TROUBLE IS THE BEGINNING
Studying at one of such institutions allows you to take exams for the Abitur diploma. Without it, you can also apply in principle, but in that case you will have to take an exam to confirm your knowledge (Feststellungspruefung), and your documents will most likely be considered only if you are studying at least in the second year of a domestic university.
At the college, you can choose one of five directions. The T-course ends with exams in mathematics and physics (or chemistry – optional). Those who complete the M-course take biology or chemistry, physics or mathematics. The W-course is exams in mathematics and economics. The S-course – a foreign language, history or social sciences, or geography, or German literature. The G-course – history, German literature, English or social sciences, or geography. Everywhere except S, you also need to pass an exam in German. To enter the college, you will also need to confirm knowledge of German (for example, it is enough to present a ZMP certificate – Zentrale Mittelstufen Prüfung – from the Goethe Institute).
Having entered the pre-university college, you will take another step on the path of your education in Germany, learn what student life is like, and finally decide whether you like this country. Germans are in many ways very unlike us, so it is better not to plunge into the abyss of 6-8 years of study at a university without first studying the peculiarities of German life.
GERMAN UNIVERSITIES
The oldest university in the country was founded back in 1386 in Heidelberg. Starting from the 19th century, the Berlin University (founded in 1810 by Wilhelm von Humboldt) became a model for all of Europe. Before the Second World War, students of this university were taught by Albert Einstein, Max Planck, and Max Weber. In the same period, Germans received 10 of 45 Nobel Prizes in physics and 16 of 40 in chemistry.
German higher education institutions can be conditionally divided into general universities (Universitaeten) and technical universities (Technishe Universitaeten), higher schools – technical (Tecshniche Hochschulen) and professional (Fachhochschulen), as well as humanities higher education institutions. The latter include art colleges (Musikhochschulen, Kunsthochschulen), pedagogical universities (Paedagogishen Hochschulen), universities for training officials (Verwaltungsfachhochschulen) and priests (Kirchlischen Hochschulen). In the states of Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia, there are universities that combine classic university programs and shorter specialized ones. In Hanover and Lübeck are the two medical institutes of Germany. There is also a purely German type of higher education institution. This is a professional academy (Berufsakademie). It is created specifically for employees of German firms, so a foreigner has practically no chance of getting in.
There are also unique educational institutions in the country. For example, in Munich and Hamburg are the two Bundeswehr universities.
Most German universities are public. Free education is the main advantage of studying in this country. Private paid universities also exist, but there are few of them.
A quarter of German applicants from all listed higher education institutions choose Fachhochschulen. The duration of study there is shorter (usually 3-4 years), the training is more practical than theoretical, and a one-year internship at firms of the given profile is mandatory. In such institutions, you can get excellent knowledge in the fields of engineering, economics and management, agriculture, and computer specialties. About 22 thousand foreigners study at professional higher education institutions.
DIFFICULT, BUT POSSIBLE
Free and at the same time high-quality higher education attracts a huge number of applicants from Germany itself and other countries. This has led to overcrowding of universities and the introduction of admission restrictions (Numerus Clausus) for some faculties (for example, medicine, law, pedagogy). Those with a higher average Abitur grade and a longer waiting period for a place have a greater chance of admission (you could say that admission is based on a list, where you are placed when you submit your application).
If you do not have the appropriate Goethe Institute certificate, you will have to take the German language exam DSH (Deutsche Sprachpruefung fuer den Hochschulzugang). It includes a written task, listening to a text, posing questions to both tasks, and an interview. Without proper preparation, it is difficult to pass, so it is better to enroll in the preparatory 6-month courses at the university.
There are no entrance examinations at German universities. The only exceptions are creative specialties (for example, designer), the most prestigious specialties in the country – medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine (you need to undergo testing and an interview) and philosophy faculties, where they also take Latin or French.
Since you can start studying at a German university in any semester (winter – starts in September-October or summer – in March-April), there are two document submission deadlines: for the winter semester you must register before July 15, for the summer semester – before January 15. It is worth starting to collect information about studying in Germany at least six months, but preferably a year before the start of studies. First of all, you should contact the International Students Office AAA (Akademisches Auslandsamt), which is available at almost every university. AAA staff will tell you about all the study opportunities at the chosen faculties, inform you of the document submission dates and the required list. Before the start of semesters, AAA holds orientation meetings for foreign students.
WELL, HERE YOU ARE A STUDENT
Studying at any German university is divided into a basic course (Grundstudium) and a subsequent professional course (Hauptstudium), each lasting at least 4 semesters. The first ends with intermediate exams (Zwischenpruefung) or a pre-diploma exam (Diplom-Vorpruefung). During this period, your curriculum should include 20 or more hours of classes per week in compulsory subjects and seminars (the number of compulsory hours may vary depending on the faculty). In the final period of study, there are more elective subjects.
Academic performance data is recorded in an analogue of our “grade book,” called Scheine.
You will have to study for a long time – from 8 to 12 semesters. Upon graduation, depending on the specialty and type of university, you either take a diploma exam (Diplom), a master's degree exam (MA), or a state exam (Staatsexamen). The main difference between local universities and most of our universities is the possibility of a more or less free (depending on the subject) choice of curriculum. You can manage to arrange your schedule so that you have a lot of time for part-time jobs, sports, or personal life. No one will monitor how you have compiled your curriculum and how successfully the subjects are combined in it. So it is quite possible that you will forget something. Therefore, before making your own schedule, you need to study the standard one and mark all compulsory subjects.
It is better to start your student life in Germany by looking for various organizations useful for foreign students. We have already mentioned the AAA International Office. Another important institution is the Examination Office (Pruefungsamt), where you can register for exams, choose a second subject if required, and it is also responsible for transferring exams taken at other educational institutions. There you can also ask for the proposed standard version of the curriculum and the list of required subjects (Studienordnung).
For advice on academic matters, it is better to contact the Fachschaft (also a student self-government body) of the respective faculty or department. There they will tell you what literature to use when preparing for exams, how certain professors conduct lectures and exams, and where to look for part-time work in your field.
In addition, every university has an academic advising office (Studienberatung), where you can, for example, get a booklet with very valuable information about all state universities in the country (addresses, phone numbers, possible admission restrictions, etc.).
There is the General Student Committee (AstA, Allgemeiner Studentenausschuss), which integrates information about various interesting events not directly related to studies. The university usually also has psychological counseling (psychologische Beratung), legal advice (Rechtsberatung), and many student associations. Many universities strive to ease the adaptation process for foreign students. For example, the University of Heidelberg offers a special Servicepaket, which includes a room in a dormitory, daily meals in the cafeteria, a bus and metro pass, and even a financial allowance. The entire package costs about DM 3,000.
BE HEALTHY, LIVE RICHLY
German universities do not have a campus system, so students have to take care of housing themselves. Finding a room or a place in a dormitory is another problem you will face. It is best to come to Germany a little earlier than the start of studies or ask friends and acquaintances to find something suitable for you. You can get addresses from the AAA.
If you have nowhere to stay on the first night, use a youth hostel (Jugendherberge) or a cheap boarding house. This will cost you DM15-30 in a hostel or DM50-80 (including breakfast) in a boarding house.
Almost every university has student dormitories, but unfortunately, there are few places, and they are all occupied. So you will have to spend months on the “waiting list.” Such accommodation costs about DM150 in the states of the former GDR and DM250-600 in the old states.
It is much more fun to rent an apartment for two or three people. This is called Wohngemeinschaft (WG). You can find such options through the special service for foreign students Livin or on bulletin boards (Schwarze Bretter) at universities, canteens, and nearby cafes.
Students in Germany receive many benefits and discounts, from discounts on tickets (whether for the theater or train) to very cheap and high-quality meals in student canteens. Perhaps this is also why there are so many “eternal students” in Germany.
Every university allows its students to engage in a wide variety of sports – from fencing to aikido – for free or for a purely nominal fee (DM5-10 per month). You can also use libraries completely free of charge. However, to gain access to all this, you need to become a member of the Student Union (Studentenschaft) and get a student card, which costs DM35-90.
Let's calculate the costs: a semester ticket for all types of transport - DM100, textbooks - DM450-600 per semester, student card. Add health insurance costs - about DM550. It turns out that if you sum up all expenses, it comes to at least DM1,300 per month in the “old” states and DM1,000 in the “new” ones. So unless you prove to the embassy that you have this amount for each month, you are unlikely to get a visa.
AND THEN WHAT?
Based on materials from the DAAD-magazin journal, changes are taking place in the German higher education system: higher education institutions are increasingly introducing bachelor's and master's degrees, which until recently were unheard of. The educational process under this system is divided into two consecutive stages. The first lasts six semesters, and upon successfully completing it, the student decides whether to continue studying for a master's degree or stop at a bachelor's degree. Training for a master's degree lasts three semesters.
Since the vast majority of students view higher education as preparation for future professional activity, the bachelor's degree is a real find for them. The master's degree, on the other hand, is more for those who want to devote themselves to research. Interestingly, everyone who wants to study for a master's must necessarily be a bachelor, but not every bachelor automatically gets the opportunity to study for a master. Currently, 113 programs have been launched in Germany that provide training with the awarding of these degrees. These include programs oriented towards foreign students and the Master-plus program run by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The government has allocated 63 million marks for the implementation of these programs.
After reading all this, you will think: "The language is difficult, getting a visa is not easy, finding housing takes a long time..." But if you are confident in yourself, then all these problems are solvable, and that means Germany is waiting for you and it's time to act. I can only add: "Viel Spass!" – Good luck!