Germany

Where the German Democratic Republic was under going a dull life, the Federal Republic of Germany was rising as a true heir from the initial empire. It developed and came across as a model for modern society. This nation was not very democratic; however it developed a full-fledged political system that caused other countries embarrassment. In compensation to past mistakes, the state took care and treated the foreign refugees and other immigrants well.

Soon people of different races and cultures started settling down in the state. Though the intention of the state to allow people from other cultures and societies was to improve and progress the economic condition. The state became multi cultured as they could afford to hire these people at very low wages. Within few years the state saw tremendous development with malls, sky scrapers and departmental stores coming up. A huge amount was spent to preserve the historical monuments and culture of the society. At the same time small budgets where worked out to encourage art and other developments.

Germany is called the land of fairytale. It has lovely castles and dense forest owned by the legend brothers Grimm. It is still very beautiful with lovely valleys and snow covered mountains. The southern part of the country has more of rural and catholic people whereas the north comprises of Protestants. Protestants were known to have engineered the unity of the nation in the nineteenth century and later controlled all the affairs of the country. Germany is known to have strong regional features, half of which are no more on the map while some are merged with the new ones. Each state of Germany is beautiful and is worth spending time to know about the history.

• Germany has a reasonable climate; not extreme. The country normally experiences warm summers and cool winters. The Rhine becomes warmer during the summer months. Mountain areas are generally very cold than the rest part of the country. Those residing in Alpine slopes tend to experience precipitation due the moisture that keeps rising or shedding in the form of rain or snow.All in all, Germany is a fantastic country who rose strongly after all the wars it went through. Germany developed as a nation and strengthened the economy with the help of various trades and industry. It is a country with amazing topography that lures worldwide tourists.

• Germany has much to offer as a place of study with more than 350 state and private universities and a variety of courses. It is one of the leading countries in the field of research, science and technology.About 250,000 foreign students currently study in Germany , of which about 4,200 are Indians. Most of the German universities are sponsored by the state to keep study-fees affordable, and the number of scholarships available keeps increasing. Moreover, studying in Germany is not just restricted to the German medium alone. Over 500 International Degree Programmes (IDP) offer courses that are entirely or partly taught in English. Degrees in Germany are offered in the two-tier international system of bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Germany is an increasingly attractive place to study, offering international degree programmes such as Bachelor and Master degrees and a system which enables credits for attendance and examination passes to be accumulated and transferred. With about 330 institutions of higher education it is one of the leading countries in the field of science & technology and research.

Applying for admission at German universities has now become easy with the “assist” scheme that offers assistance for international students. The virtual advisor “Dany” from DAAD will also be of help for general questions.

Vocational education (or dual education).

General education has three levels – lower secondary school, intermediate or secondary school and upper secondary school. There are only very few comprehensive schools, especially in an integrated form in the North of Germany. The higher education of Germany comprises of Universities, Technical Universities and Colleges of education and specialized colleges. In addition to general universities, there are lots of technical, theological, art, music, pedagogical and specialized universities located in Germany . Studies last from 6 years to 8 years and leaving certificates depend on the subject selection and level of study.

The certifications will lead to graduation, diploma and other awards. Students who want to acquire a further qualification have to write a final examination in order to get a PhD (Doctoral degree). Vocational education in Germany is a dual educational system that most of the students opt for at the end of compulsory schooling. It has a vocational training contract, which helps young people to acquire professional education, skills and training in enterprises. This contract guarantees a legal apprenticeship. Vocational schools, specialized vocational schools, vocational extension schools and specialized schools also belong to the vocational educationsystem.

Government and non-government institutions run another important part of the educational system of Germany known as ‘Adult education’. The whole education system in Germany is controlled by the state. Germany is becoming an increasingly attractive study destination for students across the world. Not only the absolute number of foreign students at German universities is on the rise, but also the overall population of students has risen to almost double in the last two decades.

Eligibility

• MASTERS – 16 YEARS EDUCATION
• BACHELOR -10+2 YEARS OF EDUCATION
• INTERNSHIP PROGRAM – 15 YEARS OF EDUCATION
• GRE / GMAT – Some schools will require these tests. It is advisable to do them as you are competing from students all around the world.
• TOEFL / IELTS – These are required unless you get a letter from the University saying it has been waived for you.
• Work Experience – Students with prior work experience are given preference in good business schools.
• German is not a requirement but is recommended

Student visa details

Students who intend to study in Germany will have to apply and get a student visa. There are different official visa procedures to apply and get the student-visa for studying in Germany . The nearby German Embassy or Consulate General in your country is the authority to process your student-visa procedures and students mostly will be interviewed by the visa officers to satisfy the conditions of the Germany ‘s visa rules. To acquire any type of student visa to enter Germany , international students must have the following:

• A valid passport
• To provide documental proof of financial means to cover the expenses for your entire period of study in Germany , and
• To have either university admission or at least a confirmation of your status as an applicant.

In order to receive your visa for Germany in right time, international students must submit their application with all associated documents at least couple of months before they plan the trip to Germany . Also, students must fill in the application form and bring it with the complete set of documents to the Embassy. Further, if students have any queries regarding their visa to Germany , they can contact the nearby German Embassy. After the step-by-step processing of the student-visa formalities, the international students may be issued one of the following three types of student-visa for Germany (according to the requirement of the students and the conditions and satisfaction level of the visa officers):

• Student applicant visa
• Student visa
• Visa for participation in a language course
• For more details on obtaining student visa for Germany , students can contact the nearby German embassy.

After you graduate

Foreign students may work in Germany for up to one year after graduating; however the job must be related to the field of study. Germany is a country which highly values education and vocational training, research and the sciences