EDUCATION SYSTEM IN GERMANY
The education system in Germany is divided into the following 5 levels:
Early Childhood Education
This is an optional education that children between 0-6 of age can receive in Germany.
For Kids Under the Age of 3
The main educational goal of German preschool education (under 3 years of age) is to develop communication skills in children. Second, it is the development of their language skills through social interaction with other toddlers and adults.
For Kids over the Age of 2
The main values that preschool education wants to develop in children are the growth in their teamwork skills and their level of integration into daily life activities.
Compulsory Education in Germany
All Germans are responsible for participating in primary and secondary education, from the age of 6 until they complete 9 years of full-time schooling in the Gymnasium or 10 full-time years, in case of other general schools..
German Primary Education
What does the Grading System in German Primary Schools Look Like?
- 1 means very good
- 2 means good
- 3 means satisfactory
- 4 means adequate
- 5 means poor
- 6 means very poor
Note: The primary schools don’t generally give out any leaving certificates, as they don’t take any examination for a child to complete this level.
German Secondary Education
Lower Secondary Education for students aged 10 – 15 or 16 in grades 5/9 up to 9/10. Lessons at this level are general in nature and serve as a prelude to higher secondary education. It should be noted that the Federal country of Germany offers secondary education in both
Higher secondary education is received by students between the ages of 15/16 – 18 years who have completed the lower level of secondary school to qualify for university admission or professional qualification. This level resumes all courses at the Lower Secondary level, which form the knowledge base of the students.
Germany’s publicly-funded secondary schools are:
- “Gymnasium”. Providing general knowledge and scientific work for intensive and intensive education, university studies.
- “Hauptschule”. Teaching that leads to basic general education, vocational or university admission qualification.
- “Realschule”. Providing a more comprehensive education can lead to qualifying for professional or university admission.
- “Schularten mit mehreren Bildungsgängen” (German schools offering more than one subjects). They offer 2-3 different study courses.
- German vocational schools. They provide lessons and practical assignments called dual systems. Vocational schools available in Germany are: Fachoberschule, Berufsoberschule, Berufsfachschule, Berufsschule, and Berufliches Gymnasium.
Germany’s private secondary schools are the following:
- Ersatzschulen (Alternative schools). Providing the same lessons and syllabus as government secondary schools.
- Ergänzungsschulen (Complementary schools). Additional curriculum teaching is also offered in government secondary schools.
German secondary education believes in achieving its objectives in the following way:
- By keeping kids emotionally, physically, as well as intellectually engaged.
- By teaching them the importance of independence, good decision making.
- By teaching them how to take their personal, social, as well as political responsibilities in life.
- By helping them achieve their educational goals.
- By helping them advance their unique skills and specialist knowledge.
What Grading system is used in the German Secondary Schools?
- 1 means very good
- 2 means good
- 3 means satisfactory
- 4 means adequate
- 5 means poor
- 6 means very poor
Tertiary Education in Germany
Students must earn 300 ECTS credit points, including previously qualified marks, to complete this degree. A student with a pre-qualifying bachelor’s degree will have to have obtained 360 ECTS marks, instead.
Other Higher Education Programs
Staatsprüfung – State Examination
Continuing Education
During this time or after completing the Bachelor’s or Master’s studies, students have the option to undertake additional 2 years of studies in their chosen field of academics, or to maybe specialize in a specific field of study. These are called postgraduate study courses.
PhD degree in Germany is a program adopted by highly qualified students, which can be opted for in any German university, in collaboration with non-university research institutes. There is no fixed time limit to complete doctoral studies, as it is a more intensive and personalized specialization.
The doctoral studies here include Independent research, and Oral examination, which is defence or “Rigorosum” of the doctorate thesis
There are several ways to get doctoral degrees here, such as:
- Individual and supervised doctorate
- Cooperative doctorate
- Structural doctorate
- Special doctorate
- International doctorate
BENEFITS TO STUDY IN GERMANY
Europe is a continent with just about every country beautiful and diverse – both geographically as well as culturally – in its own right. Most people who love to travel have at least one European country on their bucket list. Now, if you are already a European citizen who wants to study, work and live in Germany, you won’t need any additional permits to travel. But if you’re not, but you have German Student Visa which will allow you to live and move around all across Europe, as well as travel in the whole Schengen Area, hassle-free!
More than an estimated 60% of current foreign students work part-time while they study in Germany.
According to German law, students from abroad are allowed to work part-time for up to 120 full days of a year or 20 hours a week. To work longer than that, you will need specific permission. The two organizations which issue these permissions are Ausländerbehörde (the foreigners’ registration office) and Agentur fur Arbeit (the local employment agency). You can work for more hours if your job can be considered mandatory work under certain regulations. Also, there’s an exemption – you are allowed to work full-time if it is during your university breaks.
If you need any help in finding a job, we’d suggest you contact the student service within your university or contact the Federal Employment Agency in your local area.
Study programs at the universities here follow quite a contemporary structure, along with a nuanced pedagogical style. They are designed to meet up the current scientific developments and educate students to confidently face global challenges. They regularly revise their curriculum, aiming to find and/or create a better, more comprehensive approach to both teaching methods as well as research.
The degree you earn at the end of your course will be a globally recognized one, valued amongst employers, worldwide. The global job market provides tons of employability options, with German graduates being some of the highest-paid employees in the world.
German is the most spoken native language in Europe. Many of the German companies are world leaders that have an extensive network of branches all across the globe.
Thus, if you speak German, you’re essentially setting yourself in a better position than most other job seekers. In addition, German is also a widely-spoken language in the world; that means, it also allows you to travel the world and go places that you might have never been before!
Students from abroad enjoy numerous benefits, one of them being the access to student loan schemes.
Public student loan schemes usually do not charge any interest rate. Non-government resources, on the other hand, may give you a loan at some low rate of interests. Plus, they might put certain limitations on the amount of money you can borrow, and the time period within which you’re obligated to pay them back. Apart from these, there are a lot of German universities too that have established their own student loan schemes to support students from abroad.
Some of the places where you can try to secure a student loan in Germany are:
- BAföG (Federal Education and Training Assistance Act),
- Bildungskredit (Granted by the German Government in association with a private banking group), and
- Bank loan systems (Deutsche Bank, Raiffeisenbanken, Sparkasse, HypoVereinsbank, etc).
One should remember that student loans can’t be the only source of money to be relied on; it’s not enough to cover all expenses. It can only act as a complementary fund to your other financial resources.
TYPES OF GERMANY STUDY VISA
- German Student Visa – This one is the standard student visa for an international student who has gained admission in one of the German universities and is ready to begin their full-time study term there.
- German Student Applicant Visa – This visa is perfect for you if you need to be in Germany, in person, to be able to apply to a university program. While this visa won’t allow you to stay and study in Germany, it is valid until you get done with the university application process.
- German Language Course Visa – This type of visa is needed if you intend to take up the German language course, in Germany.
PART-TIME JOBS THAT YOU CAN SEEK AS AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
- Academic assistant
- Tutor
- A staff member at the university’s history museum
- Administrative Staff at Student Services
- Waiter
- Newspaper distributor
- Babysitter
- Bartender
- The money you earn while working part-time in Germany depends upon the type of job as well as your professional skills.
- In case your earnings exceed a certain amount (450€ per month), you shall be entitled as a regular taxpayer. That means, with the current legal regulations in place, you can’t finance your studies in Germany, based entirely on your part-time job earnings.
ADMISSION INTAKES & BASIS ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Time of admission (Major intake):
The new semester generally starts in the months of March and November. This is the intake duration when International students are given admission. For management studies there are rolling intakes also available.
Basic Entry Requirements
| For Bachelor’s or Diploma or Certificate Courses, OR an Equivalent Course | 10+2 From A Recognised Education Board With A Minimum of 50% Marks. | |
| IELTS: | 6/6.5 overall Bands – (As per the course as well as the institution requirement) | |
| TOFEL: | Paper-Based Test (PBT): 550 Minimum
Computer-Based Test (CBT): 213 Minimum |
|
| PTE: | 55 – (Overall Score) | |
| For Post Graduate or Master Course, OR an Equivalent Course | Bachelor’s Degree From A Recognized University. | |
| IELTS: | 6.5 Bands overall with no bands less than 6 bands (As per the course and institution requirement) | |
| TOFEL: | Paper-Based Test (PBT): 580 – 600 Minimum
Computer-Based Test (CBT) 237 – 250 Minimum |
|
| GMAT: | 580 – 600 Minimum | |
| PTE: | 58 – (Overall Score) | |
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION
2. Resume Latest Updated
3. All Academic Marksheet
- 10th Marksheet
- 10th Passing Certificate
- 12th Marksheet
- 12th Passing Certificate
- Graduation: All Marksheets with Degree Certificate/Provisional Certificate, Migration Certificate
5. Backlog Certificate
6. LOR (Letter of Recommendation) Without Mentioning Particular University/College Name
7. SOP (Statement of Purpose)
8. Photographs (White Background – 35*45 with 80% Face Cover – Matt Finish)
9. Leaving Certificate
10. Work Experience (If Any)
11. Gap Clarification (If Any)
12. IELTS / PTE/ TOFEL/ GRE / GMAT
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR FILING YOUR VISA
1. Passport
2. Resume Latest Updated
3. All Academic Marksheet
- 10th Marksheet
- 10th Passing Certificate
- 12th Marksheet
- 12th Passing Certificate
- Graduation: All Marksheets with Degree Certificate/Provisional Certificate, Migration Certificate
5. Backlog Certificate
6. LOR (Letter of Recommendation) Without Mentioning Particular University/College Name
7. SOP (Statement of Purpose)
8. Photographs (White Background – 35*45 with 80% Face Cover – Matt Finish)
9. Leaving Certificate
10. Work Experience (If Any)
11. Gap Clarification (If Any)
12. IELTS / PTE/ TOFEL/ GRE / GMAT
13. Blocked Account Statement (Which We Have to Open)
14. Financial Proof
15. Final Admission Letter
16. Visa Forum Filling Up
17. Health Insurance Copy
PROCEDURE FOR GETTING AN ADMISSION & VISA
PROCEDURE FOR GETTING AN ADMISSION
Keep all documents with you to apply
↓
Meet our Guide and education consultant
(Do assessment of your profile)
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Select the college/university and specialization subject of your interest.
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Check deadline
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Make an Application
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Get an acceptance by university/college
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Get an offer letter
↓
Our consultants will guide each and every step for further process.
PROCEDURE FOR VISA APPLICATION
Keep All Related Documents With Unconditional Offer Letter From University
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Pay The Tuition Fees
(Keep Copy of Fees Receipt)
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Get An Unconditional Offer Letter From University
(With Study Contract & Enrolment Letter)
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Get The Visa Date For Filing Your Visa
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Open A Blocked Account
(Park Euro 10236)
(Pelican Team Will Assist You)
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Get The Statement of German Block Account
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Take Health Insurance (For One Year)
(Our Team Will Help You)
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Filling Your Visa Forms
(Our Team Will Do)
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Submit The File In Embassy
(Write Some Questions Of Answers Being Asked By Authorised Person)
(Our Team Will Give Preparation)
Get A Visa Approval
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Fly To Your Dream Destination
(Your Success Is Our Success)
List of Top Universities in Germany
2. Ludwig-Maximilians – Universität München
3. Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
4. KIT, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
5. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
6. Freie Universität Berlin
7. Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
8. Technische Universität Berlin
9. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
10. Universität Freiburg
12. Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
13. Universität Hamburg
14. Technische Universität Darmstadt
15. Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
16. Universität Stuttgart
17. Universität Frankfurt am Main
18. Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
19. Universität Köln
20. Universität Jena
COST OF LIVING & EDUCATION IN GERMANY
You will find the cost of living in Germany to be quite reasonable when compared to other countries in Europe. On average, to cover your living expenses in Germany you need approximately 10,236 euros per year (which is around $11,484 US dollars) or 853 euros per month (which is around $957 US dollars).
With Leipzig being one of the most affordable German cities to live in, one finds the cities in the east, around Berlin, relatively cheaper than the ones in the South.
| Berlin | Hamburg | Munich | Frankfurt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | 795.90€ – 4 | 838.94€ – 3 | 1,094.30€ -1 | 868.91€ – 2 |
| Restaurant meal | 8.00€ – 4 | 10€ – 3 | 12.25€ – 1 | 12€ – 2 |
| White bread (500g) | 1.27€-3 | 1.27€ -3 | 1.43€ -1 | 1.29€ – 2 |
| Eggs (12) | 1.77€ – 2 | 1.78€ – 1 | 1.71€ – 3 | 1.61€ – 4 |
| Milk (1liter) | 0.79€ – 2 | 0.71€ – 4 | 0.84€ – 1 | 0.77€ – 3 |
| Rice (1kg, white) | 1.79€- 4 | 2.15€ – 1 | 2.14€ – 2 | 1.97€ – 3 |
| Potato (1kg) | 1.32€ – 1 | 1.04€ – 3 | 1.00€ – 4 | 1.29€ – 2 |
| Beer (0.5liter) | 3.50€ – 4 | 4.00€ – 1 | 3.80€ – 3 | 4.00€ – 1 |
| Tomato (1kg) | Tomato (1kg) | 2.61€ – 4 | 2.82€ – 1 | 2.64€ – 2 |
| Taxi 1km | 2.00€ – 1 | 2.00€ – 1 | 1.90€ -4 | 2.00€ – 1 |
In Germany, you are supposed to pay 29.42 CT/kWh (cents for a kilowatt-hour). Given this and the average cost of other amenities for an apartment of about 85 sqm, the total monthly cost comes out to be approximately 215.21 €.
Generally, Germany has two main types of health insurance plans:
Public health insurance
Private health insurance
The cost of health insurance primarily depends upon the type of plan you opt for
The quality of clothing in Germany is incredible, and that explains why it’s so expensive there. A pair of jeans could cost you anywhere between 50 and 100 euros; a simple pair of running shoes cost between 60 and 120 euros, while a pair of Business shoes would cost higher, somewhere between 70 and 150 euros.
The cost of living in Germany will primarily be determined by the precise city where you choose to live. If your university is located in a big populated city such as Munich or Frankfurt, then saving money will be harder compared to a smaller and less populated city like Leipzig or Karlsruhe. For example, the monthly rent payment for a one-bedroom apartment in Munich is double of what you would pay for the same apartment in Leipzig. s
So, you might be lucky if your university is located on the outskirts of the city, as the housing rent is generally higher in downtown areas. If not, then a good idea would be living in a less-expensive place and commuting regularly. Also, if you’re unable to lower your living expenditure, you can share the apartment with other people.
TOP 10 CITIES TO LIVE IN GERMANY FOR AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Here we are with 10 such incredible German cities which are particularly loved by prospective employees:
The capital city Berlin is home to world recognized companies which are also some of the biggest employers across the globe. It’s a city known for being a leader in energy and environmental technology, and its endless pool of employment opportunities, especially a highly attractive manufacturing sector. The companies here provide a wide range of salaries that are generally enough to help you build a bright future in even an expensive city like Berlin. Amongst the many employment sectors, ICT, media, and Innovative technologies happen to be the strongest contenders here.
The fifth biggest city in Germany, Frankfurt is a leading international financial center, that houses financial giants, such as Deutsche Bank, European Central Bank, German Federal Bank, amongst others. One of the world’s busiest airports, the Airport of Frankfurt, is also one of the biggest employers here. It’s not surprising to see Frankfurt having an exceptionally low percentage rate of unemployment – not even 5%, which is the average rate in Germany.
Munich is the largest one in the state of Bavaria, also called mecca for prospective employees. The city enjoys a strong international profile in the industrial sector, especially in the fields of Innovative Technologies, Healthcare Industry, and Engineering. The official statistics of 2013 state that more than 750,000 people were employed in Munich at that time, with most of the jobs taken up in the science, trade, transportation, communication, entertainment, and the government sectors. Manufacturing industry also generates a significant number of job opportunities. While the cost of living in Munich is on the higher side, the wages also tend to be well above the national average here.
Stuttgart is not only one of the top ten largest German cities in terms of population, but also a leading commercial metropolitan area in the country. Baden-Württemberg’s capital city is full of high tech and engineering industries, being home to a lot of globally-recognized companies, such as Porsche, Daimler, Bosch, and so on. Aside from promising you a great job and giving you a chance to follow and fulfil your life goals, the unique charm of Stuttgart also lies in its vibrant environment that will make you want to work in this city, even more!
The second largest city in Germany, Hamburg, is valued as a national center of commerce. The city is most associated with seaports, even as there are a lot of other economic sectors too that the city does very well at. The economically strongest sections in the service sector include education, health, trade, and tourism. Hamburg is also known for providing wages that are higher than the national average.
Cologne is home to more than a million and a large number of manufacturing, automotive, and other industries. With a highly developed economy, it is definitely one of the best cities in the country to work. There are other economic sectors too which promise a high rate of employment, with examples being the highly developed media and insurance service sectors. The high standard of living in Cologne is supported by the average individual earnings that are usually on the higher side too. The city is full of beautiful natural sights, cultural gems, and an incredible blend of classic and contemporary environments to work in!
Dusseldorf, a national as well as a global center of science and industries, houses around 85,000 companies, which directly translates to a higher employment rate and hence, brilliant future prospects. Health services, Fashion, Innovative Technologies, and Industrial Technology are the major employment sectors here. They offer a lot of revenue to the local economy, unlimited job opportunities to people with great salaries and an amazing quality of life in the incredible city of Dusseldorf.
Bonn is, without a doubt, amongst the best German cities for work, both in terms of salary as well as job variety. You will find countless small and medium-sized businesses around, raising your chances to find an interesting and well-paying job. A resident of Bonn earns an estimated amount of €65,000 per year. This, and the low rate of unemployment are good enough indicators of Bonn being a great choice for educated individuals who are looking to achieve their career goals.
Then comes Leipzig – an industrial city that takes pride in its rich job market that has a variety of jobs to offer, and at good wages too. With BMW and Porsche based in Leipzig, the automotive industry is, unsurprisingly, the largest one functioning in the city. The environmental technology industry has also seen development in recent years. The result has been a significant drop to 6.4% in the unemployment rate in September 2018 – the lowest since 1991. All these benefits combined with the optimal conditions to live a high standard of life, makes Leipzig one of the most incredible cities in Germany for working people.
Located in the federal state of Hesse, Darmstadt has a population of around 160,000. Most of its citizens have been finding employment owing to an extensive network of employers. The strongest in the economic sectors is the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, with engineering technology, biotechnology, media, and communications, closely behind. For those who are highly qualified in a certain expertise field, Darmstadt offers fantastic career opportunities to those who are qualified in and passionate about their chosen field of work. Incredible wages, reasonable living costs, and a great quality of life make Darmstadt a lovely German city to work in.
FINANCIAL GUIDANCE
According to the current estimations of Germany’s official student loans and scholarships regulator, an international student should be needing at least €10,236 per year or €853 per month to be able to live in the country.
How Can You Prove You Have Enough Financial Resources To Study In Germany?
- By making a deposit of money into a blocked German bank account.
- By submitting a document that clearly shows your parents’ income as well as their financial assets.
- By showing them a scholarship award document which should have been given to you by a recognized body in Germany.
- By showing them a bank guarantee.
- By proving that you know a permanent resident in Germany who guarantees to cover all of your expenses.
- A contract with a commercial businessIf a business entity in your home country guarantees to fund your education, the German officials may ask for specific information about that business.
- Scholarship won in your countryIf there’s a scholarship that you won in your home country, the German institution will generally want to know whether the scholarship provider has credibility or not.
- Source of the funds in your bank accountIf you deposit a large sum of money in your account, maybe from a long-term job that you held before, the German institution may want to have sufficient information about the source.
When to submit a proof of financial resources in Germany?
THINGS TO REMEMBER
- You will need to appear in person for your visa interview at the Embassy or the Consulate. Also, you might be asked for certain additional documents there; so, always be ready. Don’t take anyone with you when you go in for the interview. (If Required Only)
- On arrival at the Germany airport, the authorities could ask to see your original documents.
- Always double-check the validity of your passport validity; make sure it is valid for the entire duration of your stay.
- Incomplete visa application can be downright rejected. If there is any reason to believe that an applicant might be a risk to the country or to the general public, their visa can be rejected. Whatever the primary reason for visa rejection, it is always informed to the applicant. In case your visa is rejected, the visa fee is not reimbursed.
- Don’t make the mistake of sticking photographs on the visa application form.
- The smart thing to do is getting a student visa, rather than a tourist visa. Because, in case you need to stay for a longer duration, you’ll find that the student visa can be extended, while the tourist visa can’t. Also, if you need a residence permit, being a student visa applicant will help you, not a tourist visa.