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Map of Germany
Map of Germany, Courtesy of The General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin
Technical Universities
Originally, and as the name implies, the technical universities restricted their teaching to technical and engineering disciplines. However, during the course of time, they have developed into more comprehensive higher education institutions. Hence, students can now also study arts and humanities degree courses at the technical universities. Nevertheless, the focus of their activities continues to be directed towards engineering and science.

Fachhochschule Institutions
Students are increasingly deciding to study at Germany’s Fachhochschule institutions, particularly because the studies are shorter and have a more practical focus than is the case in university studies with a greater research focus. The term Fachhochschule is often translated as university of applied sciences to reflect this higher educational and practical nature.More information about this type of higher education institution can be found in the section "Type of university" on the respective Fachhochschulen pages. The academic year runs from October to July and is on the semester system. The German curriculum emphasizes independent study. Students are expected to do independent reading, prepare oral reports and papers and attend lectures and small group discussions. Student must complete a certain amount of coursework to sit for the interim exams. German institutions grade on a scale of 1-5; 1 is the highest while 5 is failing. The academic record consists of the student's collection of Scheine, or certificates of completion for each course.

 

Student Visa Germany

 
 
Basic Requirements

  1. Under Graduation (BE) cleared and certificates attested, preferably with a good score. (When you are trying to compete for a scholarship you better be the best among the best to be on safe side)

  2. There are two ways to do MS here ,either in English or in German. If you want to do in English ,you must submit your TOEFL score along . If you want to do in German, most probably you have to be prepared to give DSH .

  3. Two recommendations minimum. Generally recommendations from universities are good , but if you have recommendations from your employer, you can add that too. That's generally a plus point as I have noticed.

  4. A Good CV. Ok now that's difficult to say what is a good CV , but what I can say is that try to include all you have achieved. My student counsellor in my university in Germany said that "nothing that you have done is  useless". At least  In Germany that holds a big value. 

  5. Mark sheets from Class10 , Class 12 and BE .  They are pretty important here to be submitted along.

  6. A Statement of purpose both for doing MS in your selected branch and also the requirement of scholarship /fund.

Admission Requirements

  1. Log on the different university sites and download the application files. The procedure differs from university to  university. Some university ask you to fill up and online form and send you the application by post and others you can download directly from net.

  2. Fill up the form with all the required documents as stated above. There was a simple thing told to us in Software Engineering Lab during my study. Always follow the KISS module , that is Keep It Simple and Stupid. That is give all that is required. Don't add extra things. No one generally gets patience to read piles of documents.

  3. Contradictory to the belief that there are no scholarships in Germany, there are some universities that do offer scholarship( As a matter of fact I know Karlsruhe and TU München do offer ). Make it a point to mention that you need a scholarship while applying. Some of the well known scholarships are the Siemens youth and knowledge scholarships (Y&K), DAAD- siemens,ABB,DAAD,SEW,etc. Most of the time you have to ask your university to help you get one. (MY siemens y&k schol was provided via uni-karlsruhe). Scholarships are getting more and more difficult these days. Please enquire all you can directly from the university.

  4.  Try to submit all your completed application at the earliest and positively before April second week.I would suggest submit applications without TOEFL and write your expected score and then send the score later, but be in time .Germans simply dont take late applications.

                      Visa Procedure(from India)

Visa application takes atleast 4 weeks time, so it would be a good idea to apply at the earliest.When I went for visa application to Kolkata , there was no interview , but in Delhi from the last year atleast I heard there is interview. As I was told in the Kolkata embassy, the rule is that after submission of apllication they send all your application documents ( Always take all your documents to be submitted for visa in double including the application form.They need that in the embassy)to the city in Germany where you would do your course. They wait for a period of 4 weeks for a response from the Auslandamt (Foreigners Office). In this period the Auslandamt checks for your criminal record there . If the local embassy in India does not receive any news by 4 weeks, it is supposed to mean a green signal for your visa. This is atleast what I was told in Kolkata .I dont know if there are any other rules. If you are

You need the following ( all in double)

  1. Visa application form completely filled up .

  2. Passport size photo

  3. Application letter from your university

  4. Scholarship letter /Financial proof ( I think you have to show an amount of about 7700)

  5. UG marksheet

  6. Passport

When you are asked to collect the visa , that day you are supposed to submit the passport along with visa fees.

The above procedure is as I found in Kolkata embassy. I am not sure if the other embassies around India follow the same rule.

 

FAQs

  1. How is the standard of education there and what recognition it has in the rest of the world ?
    German Education is reconised pretty much around the world .With the greats like Hertz, Benz etc having passed out from here and the companies like Siemens, Mercedes Benz, etc having its base in Germany, the standard of education is unquestionable . All around the world, lots of papers and technical presentations are given from different universities in Germany and so the recognition of German education is pretty high.

  2.  What is difference between Universität/TU and FH?
    This is a question many people have asked me in my course of stay in Germany. Universität or TU and FH are almost similar with a little difference that FH is more practical oriented and Uni more theoretical oriented. The time for finishing Masters in FH is 1.5 years including Thesis and for Uni/TU it is 2 years. More or less it is same , but some companies at times(not necessarily) prefer university graduates than FH graduates.

  3. What are the possibilites after finishing studies in Germany ?
    Like any other country where you go for higher studies , after finishihng Masters from Germany, you have a wide range of opportunities. you can go for a Doctorate (PhD) or for a job . PhD can be done either totally in university or it can be done in association with a company. PhD degrees are avialable in two schemes, one is of five years approx. and the other of three years. Generally the PhD scheme in association with company are for three years.

  4. How is the job market in Germany ?
    Job market at the present(    June 2004) is not at the best either in Germany or in any other part of the world.Good point is that it is showing signs of improvement. Provided you can show your callibre and your willingness to work hard, Germany is pretty good place to be in.Germany as I am seeing gives you the fair chance to proove yourself at par with the others and it helps a lot . The work environment is also pretty helpful.

  5. Is there a concept of part-time work ? 
    Yes there is a concept of part time work.As a student you are generally allowed to work about 40 hrs per month of tax free work.Getting Teaching Assistantship and Research Assistantship is pretty easy here and so is not much of a problem.

  6. How much expense can be covered working parttime?
    Expenses are very much dependent on a particular person and also in the city where you live or are studying.For example, you cannot compare Karlsruhe which is a relatively smaller city to say Munich which is a much larger and costlier city. With respect to Karlsruhe you can cover about 50% of your expenses ( very approximate) working part-time (HIWI as it is called here in Germany ).

  7. Is it important to know German language?
    Knowledge of German is not something which is must to survive ,specially if you have a English language course , but atleast a little working knowledge with German is better to walk on streets and talk with different people and on streets. My experience says that a little German that you may speak also is much helpful with the people as most Germans are more comfartable talking in German as it is there mother tounge.

  8.  Is there any ranking of the universities in Germany ? 
    Officially speaking all universities in Germany are considered at par as all or most of them are Government sponsered universities , but some unofficial ranking appear in differnet magazines time to time.

Ich Liebe Deushe Cultur!

Anupam Singh