principles. | Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees, focusing on developing innovative technologies. | Technical University of Munich, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology |
Additionally, Germany also has specialised institutions that focus on particular fields:
Colleges of Art, Film, and Music (Kunst-, Film- und Musikhochschulen): These institutions provide higher education in the arts, offering a range of artistic disciplines such as fine arts, music, theatre, film, and dance. They often require a demonstration of artistic ability (e.g., portfolio or audition) for admission.
Church-affiliated Universities: Offer theological studies and other subjects with a religious affiliation, often providing education and training for clergy along with other academic degrees.
Popular courses to study in Germany for international students
Here are the popular courses for international students in Germany. It is recommended to check your preferred courses at the university you want to study, go to the official website of your selected universities for up-to-date information:
Mechanical Engineering
Automotive Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Computer Science
Information Technology
International Business
Marketing
Finance
MBA (Master of Business Administration)
Biology
Physics
Chemistry
Environmental Sciences
Human Medicine
Veterinary Medicine
Dentistry
Pharmacy
Renewable Energy Systems
Media and Communications
The grading system of universities in Germany
The grading system in German universities can vary slightly by institution, but it generally follows a common framework. Here’s an overview of the common grading system used at most universities in Germany.
The grading system in German universities operates on a GPA scale. In Germany, student academic achievement is measured using a grading scale that ranges from 1 to 6 (or sometimes 5), where a grade of 1 indicates excellent performance and a grade of 6 signifies inadequate performance.
For Bachelor’s degrees, the grading adheres to the conventional classifications of the Bologna system, where students can achieve classifications such as First Class, Upper Second, Lower Second-, or Third-Class degree.
Hope this blog helps you understand all about the education system in Germany, if you are planning to study in this wonderful country you should know that most universities need international students to provide proof of an English language test such as the International English Language System (IELTS).
IELTS is the most popular and widely accepted test by more than 12,000 organisations, institutions, and immigration authorities and is taken by more than 4 million test-takers each year.
Therefore, if want to take an IELTS test for the same and have any related questions then you can get in touch with your nearest IDP IELTS test centre. Our team of IELTS experts will answer all your questions.