Obtaining higher education in Germany is an exciting and promising adventure that opens up new horizons and provides unique opportunities. German diplomas are recognized and valued in most countries of the world. The first steps towards studying in Germany are the key to a successful start to your educational journey.
Let's take a look at the main steps and recommendations that will help you start your studies successfully and avoid common mistakes in order to achieve your educational goals.
Table of contents
Specialty selection
Studying in Germany requires a lot of effort; you should not take risks by choosing a program at random. It is important to study not only those subjects that bring pleasure, but also those that are in demand in the labor market. Most students dream of staying in Germany after studying, but few are aware of the necessary conditions to obtain a residence permit.
As a graduate or graduate of a German university, you will receive residence permit for 18 months after successful completion of training to find a job. During this period you will have full access to the labor market. To renew your residence permit, you must submit a formal job offer that matches your qualifications. Therefore, the proposed activity must have a connection with your education.
To assess whether you will encounter difficulties finding a job after completing your studies, just visit the German job search website (StepStone, Federal agency for work) and assess your prospects, as well as analyze the level of salaries in areas of interest to you (for example, on the website Gehalt.de)
How to choose the right university and faculty
Let's decide on the land
There are no bad universities in Germany. There are renowned educational institutions, universities with a respected reputation, as well as small institutes. It's worth considering that housing is difficult to find in larger cities such as Munich, Hamburg and Cologne: the cost of living here is usually higher and finding housing can be difficult. It is better not to pin your hopes on hostels in large cities. Your job chances are not much different whether you graduated from a large or a small university. Also note that education in the state of Baden-Württemberg is for citizens not EU paid! Refugees from Ukraine are exempt from fees.
Choosing a university
Compare all universities offering a program in your field. Select an educational institution and read reviews about it. Research each university's curriculum thoroughly, looking for differences, similarities, practical training and opportunities to study abroad (Auslandssemester). Evaluate how each university makes its educational program unique.
The main features of the programs that you should pay attention to:
- Mandatory practical semester, lasting at least 3 months during study.
- The presence of practical subjects throughout the study, with a slight advantage in favor of Hochschulen over universities.
- Emphasis on current subjects, for example, in the field of IT - innovative projects, in the field of economics - in-depth study of online and modern aspects (see Modulhandbuch).
- Schwerpunkte is an in-depth study in a specialty. Most students decide to choose a major after the third semester. Therefore, it is useful to find out in advance about the availability of interesting areas at the faculty or whether it is a traditional bachelor's/master's degree.
Faculties with guaranteed admission and Numerus Clausus
There are certain faculties where you have a 100% chance of admission. Their description usually contains the phrase OHNE NUMERUS CLAUSUS or admission-free, which means no restrictions. If your GPA is low, consider choosing at least one of these majors for admission. Typically these are faculties with low demand (German studies, sociology, philology), high demand from the labor market and the economy (electrical engineering, agriculture), as well as faculties at universities with good funding. This does not indicate the low quality of the university level.
But in most cases you will see the phrase on the faculty page NUMERUS CLAUSUS (NS) or zulassungsbeschränkt, which means that the demand for the specialty is too high and selection takes place based on the best average scores. In addition, all universities in Germany have a separate quota for foreigners, which means that the average score of foreign applicants will be compared only with the scores of other foreign applicants.
Difference between Universität and Hochschule
What is the difference between Hochschule and Universität - both are considered higher education institutions and provide diplomas of the same quality. The only difference is the curriculum:
University
strives to provide each specialty with a significant proportion of practical subjects and internships.
Hochschulen professors and associate professors are required to have practical experience in their field.
University
prefers a theoretical approach. The only form of practice is a practical semester.
For Universität professors and associate professors, teaching may be the only practical experience in their field.
Can I enroll in a German university?
- Schoolchildren after 9th grade do not have the right to enroll in educational institutions in Germany (Studienkolleg, Uni, Hochschule). You must complete at least 11 classes.
- Schoolchildren after 11th grade cannot enroll in universities in Germany, but they have the opportunity to complete a preparatory program at Studienkolleg or similar ones (Sonderlehrgänge, Abendgymnasium) in order to gain admission to higher education institutions in Germany (Abitur).
- University students have several options. If you have completed 1-2 years at a university (the duration depends on the country of study, only state universities are confirmed and only full-time), you can immediately apply to any university in Germany, but only for the same specialty in which you are studying. If you want to change your major, you need a suitable Abitur, for example from the Studienkolleg.
- People with higher education (bachelor, specialist, master) can apply for a bachelor's degree in any direction in Germany. You can also apply for a master's degree, but you should first check with the university whether your diploma is suitable for admission. The transition from a higher education in one specialty to a master's degree in another is impossible, with the exception of private universities, but because of this, they usually show less confidence in them.
- People with secondary specialized education (after colleges, technical schools, etc.) must successfully complete at least 1 year of university in their home country in order to be eligible to enter universities in Germany.
You can check whether you can enroll in German universities with your education on the Uni-Assist website.
Studienkolleg
Studienkolleg are educational institutions where foreign citizens who have completed secondary education (grade 11), but do not meet German requirements, are trained for admission to any university in Germany. The need for Studienkolleg does not depend on you personally, but on the level of your education.
How to choose a course at Studienkolleg:
- M-kurs – Suitable for future students in the fields of medicine, biology and pharmacy.
- T-Kurs - Focuses on mathematics, science and technology.
- W-kurs — intended for those interested in economics and sociology.
- G-kurs — designed for those who are going to study the humanities and German studies.
- S-kurs — designed for language teaching.
Entry requirements:
- Knowledge of the German language at an intermediate level (B1-B2, depending on the Studienkolleg).
- Passing the entrance exam.
Requirements may vary depending on the Studienkolleg and specialization. Both exams in the German language and additional exams in specialized subjects (for example, mathematics, biology, etc.) are possible. Example texts can be found on the official website of the Studienkolleg, for example at FH-KielAt Uni Heidelberg.
The Studienkolleg is taught entirely in German. Even if you plan to study in English in the future, you still need to have knowledge of German to enter the Studienkolleg. Although there is an entrance exam in German, to apply to the Studienkolleg you need documentary evidence of knowledge of German at level B1 or B2. In some Studienkollegs, exemption from the entrance exam (as well as from subsequent classes) in German is possible when providing language certificates at level C1.
Language certificates
To enter a university in Germany, you will definitely need to pass a language exam. There are several main language exams - TELC C1 Hochschule, TestDaF, DSH. Each of them has its own characteristics, which you can find out on their websites. Let's look at the key differences:
TestDaF and DSH can be taken at B2 and C1 and only in whole. TELC can only be taken at C1 and if you fail part of the exam, you can retake one part (written or oral).
You should also check which exam is recognized by your university. In this regard, the DSH has the advantage of being taken at universities and recognized by almost all educational institutions.
Starting your studies in Germany is an exciting time, full of opportunities and challenges. The first steps taken in this direction become the basis for successful learning and an important stage in your personal and professional growth. Regardless of your chosen field or educational level, proper planning, adapting to your new environment, and striving to achieve your goals will ensure you have a strong start and an unforgettable experience. Remember that every step brings you closer to your goal, and studying in this country is an opportunity not only to gain knowledge, but also to immerse yourself in a unique cultural experience.
May your educational journey in Germany be full of success!
The best institutes in Germany
As already mentioned, in Germany you are unlikely to find low-quality higher education. Nevertheless, many prefer to rely on international ratings. Below you will find a list of the best universities in Germany according to QS World University Rankings 2024. The rating is based on an analysis of 17,5 million scientific articles and expert opinions from more than 240 educators and employers.
Since the analysis takes into account academic results to a greater extent, you will not find Hochschule on the first lines of such studies, given their practical orientation of education, rather than scientific.
- TUM (TU München)
- LMU Munich
- Uni Heidelberg
- Free University of Berlin
- RWTH Aachen
- KIT Karlsruhe
- HU Berlin
- TU Berlin
- Uni Freiburg
- Uni Hamburg
- Uni Tübingen
Best Medical Universities in Germany
The leaders in international rankings are: Universität Heidelberg, LMU München, Charité Berlin and Universität Tübingen.
Best Universities for Law
Top 3 universities for future lawyers: LMU München, Universität Bayreuth, Bucerius Law School in Hamburg (private institute).
Top Universities in Economics
Universität Mannheim is considered one of the best universities in business economics, followed by LMU in München and Universität Köln.
Top Universities for Computer Science and Engineering
RWTH Aaachen and KIT Karlsruhe focus on strong research activities. Next up are TU München and TU Berlin.
