How To Apply For A Bachelor’s Degree in Germany

35% of all international students enrolled at German universities are seeking a Bachelor degree. It’s not hard to see why Bachelor’s study programs in Germany enjoy this unmatched popularity.

A German bachelor degree will equip you with a strong theoretical and practical understanding of your professional field open doors toward your future career and academic pathway.

To apply for a Bachelor’s degree in Germany you need a detailed step-by-step guide.

Follow the steps below to apply for a Bachelor’s degree program in Germany:

Choose the University and the Bachelor program

First, you need to decide what bachelor’s program is ideal for you and at what university you would like to study. In Germany, there are a lot of universities and study programs available for international students covering a wide range of subjects.

The structure and study modules of these courses are freely accessible to incoming students so you can compare your studying preference with their Bachelor programs.

When choosing a university and a Bachelor’s program, we suggest you take into consideration two things:

• The university and its location
• The content of the course

The former will indicate to a large degree the overall cost of your studies and your further educational career. If your university is located in a big city then it will influence the total cost of living in Germany as a foreign student. On the other hand, if you’re an ambitious and highly skilled student, you may prefer to narrow down the list of universities to only the most reputed ones.

Second, your understanding of the course content will remove the doubts you may have about what you want to study and will help you decide which course would suit your desires. There may be courses offered in your professional field, but its curriculum may not perfectly fit your academic goals.

For instance, the study modules of your chosen course may cover every subject you’re willing to learn, but you’re more interested to carry on more practical sessions while the course contains limited experiments.

Check the requirements

After you have made up your mind to seek a degree in a specific Bachelor program you must now see what are the entry requirements. For this purpose, you must visit the university website. Usually, every university’s website has a particular section where application requirements are explained in details.

Keep in mind that this stage is very important because every minor detail counts. During this stage, your application process starts for real and small errors can cost with a failed application in the end. To avoid this it is always to take as much time as required to precisely understand all requirements. And in case there is something unclear you must contact the university right away to seek guidance

The requirements change depending on the university you’re applying. Aside from minor variations, these are the major requirements for applying for a Bachelor’s degree in Germany:

• High School qualifications
• Your grades from previous education
• Entrance Qualification
• German language proficiency
• Motivation letter or references (optional)
• Copies of ID documents

Learn the German language

The absolute majority of Bachelor programs at German universities are taught in the German language. Therefore, in order to be admitted you need to show excellent proficiency in the German language. Usually, you can prove your language proficiency by submitting a German language standardized test.

The level of language required, changes depending on your course and the standardized test you have undertaken. For example, a C2 certificate from Goethe Institute would be acceptable from universities.

Note that some universities may depart from this golden rule and may admit you under the condition you will undergo a German language preparatory course before starting the regular course.

But if you don’t want to lose time to yourself and move directly to your regular course (which normally should be your first option) we suggest you learn German before you come to study in Germany. Furthermore, you must learn the German language even if your course is taught in English because you will be having conversations in the German language with locals while you’re living there.

Prepare financial means

Non-EU and non-EEA international students need a German student visa to study in Germany and are required to have enough financial means to study in Germany to handle the cost of studying and living. As of this year, you must have a minimum of €11,208 in a blocked bank account to be issued a student visa.

To Highly Increase Your Chances of Getting Your Student Visa You Should Use a Blocked Account as Proof of Financial Resources.

Click here to learn more about the German Blocked Account

This is a lot of money for a normal student, therefore, you must face this concern a long time ago, before the time to make an application it comes. It is preferable you start saving money at least four to six months before student visa application.

During that time you can also seek financial resources for international students in Germany, whose number is fortunately large enough.

Submit your application

After you have collected all documents required for an application and have gone through checking them several times, it’s time to apply for your favourite study course. The majority of German universities participate in the online application platform UniAssist.de but there are few others which run their own platform.

Moreover, some universities may require you to apply online on their website alongside your submission in UniAssist. Since it entirely depends on the university’s own application policies you must contact them and see in what ways you can run your application.

Wait for the admission letter

Once the university confirms it has received an application from you, sit back and wait. At this point, you have no other option rather being patient.

As you would expect, German universities collect a large number of applications from resident and foreign applicants and the processing of your application takes time.

Usually, it depends on the applications load of your university. Highly reputed universities receive a large number of applications and therefore application processing takes time. A missing document in your application can also account for additional admission delays.

Get health insurance

Health insurance in Germany for international students is mandatory. You must seek to get health insurance in Germany once you receive the admission letter from your university. There are two types of health insurance you can choose among in Germany: public and private.

Remember that while being health insured is mandatory, you’re free to decide which type of insurance and which provider you want to choose.

Most International Students in Germany Prefer DR-WALTER.

The insurance tariff EDUCARE24 by DR-WALTER is suitable for the following groups of people:

• Foreign exchange students, language students and students participating in university preparatory courses (Studienkolleg)
• University students
• Participants in exchange programmes (e.g. ERASMUS, DAAD, SOKRATES)
• Trainees
• Accompanying family members

Still have questions about health insurance? Learn more about health insurance in Germany from experts.R within a few minutes

Get a student visa

Finally, you’ve entered the final stage of your application for a Bachelor’s program in Germany. Citizens of countries rather than the EU and EEA must get a visa to study in Germany.

To find out if you need to apply and what are the documents you need to collect in order to apply for a visa to get a bachelor degree in Germany, please read our article “Germany Student Visa Requirements, Fees and Application Process“!

It is also important you start the whole process at least three months before commencing your studies because the embassy is not concerned about the time when your course will begin.

Applying For a Master’s Degree in Germany

Variety of programs, many masters courses taught in English, affordable cost of studying, award-winning curriculums, greater emphasis on students’ hands-on experience and surely excellent future prospects are what best describe master’s degree courses in Germany.

That said, taking the decision to apply for a Master’s degree in Germany is easy. But for many international students who have no prior knowledge about the German education system carrying on an application for a master course is a bit intimidating.

Here are the 8 steps to apply for a Master’s Degree in Germany:

1. Find a suitable university and program

When deciding to study for a master’s degree in Germany you need first to identify your future academic and career goals if you haven’t already. Then you need to process with the selection of the university and master’s program which will perfectly match with those desires. At this point, you have countless options available and regardless of your studying preferences, you will certainly find something attractive.

Since there is such a large number of universities and master programs available you must do a little research before choosing one. Start by taking into consideration some important traits for you, like study modules, the location of the university, tuition fees, practical sessions, etc.

Check out the list of Master’s degree study programmes in Germany

Based on these assumptions, it will be easy for you to come up with a list of universities and programs that would probably fit your desires. From there you can narrow down your focus to just a few of them and finally decide which one you’re taking.

2. Check the requirements

Now that you have set your target it’s time to know what you need in order to get there. Said otherwise, you must check the requirements for the course of your choice. Normally, German universities offer access to this information from their official websites.

Be careful because there are different entry requirements applied within the same university and you must be one hundred percent sure you’re reading the genuine section. Recalling that every minor error at this stage may lead to a failed application, it’s recommended you reach the university by mail for every single issue you have regarding this stage of application.

3. Language proficiency

German universities admit students who have a strong knowledge, either in the English language or in the German language to communicate and understand what is taught in classes. In contrast to undergraduate courses, at the master level, there are many courses taught in English language either partially or completely. To prove your language proficiency you must undertake a language standardized test prior to your application.

The level of language proficiency required to apply for a Master’s degree in Germany varies depending on your chosen university, chosen course and the exam you have taken. If you want to study social sciences you must have a perfect knowledge of the language at which the course is taught. On the other hand, in natural sciences, you will have to do more with lab sessions and math tasks where the need for a higher level of language is not high.

4. Submit your application

After you have collected all the required documents and you have checked multiple times if there’s everything included it’s time to submit your application for the master’s degree course in Germany. You can apply for a master’s degree in Germany via the Internet by using the means of an online application platform.

Most German universities use a mutual platform known as UniAssist.de. There you can create a personal account, choose your favorite master’s course and upload scanned application documents. Notice that some universities run their own online application platform and only receive application being submitted to it. You can gain access to this information at the university’s website.

5. Wait for the admission letter

Now it is time for you to take a deep breath and let the university completes its part of the job. Meanwhile, you can use this time to tackle other upcoming issues which are explained in the sections below.

Universities in Germany collect a large number of applications and going through each of them takes time. Normally, the processing of your application takes several weeks. In some occasions their response may take more time than it probably should because there may be issues related to your documents or because of their heavily loaded agenda and your application doesn’t include everything. Fortunately, students cannot keep track of their application processing as the universities don’t give that information.

6. Get health insurance

Everyone living in Germany is obligated to be health insured, including here foreign students, regardless of their citizenship. EU students may not be required to get health insurance in Germany if they’re entitled to the European health insurance system, but it’s not a fundamental principle, hence they need to ask whatsoever.

If you’re an EU student, you must contact responsible authorities to see if your EHIC card covers you in Germany and you’re allowed to apply for a master’s degree in Germany. On the other hand,  if you’re a non-EU student, you must get health insurance regardless.

Most international students in Germany prefer to get health insured with DR-WALTER.

EDUCARE24 by DR-WALTER is suitable for the following groups of people:

• Foreign exchange students, language students and students participating in university preparatory courses (Studienkolleg)
• University students
• Participants in exchange programmes (e.g. ERASMUS, DAAD, SOKRATES)
• Trainees
• Accompanying family members

Still have questions about health insurance? Learn more about health insurance in Germany from experts.

Get DR-WALTER insurance online within a few minutes

We suggest you prepare for this stage long before your university confirms your place in the master course. Collect information about the procedures of getting a health insurance and arrange all documents so you save the much-needed time in the process of the application for a master’s degree course in Germany.

7. Get your finances in order

Based on the German government’s estimations, a foreign student studying in Germany needs to have in his bank account at least €934 per month or €11,208 as proof of financial resources per year to cover himself while in Germany. If you don’t possess this amount of money you won’t be permitted to get a student visa and study for a master’s degree in Germany.

Taking into account that this amount of money is high for a normal student it’s important you start dealing with the issue long before the application call is officially opened at your favorite German university. Overall, 4 months would account to a fair amount of time to save or collect money and look what other alternative options like scholarships and student loans you got.

8. Get your student visa

The final step to a successful application for a master’s degree in Germany. As a non-EU and non-EEA international student, you have to get a visa in order to be allowed to study in Germany.

Important Tip: To Maximize Your Chances of Getting Your German Student Visa You Should Use a Blocked Account as Proof of Financial Resources.

A blocked account is a special type of bank account, to prove you have enough funds to live in Germany for one year.

As of 2022, as a foreigner in Germany you need a minimum of €934 euros per month for living expenses. So, you are required to have a total of €11,208 in your bank account before you apply for a German internship visa.

Click here to learn more about the German Blocked Account

After you have completed all the steps above, you must reach the German embassy in your home country to collect information and initiate procedures for getting a student visa. Note that required financial means are among the requirements for student visa application so make sure you have solved that issue before the time for seeking a student visa it comes.

Timing is also important at this stage because the time required for processing your student visa application may exceed the enrollment deadline and the commencing of your master course.

Studying for MS in Germany

There are great opportunities for anyone wishing to pursue postgraduate studies in Germany ‘the land of ideas’. To international students, it offers the chance to contribute to the country’s historic academic records. The benefits of the most generous tuition fees make it ideal, as they are lower than in a lot of countries worldwide!

Germany’s higher education system is split between:

• public universities, which are administered by the state, and
• private universities, which are set up by independent companies, organizations, or charities.

The MAIN difference relies in their FUNDING METHODS.

Private universities usually charge more than public universities. Although, if the subject you are going for is not to be found in public universities, then private universities are especially useful for such courses.

Still, a very small percentage of the population and international students attend private universities, as the public ones cover a very wide variety of courses!

Public Universities in Germany

Every public university sets up their own:

• degree programs,
• assessments,
• examinations, and
• entry requirements.

The state controls:

• funding,
• fee policy and quality control, as well as
• accreditation of courses – so that they meet high academic standards.

Private Universities in Germany

Private universities are free to set their own fees – higher than the public universities – but, the degrees granted are fully recognized and they do meet appropriate quality standards.

Types of Universities that offer Master’s Degrees in Germany

There are four types of higher education in Germany

• Research Universities – are higher education institutions providing facilities and academic expertise to award students with degrees like Master’s and PhD. Most of Research Universities are publicly administered.
• Technical Universities – are a sub-group of research universities, as their focus is on science, technology, and engineering disciplines.
• Universities of Applied Sciences – are focused on engineering, business and social sciences. In many cases, they are partnered with professional or commercial organizations. More often than not, these universities do not award PhDs. Except when they are partnered with an organization for the sole purpose of delivering specialized PhD programs. A great number of Universities of Applied Sciences are private institutions.
• Colleges of Art, Film and Music – are specialized in offering instructions in the creative disciplines. They can be part of both, Research Universities or Universities of Applied Sciences. Some of these Universities operate independently. The candidates are required to possess creative skills and experience.

How do I choose the perfect university for my Master’s studies?

It may seem tough to choose the perfect university for your Master’s Degree, especially when offered as many opportunities as in Germany, but it all depends on the subject you are truly passionate about.

The most important differentiation is whether your focus is academic – in which case you should probably attend a Research or Technical University.

Meanwhile, if you are interested in picking up new vocational expertise or new professional skills, you should most probably choose one of the Universities of Applied Sciences.

Obviously, students that are more creative will benefit greatly from the German artistic heritage when applying for a postgraduate course at the Colleges of Art, Film and Music.

Master’s Program types and course structure

Germany follows the Bologna Process of study, which means standard three-cycle degree format:

• undergraduate studies (Bachelor’s Degree),
• postgraduate studies (Master’s Degree)
• and the preceding advanced postgraduate research (PhD level).

How long does a Master’s Degree last in Germany?

Depending on the semesters your discipline will have – the courses for the Master’s Degree may vary from:

• one,
• one and a half,
• up to two years long.

Whereas, one academic year is made up of two semesters! Your Master’s Degree will also include your final project; otherwise known as the dissertation that you will have to work on together with a mentor.

A fully independent postgraduate research in Germany is only done at the Ph.D. level.

How many ECTS credits is a Master’s Degree worth?

Usually, it is worth 120 ECTS credits, which you will earn during your two years (60 credits per year).

30 credits belong to your dissertation or research project that you will have to complete during your final semester!

The content of German Master’s programs in Germany

Master’s degrees are taught in courses that are further divided into separate modules or units of study. Depending on the course, you may learn through small-group seminars, lectures, practical workshops, fieldwork or directed independent study.

• Research Universities involve many core lectures, seminars, practical work and independent reading and study.
• University of Applied Sciences include more hands-on training and workshops organized by external industry figures and various experts.
• College of Art, Film and Music focused on developing and assessing your skills and proficiencies.

How does the process of dissertation go in Germany?

During the final year of your Master’s studies, you should WORK ON completing a project or a research task, an extended written dissertation or thesis. You will have the support and advice of an expert supervisor, yet you should always be the one to develop and demonstrate your own ideas and your academic expertise.

The EXAMINATION procedure of a Master’s dissertation is completed upon the evaluation of your presentation and the oral ‘defense’ as part of the assessment process. A short talk about your research topic and the answering of questions about your findings and conclusions are also included in the examination.

DO NOT FEEL OVERTHROWN, as this can actually be a very fulfilling experience for you!

What are consecutive and non-consecutive Master’s Degrees?

• Consecutive Master’s Degree refers to students wishing to follow a Master’s Degree directly from the same or a closely related field completed in a Bachelor’s Degree.
  In these courses, only candidates with a relevant Bachelor’s Degree will be accepted.
  Also, most applicants continue directly to a Master’s Degree without a significant gap after their Bachelor’s studies.
• Non-consecutive Master’s Degree refers to students that focus on a different though related area completed in their Bachelor’s Degree. Following non-consecutive courses may also require practical experience, except for the Bachelor’s Degree. Non-consecutive studies do not necessarily relate to an undergraduate topic. These kinds of studies are perfect for students who wish to continue with trainings and working in-between their undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Continuation of education is also part of the non-consecutive category!
• A Professional Master’s Degree focuses on vocational subjects, like teaching, nursing, lawyers, etc. The courses focus on regulated professions.

The requirements and fees for non-consecutive, consecutive, and professional Master’s Degrees vary! Consecutive programs may be free for students that continue immediately after undergraduate studies!

What is Numerus Clausus?

It is a restriction for the number of available places on particular courses (it means a restricted number of student admission).

Usually, programs associated with regulated professions are subject to Numerous Clausus in Germany, like medical professions: Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, etc.

The numerous clausus helps in maintain high quality and helps in having highly specialized professionals not exceed the future possible vacancies.

There are two types of Numerous Clausus in German universities:

Some are centrally restricted by the government, known as Central Numerous Clausus While other subjects are locally restricted by the universities, known as Local Numerous Clausus

Your university will let you know whether you chosen Master’s program is subject to any type of Numerous Clausus and its effects on your process of application.

Admission to centrally restricted subjects will be more strict and competitive, while locally restricted subjects will have a little more flexibility with the number of students admitted.

Admission Requirements for a Master’s in Germany

The most important document to provide for admission in Master’s Degree in Germany is a suitable Bachelor’s Degree. It does not have to be a German Bachelor’s Degree, but it still needs to be recognized by German universities.

How to get your diploma recognized in Germany?

Universities may also investigate your qualifications into more detail to ensure their relevance. It may involve the checking of the content of your undergraduate course and confirming you have earned a sufficient number of credits in relevant areas.

You also need to provide a high-school graduate certificate, known as Abitur in Germany, in case you may be required to present it.

In case your certificate or diploma is not recognized, you should get it verified for comparison to a German diploma in order to gain access to higher education in Germany. Depending on the country you obtained your Bachelor’s diploma, you will find out if it is acceptable in Germany or not. The German International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt) is responsible to determine if your diploma is recognized/qualified or not!

Further examinations are required for non-recognized certificates. You must take the PROPAEDEUTIC COURSE. This preparation gets you equipped with German universities’ requirements (like: language and study requirements and completing additional courses to get qualified) before the Master’s courses begin.

Courses are available for:

• Foreign students already admitted for study courses in Germany
• Foreign students that have not yet been admitted, but meet the requirements
• Foreign students not meeting requirements yet

Exceptions are valid for talented candidates who apply for admission in artistic fields/subjects. You can get admitted by only passing a few required tests or providing samples of your work, therefore check out on this regard beforehand!

The fee for the issuing of the assessment document is 200€.

Other admission requirements

Additional entry requirements may include:

• Certificate and transcript of your undergraduate studies.
• Details of your secondary education –some very competitive application processes may wish to know further details of an international’s education history.
• Interviewing – German universities may discuss your application and your experience in an arranged interview with you. The interview may be formal, especially in highly-competitive universities with limited places, or it can also be done over conferencing platforms, like Skype to make it easier on international students.
• Additional entry tests –this more often occurs in competitive universities, where you may be asked to complete an additional entry exam or take a standardized postgraduate admission test as part of your application. This can also be required in law, medicine, and other similar regulated professions in order to ensure the compatibility of your previous trainings. Also, business schools and MBA programs may require a particular score from recognized tests, like GMAT or GRE.

Any additional requirements should be made clear to you by your university before you apply!

Application Deadlines for a Master’s in Germany

Application deadlines vary between universities, but these two general times apply broadly:

• For September semester: Apply before 15 January
• For studies beginning in the winter semester: submit your application before 15^th of July

Make sure to check out beforehand the deadlines for your desired university, in case there are any differences with deadlines!

Language Requirements to study MS in Germany

Language is a requirement if you want to attend German-taught courses. The good thing is that German Universities offer many courses taught in English, in which case German language is not a requirement.

As far as German language, you will need to learn it beforehand if your courses are going to be in German.

• Programs in English will not require German language tests or certificates. But, if you are a non-native English speaker, then you will be required to take English language tests, such as TOEFL, IELTS, PTE. If you have completed your undergraduate studies in English, then you will not need to take any English language tests.
• Programs in German will require your German language test certificate as part of your application. Such tests are TestDaf (Test für Deutsch als Fremdsprache) and DSH (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang ausländischer Studienbewerber). A lower than proficient score will be accepted:
• If you continue learning the language in courses as soon as you get in Germany
• If you continue the German language course during the early stages of your Master’s Degree

To find more opportunities to study in English while in Germany, DAAD offers an international program search tool, which allows you to find the perfect program.

Applying before getting your undergraduate degree

It is common for students to apply for a Master’s Degree before completing their undergraduate studies. Usual,ly this happens in their final year of Bachelor’s Degree. Universities are aware of this and usually accept projected degree results, an attached transcript of your current progress and may also require a statement from your tutor/professor/course tutor.

Do international students need health insurance to study in Germany?

Health insurance is mandatory for all students in Germany, including postgraduate students. So, make sure you get the proper health insurance coverage while studying in Germany.

There are two types of health insurances:

• Public or otherwise known as STATUTORY health insurance, and
• Private health insurance

Most international students in Germany prefer to get health insured with DR-WALTER.

EDUCARE24 by DR-WALTER is suitable for the following groups of people:

• Foreign exchange students, language students and students participating in university preparatory courses (Studienkolleg)
• University students
• Participants in exchange programmes (e.g. ERASMUS, DAAD, SOKRATES)
• Trainees
• Accompanying family members

Still have questions about health insurance? Learn more about health insurance in Germany from experts.

Get DR-WALTER insurance online within a few minutes

Public health insurance companies in Germany:

• AOK Baden Württemberg
• Barmer GEK
• DAK – Gesundheit
• KKH – Kaufmännische Krankenkasse
• TK – Techniker Krankenkasse

For more information please read: Medical Insurance for International Students in Germany!

Study Visa Requirements for a Master’s Degree in Germany

Make sure you collect on time all the documents you typically need in order to apply for a German Student Visa.

For detailed information about Germany Visa requirements, go to www.germany-visa.org/student-visa/

Master’s Degree Fees in Germany

Master Degree fees in German universities depend whether your studies are consecutive or non-consecutive.

• Consecutive studies are usually considered free studies since you only have to pay semester fees, which cost around 100-200€, which include payment for enrollment, confirmation, administration and Semesterticket (a monthly public transportation ticket)
• Tuition fees are included for non-consecutive studies for a Master’s Degree, depending on program and university of choice.

Non-consecutive studies also include students who have completed their Bachelor’s studies outside Germany.

Private universities require obligatory tuition fees for both, consecutive and non-consecutive studies.

Prices for non-consecutive studies may start from around 6000€ per semester and up, especially higher prices are required for private universities.

Enrollment at the University

Once you get admitted as a student in a German higher education institution, the next process is getting enrolled or “matriculated” in studies. This process involves applying to get your courses registered, in order to be able to enroll in the academic lectures and exercises as well as to undergo the examination.

For more information please click: Enrolling at a German University!

Post-graduation opportunities with a German Master’s Degree

As German University certificates and diplomas are recognized internationally, you will be able to find great opportunities worldwide, if you do not want to continue living in Germany.

But, for those who wish to continue in Germany, there will be great opportunities to find a desired and profitable job.

You have the chance to continue learning from the newest technology, knowledge, scientific research, business, and everything you can think of!

Many great opportunities will also be shown to you through your university during your study period!

PhD in Germany for Indian Students

Getting a PhD in Germany for Indian students can seem complicated, but it really isn’t.

According to the latest enrollment data, German universities are home to around 380,000 international students with PhD candidates sharing around 10% of that number. Indian students, as the second largest group of international students in Germany, account for a significant portion of that PhD student population.

What makes Germany such an attractive study destination for Indian PhD students?

Germany is the second most popular study destinations in the world and their universities enjoy a firm and undeniable global reputation. They’re valued for top class education standards, leading academic staff, state of the art facilities, modern educational approaches, a great emphasis on the practice, a wide variety of courses and excellent job prospects.

All these features make Germany a perfect choice for Indian students, especially for PhD students who need a well-suited environment to get a fulfilling experience both professionally and personally.

If you’re an Indian student who wants to get your PhD degree in Germany all we have to do is to greet your decision and help you go get through the application process.

In order to help you with that, given below is a complete set of information about PhD in Germany for Indian students.

Eligibility

PhD degrees in Germany are open to all international students. Thus, your eligibility depends entirely on your previous academic background. German universities are global leaders and they only admit the best students. To achieve that your qualifications must meet the optimum standards as required. If your academic qualifications are recognized in Germany then you’re eligible to apply for a PhD.

Find a PhD degree

Finding a PhD degree in Germany is a bit more difficult than finding an undergraduate or a master’s degree. That’s mainly because PhD degrees in Germany are not only offered by universities but also from licensed companies engaged in the industrial sector.

Lucky for you, navigating this information is easy with the right management. Here is a completed and updated database of PhD degrees for you.

Important Information

In order for you to choose the right choice, it is important you know there are two types of  PhD degrees in Germany

Individual PhD Degrees

On an individual PhD degree course, you will carry out a research project under the professional provision of a personal tutor (Doktorvater/Doktomutter). Although your mentor will be informed about your progress at any time, this study program allows you to work a lot by yourself on your dissertation thesis. Note that individual PhD degrees in Germany can be offered by accredited universities and licensed companies engaged in the industrial sector.

To find such degree, you have to do a little research to see if there are universities in Germany offering PhD degrees in your field of interest. In addition to that, Universities can be used as a primary source of information to find available PhD degrees offered by industrial companies.

Structured PhD Degrees

Structured PhD degrees contain a small group of PhD students who are involved in a joint PhD project with a specific top. The team is supervised by a group of experts in that particular subject whose job is to mentor, advise and assess the progress PhD students have made at each stage. These PhD programs in Germany are instructed in English and last three to five years of full-time studies.

Requirements

PhD entry requirements for Indian students in Germany change variously due to several factors, including here your previous education, your nationality, the university and the course of your choice.

Indian students must submit the following documents to apply for a PhD degree in Germany:

• Master Degree recognized in Germany
• Proof of Language Proficiency
• Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of Recommendation
• Relevant Job Experience

Note that your qualifications attained in India must initially be accepted at the university or the institution you want to enroll. If it is assessed that your master degree does not qualify you for PhD studies in Germany, there is still a chance you will be admitted upon undertaking a fast-track preparatory course to teach you the skills and knowledge required in your regular PhD course.

Also, note that sometimes universities in Germany may admit international undergraduate students who are able to show top quality in a related field.

As per the Proof of Language, most PhD degree courses in Germany are taught in English. That said, you need to undertake an English proficiency test, commonly TOEFL or IELTS. Since the language used at this academic level is advanced you must aim to score high otherwise the PhD provider in Germany may reject your application.

How to apply

After you have found your PhD degree course and complete all documents as required is time to submit your application. Keep in mind that the details of the application procedure may be typical of the university you’re willing to apply, therefore for e detailed explanation of the application process you must contact your PhD provider.

Usually, after you have found an available professional tutor for your individual doctorate degree, there is a committee in charge of deciding if your academic profile matches exactly the vacant place in their PhD programs.

In this case, the committee will need the following documents to assess if you’re the right candidate

• Certified copies of your qualifications
• A statement from your personal mentor
• Academic references
• Proof of Language Proficiency

Note that the application for PhD studies in Germany can be carried online by scanning your documents into PDF or JPG format. Also, keep in mind that the committee may also be interested in doing an interview with you through Skype. Basically, the interview will contain questions around your master studies and its relation to the PhD course you want to attend.

Cost of Getting a PhD in Germany for Indian Students

The cost of getting a PhD in Germany for Indian students includes both tuition fees and living costs.

Although tuition fees are introduced in some German states as of 2017, this change does not affect Indian PhD students. That said, all international students seeking a PhD degree in Germany carry no tuition fees at least for the standard length of a PhD course which is typically three years of full-time studies. Note that if it takes more than three years to complete your PhD studies certain fees may be applied.

While you won’t have to pay for university tuition fees there are still living costs you need to cover. But don’t worry because with the right management Germany turn to an easy, affordable place to live and study. If you want to read more about living costs for international students in Germany

German Student Visa

Every Indian student in Germany is obliged to have a student visa in order to legally stay in Germany for the period of their studies.

As soon as your PhD provider in Germany approves your admission you must go to the local German embassy and initiate a process for student visa application.

Below is given a list of documents you need to submit for your German Student Visa:

• Duly completed student visa application form,
• Valid passport (recommended with validity up to the period of studies or more),
• Recent Photos,
• Proof of mentors acceptance to supervise your doctoral thesis work– as a proof for your right of entry doctoral studies in Germany,
• Proof of health insurance,
• Proof of sufficient financial coverage for the given period of doctoral studies – typically a blocked German bank account,
• Certificates of education (all formal and informal education),
• Proof of sufficient German and/or English language skills (depending on the language of the doctoral program).
• To Increase Your Chances of Getting Your Student Visa for PhD You Should Use a Blocked Account as Proof of Financial Resources.

Learn more about the German Blocked Account at Expatrio

It is important you apply for your German student visa well in time to avoid any possible delay in your enrollment. Fortunately, master and PhD candidates in India who want to get a German student visa can appear at the local embassy without making an appointment beforehand, thus helping you to save a lot of time.

MBBS in Germany- Study Medicine With No Tuition Fees!

India is a country with a broad promise in the field of medicine. With the number of students wishing to study medicine increasing, it has been realised that Germany is the common choice for most of the students. This is because Germany has the lowest education packages for students wishing to study there. A little trivia: did you know that some of the top MCI approved medical universities are in Germany?  The level of education given at medical universities in Germany is of extremely high quality and gives the perfect exposure to students from India. One of the prime reasons why Germany should be on the top of your list to study MBBS is because a good amount of medical universities in Germany allocate free education for its international students. So before you think of choosing some other country to do your MBBS from, let us take you through an in-depth analysis of the prospects of studying MBBS in Germany.