Study in Germany

Germany is one of the few places where you can get a very good, internationally recognized education at little or no cost. That is a big part of why I came here. The catch is the application. Most people don't miss out because they are weak candidates, but because of a missing document, a misread deadline or the wrong application route.

How the system works

Most universities are public, and each federal state does some things its own way. Programs fall into two broad groups: open admission, where meeting the requirements is enough, and restricted admission, where a grade threshold or a selection process applies. Knowing which one you are applying to changes your whole strategy.

Where people get caught

• Your diploma has to be recognized first. If your school diploma isn't recognized for direct university entry, the Studienkolleg may be your way in.
• uni-assist is not a formality. Many universities use it to check your documents first, and it has its own deadlines, often well before the university's.
• Winter and summer intakes are not the same. Most programs start in the winter semester, and applications open months earlier than people expect.
• Language certificates expire, and some programs ask for a specific test.
• The blocked account is for your visa, not your application, so you don't need one until you are admitted.

Scholarships worth knowing about

DAAD is the best known, but it is only part of the picture. There are foundation scholarships, grants for specific subjects and awards from the universities themselves. Many people don't apply simply because they don't know these exist, and several of them care as much about your story and motivation as about your grades.

After you're admitted

Your student visa depends on your passport, so we start it as soon as your admission letter arrives. Then come enrollment, the semester contribution, health insurance as a student, finding student housing and your first weeks in the city. And once you graduate, you get 18 months to look for a job here, so it is worth thinking ahead from the start.