Some reasons for studying and research in Germany
There are a number of compelling reasons why Germany should become the country of your choice for both studying and research.
- The academic excellence and reputation of Germany’s more than 360 universities.
Did you know that one hundred years ago half of all students studying abroad were studying in Germany? The country can indeed look back on a long tradition in education, science and research. The oldest university for instance is the Ruprecht-Karls-University in Heidelberg that was founded in 1386. - There is hardly another country in the world that boasts such a density of higher education institutions!
More than 360 higher education institutions with a tradition of academic excellence make it hard to decide where and what to study: over 400 different degree courses are on offer, and there is virtually nothing imaginable under the sun that you cannot study somewhere in Germany. The capital Berlin alone – with roughly the population of Armenia – is currently home to no less than sixteen universities and colleges! Today, about 250,000 foreigners are studying at German universities, making it the third most popular host country for international students after the USA and UK. - The moderate cost of living and studying in Germany.
Tuition fees at public German universities are very moderate. For most of the public universities, only a small administrative fee (between 35 € and 250 € per semester) is payable. Some of the public universities charge additional tuition fees of ca. 500 € per semester. Living expenses amount to around 585 to 750 € per month, depending on the region. - An increasing number of international degree courses with English as medium of instruction.
Many German higher education institutions offer courses that are taught in English and lead to an international degree, such as Bachelor, Master or PhD. You can find them easily through the DAAD database. - Germany’s geographical location in the heart of Europe and its political and economical weight as the EU’s largest member state.
Germany is home to some of the world's leading companies in many areas, such as information technology, health care, biotechnology and the automobile industry, making it the world' s leading export nation. - Many cultural highlights, historic towns and castles, beautiful scenery and moderate climate.
The wide range of cultural activities in Germany offers something for everybody! And a trip across Germany is a journey through just about every cultural epoch. - The importance of the German language.
With over 100 million native speakers, German is the most widely-spoken first language in Europe. The strength of German business and industry and the increasing global activity of German companies and corporations shows that the German language is also gaining significance in the international market.
Useful links:
- Campus Germany
Besides offering initial information about studies, research and vocational training in Germany, the site provides a portrait of every university town in Germany, a dictionary of specialist terms, an interactive forum, videos in which international students report on their stay and experiences in Germany, and much more. - Study in Germany
All about studying in Germany, degress, admission and student life. Also offers a guide to all kind of study programs you can find in German higher education institutions. You select the categories suiting your demands, and the search engine will give you the best results for your purpose. - Higher Education Compass
The Higher-Education-Compass provides information on and links to all state and state-recognised higher education institutions in the Federal Republic of Germany, information on the first and postgraduate degree courses which they offer, on doctoral programmes and on the international cooperation agreements in which Germany's higher education institutions are actively involved. It is also possible to download the list of all higher education institutions in Germany, including their address and much more. - International Degree Programmes in Germany
These degree programmes will be of particular interest to students from around the world as well as to German students wishing to provide their studies with an international focus. In most cases, courses are instructed mainly or exclusively in English. - Summer Courses
This site provides a search engine for finding the right summer course offered by Germany's higher education institutions. You can search courses by location, topics, course date or language of instruction. - Scholarships and Funding
This is where you can find information on various kinds of DAAD funding for foreign students, graduates and postdocs as well as on funding offered by other selected organisations. You can find the criteria used for selecting the programmes offered by other funding organisations by clicking here. If you have any questions on these programmes, please directly contact the person named in the programme description.
DAAD: The German Academic Exchange Service
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is the largest funding organisation in the world supporting the international exchange of students and scholars. Since it was founded in 1925, more than 1.5 million scholars in Germany and abroad have received DAAD funding. It is a registered association and its members are German institutions of higher education and student bodies. Its activities go far beyond simply awarding grants and scholarships. The DAAD supports the internationalisation of German universities, promotes German studies and the German language abroad,assists developing countries in establishing effective universities and advises decision makers on matters of cultural, education and development policy.
Its budget is derived mainly from the federal funding for various ministries, primarily the German Federal Foreign Office, but also from the European Union and a number of enterprises, organisations and foreign governments. Its head office is in Bonn, but the DAAD also has an office in the German capital, Berlin, to which the famous Berlin Artists-in-Residence Programme (Berliner Künstlerprogramm) is closely affiliated. It maintains contact with and provides advice to its main partner countries on every continent via a network of 14 regional offices and 50 information centres.
The DAAD runs over 250 programmes, through which it funds more than 67,000 German and foreign scholars worldwide per annum. These programmes range from semesters abroad for undergraduates to doctoral programmes, from internships to visiting lectureships, and from information-gathering visits to assisting with the establishment of new universities abroad. It supports the international activities of German institutions of higher education through marketing services, publications, the staging of events and training courses.
http://www.daad.de/en/index.html
