I am most interested in educational institutions in Berlin. How can one go to study specifically from Ukraine? How much does it cost? What documents are needed? Does the age and gender of the applicant affect the decision?
Please, if you have information or know where to get it, let us know on the pages of your newspaper. This is of interest not only to me, but also to many of your other readers.
Your admirer, Tatyana LOS, Odessa region.
«Заграница» has repeatedly written about studying in Germany (see Nos. 4, 25, 29, 30 for 2000, No. 4 for 2001). Higher education in Germany is indeed free (though you will have to pay for accommodation and food yourself), but this does not apply to language courses. The latter most often exist at universities, although there are also private language schools. An alternative to courses could be the Au Pair program – housework + language learning. There is no gender discrimination here, but age restrictions exist: in some agencies the 'upper limit' is 25 years old, in others – 29.
With regard to higher education in Germany, the principle of cultural priority of the states applies: the federal states are relatively autonomous in the organization of education and science. They may have their own laws and regulations, which means that the conditions for admission and education at German universities may differ in many respects.
The first step for anyone wishing to obtain a German diploma is to decide which university they would like to attend. The DAAD office (Deutcher Akademischer Austauschdienst – German Academic Exchange Service), located in Kiev, can help you with this (consultation, opportunity for independent work with reference literature). You can also search for universities on your own – using the Internet.
The second step is to contact the international relations department of the chosen university («Akademisches Auslandsamt») and ask them to send the necessary information about admission and study conditions, as well as application forms. This same international relations office will inform you whether you meet the admission requirements or if you need to take additional exams. The set of documents may also vary. The mandatory package usually includes: application, autobiography, letters of recommendation, diploma from a Ukrainian university, certificate of German language proficiency (a Goethe-Institut diploma is suitable; exams for German language proficiency are also conducted by the DAAD office).
Contact universities in advance – at least 4-5 months before the planned start of studies. And one more thing. Secondary education in Germany lasts 12-13 years, and to enter the first year at a German university, you will need to complete 1 or 2 years at a Ukrainian university. But, again, it all depends on the university you choose.
Additional information about higher education institutions in Germany can be obtained from the DAAD office (Kiev, Pobedy Ave., 37 NTUU 'KPI'; tel/fax: (044) 241-76-69, 241-87-16), the German Embassy in Ukraine (Kiev, Gonchara St., 84; tel: (044) 246-82-92, 246-82-93) and the central DAAD office in Bonn (Kennedyallee 50, 53175, Bonn).
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