Why study in Germany: Germany continues to be a leader in providing a world-class education to students across the globe. The number of Indian students flocking to Germany for education continues to rise. As per the latest figures released by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, the number of Indian students in Germany has grown by 20.85% over the last year and stands at 25,149 (Winter Semester 2019-20). Indian students comfortably make up the second-largest group of international students enrolled at German universities. So what makes Germany such a preferred destination for Indian as well as international students looking to study abroad? Let us find out.
Top Reasons to Study in Germany
Why study in Germany? Listed below are some of the top reasons that are sure to make you consider Germany as your next viable destination for studying abroad.
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World-Class Universities
Germany is home to some of the top universities in the world. By choosing to study in Germany, students are assuring themselves of world-class education coupled with practical training at state-of-the-art universities across the country. A globally recognized degree after graduating from Germany would also lead to higher job prospects across Germany in the international marketplace.
Wide Course Selection
Germany does not only boast top universities but also a wide range of courses for candidates from all walks of life. Since Germany has such rich history and a strong presence of universities/colleges spread across the country, there is a large number of Bachelors, Masters, PhD, language and certificate courses tailor-made to suit the preference of most students wanting to study in Germany. Read: Top Courses in Germany: Engineering
English Taught Programmes
One of the biggest hurdles of studying in any European country is the language barrier. A lot of times, candidates are under the impression that knowing German is mandatory while seeking admission to universities in Germany. Well, this is not true. While Public Universities do require students to know German as part of their admission process, private universities do not have such a mandate. English is the preferred mode of teaching and communication in most private universities in Germany.
Public Universities in Germany
Students fascinated with the education system in Germany would be aware of the fact that Public Universities in Germany do not charge tuition fees but have an administration fee that needs to be paid at the start of every semester. The amount is minimal. However, this is just half the picture. The admission process in Public Universities is extremely competitive because of the large number of applications they receive every intake. Moreover, candidates would have to undertake a rigorous application process to even be considered for admission to any of the Public Universities in Germany. Note: Knowing certificate level German is compulsory as part of the admission process. Read: Public Universities in Germany with Courses in English
Related Reads on Why Study in Germany
| Cheap and Affordable Universities in Germany | |
| Country Guide to Germany | Study in Germany: Timeline for University Intake |
Low Cost of Studying
Why study in Germany: The cost of studying is primarily made up of two factors, the Cost of studying and the Cost of living in a country. The low cost of studying in Germany when compared to the US and the UK has made it one of the top destinations for international students.
Cost of studying in Germany
The cost of studying in Germany is low compared to countries such as the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA). The table below shows us the comparison between popular courses in Germany, the UK and the USA. Kindly note that while the fees shown below is the average first-year tuition fee, however, it does set the tone of how much a student would be required to shell out during his entire tenure.
| Country |
Cost of studying in Germany |
Cost of Studying in the UK |
Cost of Studying in the USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Tuition Fee by Course (First Year) |
|||
| BE / B.Tech |
INR 92.16 Thousand |
INR 19.57 Lakhs |
INR 24.93 Lakhs |
| MS |
INR 66.37 Lakhs |
INR 21.24 Lakhs |
INR 21.92 Lakhs |
| MBA |
INR 12.46 Lakhs |
INR 20.51 Lakhs |
INR 26.71 Lakhs |
source: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/
Cost of living in Germany
Similarly, the cost of living in Germany is low compared to countries such as the USA and the UK. The figures provided below would increase or decrease depending on your location of stay i.e. accommodation/ single stay in the city would be more expensive compared to accommodation in the suburbs and on sharing basis. Germany does have a mandatory Blocked Account system – Where you need to keep the finances of the entire year secured in a bank in Germany. You would be allowed to withdraw a month’s living costs at a time.
Starting September 1, 2019, this amount has been set at €10,236 for an entire academic year. This amount roughly translates to €853/month. For a student, this is the minimum amount a student would need to cover accommodation, living expenses, and even travel pass costs. The candidate would be required to pay an additional maintenance fee + service charge depending on his preferred bank which is over and above the amount mentioned.
| Country | The average cost of living (First Year) |
|---|---|
| Cost of living in Germany | INR 3.90 Lakhs |
| Cost of living in the UK | INR 5.76 Lakhs |
| Cost of living in the USA | INR 7.93 Lakhs |
Source: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/
Germany Student Visa
The German Student Visa allows students several benefits. The student visa would allow you to work part-time for 20 hours a week during term and take up full-time employment during vacations. Candidates are allowed to work for a total of 120 full or 240 half days in a year as a student. The German Study Visa is a powerful student visa, as it doubles as a Schengen visa and allows you access to all Schengen Countries. Germany is located in the heart of Europe and has excellent travel links with surrounding countries such as France and the Netherlands.
Post Study Work Permit
Candidates on completing their master or bachelor or doctorate studies can apply for and get a Residence Permit for 18 months. This is termed the Post Study Work Permit (PSWP). The Immigration Laws in Germany permit International students to apply for and get a Residence Permit of 18 months to look for a job as per their qualification. Candidates should note that courses of all duration would be eligible for an 18-month stay back period in Germany and this is over your German Student Visa tenure.
Career Opportunities
The Covid 19 has left devastating effects on every country. While economies are still reeling under the aftereffects of the pandemic, the German economy has begun to pick up speed and is expected to grow by around 2% in 2021. While the forecasts do show a limited growth rate, there is a strong rebound predicted by the end of 2022. This should be a positive tick for selecting Germany as a study abroad destination. Germany is also home to top companies such as Volkswagen, Daimler AG, Allianz, BMW and Siemens to name a few all looking to hire new graduates.
Hands-on Learning Experience
Universities in Germany believe that the best way to learn is to indulge in practical training. The courses designed at the universities in Germany require candidates to apply their knowledge in practice and have a practical approach to learning. Often universities are found collaborating with German companies in business projects to provide students with an experience of real-life work situations preparing them for life after university. Guest lectures and practical training are a way of life at universities in Germany.
Safe and Diversity
Germany is one of the safest countries in the world. The country is politically stable and its population is a diverse potpourri of people from every section of society. International students would feel safe in a country like Germany where the law and order of the land are held very high. Read: Studying in Germany: All you need to know
International Exposure
As Germany is a hub of engineering studies and the de facto head of the European countries, there is a lot of international students flocking to the country to study and work. This allows Indian students to expose themselves to the global crowd and prepare themselves for the international jobs market.
The benefits of studying in Germany are endless. The ones mentioned above are a select few that would nudge to making Germany your next study abroad destination. If you need assistance with your application process, feel free to reach out to our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors.
Also, Read
| Education Loan for Studying in Germany | |
| Steps to Study in Germany for Free | Scholarships to study in Germany |
Why Germany?
Popular reasons to study in Germany: Still not convinced about studying in Germany? Candidates looking for more reasons to study in Germany can check out quick facts about Germany that are sure to convince them about making Germany their next study destination.
- Berlin - the capital of Germany is often referred to as the start-up technology capital of Europe. Berlin is the largest city in the European Union and has encouraging business prospects for candidates, both young professionals and graduates, looking for job opportunities in the country.
- Germany boasts a strong economy and is one of the most popular study destinations for international students wanting to study in Europe. The education system in Germany is renowned for its high quality and seriousness.
- The country boasts one of the best unemployment rates in the European Union that currently dwindles at 4.31% (source: Statista 2020)
- Germany also has one of the best Graduate starting salaries at £40,650 in Europe. Do keep in mind that the German economy is a growing economy.
Indian Students studying in Germany: Demographics
Why Study in Germany: There must be a lot of curiosity to understand the trends that have been set by students studying in Germany. Read on as we give you a peek into the demographics of Indian students in Germany. Home to automobile giants such as Audi AG, BMW and the Volkswagen Group, Germany has always been considered the mecca for engineering studies for Indian students.
A whopping 67% of Indian students joined German universities to study Engineering, followed by 15% of Indian students opting for Management and Social Studies and 12% deciding to pursue Mathematics & Natural Sciences (Winter Semester 2019-20). Of these, 63% of Indian students chose universities or technical universities (TU) and the remaining 37% enrolled themselves at universities of applied sciences (FH). While 72.6% of these are male students, the remaining 27.4% are female. (source: DAAD) Read: Difference between FH and TU Germany
With the onset of the pandemic, the study abroad industry suffered drastically and came to a scathing halt. However, recent figures released by the uni-assist, and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), show almost 60,000 prospective international students from over 180 countries, applied for admission to a German university for the winter semester of 2020. Thus, it is safe to assume, the interest of international applicants in studying in Germany remains unbroken.
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With over 8 years of experience in overseas education, Rahul Singha has been previously associated with prominent education houses. He is also responsible for keeping a sharp eye on education policies of major study... Read Full Bio
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