Study at a German University as a Foreigner
Germany is the second most favoured destination after the UK for international students wishing to earn a university degree in Europe. And for a good reason. Germany has one of the most advanced educational systems in the world. The German universities boast not only an excellent academic record but they also offer great hands-on experience as most of them are associated with world-renowned research institutions and some of the world's biggest and internationally most active companies. German economy has a strong background in the manufacturing industries and, therefore, engineering study programmes from German universities are among the best rated programmes in the world. However, German universities are ranking high also in many other areas such as medicine, natural sciences as well as humanities. In some study fields there is strong domestic competition (e.g., medicine) whereas in others such as engineering, informatics or some natural sciences it is less so despite very good prospects of graduates from these programmes in the German labour market. Among the top 100 universities in the world there are currently 10 German public universities.
At the moment there are 2.8 million university students enrolled at German universities in nearly 1,000 study programmes with just over 300 thousands of them being foreigners. Hence, foreigners make up on average 11-12% of university students in Germany but at some universities this ratio is nearly 30%. One of the important reasons for the popularity of German universities among international students is the tuition-free educational system. The German public universities charge no tuition fees although there may be a small registration fee payable at the beginning of each academic year. In addition, a system of generous discounts for university students (food, travel & commuting and even accommodation) helps keep foreign student's costs at reasonable levels.
The majority of foreign students enrol at international study programmes conducted in English but most of those who wish to earn a degree in Germany and stay seeking work switch to German study programmes as their German proficiency improves. In fact, studying in Germany is a great opportunity to stay and find a job, especially for those students who come from countries whose citizens need a visa to enter Germany. A foreign graduate from any German university is allowed to stay in Germany for 18 months after completing their studies looking for a job. If they find a job in the field related to the course of their studies they instantly qualify for a residence permit for gainful employment.
When it comes to requirements for foreign students wishing to take up a university study course in Germany they differ depending on where the student comes from. Requirements for students from countries of the European Economic Area are basically the same as for any German student except for language proficiency (especially if they want to study in a German language programme). Citizens from the third countries may or may not need a visa to travel to Germany. Those who generally need a visa will have to arrange a student's applicant visa to be allowed to come to Germany to apply for admission to the university study programme. If already admitted to the university they will need to apply for a student's visa.
General requirements include a valid passport, admission letter from the university (or application letter if only applying), health insurance covering Germany and proof of sufficient funding for the duration of their stay. For more detailed information applicants should contact the nearest embassy or consulate of the German federal republic. After their arrival in Germany and enrolment at the university a study visa will be converted into a residence permit for study purposes. As far as university admission requirements go, applicants should contact the university admission department as these are quite specific (as well as application deadlines) and may differ significantly between universities. It goes without saying that for programmes taught in German a proof of the German language proficiency will be one of the basic requirements.