The summer academy at RWTH Aachen University has many offers for aspiring engineers
As Deutsche Welle notes, many universities offer such courses during the summer holidays. Their list can be found on the website of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). As of today, the DAAD database contains over three hundred summer schools, many of which are designed for international students.
What summer universities offer
First and foremost, these are German language courses – everyday or specialized, for example, for work in business, tourism, medicine, or technology, or for study, as well as area studies seminars on topics like "Germany and its neighbors" or "Summer in Berlin." There are also offers for those who want to improve their professional level and learn know-how: for example, Java programming courses, seminars on 3D printing, big data processing, mechatronics, or business management in Europe. How to write a business plan or start a startup – you can learn that too at one of the summer schools.
There are also courses to prepare for language exams and introductory courses for those planning to pursue higher education in Germany. At a summer school, you can "try out" the German education system, test your skills in seminar work, and finally decide whether you want to apply to a German university.
Study combined with fun
Summer universities open their doors from May to September. Courses are held in several sessions. They typically last from three to six weeks. Classes are held daily – a total of 20-30 hours per week.
Professionally oriented courses are often conducted in English, with knowledge required at least at level B1. Some seminars offer the opportunity to earn credit points. However, students are advised to check in advance with their home university whether these credits will be recognized. For this purpose, course descriptions often include the main points of the curriculum.
To successfully complete the summer academy, you will have to work. Like regular German students, summer course participants must write essays, take tests, and pass exams. But despite the academic focus of the summer seminars, organizers also take care of participants' leisure time. They offer a varied cultural program: visits to museums, theaters, exhibitions, city tours, and other activities.
How to find suitable courses in Germany
On the DAAD website, you can use the search system to find summer courses in cities of interest and by desired specialization. The search engine returns a list of suitable summer schools and the programs they offer in the specified subjects. The listed programs are accompanied by a brief description and information on costs.
For detailed information on program conditions and requirements for applicants, you should go directly to the summer university's website. You can also find contact details for the program coordinator there. Since the number of participants per program is limited, you should write to the coordinator as early as possible.
Application and cost of summer courses
All summer courses are fee-based. A two-week seminar on robotics at RWTH Aachen University costs 750 euros. A course on computer engineering at the Technical University of Berlin costs about 1,800 euros. For three weeks of studying German in tourism or medicine at the University of Freiburg, you will have to pay 650 euros, while an intensive German course at Humboldt University of Berlin costs about 700 euros. As a rule, participants pay for transportation, insurance, accommodation, and meals themselves.
You can also attend courses on a DAAD scholarship. However, this opportunity is only available to participants of German language courses, and, as DAAD emphasizes, to students who are continuing to improve their knowledge (applications are accepted only if you have a language certificate of at least level B1).
To apply, you will need at least two years of university study, a CV, a motivation letter in German, a transcript of records, a teacher's recommendation, and a German language certificate. In the motivation letter, you should describe what you expect from the summer courses, what you are studying at university, and why you are interested in this particular program.