Engineering In Germany
For pursuing a bachelor’s degree, program specifics vary between universities, and it usually takes a minimum of three years of full-time study to complete a bachelors in Germany.
For pursuing a master’s degree, depending on the semesters one’s discipline shall have, the courses for a Master’s Degree may vary in duration and can be one, one and a half or two years long. One academic year is made up of two semesters. One’s Master’s Degree will also include their final project-otherwise known as the dissertation that one shall have to work on together with a mentor.
The academic year at German universities is divided into two semesters. The winter semester starts from mid-October and the summer semester starts from mid-March. This means that the application for the winter semester begins in the 1st week of April and those for the summer semester begins from 1st week of October. The application portals remain open for about 45 days from the first day of inviting applications for any semester. Student visa must be applied for at least 15 days prior to the commencement of a semester.
Each university in Germany is independent. This implies each university has its own criteria for granting an admission to one of its programs. Some universities may request TOEFL/IELTS for English language proficiency and GRE/GMAT scores depending on the set criteria for a particular course. A proficiency in German may be required if one needs to take up a German-taught program. In such case, a student’s insight into German should be ensured through examinations like the TestDaF or DSH.
Bachelor’s Degree
Students applying for a bachelor degree in Germany need to undertake a preparatory year known as Studienkolleg, to make up for an extra year of school training in Germany that grants an auxiliary school certificate to begin a bachelors in Germany. A student can thereafter take an appraisal test known as Feststellungsprüfung, qualifying which one can start studying in a bachelors program.
Certain students that fulfil can be exempted from attending Studienkolleg. These students have either completed one year of undergrad studies or cleared the IIT-JEE in India.
Master’s Degree
The most important document for admission in Master’s Degree in Germany is a relevant Bachelor’s Degree. It does not have to be a German Bachelor’s Degree, but it still needs to be recognized by German universities. Universities may also investigate an applicant’s qualifications into more detail to ensure their relevance. It may involve the checking of the content of one’s undergraduate course and confirming that they have earned a sufficient number of credits in relevant areas.
Germany is a modern, technologically advanced society – recognized as an innovator and visionary in the field of Engineering and Technology. Germany is known for its engineering prowess in environmental technology, medical technology, machinery, automotive, aviation, energy, chemical industry, etc. It is no wonder then, that Germany is one of the foremost choices for engineering studies across the world.
Its unique method for pedagogy offers students, a hands-on experience at some of the world’s leading companies, known for their innovation and best practices. In Germany, TU (Technical University) and Hochschule (University of Applied Sciences) work closely with the industry, giving students a first-hand experience and the opportunity to develop relationships and a network of professionals – making them industry ready, as soon as they complete their Engineering degree; giving them the edge over their peers graduating from other countries.
Germany has variety of courses in the field of Engineering whether it’s Bachelors or Masters. Some of the engineering fields that are offered by German universities are IT and Computer Science, Mechatronics and Robotics, Automotive and Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial and Chemical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Biomedical Engineering to name a few. Engineering students get can expect to start earning about €46,000 annually.
Besides, the increasing number of courses taught in English makes Germany an attractive destination to pursue an Engineering degree. Tests such as GMAT /GRE/ GATE or knowledge of German are not compulsory for all courses offered at various universities, for those applying for an English-taught course.
Germany is an affordable option for students with a lower cost of living compared to other cities in Europe or other popular countries for higher education like US, UK and Australia. The average monthly expenses in Germany can be around €500/€600 per month and Public Universities charge no tuition fees and a very low semester contribution of only around €200/€300 a semester to cover services like free public transportation and cafeterias. Additionally, students can hold part-time jobs to earn an additional income for living expenses.
Germany offers a high standard of living and security for its residents. A foreign expat can obtain a Permanent Residency (PR) in as little as 21 months after starting a full-time job post graduating from a German institution, which is one of the shortest time period for obtaining a PR anywhere.
Engineering colleges in Germany provide universally recognized degree that caters to a wide range of career options for the students after getting their Engineering degree in Germany. Indian students who own a foreign engineering degree from Germany can establish their engineering career in Germany or other countries in Europe because the German Engineering degrees are well-recognised across the world. Studying at engineering institutes in Germany assures Indian students to practice their engineering profession in Germany in Government or Private sectors after having the relevant work permit from the German Government.
The students can apply for further studies or get placements in engineering sector in Germany or other countries around the world to shape their dreams. Indian students graduating from German engineering colleges have a great opportunity of landing a job in various engineering sectors as professional engineers and can also establish their engineering career in India
Cost of living in Germany is reasonable as compared to other European countries. Living expenses can be dealt with for 800 Euros per month. Cost of food, accommodation, utility bills, clothes and entertainment are nominal in Germany. Amenities provided by the university are bus travelling, administrative assistance and sports activities. Overall cost of living depends on the lifestyle of the students.