Understanding German Education System

Why do students not limit education in their own land? Why do they fly abroad? Some of the major reasons are quality education, better networking and career opportunities, exploring a new culture and establishing a better life standard. But almost all the study destinations offer these things. How to pick one? A country’s education system has a humungous role to play in selecting a well-fit study destination. In recent times, due to constant up gradation in the student policies, Germany strives to be the choicest option for Indian outbound students. Want to know more about it? Read this blog to understand the German Education System and its offerings!

Why Study Abroad?

Now, it has become a common trend to cross boundaries to learn abroad. Let’s have a quick look at those factors motivating students to study abroad:

• It is a challenge in itself, followed by great fun and experience
• You get to know about the diversified culture of that geographical area
• The quality of education is superior
• You get to learn a foreign language
• Greater prospective career opportunities are waiting at your doorstep
• Take advantage of the lower tuition fee
• Government-sponsored scholarships
• Advanced educational tools and concepts

Study in Germany: The Guide To Your German Dream!

The German Education System – In Brief

The German education system can be divided into the different levels as follows:

Preschool Education

This is an optional level of education in Germany which is provided to children under the age of 6 years. This education is largely offered by private institutions as opposed to public institutions. The main focus of this level of education is to enhance communication and language skills among the children along with imparting knowledge about values, religion, mathematics, science, health, nature, culture etc.

Primary Education 

Primary education is compulsory for all children of the age of 6 years and above in Germany. This accounts for the education till grade 4 of the school, the main objective of which is to develop the essential skills, understanding and abilities needed by a student. Some of the subjects taught at this level of the German Education system include the German language, foreign languages, general studies, mathematics, art, music, sports, religion etc.

Also Read: Requirements To Study In Germany For Indian Students

Secondary Education

This level of the German education system consists of lower secondary education and upper secondary education. Lower secondary education ends with grade 10, which is a preparation for upper secondary education. At the same time, the upper secondary education is like a preparatory level for getting qualified for admission to a university or a vocational course. both public and private schools offer secondary education in Germany.

Tertiary or Higher Education

Part of the German education system, this level offers higher education to qualified students who have already passed their secondary education. The courses offered cover bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and Ph.D. in various disciplines in different universities. In Germany, a bachelor’s degree is generally of 3-4 years duration while the master’s level degrees are between 1-2 years. There is no fixed duration for completing a doctoral level course in Germany.

PhD in Germany

Studying In Germany

Germany is one of the ideal destinations for progressing in your education. The country offers a world-class quality education at an affordable rate with multiple numbers of career opportunities. There are over 380 universities in Germany with official recognition. Amongst them, most of the universities have a global ranking and excellent mentors, which make the German education system one of the best in the world. The study programs are structured in relevance to modern-day concepts offering a higher demanding career.

A Guided Step Towards Choosing the Colleges

If you have made up your mind to be a part of the German education system, then start with conducting basic research about the universities. Shortlist a few universities, compare their educational structure, and then take a final decision. Proceed by applying for the course that you would like to enroll in. Provided that you are eligible for a candidature post, the university will connect with you via an email in a few weeks. You can take the admission letter from the recognized university as a piece of documentary evidence while applying for a student visa. 

Due to the increased number of applications which flood up the university offices and due to the limited number of seats, German universities have two intakes: Summer and Winter intakes. 

Summer intakes start in the month of April and continue till July/August while Winter intakes commence from September/October terminating by February/March. You can choose whichever intake you prefer. However, the difference between the two is only the months of commencement and termination. 

Also Read: Study in Germany Without IELTS

Cost Structure of the Courses Offered

Germany is one of the most preferred countries for studying abroad. Considering the number of applications to German universities, one might wonder whether education is free in Germany.  This is actually the case, education in Germany is, indeed, free of cost.  

The majority of undergraduate courses from public universities come free of cost i.e. you do not have to pay any tuition fees while some courses from private universities may cost a very nominal and affordable fee amount in comparison to other European Universities. 

When it is said to be free of cost, it doesn’t mean that you have to spend a single penny out of your pocket. In the majority of universities, you have to make a semester contribution ranging from €150-€250, which covers administrative and transportation costs. 

• The fee structure for undergraduate programs in public universities may cost around €250-€300, which is a semester contribution. It varies from one university to another.
• Private institutes charge for undergraduate programs a tuition fee up to or beyond a range of €20,000.
• Consecutive Master’s degree programs, which are followed immediately after the Bachelor’s degree and demand no work experience, can be enrolled only with a semester contribution.
• Non-consecutive Master’s degrees are those that demand work experience. They cost around €20,000 in public universities and around €30,000 at private universities. For instance, Masters in Business Administration (MBA) both in private as well as public universities, has to be paid for. 
• At the Ph.D. level, you will have to pay only semester contributions both in public as well as in private universities.

Cost of Studying in Germany

Government Scholarships

The German Academic Exchange Service is the body organization responsible for offering scholarships to the national as well as international students. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (FMBF) is another site that hosts all the information concerning German scholarships and how to apply for it.

Top Universities in Germany

The Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) is an organization rendering consulting services to governments and universities to improve their overall outcomes. The list of top 10 ranked universities for 2020-21 as per this organization is listed as under:

Sl. No	University	National Rank	World Rank	Score
1	Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich	1	49	84.7
2	Free University of Berlin	2	59	84
3	Humboldt University of Berlin	3	66	83.5
4	Heidelberg University	4	70	83.3
5	Technical University of Munich	5	81	82.7
6	University of Göttingen	6	108	81.4
7	University of Tübingen	7	125	80.8
8	University of Freiburg	8	127	80.7
9	Goethe University Frankfurt	9	129	80.7
10	University of Bonn	10	141	80.3

Also Read: Top Universities in Germany

We hope this blog has given you an idea about the German Education system, along with the procedures, and the best universities to enrol in. want to pursue your higher education in Germany? Reach out to our experts at Leverage Edu for the best guidance regarding the best courses and universities as per your requirements and interests. Sign up for a free session today!