TABLE OF CONTENTS
Bachelors (to be added later)
Bachelors
Masters
Engineering
What are the prerequisites when applying for a Master's in the engineering field?
There are mainly 3 requirements to qualify for a Master’s program in Germany
Your first academic degree - it can be your bachelors/ diploma or any other equivalent qualification
A proof of your English or German language proficiency (see here)
Proof of valid visa (student visa) - which is very easier to get as compared to other visas. (Check the “Guidelines for Student Visa”)
Additionally, the universities may ask for motivation letters, your academic transcripts, work experience letter and recommendation letter from the Professors of your first academic degree.
Further Information can be found on : https://www.mygermanuniversity.com/articles/degree-requirements-master
Database on Admission Requirements link: https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/nach-deutschland/voraussetzungen/en/57293-database-on-admission-requirements/
Information Portal on foreign qualification link : ttps://anabin.kmk.org/anabin.html
How to find which program is suitable for you to apply for?
DAAD - The go-to website for any information related to finding the different available programs at different universities for Bachelor’s, Master’s, MBA, PhD or any other degree in general. This website not only provides all the needed information wrt course language, degree, field of study, etc., but also you can use additional filters like location, duration, tuition fees, etc.
Start by shortlisting your programs at the respective universities. Some students are very specific in their approach and they apply for 5-6 programs only, while most students apply for more than 10 programs.
Another good option is to apply for scholarships under the Erasmus Mundus Program. Please check the link for all the relevant details.
What documentation is required to apply for the programs?
The following are the documents that need to be submitted in its respective form for a successful application to any Master’s program in general:
Filled application form
Straightforward. Just get the application form from the University website, may be needed to fill in an editable pdf version or take a printout and a signature at the end in both cases.
Curriculum vitae
Well this speaks for itself. (Max 2 pages).
Letter of motivation (extremely important)
Very important part of the application. Speak out why you want to pursue your masters and what are your goals in life and how this program is going to help you achieve it. (max 1 to 1.5 pages).
Below are the documents in original. You need to take as many as possible in the original itself. All the 4 documents below need to be stamped, signed and sealed in an envelope. It should not be in an open state when you are submitting your documents.
Academic transcript
Letter of recommendation - 1
Preferably your Bachelor’s thesis supervisor.
Letter of recommendation - 2
Someone who has known you for a long time during your studies or the easy way, directly ask your Head of the Department.
In the recommendation letter try to make sure (if possible) that your professor includes your qualities and also a percentage showing that you were one among the top 10%, 20%, 30% etc. of the students.
Proof of work experience / Letter of recommendation - 3 (if any)
For the recommendation letter, preferably by a person at a higher position (GM, AGM, SGM) in the company, who has known your work or the least would be from your reporting manager.
From here on, most of the documents need to be attested by the German Embassy/ Consulates in your respective country or attested by a Government Gazetted officer.
For the attestation process, take as many copies as you want, so that you can get it stamped and signed in one go itself. Usually they charge you for the attestation per copy and will vary from city to city.
Bachelor degree certificate
Grade evaluation scheme
If you have had a different grading system in your University, make sure you include this document.
Higher education entrance qualification - 1 (10th Grade)
Higher education entrance qualification - 2 (12th Grade)
Proof of vocational training (if any)
Proof of English language proficiency (See here)
Proof of English language proficiency from your University
Upon request, your University will provide this document stating that your studies were conducted completely in English.
Proof of German language proficiency (See here)
Passport copy
Passport sized photograph
Write your name and date of birth behind the photograph that you submit along with your documentation.
Sometimes, the most important thing to do is as simple as to submit a complete set of application documents. (many make a lot of mistakes here)
What tests need to be taken?
If the program that you plan to join is conducted completely in English, then the following 2 examinations are accepted by almost all German universities.
Please note: Some universities do not ask for any English language certificates, for ex: Hochschule Esslingen does not ask for IELTS/TOEFL from Indian students for its DDM, ASM and MBA courses. This condition only applies if the student has had his/ her bachelor studies in English, which is the case with most of us. Therefore, it is important to check the university and course requirements for language beforehand.
Other well-known certificates are not recognized by all universities. For some of the other certifications, please go through this link and inquire with the International office of the respective Universities.
If the program is conducted either partially or completely in German, then the following few certifications can be submitted as proof of your German language proficiency.
For further information on German language certificates please go through this link.
Depending on the program, the level of German or English may differ for different programs and different universities. It's easy to find out the language requirements directly through the university portal or even through DAAD.
How to prepare yourself better before coming to Germany?
In order to get accepted into a good program, make sure you have good grades academically, good extra-curricular activities, recommendation letters and a good motivation letter. Also if you have related work experience go ahead and mention it very clearly as to the work specifically done by you. Let's dig a bit deeper, shall we?
Time
To start with, give yourself enough Time. So what do I mean by that? How much time is “enough” time? The answer is at least 1 year. Wait What? 1 year? Yup. One entire year. From the time you wish to pursue further studies in Germany to the time you actually are at the boarding gate in an airport to catch the flight to your future, you need to give yourself a minimum time of 1 whole year. The process of applying for a Master's or any other degree is a very tedious and laborious task. There are quite a few challenges to overcome, some technical, some practical, some logistical and obviously some bureaucratic, before you even start with searching your program.
Here is an illustration of a typical timeline for student who is looking for WS 2020 admit:
March 2019 - Start of preparation TOEFL/GRE (Other necessary exams, if needed)
June 2019 to August 2019 - Write TOEFL/GRE exam
September 2019 - Collect info on univeristies/ programs (deadline)
Nov to Dec 2019 - University starts accepting Winter 2020 applications
March to May 2020 - Typical deadline for Winter 2020 applications
April to May 2020 - Acceptance letters from Univeristy
May to June 2020 - Visa processing and travel plans
August 2020 - Arrive in Germany
Please note: These are approximate timeline, make sure to note dates as per the universities and programs you select and plan accordingly.
Organize
Start by sorting all those documents mentioned here that you already have either in soft copy or hard copy into a folder/ file. Keep one file for the originals and one for the copies. There cannot be any room for error here. The better organized you are, the easier this entire process will be.
Finance
Just because you heard that the education in Germany is free, doesn't mean that you wouldn't need funding. Planning your finances is very important. You would need to cover your living expenses and also travel across Europe. Working part time you would be able to cover your expenses but do not necessarily rely solely on this. If you are able to get a scholarship, well and good. If not, do think about taking an education loan either from an Indian or a German Bank.
Possible scholarship and state rules while planning finances :
Most of the universities offer scholarships and one of the most common in every university is DEUTSCHLAND STIPENDIUM. However, one has to apply for it by the month of May even though his/her course starts in Aug. The student needs to enquire about this with the respective university as soon as you get the admission and you can apply for it even before you reach Germany. This scholarship gives you 300 Euros per month to support your studies.
All the universities in Baden Wuertemberg state collect a tuition fees of 1500 Euros each semester for non EU students. And this law is only applicable in this state. So keep this additional cost in mind, while looking for universities.
Motivation
From the moment you start thinking about applying for Higher studies in Germany, all the decisions and planning will be done by you. Your parents would not be able to help you much, since they would not have any clue on how to go about it. So, it will be upon you to be disciplined and motivated to pursue your dreams. It will be upon you to make most of the decisions. It is also your responsibility to make your parents understand what you are doing. Your parents will be supporting you for sure, but you will be the one who has to plan and proceed carefully with everything. All the logistics associated with preparing the required documentations, organizing, timely planning, gathering info wrt the programs, scholarships (if any), Visa appointment, Visa interview, etc., you will be the one to carry out all these processes. If you become lazy with any of these, there won't be anyone to do this on your behalf.
Domestic life
This is mainly about how your life will be, once you arrive in Germany. Here too you will be the person to take up decisions for yourself on an everyday basis. You are 7000km away from home. You need to prepare yourself well with regards to cooking, maintaining your health, managing your expenses, running to different offices (for tax ID, Social security ID, getting your Visa extended, City registration, etc), groceries, getting into contracts for your Sim card, Wi-Fi, electricity, etc,. You would have to think things through. Be rational and responsible.
What is Uni-assist? How is it helpful with my university applications?
Uni-assist is an organization which is supported by around 170 German universities, that help with processing and evaluating international students applications. The main goal of Uni-assist is to verify international students' documents and certificates to the respective programs and evaluate its equivalence to German education standards.
Can I travel to Germany based on the confirmation from Uni-assist?
No. The document you received from Uni-assist is just an acceptance of all your documents and their determination of your qualification for the respective study program. In the document that the Uni-assist provides, they state that it is not a letter of admission and that you can apply for the Visa application based on this document, but it does not grant any legal claim for you to get the student visa.
What is a German Grade Equivalent (GGE) certificate and how to get it?
GGE is a certificate which shows your grades/ percentages converted to the German grading system. The German grading system follows 1.0 to 4.0, with 1.0 being the highest.
To get it, one has to submit 2 documents viz. Academic transcript and the Grade Evaluation scheme from your university. Based on these 2 documents, they calculate/ convert to the German grade. While some universities do this conversion for themselves to evaluate your profile, Uni-assist provides you with an Evaluation report stating your GGE score. This report can be used for any/all of your applications in Germany.
If you would like to calculate what your GGE looks like, follow this link.
Should I apply for a Master's immediately after my Bachelor’s degree?
It is upto you to decide what and when you want to apply for Master’s. But do consider the option of having a couple of years of work experience before going for Master’s. It may or may not be a plus point for your admission in a university, but once you are done with the Master’s and start applying for jobs, companies look for candidates with work experience in addition to your degree.
Although during your studies, the internship and the thesis (considering you are working in a company) you gain work experience, still it is advisable to have work experience first.
Not only that, you will also gain a better understanding of what career path you want to choose and not to blindly follow the herd to Germany or to the US, for that matter.
Which option to choose: applying for Technical University (TU) or University of Applied sciences (Fachhochschule (FH))?
In Germany, all the universities can be divided into mainly 2 categories, Technical University (TU) or University of Applied sciences (Fachhochschule(FH)).
Which type of university to join depends on what your future plans are.
Technical University is mainly research oriented and all the courses are more theoretical in nature, while University of Applied sciences takes more of a practical approach.
In both cases, the programs get funded by external organizations, but in FH the industrial contacts are higher.
In both cases, after your studies, you can opt for applying for a job or apply for a PhD. The only difference being, you can continue your studies for PhD in the same TU, while if you are a graduate from FH, you should join a different university which is a TU.
You can opt for a professional career in teaching from a TU but not from a FH.
In TU, since it's more research oriented, sometimes acquiring a degree can take a longer time depending on the availability of new research materials associated with your studies/ thesis.
In FH, since it's more practical oriented, acquiring a degree is much faster. Point being you will be able to finish your studies soon and apply for jobs sooner.
In FH you would have more industrial contacts in your field of study as compared to a study from TU.
If your main goal for joining a Master’s program is to get a job later, then go for FH.
If your main goal for joining a Master’s program is to continue your studies further such as a PhD or a Doctorate, then go for TU.
There is no option to say which one is better. In both cases, after completion of your degree, you can opt for a PhD or apply for jobs. It mainly depends on what kind of a career path you want to choose for yourself.
References:
University: Technische Universität Berlin Campus El Gouna
Locations: El Gouna, Egypt/ Berlin, Germany
Master program: Energy Engineering
Study duration: 2 Years
1st and 3rd semester in El Gouna,
2nd semester in Berlin
4th semester - place of your choice, wherever you would like to do your thesis.
Tuition fees: 20,000 EUR for the entire program
Curriculum: Studying at Campus El Gouna
Please follow the link for the admission process. For more details about the program, campus in Egypt/ Germany, accommodation, etc. click HERE.
University: Technische Universität Kaiserslautern
Location: Kaiserslautern, Germany
Master program: Commercial Vehicle Technology
Study duration: 2 Years
Tuition fees: NA
Semester Contribution: 245 EUR
Curriculum: CVT Curriculum and Downloads
For the admission process please follow the link. For more details about the program, click HERE.
University: HOCHSCHULE DARMSTADT
Location: Darmstadt, Germany
Master program: Electrical Engineering and Information Technology( https://eit.h-da.de/ )
Study duration: 2 Years
Tuition fees: NA
Semester Contribution: 268 EUR
University: Hochschule Esslingen Location: Esslingen, Germany Master program: DDM (https://www.hs-esslingen.de/en/design-and-development-for- mechanical-and-automotive-engineering-master/ ) Study duration: 1.5 Years Tuition fees: 1500 Semester Contribution: 201 EUR Curriculum: Find in this link here in modeules section.
Management (MBA)
What are the prerequisites when applying for MBA
The prerequisites and requirements differ vastly based on the university, Business schools or applied science programmes which can be either found on the website of the university or the DAAD website.However, the generic good-to-haves are as follows:
Relevant experience of 2+ years in the field of the Masters
German Language at least (B1 level).This differs on the stream that the applicant selects. Eg: If the field of choice is Procurement or Marketing, the German language plays a significant role contrary to positions like Business Analysis.
IELTS-7.0 and above /TOEFL score-95 and above
A bachelor degree score of <2 under ECTS grading system
Customized LOR and SOP specific to the university and program.
Documents:
A strong and customized letter of motivation as per the course and university requirements.
Bachelor degree certificate which is of 4 years or equivalent tenure.
Higher education entrance qualification - 1 (10th Grade)
Higher education entrance qualification - 2 (12th Grade)
Letter of recommendation - Preferably from Senior faculty of your Bachelor Program
Letter of recommendation - Preferably from Ex-Manager#
Grade Transcript from the university
Proof of work experience
Proof of English language proficiency – TOEFL, IELTS, etc
Proof of English language proficiency from your University
Proof of German language proficiency (if applicable for your Program)
Passport copy
Passport sized photograph
What are the prerequisites when applying for Masters in Management?
In Addition to an MBA there is also an option to apply for Masters in Management course in Germany. For students interested in studying masters but do not have lots of work experience/ want to go for management studies immediately after engineering it would be a great course.
What is the difference between an MBA and Masters in Management?
Usually in MBA classes you are surrounded by people who have relevant years of experience (>5), in such cases the classes are structured in such a way that you have a basic understanding of the business terminologies and how things work in an industry. The classes won't begin from a basic level. For ex: You should be able to know how to build a business case.
The fees for MBA will be higher than that of Masters in Management
During job search you will be competing with people with 5-10 years of work experience and an MBA, please consider that in mind.
Masters in Management courses usually contain students who have just finished their Bachelors in Management or 1-2 years of work experience. Compared to an MBA the classes are more detailed. My suggestion is that if you come from an Engineering background and want to switch to Management, with 2 years of experience Masters in Management would be an ideal course.
Nevertheless, with 2 years of experience and an MBA/MiM there won't be much difference in the jobs that you apply for and the salary you get.
How to prepare yourself better before coming to Germany for Management studies?
The basic requirements would be the same as any other Masters student. When you want to get into management remember a few things :
Management in Germany is like Computer Science in India - A lot of students get into Management students in Germany. It's a very commonly chosen program. So the competition is high
Practical study approach - In general, the studies in Germany are very practical. There won't be situations where you will be asked for definitions in an exam. Rather you will be given a business case and asked to apply your knowledge for the same.Also in some programs, there will be business simulation environment subjects to apply the theoretical knowledge and also opportunity to invest in a similar share market to build financial knowledge.
For ex: Tata wants to acquire Air India. Do you think they should go ahead with the acquisition? Justify your answer.
You will also get opportunities to workshop with consulting firms such as BCG, McKinsey, EY and work on case studies with them
Learn German - When you get into management remember that in the end the jobs that you apply for are client facing. You will interact with C-level executives who prefer German over English. Therefore make a commitment to work hard and improve your German skills.
Prior Experience : Under that, there are no placements provided from the university, so this is solely based on an individual's experience and representation of his/her CV. Therefore, make sure you have good experience to back yourself along with a master's degree.
Self Study: Unlike bachelors in India, do not expect any professors to spoon feed the curriculum to you.Most of the studies happens outside the classroom while preparing for Seminar or workshops or projects.
5. How is an Executive MBA (EMBA) different from a normal MBA?
Executive MBA is for more experienced professionals. Typically this would require at least 4-8 years of work experience
It is done on a combination of working days and week days. For e.g. alternate classes on Fridays and Saturdays
It requires company support i.e. a letter of support from your company that they support your attendance of classes on working days
Attendees are usually professionals, managers and executives from various companies. This network that you get exposed to is the greatest benefit over a normal MBA. After your MBA you can be part of an alumni and network of professionals in various industries and regions.
The duration is shorter. EMBAs run for 15 - 18 months, where as normal MBAs run for 2 years
Professors and speakers that teach or get invited are more senior and accomplished in their fields of study, as compared to normal MBAs which might offer less experienced teachers.
Due to the 3 reasons above, EMBAs are much more expensive, in most cases, well in excess of 40k €.
It requires you to produce reference letter from senior colleagues who have seen you perform. Typically, not your current boss.
Some good programs:
University: Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin
Locations: Berlin, Germany
Master program: Automotive Management
Study duration: 18 Months with Optional Internship
Tuition fees: € 12,500 for entire program
Semester Contribution: 300 EUR
Curriculum: Automotive Management
For the admission process please follow the link.
University : EBS Business School
Location: Oestruch-Winkel,Hessen, Germany
Master duration: 2 years
Tuition fees: 7500€( subject to changes)
Semester contribution: included with Tuition fees
Curriculum : https://www.ebs.edu/en/faculty/ebs-business-school
Social Sciences & Humanities
Make sure to apply well in advance as Visa processing may take time.
What are the prerequisites when applying for an MA (Social sciences and humanities), M.Sc. (Public health, hospital management and related fields)?
A strong letter of motivation
A Bachelor’s degree in a related field. However, some German Masters programs may be flexible or even encourage degrees from non-related fields. For e.g., A Masters in Global health Program, or Anthropology or Science and Technology Studies may accept degrees from a wide variety of fields like Masters in Biotechnology, Chemistry, Biophysics, etc. If in doubt, write to the course coordinator.
Some Programs may need a Masters degree in addition to a Bachelors as they may consider Indian 3 year Bachelor's degrees like B.A., B.Sc. insufficient.
Higher education entrance qualification - 1 (10th Grade)
Higher education entrance qualification - 2 (12th Grade)
Letter of recommendation
Proof of work experience (if applicable - depending on field of study)- This is especially important for fields like global health where your field experience of working in NGOs or health related institutions may bolster your chances.
Proof of English language proficiency – TOEFL, IELTS, etc
Proof of English language proficiency from your University
Proof of German language proficiency (if applicable for your Program)
Passport copy
Passport sized photograph
How to find which program is suitable for you to apply for?
A comprehensive list of all programs is available here : https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/studienangebote/studiengang/en/?a=result&q=°ree=&subjects%5B17%5D=1&courselanguage=&locations=&admissionsemester=&sort=name&page=1
How to prepare yourself better before coming to Germany?
Go through the welcome package the university may send you.
Some basic German is always a bonus to adjusting to life in Germany - Instagram, Apps, joining a German language course in India, etc.
Contact the University’s International Student centre (Email will be available on the University’s main webpage) for information on accommodation like student dorms
The University’s international students groups like Indian students may have an active Facebook page. Check the social media presence for these groups to gain more information on your university/program
Some good programs:
MAHASSA (Masters in Health and Society South Asia)
University: Heidelberg University (South Asia Institute)
Locations: Heidelberg, Germany
Master program: M.A. (Medical Anthropology)
Study duration: 2 Years
Tuition fees: 1500 Euros per semester for Non-German/Non-EU applicants
Semester Contribution: 160 Euros approx.
For admission process : please follow this link- https://www.sai.uni-heidelberg.de/ethno/mahassa/
Ethnologie/Social and Cultural Anthropology - Masters Degree
University: University of Tuebingen (AOI- Asian Oriental Institute)
Locations: Tuebingen, Germany
Master program: M.A.
Study duration: 2 Years with one semester of studies abroad (choice is up to the student) for fieldwork -data collection for Masters thesis
Tuition fees: 1500 Euros per semester for Non-German/Non-EU applicants
Semester Contribution: 160 Euros approx.
For admission process : please follow this link- https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/study/finding-a-course/degree-programs-available/detail/course/ethnologiesocial-and-cultural-anthropology-master/
PhD
There are a number of ways to do a PhD in Germany and it is flexible in terms of time, funding and field of study depending upon each individual’s academic background, targeted research area and purpose of study. PhD programs and their requirements vary widely between faculties like the social sciences & humanities and applied sciences like engineering.
The following advisory is a general overview on the most common ways of getting into a PhD program.
The two traditional ways of doing a PhD in Germany:
Individual Track (duration: 3-5 years , flexible)
Structured Track (duration: 3-4 years)
Individual Track:
This path to a PhD involves searching for a professor who will supervise your research on your own either via known contacts or through projects in your field published on various academic websites like DAAD, the respective university websites, etc .
The individual PhD may include only your singular Phd research or can be part of a larger research project.
What are the prerequisites when applying for the Individual track Phd?
An above-average Master’s degree with grades (European system) between 1.0-2.0 where 1.0 is the highest grade awarded) or equivalent degree and grade from one’s home country
A strong CV
A clear and detailed research proposal
How to find which program is suitable for you to apply for?
For the individual track, it is advisable to look for DAAD funded programs (if applying from outside Germany) - https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-germany/phd-studies-and-research/
The professors are usually a part of bigger projects which are funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft ) or other grants. You may look for an appropriate vacant position by visiting the respective websites of universities.
If you have a good and well-researched proposal, it is also possible to directly email the professor in-charge of the department in your field of study and enquire about the possibility of doing a Phd under their supervision. Make sure the email is individually addressed to the professor and not sending a general email hoping someone will reply. Each and every mail should be tailored to yours and the professor’s interest. They get tons of mails every week. You need to keep yours as laconic as possible but trying to catch their attention. This is where your prior work about the mutual interest in the research will help you a lot. First, find out what research interest you have/accumulated during your prior academic career. Google is your best friend in trying to find universities which are good in that area. Keep in mind that PhD is like a marriage/contract/bond for 4-5 years between you and the prof. So it is of utmost importance to take your time during this phase to find out what you like most barring the idea of getting into a top notch uni but mediocre research in your area.
What documentation is required before applying for a program?
Please make sure to check the required documents by your intended university program. This is only an indicative list.
Letter of motivation
Strong research proposal (Very important)
Bachelor degree certificate (attested copies) - some universities may require it to be translated from english into German by a verified institute
Master degree certificate (attested copies) - some universities may require it to be translated from english into German by a verified institute
Academic transcript
Grade evaluation scheme
Higher education entrance qualification - 1 (10th Grade)
Higher education entrance qualification - 2 (12th Grade)
Letter of recommendation (where applicable)
Proof of work experience (recommendation letter) (if applicable - depending on field of study)
Proof of English language proficiency – TOEFL, IELTS, etc (not always)
Proof of English language proficiency from your University
Proof of German language proficiency (not required for DAAD candidates)
Passport copy
Passport sized photograph
Funding Options:
Apply for individual scholarships via a number of funding organizations like DAAD, European commission grants, private funding institutions, etc.
Join a funded Phd position in established research projects via the University itself
Apply for a joint scholarship by writing a research proposal along with other Phd students, your supervisor, or another post doc.
Additional funding can include teaching as an adjunct lecturer (Lehrauftrag) alongside your PhD work or by applying for an open TVL 13 research assistant (German academic pay scale grade) position at a university.
Helpful Links: https://www.research-in-germany.org/en/jobs-and-careers/info-for-phd-students/financing-your-phd.html
https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/?detail=57135739
For applicants with a Master's degree from a German University: please note that different universities have separate application processes for PhD programs /PhD tracks. It is best to write to the program coordinator or to the professor you would like to have as your supervisor for more details as these may be specific to each department. Another good way of getting to know open PhD positions is to join specific mailing lists for your subject of interest. Examples include : h-net or Atgender for Humanities, social Sciences or gender studies.
Testimonials:
University: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Locations: Berlin, Germany
PhD program: DAAD Research Grant- Doctoral Programmes in Germany
Study duration: 4 Years
Stipend: 1200 EUR per month
Tuition fees: 265.64 EUR per semester
Structured Track
Similar to Individual track except that there is less flexibility with respect to duration as well as research focus and structured track may also involve taking certain preparatory classes/seminars in the first year.
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