Studying in Germany 2 Farbig2

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Studying in GermanyA Guide for International Students

2nd Edition


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Publisher DAADDeutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst

German Academic Exchange Service

Kennedyallee 50, 53175 Bonn (Germany)

www.daad.de

Section: Promotion of Studies and Research in Germany, Internet

Project Coordination Anne Mnkel

Manuscript Norbert Grust

Editor 2nd Edition Dr. Dagmar Giersberg

W. Bertelsmann Verlag, Bielefeld

Translation Guy Moore, Bad Honnef

2nd Edition Gregory John Benzow, Erftstadt

Layout and Typesetting 1st Edition LPG Loewenstern Padberg GbR, Bonn

Typesetting 2nd Edition W. Bertelsmann Verlag, Bielefeld

Programming and Screen Design snoopmedia GmbH, Bonn

Printed by Moeker Merkur Druck GmbH, Kln

Pressed by MPO Audio und Video GmbH, Kln

Print-run November 2007 60,000

DAAD

All rights reserved. Any reproduction, even of extracts,

only with appropriate source details.

This publication was funded by the Federal Foreign Office.


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Studying in Germany3

Table of Contents

6 Introduction

7 Studying in Germany the Higher Education System

Types of Higher Education Institutions

Academic Reforms and the Bologna ProcessInternational Programmes

Universities and Equivalent Institutions

Admissions Requirements

12

School Qualifications and Aptitude Tests | Internships and Foreign Language SkillsOrganisation of Studies

Programme Structure | Start and Length of Studies | Types of CoursesAcademic Degrees

Bachelors and Masters | Magister Artium | Diplom | StaatsexamenPromotion (Doctorate)Map of Universities in Germany

20 Fachhochschulen (Universities of Applied Sciences)


School Qualifications | Internships and Aptitude TestsOrganisation of Studies

Academic DegreesDiplom FH | Bachelors and MastersMap of Universities of Applied Sciences in Germany

24 Kunst-, Film- und Musikhochschulen (Colleges of Art, Film and Music)


School Qualifications | Internships and Aptitude TestsOrganisation of Studies

Academic Degrees

Diplom | Institution-own Degrees | StaatsexamenMeisterschler/Konzertexamen | Bachelors and MastersMap of Colleges of Art, Film and Music in Germany


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4 Studying in Germany

28 Higher Education Institutions and their Facilities

Faculties

The International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt)

First Point of Contact for Students from Abroad

Student Representation at Institutional and Departmental LevelRector, President and Senate Executive Management and

Administration of Higher Education Institutions

31

32

How to Study in Germany A Guide for International Students


Proof of Adequate School or Educational Qualifications

Higher Education Entrance Qualification | Test for Academic Studies (TestAS)Assessment Test (Feststellungsprfung) and Preparatory Course (Studienkolleg)Proof of German Language Proficiency

German as a Foreign Language Test (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache TestDaF)German Language Test for the Admission of Foreign Study Applicants (DeutscheSprachprfung fr den Hochschulzugang DSH)

37 Application and RegistrationApplying to your chosen Higher Education Institution: Directly or via uni-assist

Applying through the Central University Admissions Service (ZVS)

Registration / Matriculation (Immatrikulation)

Entry and Residence Provisions

Visa and Residence Permit

40

Applicant Visa (Visum zur Studienbewerbung) | Student Visa (Visum zuStudienzwecken) | Residence Permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis)Financial RequirementsMedical Examination (Gesundheitsuntersuchung)

Working and Studying

44 Costs, Fees, Sources of Funding and Scholarships

What Does it Cost to Study?

Cost of Living | Semester Fee and Administration Fee | General Tuition FeesHealth and Accident Insurance

How Can I Finance My Studies?Grants and Scholarships | State Training AssistancePart-Time and Temporary Jobs


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A Guide for International Students5

50 How Best to Start Your Studies

Student Accommodation

The First Few Nights | Student Halls of Residence and Dormitories(Studentenwohnheime) | Private Accommodation MarketPlanning Your StudiesStudy Regulations and Course Catalogue | Advice and SupportStudent Life

Religious Communities and Faith Groups

54 Internships in Germany

55

56

57

60

Appendix

Map of University and College Towns in Germany

Statistics: Foreign Students at German Higher Education Institutions

Tips and Information

Where to Go With Your First Questions

Recommended Reading

Evaluation of Foreign Higher Education Entrance Qualifications

German Schools Abroad

DAAD

Goals, Roles and Programmes of the DAAD

DAAD Addresses in Germany and Abroad

Index

62

63

64

66

72


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Introduction

Germanys higher education institutionsenjoy an excellent reputation. Teachingand research provide key impulses forinnovation and progress. Institutions havestate-of-the-art equipment and labs to pro-vide students with the very best conditions

for successful studies.

Germanys higher education landscape isvery diverse and varied. It offers thousandsof degree programmes, more than 300institutions, and lots of different degrees.This means you can choose a programmethat matches your needs. You can take aresearch-oriented programme at a Univer-sitt (university) or a more practice-focusedcourse at a Fachhochschule (university ofapplied sciences), or an artistic programmeat one of the Kunst-, Film-, or Musikhoch-schulen (colleges of art, film or music).Many programmes and subjects are offeredby all three types of institutions, whichwidens your choice even further. If you

already hold a degree, you can also chooseto enter a postgraduate or doctoral pro-gramme for advanced qualifications.

This brochure offers information on the var-ious higher education institutions in Ger-many universities, universities of appliedsciences and colleges of art, film and music.The enclosed CD-ROM has been compiledwith the kind support of the German Rec-

tors' Conference (HRK). The CD-ROM con-tains selected information from the HRKsHigher-Education-Compass on first-degreeprogrammes and on graduate studies, plusthe addresses and portraits of the highereducation institutions and the addressesof the International Offices. The CD-ROMand the brochure are also available in Ger-man.

The DAAD provides this comprehensiveinformation to help you succeed with yourstudies at a German higher educationinstitution.


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A Guide for International Students7

Studying in Germany

the Higher Education System


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Types of Higher EducationInstitutions

Students wishing to study in Germany can

choose from more than 12,000 degree pro-grammes and subjects offered at 340 state(public) and state-recognised higher edu-cation institutions. The German highereducation system generally differentiatesbetween three distinct types of institutions:

Universitten: Universities and equivalent

institutions focus strongly on research and

And by the way,responsibility for higher education in

Germany lies for the most part with the

states. Each of the 16 states has its ownhigher education laws and guidelines.

(A map of the German states can be found

on page 19.)

Fachhochschulen (FH): Universities of

applied sciences do not generally engage

teaching. Full universities offer coursesin practically all subject areas. On the otherhand, some unis and equivalent institutionschoose to specialise in specific subjectareas. Examples of such university-levelinstitutions include the Technische Hoch-schule / Technische Universitt (technicaluniversity / university of technology), the

Medizinische Hochschule (medical school),the Sporthochschule (sport university),the Hochschule fr Politik (university ofpolitics), the Hochschule fr Verwaltung(university of administrative sciences), orthe Hochschulen fr Wirtschaft / Wirt-schaftshochschule (schools of business ormanagement), and the Pdagogische Hoch-schule (university of education). Last but

by no means least, the Protestant andCatholic churches also maintain a numberof university-level higher education insti-tutions. All these institutions have uni-versity status, even if they dont bear thename university. This means that theyfollow Humboldts principle of the re-search university that unites research and

teaching. These institutions are entitled toconfer doctorates.

in basic research, which is more the pre-

serve of the traditional universities. FHswere especially established to providestudents with the opportunity to engagein more practical studies and appliedresearch. The English translation of theirname, universities of applied sciences,reflects this focus. Fachhochschule pro-grammes prepare students for specificprofessions. This concentrated study andthe tightly-organised programmes gener-ally enable students to graduate morequickly with an academic degree thantheir fellow students studying at traditionaluniversities and equivalent institutions.Subjects offered by FHs cover fields liketechnology, business, IT, design, socialfields, education, nursing and applied nat-

ural sciences. In addition, federal govern-ment and the states maintain a numberof FHs that specifically train students forcareers in the civil service. Fachhochschulendo not themselves award doctorates. How-ever, holders of a good FH degree may beable to continue their postgraduate studiesby enrolling in a doctoral programme atone of Germanys research universities.

They may have to pass an aptitude test toqualify for admission.


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The Higher Education System9

State and state-recognised higher education institutions

Number of

Universities

Colleges of art,film and music

Universities ofapplied sciences

57

167

116

Number of students at

Universities

Colleges of art,film and music

Universities ofapplied sciences

33,000

517,000

1,360,000

Source: Hochschulrektorenkonferenz, as per: winter semester 2006/2007

Kunst-, Film- und Musikhochschulen:

Colleges of art, film and music offerartistic-creative subjects like fine art,industrial and fashion design, stagedesign, graphic art, instrumental musicor singing. Special media-oriented col-leges train directors, camera operators,authors, film-makers and other TV ormedia professionals. Students wishing tostudy at a college of art, film or music

must demonstrate their particular artistictalent; they do this by passing an aptitudetest. Students enjoy relatively many free-doms when organising their studies, andteachers provide intensive supervision andsupport. This approach aims to ensurethat the students are able to develop theirown personal art style. College of art, film

and music is a generic term. While mostof these institutions bear the nameHochschule, some have names thatextend back to their historical roots, such

as (Kunst)Akademie or Schule. In English,

they use names like University of the Arts,School of Music, Academy of Film andTelevision, etc. Colleges of art, film or

music can award doctorates to appropri-ately-qualified graduates who complete a

programme of postgraduate studies.

Besides the state (public) higher educa-tion institutions, a number ofprivateuniversities also operate in Germany.These above all offer subjects from thefields of law, economics and business

administration and social sciences. Privateuniversities often maintain close contacts

with companies in order to give their grad-uates better career prospects in the profes-

sional world. However, this comes at a

price: applicants have to pass a selectiontest and must be prepared to pay up to20,000 euros per year in tuition fees.Almost 2.5 % of all the students in Ger-


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many are currently registered at a privateuniversity. Private universities must obtainstate recognition before they can offer aca-demic degrees that are equivalent to those

offered by public institutions. Practicallyall state-recognised German higher educa-tion institutions are listed in the databasewww.hochschulkompass.de maintainedby the German Rectors Conference(Hochschulrektorenkonferenz HRK). Allthe Hochschulkompass data can also befound on the accompanying CD-ROM.

tals in a subject; Masters programmes(the second) enable students to deepenand extend their knowledge or to expandit across various disciplines.

Bachelors and Masters will replace theconventional German degrees (Diplom,Magister). Additionally, the new structurefocuses studies more strongly on the re-quirements of employers when designingprogrammes, i. e. by looking at whatlearning outcomes (competence) graduates

have acquired and at how they are pre-pared for the job market (employability).Those not seeking a career in academia orresearch will find that a Bachelors degreegained after three or four years of studyalready provides a professional qualification.

Studies in these new degree programmesare divided into modules. Each module is

made up of thematically-linked courses suchas lectures, seminars and exercises and canlast up to a maximum of two semesters.The conventional division into basic studystage and main study stage has been aban-doned. Students who successfully com-plete a module score credit points basedon the European Credit Transfer System(ECTS), which measures the total student

workload required for successful com-pletion of the degree programme (seeBox p. 16).

In addition to the official degree docu-ments (certificate and diploma), studentswho graduate successfully from theirstudies automatically receive a Diploma

Supplement. It contains standardisedinformation on the academic degree andon the learning outcomes associated withthat degree. This aims to facilitate and

Academic Reforms and theBologna Process

Germanys higher education institutionsare passing through a period of extensivechange. To raise the international compe-titiveness of European universities, thegovernments of 29 European countries

met in the Italian city of Bologna in 1999,where they agreed to create a singleEuropean Higher Education Area by 2010.This involves introducing comparableprogrammes and degrees at institutions inthe participating countries so that the rangeof studies offered throughout Europe isboth transparent and compatible. Theobjectives are to increase student mobility,

to facilitate the recognition of academicdegrees abroad, and to encourage highereducation institutions to compete for thevery best minds.

A total of 46 countries have meanwhilesigned up to the Bologna Process. Its coreelement is based on two cycles of academic

study that lead to degrees awarded on thebasis of identical criteria throughoutEurope: Bachelors programmes (the firstcycle) deliver the principles and fundamen-


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The Higher Education System 11

improve the assessment of academicdegrees, regardless of whether studentscontinue their studies, for example inpostgraduate or doctoral programmes, or

whether they enter a professional career.

Further Information

www.bmbf.de3

guidance and supervision. Around half theparticipants in these programmes comefrom abroad.

The DAAD website offers further informa-tion on more than 600 programmes.

Besides the international degree pro-grammes that German higher education

institutions offer, students can also choosefrom a large number of programmes run

jointly by a German institution and a part-

ner university abroad. Students who takeone of these integrated degree programmesspend a certain number of semesters atthe partner university. This student ex-

change is based on agreements signed bytwo or more universities. Credits earned

at the partner university have been harmo-nised with the degree programme at the

home institution and are fully recognised.

This means that the stay at the partneruniversity does not result in longer studies.

Some of these degree programmes havebecome so integrated that the participants

spend around half of their studies at thepartner university and gain a degree from

both institutions. A key prerequisite foradmission to such a double degree pro-

gramme is generally a good knowledge of

the language of instruction or of the respec-tive national language.

Further Information

www.daad.de/3international-programmesThe DAADs International Bachelor, Master and

Doctoral Programmes database

Website of the Federal Ministry of Education and

Research BMBF with comprehensive information

on the Bologna Process

www.bologna2009benelux.org

3Website of the Bologna follow-up conference held inLeuven / Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, with information

on the Bologna Process and on how each country is

progressing with implementing the reforms

www.hrk.de3Website of the German Rectors Conference (HRK)

that also offers extensive information on the

Bologna Process

International Programmes

Germanys higher education institutionshave introduced international Bachelorsand Masters programmes to better meetthe interests of foreign applicants. Specialfeatures of these programmes include that

they are taught in a foreign language, inmost cases English. Some programmes orindividual courses may also be offered inother languages, like Spanish or French.

International Bachelor, Master and

Doctoral Programmes in Germany

stand out with their high academic level

and well-structured studies. German lan-guage courses are offered parallel to or areintegrated into the programme. They alsoprovide particularly intensive support,


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Universities and Equivalent Institutions

Universities are responsible for promotingscience and the humanities. Researchand teaching develop freely at these insti-tutions. Studies generally last betweenthree and five years and qualify students

for various professions. But they also offerinterested students opportunities for enter-ing careers in academia. After graduating,young and early-stage researchers (gener-ally, this means holders of a Masters orDiplom degree, in exceptions also a Bach-elors degree) enter a doctoral programmewhere they conduct independent researchand, in many cases, also teach their first

courses as well.

Besides the classical full universities thatcover the whole spectrum of academicsubjects, Germany also has so-calledequivalent institutions. In contrast to thetraditional universities, these specialise inspecific subject areas. Typical examplesare: technical universities / universities

of technology, schools of medicine anduniversities of education, universities ofpolitics, universities of administrativesciences, schools of management or busi-ness, and church-maintained colleges.

1.36 million students were registered at

Further Information

www.university-ranking.de3DAAD website run in cooperation with the weekly

newspaper DIE ZEIT and the Centre for Higher

Education Development (CHE) to present the results

of an extensive university ranking

www.higher-education-compass.de3HRK website with information on study oppor-

tunities in Germany and a list of international

cooperation agreements involving German higher

education institutions

www-en.studienwahl.de3Website published by the Federal Employment Agen-cy and the German Federal States (Lnder).

The site offers extensive information on study

opportunities in Germany.


School Qualifications andAptitude Tests

Students who went to school in Germanyand would like to study one or more sub-jects of their choice at a university or equi-valent institution must hold a generalhigher education entrance qualificationcalled the allgemeine Hochschulreife(Abitur). The Abitur is the highest school

leaving certificate in Germany. It entitlesits holder to study at any type of highereducation institution. In the past, pupilsgenerally gained their Abitur after 13 years

116 universities and equivalent institutions

in the winter semester 2006/2007(see Figure p. 9).


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Universities and Equivalent Institutions 13

of schooling. This system is currentlybeing changed so that in about five yearstime, most pupils will graduate after 12years. (For information on the admissions

requirements for foreign students seep. 32).

In the case of admissions-restricted sub-jects (Numerus clausus), universities haverecently increasingly begun to select stu-dents not only on the basis of their schoolleaving certificate (grade point average)

but also require applicants to sit a subject-specific aptitude test. Since 2007,there is a general academic or scholasticaptitude test for international applicantscalled the TestAS. The test includes anadditional special section for certain high-demand subjects, such as economics,business administration and engineering(see p. 32). In general, it is expected that

Germanys universities will increasinglyconsider quality and aptitude-related crite-ria when selecting students in the future.

Some degree programmes require studentsto complete internships either as part of

their qualification for admission or as acompulsory programme element. Please

enquire as soon as possible whether thisalso applies in your academic subject.

Please check the enclosed CD-ROM forthe addresses of the Admissions Offices.

Organisation of Studies

Programme Structure

Bachelors and Masters programmes

are divided into modules, i. e. study unitsmade up of thematically-related courses,

like lectures, seminars and exercises.Each module involves a student workload

of six to ten hours per week. Studentsreceive credit points for each successfully-

completed module. They need to score aspecific number of credit points to com-plete the programme and so graduate(see Box p. 16).

Traditional degree programmes (Magister,Internships and Foreign LanguageSkills

Not all specialist literature is publishedin German, of course. Consequently,

foreign language skills have an importantrole to play in practically all academic sub-jects. Universities often expect studentsto speak English and French, and in somecases Latin or in specific subject areas evenother old languages like Ancient Greek.Generally, students can study for theselanguage certificates parallel to their normal

courses. The faculty in question will offerappropriate courses.

Diplom and Staatsexamen, see pp. 16-17)are divided into a basic study stage and a

main study stage. The basic study stage

(Grundstudium) delivers the basic contentand methodological principles of a subject.

Students are required to attend certaincourses in which they must earn credits or

gain attendance certificates (compulsoryand optional courses). Students who pass

the intermediate exam at the end of thebasic study stage are entitled to continue

their studies in the main study stage. Somedegree programmes only require proof thatthe student has completed the basic study


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stage; an intermediate exam is not requiredin such cases.

The main study stage (Hauptstudium)

allows students a lot more freedom ofchoice. They can set core study areas, canspecialise and can acquire competenciesrequired for research work. At the end ofthe main study stage, students take anextensive examination involving writtenand oral sections and subsequently gra-duate with a degree that also counts as a

professional qualification.

Types of Courses

Universities offer various kinds of coursesthat may be variously weighted, depending

on the programme or university in question.The following provides a general overview.

Lectures (Vorlesungen) involve a univer-sity teacher speaking on a specific topic.Students can prepare or follow up theselectures by reading appropriate texts (withreading lists generally provided). Students

receive credits for attending lectures. Insome cases, a written exam is set at theend of the semester in which students arerequired to demonstrate their knowledgeof the material taught in the lectures.

Seminars (Seminare) enable students towork on research topics under the guid-ance of university teachers. Presentations

of seminar papers, discussions with fellowstudents and the lecturer plus subsequentreview play a key role. Students gain acredit (Schein) by presenting a paper, anassignment or sitting a written examina-tion. Some universities use seminars toextend and apply the content taught in thelectures. Since this kind of course dependson students playing an active part, they

should ideally be held in small groups.However, there is such demand in somesubjects that early registration is required.

Start and Length of Studies

The academic year is generally divided intotwo six-month periods called semesters.The winter semester normally begins inOctober, the summer semester in April.Courses usually run over around three

months in the summer semester and fourmonths in the winter semester. Studentsare expected to use the non-lecture period(recess) to go over the material from pastsemesters and to prepare for the comingones. They also use this time to completeinternships.

Each academic subject has its own set of

study regulations (Studienordnung) thatspecify the standard time to degree (Regel-studienzeit) in which the programmeshould or must be completed. The timeto degree includes practical semesters andsemesters abroad plus the final examinationphase. The standard programme durationfor traditional degrees is nine, for Bach-

elor's degrees six and for a Master'sbetween two and four semesters.

A tutorial serves to deepen and extend thecontent taught in lectures and seminars.Tutorials are basic study stage coursesheaded by advanced students (tutors). In

contrast to tutorials, consolidation coursesheaded by university teachers, lecturers,assistants or research assistants are alsosometimes called exercises (bungen).


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Courses in which students exchange ideasand information in the final examinationphase are often called a colloquium (Kol-loquium). Colloquia give participants

opportunities to present their currentwork and to discuss it with fellow studentsand others from the field in question.

Sometimes, revision courses (Repetitorien)enable students to repeat and go overcourse contents under the guidance of auniversity teacher as part of their prepa-

rations specifically for the final exam.Specialists in the private (commercial)market also offer such courses. Althoughthese are not university courses, they canbe useful for revising. Some programmesoffer excursions (Exkursionen) that canlast up to several weeks.

Many degree programmes require students

to complete internships (Praktika) inprivate companies, municipal authoritiesor educational institutions. They are super-vised by university teachers and aim tohelp students gain an insight into and findout about various career options. Theore-tical and experimental training are closelyinterconnected in many natural sciencessubjects. For example, students work in alaboratory (Labor) under the guidance andsupervision of research staff and so learnhow to analyse chemical substances, howto do syntheses, and how to use test andmeasurement equipment. Students whostudy medicine generally need to spendseveral months doing a medical trainee-ship (Famulatur) in a hospital, a doctors

surgery, or similar facilities. At the end oftheir studies, they complete a practicalyear (Praktisches Jahr) in a hospital.

Many universities have developed onlineteaching modules to complement the tradi-

tional forms of teaching. Students takepart in the lectures and seminars via the

Internet and contribute to these courseswith their own work, input and comments.The courses can be recorded as streams

and then accessed at any time. In the mean-time, even whole degree programmes are

being completed online with recognisedacademic degrees awarded to successful

students.

Further Information

www.studieren-im-netz.de3Online portal launched by the federal and state govern-

ments. The service provides an overview of web-based

degree programmes and courses; German only

Academic Degrees

Germanys universities will probablycontinue to offer two parallel degreestructures until 2010: on the one hand,

these will be the traditional but expiringdegree courses that lead to a Diplom orMagister Artium degree; on the otherhand, they are already offering the new

two-cycle system of Bachelors and Mas-ters degrees and will continue to extend

the range of such programmes. Exceptionsor differing arrangements can be expected

in some subject areas.

You may also find that your academicsubject can be completed with a choice of

several degrees. When making your choice,please remember that you can gain a

Bachelors degree, i. e. an internationally-recognised academic degree with profes-sional qualification, after just three to four

years of study.


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Bachelors and Masters

The Bachelors degree is usually the firstdegree with professional qualification to

be gained in Britain, the United States,Australia and other countries. Under theBologna Process, this degree has now alsobeen introduced at Germanys universities.To gain a Bachelors degree, you must earnbetween 180 and 240 credit points in thecourse of your studies. The exact numberof credit points depends on the study reg-

ulations for the programme. Bachelorsprogrammes are designed with a studentworkload of around 40 study hours perweek completed over 45 study weeks peryear. This enables students to graduatewithin the specified standard time todegree (Regelstudienzeit).

Students who hold a Bachelors degree

and wish to continue to specialise cantake up a Masters programme eitherdirectly after completing their Bachelorsor after spending a few years working intheir profession. The chosen degree pro-gramme must be closely related to theBachelors subject. The university canprovide information on which Bachelorsdegree qualifies the holder to enter a

Masters programme.

Graduates holding a Bachelors degreeneed to earn between 60 and 120 creditpoints in a Masters programme to gain aMasters degree. They have to produce aMasters thesis in which they demonstratethat they competently meet the academic

and research requirements of their sub-ject. A Masters degree is roughly compa-rable to a university Diplom degree or aMagister or Staatsexamen degree.

ECTS Credit PointsPerformance in Bachelors and Masters

programmes is assessed in accordance

with the European Credit TransferSystem (ECTS). ECTS measures the

student workload required to success-

fully complete the programme, i. e. to

graduate, including the workload for

preparing and going over courses, for

gaining course credits and for pre-

paring exams. Students score credit

points and their performance is graded.

These factors are considered in thefinal grade point average.

One credit point sometimes also called

ECTS point corresponds to a student

workload of 30 hours. Degree pro-

grammes are generally designed to

require students to earn 30 credit points

per semester so that they can com-

plete the programme in the standard

time to degree.

Magister Artium

A Magister Artium degree is awarded forsuccessful completion of a programme insubjects from the fields of arts and huma-

nities, cultural studies or social sciences;courses leading to such degrees allowvarious subject combinations. The finalexamination is taken in one major and twominor subjects or alternatively in twomajors. Students are free to choose theiroption. Besides having to produce aMagister thesis, students also sit written

and oral exams. Those who graduate witha good grade can continue their studiesin a postgraduate or doctoral programme(see p. 17).


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Diplom

A Diplom degree is awarded for successfulcompletion of a course in subjects from

the fields: natural sciences, engineering,economics and business administration,education and sport (Please note that aDiplom degree in education (Diplom-Pdagoge/Pdagogin) does not count as ateaching qualification). Students completetheir degree course with a Diplom thesisand written or oral exams. Diplom degrees

qualify holders for careers in business andindustry. Like the Magister, the Diplomalso entitles holders to enter a doctoralprogramme (see below).

Promotion (Doctorate)

A doctorate is the highest academic degree.It is accepted as proof that the holder is

capable of doing independent scientificresearch.

Doctorates enable holders to enter careersin research and academia, while such a

degree is also seen as an important qualityfeature in careers outside universities and

science. A doctorate involves production of

a dissertation (an independent researchpaper) that contains new scientific findingsplus oral defence of the dissertation in anoral examination called Rigorosum or Dis-

putation in German, a kind of viva voce.After gaining the doctorate, holders can

use the title Dr.. Depending on the sub-ject area in question, doctorates can take

between two and five years.

Staatsexamen

Students of medicine, law, pharmacy orteaching generally graduate with a Staats-

examen degree. Staatsexamen coursesprepare students for state-supervised pro-fessions, which is why they are examinedby a state examinations board rather thanby the usual university or faculty exami-nations board. Since these graduates oftenenter the civil service, the content of theirstudies and the examination itself aresubject to statutory regulations. In most

cases, the 1st Staatsexamen involves atheory-oriented examination comparableto other academic degrees. The 2nd Staats-examen is awarded after a period of prac-tical postgraduate professional training.

International students can also take theStaatsexamen. However, they should first

check whether this degree is recognised intheir home country and whether they canenter the profession in question there.

Anyone wishing to gain a doctorate needsto have completed a course of academic

studies with above-average grades. Inexceptions, holders of Bachelors degrees

can also be admitted to a doctoral pro-gramme, if they can prove their aptitude

in a special assessment process.

Candidates will also need to find an aca-demic supervisor called Doktorvater or

Doktormutter for their doctorate. Pleaseremember that no university teacher is

obliged to accept you as a doctoral candi-date. This is why it is important that you

inform yourself as soon as possible aboutwhich university best suits your area of

research. The Higher-Education-Compassoffered by the HRK offers a good overview(www.hochschulkompass.de).


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Alternatively, you can do your doctorate ina Research Training Group (Graduierten-kolleg). These graduate schools are univer-sity facilities responsible for promoting

young and early-stage researchers. Theygive doctoral candidates the opportunityto integrate their dissertation into a com-prehensive and collaborative research pro-gramme. The programme is run by severalresearchers and often has an interdisci-plinary focus. Degree courses serve tocomplement the doctoral students indivi-

dual research programmes and to specifi-cally advance the process of academic andscientific exchange. The website of theGerman Research Foundation (DeutscheForschungsgemeinschaft DFG) offers alist of the Research Training Groups that itcurrently funds (see Further Information).

Doctoral students can also choose from

a whole range of programmes that arespecifically designed for foreign (post)graduates. These offer intensive academicand non-academic supervision and sup-port, in most cases an English supportingcurriculum and often special fundingprogrammes as well.

For example, the International Post-graduate Programmes (IPP) jointlyoffered by the DAAD and the DFG orthe International Max Planck ResearchSchools (IMPRS, www.mpg.de) havea specific international profile. They giveparticularly qualified and talented Germanand foreign students the opportunity toprepare for their doctoral examination in

centres of excellence located throughoutGermany. These offer training at a highacademic level and in close contact withthe supervising university teachers.

Some federal states have established Eng-lish speaking Graduate Schools which, incontrast to the Research Training Groups,are permanent facilities located at the

respective universities. Graduate Schoolslargely deliver their teaching in Englishand offer highly-qualified young and early-stage researchers from home and abroadintensive individual supervision withtheir dissertation. These schools preparestudents for positions in interdisciplinaryand international science and research.

Further Information

www.daad.de/deutschland/3forschung/promotionDAAD information on the various options available

for gaining a doctorate in Germany plus experience

reports and a list of recommended reading, which

also contains further links

www.daad.de/3international-programmesDAAD database with information on International

Doctoral Programmes

www.dfg.de3Information from the German Research Foundation

(DFG) on Research Training Groups; first click on

"Research Funding", then on "Coordinated Pro-

grammes"


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Universities in Germany

Flensburg

Kiel

Schleswig-Holstein

Rostock

Lbeck

Greifswald

Hamburg

Oldenburg

Hamburg

Lneburg

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Bremen

Bremen Brandenburg

Berlin

Potsdam

FriedensauMagdeburg

Vechta Lower Saxony

Hannover

BerlinFrankfurt/O.

Osnabrck

MnsterBielefeld

Braunschweig

Hildesheim

Clausthal-Zellerfeld

Gttingen

Kassel

Weimar

DuisburgBochum

DortmundEssenWitten-Herdecke

Wuppertal HagenDsseldorf

Kln

St.Augustin

North Rhine-Westphalia

PaderbornSaxony-Anhalt

Halle

Leipzig

Cottbus

SaxonyDresden

FreibergChemnitz

Zittau

AachenBonn

SiegenHesse

MarburgGieen Fulda

Erfurt

Thuringia

Ilmenau

Jena

VallendarKoblenz

Rhineland- Oestrich-WinkelPalatinate

Trier

Kaiserslautern

Oberursel

Mainz

Frankfurta.M.

Darmstadt Wrzburg Bamberg

Erlangen

Bayreuth

SaarlandSaarbrckenSpeyer

Landau

MannheimHeidelberg

Bruchsal

Karlsruhe

Nrnberg

Neuendettelsau

RegensburgLudwigsburg

SchwbischGmndStuttgartHohenheim

LahrTbingen

EichstttIngolstadt

Passau

BavariaUlm

Augsburg

Mnchen

Benediktbeuern

Baden-Wrttemberg

Freiburg Weingarten

Konstanz

Weilheim-Bierbronnen Friedrichs-hafen


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Fachhochschulen(Universities of Applied Sciences)

Fachhochschulen (FHs) were founded bythe federal states in the late 1960s andearly 1970s in response to the advancingscientific-technological progress that setnew standards for the qualification levels

of future professionals. These universitiesof applied sciences, as they are officiallycalled in English, aimed to fill the gapbetween academia and the working worldby offering a sound academic trainingdesigned to meet the practical aspects ofprofessional life.

Studies at a Fachhochschule combine

academic standards with an extensivepractical focus. Students do practicalsemesters in companies, industry, publicauthorities or elsewhere where they canapply and try out what they have learnt intheir courses. Since these studies aim toprepare students as quickly as possiblefor career entry, the programmes are rela-tively tightly organised.

The 157 state and state-recognised Fach-hochschulen are currently training517,000 students.

Range of subjects offeredat FachhochschulenFHs offer fewer subjects than univer-

sities. They concentrate on the fields of

business and management, engineer-

ing, design, social work and education,and nursing.

Further Information

www.fachhochschule.de3Privately-run information portal with a systematic

overview of the degree programmes offered at

Fachhochschulen in Germany; German only

www-en.studienwahl.de3Website published by the Federal Employment Agen-

cy and the German Federal States (Lnder).




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Fachhochschulen (Universities of Applied Sciences) 21


School Qualifications

As a rule, students wishing to study at aFachhochschule (FH) must at least holdan FH entrance qualification (Fachhoch-schulreife) or a comparable school leavingcertificate or qualification. Various federalstates additionally offer other trainingmeasures aimed at enabling students toobtain this qualification.


Studies at a Fachhochschule are structuredmuch like those at a university. This applies

both to traditional degree courses and toBachelors and Masters programmes.However, programmes at a Fachhoch-

schule generally include practical trainingcourses of several weeks and in somecases of an entire semester.

The standard time to degree at a Fach-

hochschule is set at eight semesters. Fach-hochschulen achieve this by starting thesemester one month earlier than a tradi-tional university, which means the winter

semester begins in September and thesummer semester in March. So, FH

students only have three to four monthsof recess (non-lecture period) per year.

Internships and Aptitude Tests

To qualify for admission to studies, studentsoften have to complete a pre-study intern-ship that relates in terms of content tothe aspired degree programme. Studentsmay be asked to spend up to one year onsuch an internship. Periods of vocational

training are credited to pre-study intern-ships. The Fachhochschulen have Intern-ship Offices that help students find aplace where they can gain such practicalexperience.

Students wishing to study design, film,photography or music at a Fachhoch-schule must be able to prove their parti-

cular artistic talent. Study applicantsgenerally have to submit examples of theirwork (portfolio) or pass an aptitude test.

Academic Degrees

Diplom FH

The academic degree traditionally awardedby Fachhochschulen is the Diplom FHthat identifies it as a Fachhochschule

Diplom rather than a university one. Thefinals differ in their procedure from one

federal state to the next. However, they dousually require students to produce a

Diplom thesis and to sit written and oralexaminations. Students work on a concretecareer-specific topic for their Diplom thesisand often produce it in cooperation with acompany, for example, where they did an

internship. Students who graduate with an

outstanding Diplom degree may be able toenter a doctoral programme at a university.


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Fachhochschulen also offer Bachelors andMasters programmes. The Bachelors or

Masters degree awarded is the same asthat awarded by a university.

However, Fachhochschule studies dodiffer from university studies in terms ofcontentual focus. Studies at Fachhoch-schulen concentrate on applied sciences.Preparation for a concrete and specific

profession or career field plays a muchgreater role than at a university. However,these two types of higher education insti-tutions Fachhochschule and university may become more alike in the future.

Graduates holding a Bachelors degreefrom a Fachhochschule can be admittedto a Masters programme at a Fachhoch-

schule or a university. FH and universityMasters programmes are largely equi-valent and generally open up the samecareer prospects.


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Fachhochschulen (Universities of Applied Sciences) 23

Universities of Applied Sciences in Germany

Flensburg

HeideKiel Stralsund

Wismar

Schleswig-Holstein

ElmshornPinneberg

Lbeck Gstrow

NeubrandenburgWilhelmshaven

Emden

Oldenburg

WedelBremerhaven

BremenBuxtehude

Ottersberg

Bremen

HamburgHamburg


BrandenburgEberswalde

StendalVechta Lower Saxony Berlin

Berlin

WildauOsnabrck

MnsterBielefeld Lemgo

PaderbornGelsenkirchenEssen BochumDortmund

IserlohnKrefeld Dsseldorf

North Rhine-WestphaliaHamm

BrandenburgPotsdamHannover

BraunschweigWolfenbttel

MagdeburgHildesheimDessauBernburg

Kthen Saxony-WernigerodeHolzmindenAnhalt

Leipzig

Senftenberg

Gttingen MerseburgNordhausen

BadSooden-AllendorfThuringia

Moritzburg Grlitz

Mittweida SaxonyErfurt JenaKlnAachenBrhl ChemnitzHesseSt.Augustin SchmalkaldenBonn ZwickauGieen FuldaBadHonnef Hachenburg

Idstein FriedbergHofKoblenz BadHomburg

CoburgFrankfurta.M.SchweinfurtRhineland- Wiesbaden

Palatinate AschaffenburgMainzWrzburgBingen DarmstadtTrier Weiden

Worms

Nrnberg AmbergKaiserslautern MannheimAnsbachHeidelbergSaarland Ludwigshafen

SaarbrckenHeilbronn

Karlsruhe RegensburgSchwbischHallPforzheim Ludwigsburg Deggendorf

AalenStuttgart Esslingen IngolstadtSchwbischGmndCalwNrtingenOffenburg

LandshutBavariaReutlingenRottenburgFreising-Ulm Neu-UlmAlbstadt- WeihenstephanRiedlingen AugsburgSigmaringenFurtwangen Erding

Biberach MnchenFreiburg Baden- Weingarten

RavensburgWrttemberg RosenheimIsny

KonstanzKempten

Dresden Zittau


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Kunst-, Film- und Musikhochschulen(Colleges of Art, Film and Music)

Besides its universities and Fachhoch-schulen, German higher education alsohas a whole range of colleges of art, filmand music to offer. The word college isused here as a generic term. While mostof these institutions bear the name Hoch-

schule, some have names that go back totheir historical roots or traditions, such as(Kunst)Akademie or Schule. In English,they use names like University of the Arts,School of Music, Academy of Film andTelevision, etc.

Colleges of art, film or music are primarilyresponsible for developing the various artsand for preparing students for careers inart and art education. The 57 state (public)and state-recognised institutions currentlytrain around 33,000 students.

Students wishing to study at a college ofart, film or music must have exceptionalartistic talent. This criterion is more impor-

tant than their school qualifications.

The particular value attached to artistictalent is also reflected in the study regula-tions. To ensure that students can fullydevelop their creative potential, these allowthem a lot of individual freedom in howthey organise their personal studies. Thisapplies particularly in the fine arts.

Occasionally, colleges of art, film andmusic also offer research-oriented or FHdegree programmes (for example, inmedia studies, musicology or aesthetics).Essentially, these programmes apply thesame study conditions as in university

studies.

Some universities and Fachhochschulenalso offer art, design, film or music pro-grammes. Admissions conditions andcourse contents are much the same as thoseoffered at colleges of art, film or music,but may differ on a case-by-case basis.Sometimes, the proximity of other subjectareas at the respective institutions makesit possible to give degree programmes aspecific focus (e. g. an emphasis on theory,philosophy or history).

Further Information

www.hrk.de3Website of the German Rectors Conference (HRK).

Its website includes a search function for colleges ofart, film and music.

www-en.studienwahl.de3Website published by the Federal Employment

Agency and the German Federal States (Lnder).




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Kunst-, Film- und Musikhochschulen (Colleges of Art, Film and Music) 25


School Qualifications

As a rule, students wishing to study at acollege of art, film or music need to hold ageneral higher education entrance qualifi-cation called allgemeine Hochschulreife.Study applicants with outstanding artistictalent may also be admitted to studieswithout the required school leaving certi-ficate. In this case, they have to pass an

aptitude test. Please note, however, thatthis option is not available when studyingfor a teaching degree.

Internships and Aptitude Tests

The colleges have developed variousways to test the artistic aptitude of theirapplicants such as practical exams or

interviews with university teachers. Inmost cases, applicants must submit aportfolio of their own art or design work.Applicants wishing to study music arerequired to demonstrate their ability inan audition. Some other degree program-mes expect students to spend severalmonths doing an internship.

Some of the teaching is delivered in theform of lectures, seminars and other kinds

of courses (see pp. 14-15). However, teach-ing in these artistic-creative fields attaches

particular importance to practical exer-cises in which students get the opportu-nity and are expected to develop their

musical skills, artistic ability and creativepotential. The programme provides both

individual teaching and discussion withuniversity teachers and fellow students as

a means of allowing each student to devel-

op his or her own personal artistic style.To encourage exchange, studies are oftencompleted as a class. Many degree pro-grammes require students to do intern-ships that last several months.

The standard time to degree in a tradi-tional degree course is generally set atbetween 8 and 10 semesters. As at uni-

versities, the summer semester generallybegins in April and the winter semesterin October.

The Bachelors and Masters programmesoffered by colleges of art, film and music

essentially have the same structure assimilar programmes offered at univer-sities and Fachhochschulen.


Just like university and FH programmes,the courses usually offered at colleges ofart, film and music are divided into a basicstudy stage and a main study stage(see pp. 13-14). Some institutions alreadytest whether students are suitable for the

course after just two probationary semes-ters.


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Academic Degrees

Diplom

Traditional studies at a college of art, filmor music generally end with a Diplomdegree. The elements required for gradua-tion can be made up of a Diplom thesis,oral examinations, continuously assessedcredits, and demonstration of artistic skills.Depending on the subject in question, stu-dents may be required to present their art-

work or to perform music, drama or givesimilar presentations.

Meisterschler / Konzertexamen

The highest qualification for artists inGermany is nomination as a Meister-

schler (Master Pupil) or qualificationwith a Konzertexamen. These distinctionscan be awarded to outstanding studentsor graduates in the course of their aca-demic training. Some institutions requiregraduates to complete a course of post-graduate studies (a Master Class) for thisaward, to which only particularly-qualified

artists are admitted. Meisterschler stud-ies generally last one year. The Konzert-examen degree is the equivalent postgrad-uate qualification in the field of music.Institution-own Degrees

Some institutions end the studies infor-mally, i. e. without conferring a formaldegree or qualification; or perhaps theyonly award a Diplom degree at the express

request of the student. Others may conferthe Akademiebrief, a diploma of fine art,as the graduation certificate in subjectsfrom that field.


Bachelors and Masters programmes arestill quite rare at colleges of art, film and

music, since the federal states have not yetissued any uniform guidelines on these.However, the process of converting mostof the degree courses over to this new aca-demic structure also has to be completedby 2010 at the latest (on performanceassessment see p. 16).

The Fine Arts form an exception in this

respect, because studies in these subjectsdiffer greatly from conventional academicprogrammes. Some institutions willprobably continue to offer their two-stagesystem of a first degree course (Diplom)plus postgraduate Meisterschler studies.

Staatsexamen

Students wishing to become art or musicteachers at state or state-recognised schools

in Germany must graduate with a Staats-examen (see p. 17).


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Kunst-, Film- und Musikhochschulen (Colleges of Art, Film and Music) 27

Colleges of Art, Film and Music in Germany

Schleswig- KielHolstein

Lbeck

Hamburg

Rostock


Hamburg

Bremen

Bremen

Lower SaxonyElstal

Hannover

HerfordDetmold

BraunschweigPotsdam

BerlinBerlin

Brandenburg

Mnster Saxony-Anhalt

Halle

LeipzigGrlitz

Essen

Dsseldorf

Kln

Alfter

North Rhine-Westphalia

Dresden

Hesse

Thuringia

WeimarSaxony

Rhineland-Palatinate

Frankfurta.M.Offenbach

BayreuthWrzburg

NrnbergSaarland

Saarbrcken

MannheimHeidelberg

Karlsruhe

Stuttgart

Tbingen

Regensburg

RottenburgTrossingen

Freiburg

Bavaria

Augsburg

Mnchen

Baden-Wrttemberg


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Higher Education Institutions and their Facilities

The following provides information on thevarious facilities run by higher educationinstitutions. Please note, however, that thefacilities may differ in name and function,depending on which federal state they arelocated in.

Faculties

Universities are divided into faculties whichare headed by an elected dean and contri-bute to drawing up the examination andstudy regulations. Each faculty is made upof various departments called Instituteor Seminare in German. This, as a rule,is also where the respective departmentallibrary is located.

Please contact the International Office firstif you have any general questions aboutdegree programmes, admissions require-ments, or about preparing your studies orfinancing them. The International Officestaff will also give you advice on how to

find a place to live plus support withbureaucratic formalities related to yourstay (residence, work, etc.).

Preparation for studying abroad takes a lotof time. This is why you should contact theInternational Office at the institution ofyour choice at least 6 months (and betterstill 1 year) before you plan to start yourstudies there.

The addresses of all the InternationalOffices in Germany can be found on theenclosed CD-ROM.

The International Office(Akademisches Auslandsamt) First Point of Contact forStudents from Abroad

The International Office is one of the keycontact points for foreign students. It ispart of the university administration and isresponsible for international academicrelations and all related affairs, includingstudent exchange, incoming and outgoingstudents, etc.

Student Representation at Institu-tional and Departmental Level

Various councils and societies representstudent interests at higher education insti-tutions. The Student Parliament (StuPa) iselected once a year by all the students atthe institution in question. The StudentParliament then elects the representativesof the universitys Student Council, knownas Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss

(AStA) or StudentInnenrat (StuRa) or Unab-hngiger Studierendenausschuss (UStA),depending on where you are studying.


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Higher Education Institutions and their Facilities 29

Whatever it may be called at your institu-tion, it is the highest representative bodyof the students. It represents the academicinterests of students and attends to their

social and cultural affairs. Students in theindividual departments also elect depart-mental student societies called Fachschaften(like the Physics Society or History Soci-ety), which represent student interests atdepartmental level.

Rector, President and Senate Executive Managementand Administration of HigherEducation Institutions

Higher education institutions are headedby a Rector (Rektor) or President (Prsi-dent), several Deputy Rectors (Prorek-toren) or Vice-Presidents (Vizeprsidenten),and the institutions chief administrative

officer, the Registrar (Kanzler). The Aca-demic Senate is responsible for managingoverarching affairs in the field of research,teaching and studies. The Senate is madeup of representatives of all universitymembers, which means that studentsand non-academic staff also sit on it.


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Proof of Adequate School orEducational Qualifications

Higher Education EntranceQualification

If you would like to study at a Germanhigher education institution, you mustpresent educational qualifications that arerecognised as equivalent to a Germanhigher education entrance qualification.Students applying to study an artistic sub-ject may be admitted without a formalhigher education entrance qualification ifthey can demonstrate that they have parti-cular artistic talent. However, it is abso-lutely essential that you find out specific-ally what the requirements are in eachdegree programme at each university thatyou are thinking about applying for.

Often, a school leaving certificate thatqualifies you for entry into higher educa-

tion in your home country will be acceptedas an equivalent qualification for admis-sion to higher education in Germany.Under certain circumstances you may berequired to present further qualifications,such as proof that you have successfullycompleted one or two years of academicstudy in your home country.

The Central Office for Foreign Education(Zentralstelle fr auslndisches Bildungs-wesen ZaB) is based at the Standing

Conference of the Ministers of Educationand Cultural Affairs (Kultusminister-konferenz KMK). It is responsible forissuing recommendations on the assess-ment of foreign educational certificates.Practically all German higher education

institutions base their decisions on admit-ting foreign applicants on these recommen-dations; the higher education acts adoptedby many federal states define these recom-mendations as the minimum requirementsfor admission to higher education. Youcan find out how your certificates will beassessed in Germany by going to the DAADwebsite, or for greater detail onto thewebsite of the Central Office for ForeignEducation: www.anabin.de.

Test for Academic Studies (TestAS)

Since 2007, there has also been a test withwhich foreign study applicants can assesswhether or not they possess the cognitive

ability to start academic studies in Germa-ny. The test for Academic Studies (TestAS)can be taken in the spring at any one of350 TestDaF centres worldwide (see p. 35).The test score will help you realisticallyassess if studying at a German higher edu-cation institution is right for you. Further-more you can improve your chances ofgetting a study place in Germany by

achieving good results in the Test for Aca-demic Studies.


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Admissions Requirements 33

The test consists of three parts: a shortlanguage test (German or English), a gen-eral core knowledge test and a specialisedacademic field module. Currently, there

are modules for engineering and the eco-nomic sciences. The language test is not areplacement for the recognised languageproficiency tests needed for admission(see p. 34).

Core courses to prepare for the Fest-stellungsprfung at a university:

T course: for technical, mathematics

and natural sciences programmes(except biological programmes)

M course: for medical and biologicalprogrammes

W course: for economics, businessadministration, and social sciencesprogrammes

G course: for arts and humanities,

social studies, and artistic programmes;German studies S course: for language/linguisticsoriented programmes (except German)

Core courses to prepare for the Fest-stellungsprfung at a Fachhochschule:

Course TI: for technical and engineer-

ing programmes Course WW: for economics and

business programmes Course GD: for art and design oriented

programmes Course SW: for social sciences pro-

grammes Course D: for programmes leading

to an interpreter/translator degree

Colleges of art, film and music do not ope-rate their own Studienkollegs. Study appli-

cants can attend art-oriented coursesoffered by Studienkollegs at nearby higher

education institutions.

The core courses teach subjects which

prepare you for the examination subjectsthat you later take in the Feststellungs-prfung, including an intensive German

language course. However, basic language

Assessment Test (Feststellungs-prfung) and Preparatory Course(Studienkolleg)

If your educational qualifications are notsufficient for admission to studies, youmay, under certain circumstances andinstead of having to prove that you havecompleted one or two academic years ofstudy in your home country be able toattend a Studienkolleg in Germany to

pass the so-called Feststellungsprfung. Apass in this test is considered as proof thatyou have the knowledge and qualificationsrequired for studies in a specific subjectarea, i. e. natural sciences or engineering.

You take this test in several subjects ofimportance to the subject that you eventu-ally want to study. For example, if you plan

to study medicine, you will be tested inbiology, chemistry and physics. The Fest-stellungsprfung includes a language test.Its level meets the language proficiencyrequirements needed for admission to aca-demic study in Germany.

Studienkollegs at universities and Fach-

hochschulen offer various courses for studyapplicants. The question of which corecourse applies to you depends on whatsubject you wish to study:


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skills (comparable with Level B1 of theCommon European Framework of Refer-ence) do represent a requirement foracceptance into such a course.

ExampleStudienkolleg timetable for a T1 priori-

ty programme at a Fachhochschule

Subject

German

Physics

Mathematics

EnglishTechnical drawing

Computer science

Total hours

Hours per week

11

6

5

42

2

32

This means they must be able to followand understand a lecture, review, work onand edit an academic text, and possiblyalso write such a text. They must also be

able to converse appropriately in Germanon academic or related topics.

Foreign study applicants are advised toimprove their German language skills asmuch as possible while they are still intheir home country. This is possible inmost countries. Germanys higher educa-

tion institutions offer language courses,which may be free of charge, while othersare meanwhile increasingly charging feesfor such courses. Please note that thenumber of places on these courses islimited. Private language schools and insti-tutes also offer German language coursesthat prepare students for their studies.All such courses charge fees. As a rule,

study applicants must take a test to demon-strate their German language proficiency.Beginners are urgently advised to attend apre-study German course.

To study at a Fachhochschule or univer-sity, applicants who do not come from aGerman-speaking country and who havenot completed a Studienkolleg with theFeststellungsprfung must consequentlypass one of the following two tests:

TestDaF (Test Deutsch als Fremd-sprache) = German as a ForeignLanguage Test, or

DSH (Deutsche Sprachprfung frden Hochschulzugang auslndischer

Studienbewerber) = German LanguageTest for the Admission of ForeignStudy Applicants.

A core course at a Studienkolleg generallylasts two semesters. However, studentswho perform excellently can already beadmitted to the Feststellungsprfung afterjust one semester. Students study as a classand receive around 32 hours of teachingper week. Participation in the courses iscompulsory. Classes, as a rule, are free ofcharge, although participants are requiredto pay the semester fee which all studentsin Germany must pay (see pp. 45-46).

Proof of German LanguageProficiency

German is the language of instructionand study at German higher educationinstitutions, with the exception of someprogrammes instructed in English.Besides having adequate educationalqualifications, study applicants also need

to have German language skills at a levelthat enables them to meet the languagerequirements needed for academic study.


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Admissions Requirements 35

If you hold one of the following languagecertificates, however, you will generally beexempted from having to take these tests:

Deutsches Sprachdiplom der Kultus-ministerkonferenz, 2. Stufe (DSD II),

Zentrale Oberstufenprfung desGoethe-Instituts, or

Kleines or Groes Deutsches Sprach-diplom des Goethe-Instituts.

You will also be exempted if you gainedyour Abitur school leaving certificate at

a recognised German school abroad.

Sometimes, higher education institutionsdispense with the need for a language certi-ficate. This may apply to exchange students,to applicants only wishing to spend onesemester in Germany, to doctoral students,and also to students enrolled in degreeprogrammes that are completely or largely

held in English.

Occasionally, applicants do not have topresent the language certificates foradmission to a higher education insti-tution at this stage. However, they mustcertainly be presented when registering /matriculating at the institution.

The requirements at colleges of art, filmand music differ from one institution tothe next. Sometimes, they also requireapplicants to hold a DSH or TestDaF certi-ficate; in some cases, lower level languageskills may also be accepted.

Because the rules and regulations differ so

much, please do make sure that youinform yourself in good time by contacting

the International Office or by going onto

the website of your chosen institution.

German as a Foreign Language Test(Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache TestDaF)

TestDaF is offered at licensed test centresin Germany and in about 80 other coun-

tries. This standardised test is made up ofwritten and oral sections that enable you

to demonstrate that your Germanlanguage skills are of a sufficient level for

academic study. One of the advantagesthat TestDaF has over the DSH is that you

can take the test in your home country.This means that you can compile all thepapers and documents that you need for

admission to higher education even beforeyou leave for Germany.

The test results are graded at three levels(TDN 3, 4 and 5). Candidates who scorethe middle TestDaF level (TDN 4) in all

test sections fulfil all the language require-ments needed for admission to highereducation. Whether a level TDN 3 score

in one or more of the test sections is stillsufficient for admission generally depends

on the higher education institutions admis-sions policy. So, please make sure thatyou contact the relevant International

Office as soon as possible to get all the

information you need.

Depending on the country the test costs80, 110 or 150 euros and is held six times a

year. The registration deadline is always 4weeks before the next test date.

The website www.testdaf.de lists all the

test centres and test dates, and gives use-ful tips on how best to prepare for the test.


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German Language Test for theAdmission of Foreign Study Appli-cants (Deutsche Sprachprfung frden Hochschulzugang DSH)

The DSH test can generally only be takenin Germany. Many higher education insti-tutions offer it: students usually sit the testthree to four weeks before the semesterstarts. Although the DSH tests differ fromone institution to the next, they are subjectto general guidelines that apply for all

higher education institutions in Germanyand so are comparable. The DSH also in-volves a written section and an oral section.

The test results are graded at three levels:DSH-1, DSH-2 and DSH-3. Studentswishing to be admitted to higher educationmust pass it with at least a DSH-2 levelscore. Depending on what the objective

of your studies is, a DSH-1 score may alsobe accepted, although you may only begiven conditional admission, meaning thatyou have to take German language coursesparallel to your normal studies. You canagain contact the International Office atyour institution of choice to find out whatlanguage level it requires.

Some higher education institutions do notcharge for the DSH test, while otherscharge up to 150 euros. The institutionsset the test dates themselves.

Most higher education institutions offerlanguage courses that prepare students

Further Information

www.daad.de/zulassung3This is where you can find out whether your higher

education entrance qualification entitles you to direct

admission to a degree programme at a German higher

education institution or whether you first have to pass

an assessment test called the Feststellungsprfung

www.learn-german.net3Information on online learning methods, materials,

course providers, plus a list of all recognised German

language tests

www.anabin.de3Database with information on the recognition of for-

eign educational certificates; to find out what recom-

mendations apply to certificates from your home

country, use the option Land whlen; German only

www.goethe.de3

language certificates

Goethe Institute website with information on various

www.studienkollegs.de3Website of the Studienkolleg directors; German only

www.testas.de3Information about the Test for Academic Studies

www.fadaf.de

3Website of the German as a Foreign Language Unit(FADAF) with information on language tests and

certificates, and a list of German course providers;

German only

www.sprachnachweis.de3Information on languages proficiency tests and lan-

guage ability certificates for studying in Germanyfor the DSH. There is generally a charge

for these courses. The fees differ from oneinstitution to the next. In many cases, youalready need to have a certain level of Ger-man to be able to attend these courses.

www.deutsch-uni.com3Interactive learning platform on the German language

and on aspects of cultural and everyday life


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Application and Registration 37

Application and Registration

There are various ways to apply for a studyplace at a German higher education insti-tution. Which of these options is best foryou depends on which subject you chooseand at which higher education institutionyou would like to study. Your country of

origin may also play a role.

As far as admissions regulations are con-cerned, the following study applicants willbe largely treated on the same basis asGerman applicants:

Applicants from a contracting stateto the European Economic Area (EEA);the EEA covers the member states ofthe European Union plus Liechtenstein,Iceland and Norway;

Bildungsinlnder (foreign applicantsholding a German higher educationentrance qualification, for example, for-eigners who gained their higher educa-tion entrance qualification in Germany

or who hold a school leaving certificateawarded by a German school abroad).

Applying to your chosen HigherEducation Institution: Directly orvia uni-assist

Often, study applicants from abroad mustapply direct to the International Office at

the higher education institution at whichthey would like to study (for addresses see

enclosed CD-ROM). The application formcan be obtained from the higher education

institution or downloaded from the DAADwebsite (see p. 39).

Higher education institutions expect youto enclose certain documents and papers

with your application. As a rule, this in-cludes an officially-certified copy of yourschool leaving certificate plus languagecertificates. You will also be required toprovide personal details in a curriculum

vitae or rsum plus information on howyou plan to finance your studies (proof of

sufficient financial resources). Please note

that the higher education institution willonly process your admissions applicationonce you have submitted all the required

papers. The application deadline generallyends several months before the semesterstart date. Therefore, please ensure that

you contact the International Office assoon as possible, so that you can obtain

any documents that you may still need in

good time, i. e. before the closing date.

European Union member statesAustria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus,

Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,

Finland, France, Germany, Greece,

Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,

Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,

Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,

Sweden, United Kingdom


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More than 90 German higher educationinstitutions only process internationalstudy applications once these have beenformally pre-checked by uni-assist

(a certification service for internationalstudent applications). The advantage forinternational study applicants lies in thefact that they only need to contact onecentral office to apply for a study place atseveral higher education institutions atonce with just one set of applicationpapers. The service provided by uni-assist

ensures a quick check of papers. It alsocontacts the applicant without delay if anypapers are missing. If all the papers havebeen submitted in full and the applicantmeets the formal academic requirements,the application will be forwarded to theselected higher education institutions.Applicants from the European EconomicArea (EEA) pay 30 euros for processing the

first application to one higher educationinstitution; Chinese applicants who passedthe certification process at the AcademicEvaluation Centre in Beijing (APS) pay25 euros. All other applicants pay 55 euros.Each application for an additional insti-tution costs 15 euros. For further informa-tion, please check the uni-assist website:www.uni-assist.de.

Institutions are increasingly selecting stu-dents on the basis of quality criteria. Selec-tion factors differ from one federal stateto the next and from institution to institu-tion. Please contact the institution of yourchoice for information and details. A fixedproportion of study places are reserved for

students from abroad who have to passthrough a different admissions procedureto that required for German and equivalentstatus students (see p. 37).

Applying through the CentralUniversity Admissions Service(ZVS)

So-called nationwide admissions restric-tions (Numerus clausus, NC) apply to sub-jects that have more applicants than placesthroughout Germany. Germans and equalstatus foreigners (i. e. EEA foreigners that is, EU foreigners and applicants fromNorway, Liechtenstein and Iceland andforeigners who gained their school leaving

certificate in Germany or at a Germanschool abroad) must initially send theirapplication to the Central UniversityAdmissions Service (Zentralstelle frdie Vergabe von Studienpltzen ZVS,www.zvs.de). All other applicants shouldapply directly to their chosen higher edu-cation institution or to uni-assist.


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Application and Registration 39

Registration/Matriculation(Immatrikulation)

As soon as youve received your letter ofadmission (Zulassungsbescheid) fromthe International Office or the ZVS, youcan go and register at the specified insti-tution. Please note that the registrationdeadlines can often be quite short and thatyou mostly have to go in person to yourinstitution to register.

You have to take a number of specificpapers and documents with you to register for example, proof that you have healthinsurance and that you have paid thesemester fee (see pp. 45-47). The Interna-tional Office will tell you whether you haveto bring any other papers along. Once youhave done this, you will soon receiveconfirmation of your registration by post.

As a registered student you can attendcourses at the institution, take examsand gain an academic degree. You haveaccess to all the facilities at your institu-tion library, sports facilities, computerrooms and can vote at elections to thestudent parliament.

Further Informationwww.daad.de/zulassung3

many as well as application forms

Provides information on admission to study in Ger-


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Entry and Residence Provisions

Visa and Residence Permit

In general, foreign students and studyapplicants from abroad need a nationalvisa to enter Germany. For longerstays, they additionally need to obtain

a residence permit.

Exceptions apply for students andstudy applicants from the followingcountries:

Citizens of countries belonging to theEuropean Economic Area (EEA, seep. 37) only need to present an identitycard or comparable proof of identity,such as a passport, for entry. Afterarriving, they must go to the registra-tion authority (Meldebehrde) in theirnew place of residence to register theiraddress. They then receive a certificateconfirming their right of residence

(Bescheinigung ber das Aufenthalts-

recht). Under certain circumstances,they may also have to prove that theyare able to maintain themselves (i.e.that they have enough money to covertheir living expenses) and that they havehealth insurance cover.

Students and applicants from Andorra,Australia, Canada, Honduras, Israel,Japan, the Republic of Korea, Monaco,New Zealand, San Marino, Switzerlandand the United States of America arealso exempted from the visa require-

ment. However, they do need to obtaina residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaub-nis, see p. 42) if their stay lasts longerthan three months.

Nationals from the following countriesmay enter Germany for three monthswithout a visa: Argentina, Bolivia, Bra-zil, Brunei, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia,El Salvador, Guatemala, Malaysia,Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay,Singapore, Uruguay, Vatican City, Ven-ezuela. However, if you plan to stay inGermany for more than three months,then you must enter Germany with avisa. Anyone entering Germany with-out a visa must leave the country againafter three months and return to their

home country to apply for a visa.


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Entry and Residence Provisions 41

Applicant Visa (Visum zurStudienbewerbung)

Applicants who have not yet beenadmitted to a higher education institu-tion or a Studienkolleg can often alreadyapply for an applicant visa to the Germanmission abroad (embassy, consulate) intheir respective home country (the add-resses of these missions can be found onthe Federal Foreign Office website:www.auswaertiges-amt.de). The visa is

valid for three months and is meant togive you the opportunity to collect anyinformation you need about studying inGermany and to meet the requirementsfor admission. If the three months are notenough, the length of stay can be extendedby a maximum of six months. If you areadmitted to a course of studies or to aStudienkolleg in this time, you will be able

to apply for a student residence permit.

There are no uniform provisions on whichpapers and documents you need to enclosewith your visa application. They may bethe same as for the student visa (see below;but since you do not yet have the letter ofadmission specified there, a higher edu-cation entrance qualification recognised in

Germany will be accepted). Please contactthe German mission in your country assoon as possible to find out which docu-ments you need so that you do not wasteany time unnecessarily.

Student Visa (Visum zuStudienzwecken)

If you have already been admitted to adegree programme or a Studienkolleg, you

need a student visa. Generally you willhave to submit the following papers along

with your visa application:

Letter of admission from the highereducation institution; this can besubstituted by confirmation from the

institution that there is good reasonto expect admission to be granted; Proof of health insurance cover

(see pp. 4647); Proof of financial resources (see p. 42);

Proof of previous educational qualifi-cations and academic credits;

Proof of any German language skillsyou may have or of plans to take an

intensive language course in Germany.

The student visa is generally issued for aperiod ofthree months. If your studies orproject are going to last longer, you must

contact the foreigners authority (Aus-lnderbehrde) at your German place of

residence to apply for a residence permit.


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Residence Permit(Aufenthaltserlaubnis)

Generally, your studies, your project or

your course at a Studienkolleg will lastlonger than three months. If you do notcome from an EU country or from a coun-try of equivalent status, you must go to theforeigners authority (Auslnderbehrde)in the town in which you are studying toapply for a residence permit. This is ini-tially issued for two years, but can be

extended each time by a further two years,subject to appropriate academic progress.

Your application for a residence permitmust be supported by the letter of admis-sion from your higher education institution,by proof ofhealth insurance cover, andby proof that you have sufficient financialresources to maintain yourself (living

expenses) while studying in Germany.

After graduating successfully in Germany,you can apply for a one-year extension toyour residence permit for the purpose oflooking for a job. This application must beaccompanied by proof that you haveenough finances to maintain yourself andthat you are seriously endeavouring to find

a job that corresponds with your qualifi-cations. Germans and applicants of equalstatus (citizens from the EEA and Switzer-land) have priority in the allocation of jobs.Once you have found a position that cor-responds with your qualifications, you willget a residence permit that allows you totake up gainful employment in Germany.

However, the German government hasrecently resolved to ease the employmentrestrictions for foreign graduates of Ger-

man higher education institutions. At thetime of going to press, the new regulationshad not yet been finalised.

Financial Requirements

Before starting your studies, you mustprove that you are able to finance yourself.As a rule, you already need to prove thatyou have sufficient financial resourcesavailable to you when you apply for avisa; but you must certainly present this

proof at the latest when you apply for aresidence permit.

As a rule, you will be required to prove thatyou have at least 585 euros per month(equal to 7,020 euros per year) available toyou. Some federal states may set differentsums. You can prove that you have suffi-cient financial resources (Finanzierungs-

nachweis) by presenting a scholarshipaward letter or an overview of yourparents income and assets (e. g. bankstatements), by depositing a bank guaran-tee at a bank or by presenting othersecurities. The German mission abroador the foreigners authority in Germanywill give you details on exactly what therequirements are. Students from EU and

equivalent status countries generally onlyneed to make a written statement at theregistration authority in which they con-firm that they have sufficient financialresources at their disposal.

A useful tipIf you want to study in Germany, never

enter on a tourist visa, because youcannot subsequently convert this visa

into a student or applicant visa.


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Entry and Residence Provisions 43

Medical Examination(Gesundheitsuntersuchung)

When you apply for an entry visa, you may

be required to present a health certificate.The German mission abroad will provideyou with information on this.

You may have to present a medical certi-ficate when you want to extend your resi-dence permit in Germany. However, theregulations on this differ from one federal

state to the next. The foreigners authorityat your place of study will inform youaccordingly.

Please contact the foreigners authority atyo

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