Study & Careers in Germany & Europe

In Germany there are many ways to find a suitable University placement or appropriate traineeship.

For the initial orientation, it is possible to sit a personality test in advance, which helps to determine in more detail a student’s strengths and weaknesses which can make choosing a career later much easier.

By taking this test, you can learn more about your personality, making selecting your career path easier - Personality test.

By following this link, you can see which particular degree might be of  interest to you - Studium-Interessentest.

And with this link, you can test your vocational orientation - Orientierungstest.
 
If you already have specific career plans there are many websites, you can visit. These websites can be particularly helpful when searching for training, study locations or courses and offer a wide range of possibilities relating to your chosen profession.

By visiting the following website, you can search for study paths and guidelines-Studiengänge in Deutschland. 

The following link will assist you to find appropriate training courses or integrated degree programs- Ausbildung und duales Studium in Deutschland.

International Opportunities - www.internationalstudent.com  

General admission restrictions
Costing & Financing
Scholarships
Living arrangements

General admission restrictions

In Germany there are free and admission-restricted degree programs. If a degree has unlimited admission, each applicant is offered a place. Some universities require additional entrance exams for all applicants of Art subjects.

In addition, there are local courses which have a restricted number of places depending on the number of applicants and places available. Individual universities have different enrolment procedures (admission tests, Year 12 results, work experience, candidate interviews etc).

Study placements, where the degree is restricted to a specific number of candidates nationwide, are distributed by the Foundation for Admissions to higher education and currently include - Medicine, Dentistry, Vet Science and Pharmaceuticals.

The current allocation provisions from the Foundation are as follows: 20% Abitur graduates, 60% University selection procedure, 20% waiting time. More detailed information can be found via the following link-Hochschulstart.

The numerus clausus (NC) colloquially refers to the Abitur average required to obtain a placement. To do this, you must convert your final IB mark into an Abitur mark.

y = 1 + 3 ((42-X) /18)                                                     

The following should be noted:

  • y          the required German award average
  • X          IB Note

Costing & Financing

Those students who wish to study in Germany should research the costs involved, as this will play a major role when planning their studies. It is important to assess the estimated costs well in advance to ensure you have enough finances in place.

General costing

Food, living, clothing and cultural costs in Germany are around the EU average. The largest cost component is rent (approximately 1/3 of all costs). Further details are available on the following websites:

German Student Union: International students

Study in Germany: Proof of financial resources

Those who wish to study in Germany must provide proof of financial resources. Currently the studying costs are about €8,800 per year. This can be in the form of the parents’ income statements, a security amount on a blocked account, a bank guarantee or a recognised scholarship.

Study fees

As a rule, Germany does not charge any university fees and only certain master programs may cost tuition fees, which are usually relatively low. However, most private universities do charge tuition fees, which can be significantly higher.

Semester Fees

Every student in Germany pays a semester fee. This comprises contributions to the student services and the students union (AStA). 

Semester contributions

Typically, this amount includes a semester ticket, which allows you to use public transport in the area. This amount must be paid before the start of the new semester and, depending on the university, is between €100 and €350.   

Scholarships

The DAAD’s website provides different possibilities to have a glimpse of scholarships on offer:

  


Living arrangements

Most students in Germany live either in their own apartment or in student dorms. One should arrange living arrangements before departing for Germany. Usually students are responsible for finding their own rooms or apartments. This distinguishes Germany from other countries, as they do not automatically receive accommodation at German universities.

 Dormitory’s: Listing of dormitory’s in Germany www.study-in.de  

Anyone who requires additional help with their search can contact the Local Student Union as a useful starting point.