For exact entry requirements, visit the international student office (akademischen auslandsamt) at the university you’re planning on applying to, or check yourself through DAAD’s (German Academic Exchange Service) database of admissions requirements.
Masters degrees
German Masters degrees are similar to those in the UK as they use titles such as Master of Arts (MA), Master of Laws (LLM) and Master of Science (MSc). Masters courses are typically one to two years in length and are delivered through taught modules, including lectures, seminars and independent research, followed by a final project or dissertation.
You’ll then be assessed based on an oral presentation of your thesis. Unlike in the UK, Germany uses a five-point grading system for awarding Masters degrees. These range from 1.0 at best to 4.0 for those who narrowly pass the course. A grade of 5.0 constitutes a fail. However, universities now also provide European Credits Transfer System (ECTS) grades alongside the German grade, with a Masters usually worth 120 ECTS.
- Consecutive Masters degrees follow on from a closely related undergraduate degree, such as studying for an MSc in biochemistry after completing a BSc in biology.
- Non-consecutive Masters degrees involve taking your qualification in another direction, which may require professional work experience, as https://paydayloanadvance.net/payday-loans-co/ well as your undergraduate degree, to be accepted.
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- Individual PhDs – This traditional path is taken by three-quarters of all PhD students, as you can tailor your research to suit your needs. You can choose to study at a university, research organisation or in industry, and are responsible for identifying and securing a supervisor. Individual PhDs usually take between three and five years to complete, but they have no set deadlines or attendance requirements.
- Structured PhDs – This type of PhD is modelled around a curriculum, involves intense supervision and includes learning and development to help you improve your soft skills and research methods. Again, structured PhDs typically last from three to five years.
To apply for an individual PhD, you’ll need to get in touch with potential supervisors directly with a research proposal. Structured PhD applicants should contact their institution’s registration office and begin the standard application process. As in the UK, it’s likely you’ll require a Masters degree.
To find out more, see the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s Research in Germany site – info for PhD students.
Student exchanges
Following the UK’s departure from the European Union (EU) the government has announced its new Turing Scheme for students looking to secure overseas placements and study abroad at an overseas university for the academic year.
Backed by over ?100million worth of funding, the scheme enables thousands of students from schools, colleges and universities to gain study and work experience abroad.
Your university must have a formal agreement with a partner university in Germany. Check that your institution is involved in the programme and offers the scheme.
Course fees
Every year, Germany attracts over 380,000 international students and one of the main reasons is that most publically-funded universities are free to attend – aside from a small semester contribution of up to 300 (?272) to cover basic admin and registration costs.
The exception to this is the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, where universities charge a fee of 1,500 (?1,367) per semester to non-EU students. Some universities may charge tuition fees to students enrolling on non-consecutive Masters courses, although this is rare.
Private universities have the freedom to set their own tuition fees, with some institutions charging around 30,000 (?27,198) per year.
You’ll also have to factor into your budget the cost of living in Germany. This is based on the recommended monthly amount of 850 (?771) to cover your accommodation, food, transport and other expenses. If you’re based in large cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt or Munich the costs will be higher.