> Why I decided to study

in Germany …

SIX STUDENTS TELL THEIR

STORIES

_______ PAGE 04 _______________

> The Study Navigator

HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT

UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE

_______ PAGE 24 _______________

> Shared apartment

or hall of residence?

HOW STUDENTS LIVE

_______ PAGE 28 _______________

>START DAAD SPECIAL 2010 +/+/+/ STUDYING IN GERMANY /+/+/+

What are the important ingredients for a successful start? The best possible preparation sounds like a good idea. That’s why the magazine “Start – Studying in Germany” is providing some initial information about “Campus Germany” with its great variety of study options. At the moment around 250,000 interna-tional students are studying and researching at German universities. That makes Germany the third most popular country with international students following the USA and Great Britain. And there’s good reason for this: the high, internation-ally recognized quality of education and the broad spectrum offered at the 370 institutions of higher education are definitely two key aspects.

Of course everyone thinks about their future career when choosing a country for their studies. But that’s not everything. The “soft factors” play a big role as well, irrespective of whether you’re thinking about just spending a few semesters

abroad or complet-ing a full course of study there. German universi-ties are incredibly diverse, ranging from idyllic rural settings to the hustle and bustle

of the big cities. The quality of life is generally high. And the smaller cities also of-fer a great variety of art and culture, international restaurants and all kinds of possibilities to spend your leisure time surrounded by nature. What’s more, the weather is better than some people believe.

In the following pages “Start” provides a first impression of Germany as a place to study, plus many useful tips on important topics such as funding, living and applications. All other questions will be gladly answered by the DAAD staff in the branch offices and information centres (www.daad.de/offices), in personal talks or via e-mail, to give you a really good start to studying in Germany.

Great variety, internationally reputed educational standards, good quality of life: Germany is one of the most popular places for study abroad.

HAllO, I’M DANYand can give you loads of tips about

studying. Just log on to www.daad.de/dany

and I’ll answer your questions online.

EDITORIAlCONTENTS04

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+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+

CAMPUS GERMANY Key information about studying in Germany and the different types of universities +/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+

+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+

CHECK-lIST Lots of useful information at a glance about accommodation, work, legal aspects, applications, finances, security and deadlines – in German, English and Spanish +/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+

+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+

WElCOME Good tips about starting your studies and the learning culture in Germany +/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+

20 lIfESTYlE What is typically German?

24 STUDY NAvIGATOR What and where to study?

28 lIvING AND lEISURE What is apartment-sharing like?

31 SERvICE Where can I find more information?

22 lANGUAGE How can I learn German?

26 CREATIvE STUDIES Where can I develop my creativity?

30 fINANCE What does studying cost?

“Start – Studying in Germany” was commissioned by

Coordination Dr Ursula Egyptien Gad, Alexander Haridi, Cornelia Hauswald, Department 532: Promotion of Study and Research in Germany

This publication is funded by the Federal Foreign Office

Published by Societäts-Verlag Frankenallee 71-81, 60327 Frankfurt am Main Germany www.fsd.de

editors Janet Schayan (responsible), Gunda Achterhold, Derek Whitfield, Ann Robertson (translation)

design Dunja Metz

Cover PhotograPh Veit Mette

Printed in Germany Copyright © by Frankfurter Societäts-Druckerei GmbH 2009

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MASTHEAD

sno

op

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+/+/+/+ OVERVIEW +/+/+/+

Germany’s 191 Fachhochschulen (FHs) place special em­

phasis on the practical application of knowledge, which

is why they refer to themselves in English as “universities

of applied sciences”. They also offer students an oppor­

tunity to put their theoretical knowledge to use during

periods of practical experience.

Courses are rigidly structured to prepare students for a

swift entry into the world of work. Central areas are the

fields of business studies, engineering, design, social

work and health care. You cannot complete a degree in

medicine or law at a university of applied sciences and

you have to transfer to a university or comparable institu­

tion to study for a doctorate.

+/+/+/+ STANDARD PERIOD OF STUDY +/+/+/+

6 semesters (Bachelor’s), 4 semesters (Master’s)

+/+/+/+ INFORMATION +/+/+/+

www.fachhochschule.de

+/+/+/+ ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT +/+/+/+

University of Applied Sciences

entrance qualification

+/+/+/+ OVERVIEW +/+/+/+ This is the traditional centre of academic learning. Most of Germany’s 109 universities are general uni­versities. Compared with other institutions of higher education, they offer a broad spectrum of subjects ranging from humanities and the natural sciences to law and mathematics. Following Humboldt’s model, research and teaching

are closely linked: professors and lecturers have a duty to conduct basic research to ensure a high standard of teaching and to enable them to better teach scientific method. A university education qualifies you for the world of work, but also enables you to undertake a career in research.

+/+/+/+ STANDARD PERIOD OF STUDY +/+/+/+ 6 semesters (Bachelor’s), 4 semesters (Master’s), 6 semesters (Master’s in medicine)+/+/+/+ INFORMATION +/+/+/+ www.daad.de

+/+/+/+ ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT +/+/+/+ Abitur / Higher Education Entrance Qualification

UNIvERSITY

The international study programme saved me a year, which I would other-wise have spent learning German. But I’m still learning German on the side.

SHUfANG HUAfrom China studied international business

management at Furtwangen University –

in English.

UNIvERSITY Of APPlIED SCIENCES

> WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

STUDYING IN GERMANY

University, university of applied sciences or a college of art, film and music? As

a centre of higher education Germany offers many different opportunities and a great

variety of subject areas. Here we present an overview of the different types of

higher education institutions and useful tips for students who

have decided in favour of Campus Germany.

[04_05]+ / + / + / + / + / + / + / + // STA RT // + / + / + / + / + / + / + / +

CAMPUS GERM ANY

NIENKE lEEflANG

from South Africa, graduate of a German

school abroad, is studying medicine at the

University of Freiburg.

The International Office at the university helped me a lot. It’s not easy sorting everything out yourself in an unfamiliar city.

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[06_07]

MAKING CONTACTS University sport or

language courses are good places to meet

people – not only from your own department.

COllEGES Of ART,

MUSIC AND fIlM+/+/+/+ OVERVIEW +/+/+/+

The entrance requirements are high, but the training

is excellent. Entrance examinations decide whose artis­

tic talents will be developed at 55 state­recognized col­

leges of art, music and film in Germany. Students are

granted a relatively large amount of freedom in organiz­

ing their studies to enable them to develop their own

style. Germany’s 23 colleges of music are especially

popular with foreign students: their share of international

students is particularly high at roughly a third.

+/+/+/+ STANDARD PERIOD OF STUDY +/+/+/+

6 semesters (Bachelor’s), 4 semesters (Master’s)

+/+/+/+ INFORMATION +/+/+/+

www.studienwahl.de

www.kunsthochschule.org

+/+/+/+ ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT +/+/+/+

Abitur / Entrance Examination

____________________________________________________________________________________

Technology enthusiasts are just as likely to find what they are look-

ing for as art lovers: students can choose between more than 13,500

different study programmes in Germany. From media design or envi-

ronmental technology to health economics, new modern subject

areas are constantly evolving, including many internationally orient-

ed courses. Few countries offer such a diverse higher education land-

scape. Students can also choose between 170 study locations and 370

institutions of higher education. It is no wonder that Germany is the

most popular country for international students after the USA and the

UK. Nearly 250,000 students from all over the world are registered at a

German university or college – more than twice as many as there were

ten years ago.

Credit points and modules are now a normal part of everyday stu-

dent life in Germany since the changeover to the two-stage degree

system is almost complete. Two thirds of all new students are already

deciding to study for a Bachelor’s degree. These programmes teach

the fundamentals of a subject in six to eight semesters. Students can

then deepen this knowledge or broaden it in an interdisciplinary way

in the Master’s programmes that follow. The once normal German

higher education qualifications Diploma and Magister are steadily

declining in importance. One great advantage of the new structure is

that the degrees are internationally comparable.

+/+/+/+ OVERVIEW +/+/+/+ Technische Universitäten (TUs) and Technische Hochschulen (THs) are the ideal universities for tech­nology enthusiasts and amateur inventors with scien­tific aspirations. Basic research is held in high regard at these institutes of technology. A core curriculum of engineering and scientific sub­jects is supplemented by accompanying disciplines, for example, from the fields of medicine, management and economics. The nine largest technical universities have joined together to form the TU 9 initiative. Today engineering degrees have been largely harmonized across Europe.+/+/+/+ STANDARD PERIOD OF STUDY +/+/+/+ 6 semesters (Bachelor’s), 4 semesters (Master’s)+/+/+/+ INFORMATION +/+/+/+ www.hochschulkompass.de

+/+/+/+ ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT +/+/+/+ Abitur/Higher Education Entrance Qualification

MARIO AlEMAN from Nicaragua is a Master’s student

in the international study programme

on Global Production Engineering

Solar at the Technische Universität

(TU) in Berlin.

The best thing to do is to exchange ideas with people who have already studied in Germa-ny through an alumni network before you begin your course.

TECHNICAl UNIvERSITY

Mic

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THEOlOGICAl COllEGE

I decided in favour of Universität Karlsruhe because it has a very good reputation in my subject. Today I work on strategic projects as part of an international team.

COllEGE Of EDUCATION+/+/+/+ OVERVIEW +/+/+/+ Student teachers train to teach in primary, secondary and special schools at the six Päda­gogische Hochschulen. As a rule, these study programmes usually lead to a State Examination, but there are also Bachelor’s degree courses.+/+/+/+ STANDARD PERIOD OF STUDY +/+/+ 6 to 8 semesters (1st State Examination)+/+/+/+ INFORMATION +/+/+/+ www.studis­online.de/studinfo/lehramt.php +/+/+/+ ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT +/+/+/+ Abitur / Higher Education Entrance Qualification

+/+/+/+ OVERVIEW +/+/+/+ The 15 church colleges do not only train priests and theolo­gists, but also social education workers, health educators and church education workers, nursing and healthcare special­ists and church musicians. A connection with the church is desired. An exception here is the College of Jewish Studies in Heidelberg, which is open to all faiths. There is no Bachelor’s/Master’s system.

+/+/+/+ STANDARD PERIOD OF STUDY +/+/+/+ 10 semesters (Priesthood/Diplom/Magister Theologiae)+/+/+/+ INFORMATION +/+/+/+ www.theologiestudium.info +/+/+/+ ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT +/+/+/+ Abitur / Higher Education Entrance Qualification

DR. AlBA MENA SUBIRANAS

from Spain has a doctorate in chemical engineering.

She studied in Barcelona and Karlsruhe. She now works

for BASF in Ludwigshafen. The range of new study programmes on offer in Germany is be-

coming increasingly varied – and at the same time more special-

ized. The new internationally oriented Bachelor’s programme in

steel technology and metal forming, for example, began at the Uni-

versity of Duisburg-Essen in winter 2009. It specifically aims to train

engineering specialists in the field of foundry metallurgy, who are

highly sought-after on the labour market. The university is located

at the centre of the German steel industry and cooperates closely

with local companies. The students do not only learn in the lecture

theatre, but also on practical work placements directly in steelworks.

The Bachelor’s programme in virtual design at the University of

Applied Sciences in Kaiserslautern takes students into rather more

abstract worlds. Design expertise in the media sector is developed

here within the framework of an architectural training. Germany

is one of the leading countries in the future-oriented field of envi-

ronmental technology – both in research and industry. Higher

education institutions in Kiel, Flensburg and Elmshorn have joined

forces and are now jointly offering a Master of Science in Wind

Engin eering. Its graduates should be in the position not only to

design new turbines, but also to analyze complete systems. Compa-

rable programmes are practically non-existent outside Germany.

We work a lot in small groups where there is very lively interchange – also interchange between cultures.

KATRIN SCHUlzE

from Germany is studying agricul-

tural science in the tropics and sub-

tropics as part of the international

Master’s programme at the University

of Hohenheim.

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Germany

Denmark

Poland

Schweden

North Sea

Netherlands

Belgium

Luxembourg

FranceSwitzerland Austria

CzechRepublic

Slovakia

Hungary Rumänien

KroatienItalien

Schleswig-Holstein

Lower Saxony

North Rhine-Westphalia

Rhineland-Palatinate

Saarland

Hesse

Baden-Württemberg

Bavaria

Thuringia

Saxony-Anhalt

Saxony

Brandenburg

Berlin

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Hamburg

Bremen

Wedel

Bochum

Hanover

Berlin

Schweinfurt

Ludwigshafen

Elmshorn Lübeck

HamburgBremerhaven

BremenOldenburg

Wilhelms-haven

Kleve

Herford

Braunschweig

Göttingen

Kassel

Dortmund

Hagen

Düsseldorf

Duisburg

St. Augustin Bonn

Aachen

Trier

Mainz

Landau

Siegen

GießenFulda

Hof

WiesbadenFrankfurt a.M.

Darmstadt

KaiserslauternMannheim

Heidelberg

Karlsruhe

Pforzheim LudwigsburgStuttgart

TübingenOffenburg

Frei-burg

UlmAugsburg

Kempten Benediktbeuern

Munich

Rosenheim

Regensburg

Erlangen

Frankfurt/O.

Ansbach

Freising-Weihenstephan

Cologne

Krefeld Essen Witten-HerdeckeIserlohn

Gelsen-kirchen

Bielefeld LemgoDetmold

Osnabrück

Holzminden

Vechta

Hildesheim

Clausthal-Zellerfeld

Merseburg

Halle

Köthen

WolfenbüttelMagdeburg

Friedensau

Stendal

Lüneburg

Eichstätt

Ingolstadt

Neuendettelsau

Weiden

Amberg

Bayreuth

Coburg

Bamberg

KonstanzWeilheim

Lahr

Furtwangen

IsnyRavensburg

Reutlingen

Riedlingen

Biberach

Albstadt-Sigmaringen

Trossingen

Rottenburg

NürtingenEsslingen Schwäbisch Gmünd

Aalen

HeilbronnSaarbrücken

Speyer

Worms

KoblenzVallendar

Bingen

Oestrich-Winkel

Oberursel

IdsteinFriedberg

Marburg

Erfurt

Schmalkalden

Weimar

Ilmenau

Jena

Leipzig

DresdenMittweida

Chemnitz

Freiberg

Zwickau

Gera

Moritzburg

Senftenberg

Cottbus

Wildau

Potsdam

Eberswalde

Neubrandenburg

Greifswald

Stralsund

Rostock

KielHeide

Ottersberg

Emden

Brandenburg

Wismar

Flensburg

Paderborn

Pinneberg

ZittauGörlitz

Bad Sooden-Allendorf

OffenbachMühlheim

Nordhausen

Wuppertal

Brühl

Bad Honnef

Hohenheim

Schwäbisch Hall

Neu-Ulm

Weingarten

Landshut

Deggendorf

Passau

Aschaffenburg

Würzburg

Nuremberg

Alfter

Friedrichs-hafen

Wernigerode

Elstal

Buxtehude

Erding

Bad Homburg

Güstrow

Hamm BernburgDessau

Calw

Hachenburg

Münster

AN OvERvIEW Of

All HIGHER EDUCA-

TION lOCATIONS

[10_11]+ / + / + / + / + / + / + / + // STA RT // + / + / + / + / + / + / + / +

PRIvATE INSTITU-

TION Of HIGHER

EDUCATION

In a small town you can easily concentrate on studying and quickly make contacts.

The highly application-oriented Fachhochschulen, known simply as FHs or universities of applied sciences in English, are a special feature of German higher education. They complement the programmes offered by the universi-ties and technical universities (TUs and THs). Rigidly organized study pro-grammes with a strong practical emphasis enable graduates of universities of applied sciences to move quickly into the world of work. The changeover to the new two-stage system is particularly advanced in this sector. At general universities and technical universities, on the other hand, professors and lecturers have a duty not only to teach, but also to engage in research. This principle has a long tradition in Germany. The underlying idea is that students benefit very directly from new findings when academics remain on the ball as researchers.

A great deal is also changing in the field of private higher education, a sector that has only played a secondary role in the past. In addition to established private institutions such as the University of Witten/Herdecke or the Euro-pean Business School in Oestrich-Winkel, there have recently been interest-ing new foundations such as the Bucerius Law School in Hamburg and the Zeppelin University on Lake Constance. While completing a degree at a pri-vate university or college costs a very large amount of money indeed – unless you manage to gain a scholarship – studying at most German higher education institutions is free. Although tuition fees are charged in some German Länder, at a maximum of 500 euros a semester they are still rather moderate by inter-national standards.

You should not leave the search for your ideal university too late. It’s best to start finding out about the higher education landscape on the Web a year before you plan to begin studying. Which subjects have restricted entry? Which kind of institution suits me best? These are questions you need to answer early on. Otherwise dealing with the application documentation can become stressful. Although places for some subjects, e.g. medicine and biology, are awarded nationally by the ZVS clearing house, you can apply directly to individual universities for all other places. But be careful, because entrance requirements vary from university to university. Websites like www.hochschulkompass.de and www.university-ranking.de can help you find the “right” university.

+/+/+/+ OVERVIEW +/+/+/+

Global players appreciate graduates from private institutions

of higher education. After all, they have often already gained

practical experience at home and abroad during their studies.

The 70 private colleges advertise for students with ideal study

conditions: small groups, good contacts with industry and

short courses. An entrance examination is a prerequisite

for admission.

The tuition fees are between 1,800 and 4,700 euros a

semester. Very important: private universities must be

state­recognized, otherwise their degrees are

worthless.

+/+/+/+ STANDARD PERIOD OF STUDY +/+/+/+

6 semesters (Bachelor’s), 4 semesters (Master’s)

+/+/+/+ INFORMATION +/+/+/+

www.private­hochschulen.net

t+/+/+/+ ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT +/+/+/+

Abitur / Fachhochschulreife / Entrance Examination

GABRIEl DI lEOfrom Argentina is completing

an English­language first degree

at Furtwangen University.

Spoilt for choice: Germany

offers more than 13,500

study programmes at 370

institutions of higher edu-

cation in 170 locations. An

excellent higher education

is not only available in big

cities, but also in many

small university towns.

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“QUESTIONS ARE IMPORTANT!”

Professor liqiu Meng from China is vice-President of the TU München where she teaches cartography. She has a great deal of contact with international students and advises them to openly approach lecturers. A conversation about “learning culture” in Germany.

Professor Meng, what do lecturers in Germany expect from their students?We expect independent scientific work. This is more or less an understood thing among German students, because they learn this at school. International students not only come from different countries but also from different learning cultures. So, especially during the first semester, this of-ten creates a double cultural shock: a new environment and a new university system.

Where are the difficulties?Whereas in many countries there’s a lot of emphasis on text books, in Germany we have an open-end system. The students receive teaching material, papers, and sometimes weblinks as well, and then it’s a matter of reading, understanding and di-gesting the information. We want students to develop a broad profile and the ability to take a wider view of things. Reading text books isn’t enough. International students often find it hard to assess the breadth of knowledge and limit it accordingly. Many learn far too much, and develop a superfi-cial knowledge rather than in-depth knowl-edge.

Have you noticed any typical mis-takes? Many students are shy and don’t ask ques-tions in seminars. But interactive study is expected in Germany. As a lecturer I can often assess the level of knowledge from the questions students ask. That’s why stu-

dents shouldn’t make the mistake of think-ing that questions are a nuisance and so remain silent. They should forget their shy-ness and openly approach the lecturers.

Doesn’t this restraint have something to do with language difficulties?People often speak too quickly in seminars without taking foreign students into con-sideration. I think this is wrong, but it often happens unconsciously. The pace should be modified and expressions should be easy for all to understand. I suggest point-ing this out to the professor and asking him or her to speak more slowly.

So if students have difficulties, they should do something about it?Yes, don’t wait. That can be fatal, especially when it comes to exam regulations. Many students don’t look into the details, be-cause it means reading the many rules in German. But if the seminars are attended in the wrong order, for instance, it might even mean being rejected from the final exams.

Who can help?Even if you’re very busy, it’s useful to keep in touch with the student representatives or actually become a member of the stu-dent organization. They have mentors and advisors to help you along, and you gain more contacts with German students. Many foreign students underestimate the value of networking with domestic students.

+ / + / + / + / + / + / + / + // STA RT // + / + / + / + / + / + / + / +

[12_13]

AT THE BEGINNING EvERYTHING IS NEW: a strange

country, unfamiliar faces at the university and lots of

rules. But don’t panic! At all German universities there are

people to talk to who will do everything they can to give

international students a good start. Your first point of con-

tact is the International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt

or AAA) at each university. You can contact them by email,

letter or phone to find out about the application procedure

before taking up studies. The office can tell you everything

about entrance requirements, selection processes and pos-

sible tuition fees. Teachers, university lecturers or DAAD

assistants in your home country can also help with useful

advice. Some have already studied abroad themselves and

have a lot of good tips to offer.

IT’S WEll WORTH lOOKING AT THE OffERS made

by the student representative bodies. Every university

has a student organization (AStA, StuPa, UStA) that looks

after student interests. There are often very interesting pro-

grammes and events for students in the first semester or

newcomers from abroad. For example at Uni Bonn: a multi-

lingual AStA team answers questions about studying, work

or residence permits, or job hunting, in languages such as

English, Dari, Russian, Japanese. All of the team members

are foreign students who have gathered the same personal

experience needed by many international newcomers. They

also provide help and advice on social, cultural, legal and

political issues.

IN THE fIRST WEEKS AfTER YOUR ARRIvAl there’s a

lot to do: visits to the authorities, finding accommodation or

opening a bank account. Gaining an orientation is import-

ant and the International Offices are always ready to pro -

vide effective help. They organize welcoming parties, where

you can gain your first contacts. City tours and guided tours

of institutes and libraries give a first impression of the uni-

versity and the town. And the staff are ready to help with

formalities, such as registering with the local residents’ of-

fice, the local aliens authority or the examination office. You

will often find there are personal mentors who take care of

new international students’ needs.

BUT YOU ONlY fEEl REAllY AT HOME in a new place by

getting to know the country and the people. Many univer-

sities organize programmes to help you form contacts with

Germans, for instance through language-learning tandems

or sponsors. In Giessen the townspeople open their doors

to give international students insights into German every-

day and family life. Student Services (Studentenwerk) uses

a questionnaire to find out about your language skills and

interests and then brings Germans and international stu-

dents together. Afterwards it is decided whether and how of-

ten you all want to meet and things you want to do together.

But in every university town there are many possibilities for

developing contacts with Germans and other international

students, such as local sports clubs or university sports clubs,

dancing courses, choirs, cultural organizations and much,

much more...

WElCOME

RISE – A DAAD pRogRAmmE

foR nAtuRAl ScIEntIStS AnD

EngInEERS

Feel like taking a closer look at a German university? The DAAD’s Research Internships in

Science and Engineering (RISE) make that possible. Natural scientists and engineers from

the USA and Britain can apply if they have completed at least the second year of their un-

dergraduate studies. During a six to twelve week stay in Germany they act as research

assistants to doctoral students in their experimental work. Find out more from the DAAD

at www.daad.de/rise

Jan

Gre

une

[14_15]+ / + / + / + / + / + / + / + // START // + / + / + / + / + / + / + / +

+++ EMPlOYMENT +++ ARBEITEN +++ TRABAJO +++

www.arbeitsagentur.de www.studentenwerk.de www.studentenjobs24.de www.jobber.de

+++ lAW +++ RECHT +++ lEGAlIDAD +++

www.daad.de/deutschland/download www.diplo.de

Students from the EU only require an identity card to enter Germany. Non­EU citizens require a visa or a residence permit. Individuals who do not yet have a place at a higher education institution and would like to make enquiries in Ger­many can apply for a study application visa for a period of three months; it can be converted into a residence permit. One thing that it is not advisable to do is to enter the country as a tourist. A tourist visa cannot be converted into a student visa at a later date.

Studierende aus der EU brauchen nur den Personalausweis für die Einreise. Beim Einwohnermeldeamt erhalten sie eine Bescheinigung über das Aufent­haltsrecht. Nicht­EU­Bürger brauchen ein Visum oder eine Aufenthaltserlaub­nis. Wer noch keine Zulassung hat, sich aber in Deutschland informieren will, kann ein Studienbewerbervisum bean­tragen, es kann in eine Aufenthaltser­laubnis umgewandelt werden. Achtung: Touristenvisa können nicht in Visa zu Studienzwecken umgewandelt werden.

Los estudiantes de la UE sólo necesitan el carné de identidad para entrar en Alema­nia. Los de otros países, un visado o una autorización de residencia. Quien aún no tenga una plaza de estudio y quiera in­formarse en Alemania, puede solicitar un visado de búsqueda de plaza de estudio, válido por tres meses, que luego puede convertirse en una autorización de resi­dencia. Pero ¡cuidado!: no entrar como turista en el país. Un visado de turista no puede convertirse luego en un visado de estudiante.

Two thirds of all students in Germany work part­time to earn additional income. Foreign students are also allowed to work without a work permit. However, certain restrictions apply to non­EU citizens and students from some new EU member countries (90 whole or 180 half days per year). It is possible to work at the higher education institution without any time re­strictions, but employment of this kind must be registered with the Ausländer­behörde.

Gut zwei Drittel aller Studierenden in Deutschland verdienen etwas nebenher. Gute Karten hat, wer Know­how auf beson­ders gefragten Gebieten mitbringt, zum Beispiel in der IT. Grundsätzlich gilt: Aus­ländische Studierende dürfen in Deutsch­land auch ohne Arbeitserlaubnis arbeiten. Für Nicht­EU­Bürger und Studierende aus einigen neuen EU­Mitgliedsstaaten gelten jedoch Einschränkungen (90 ganze oder 180 halbe Tage im Jahr). Beschäftigungen an der Hochschule sind ohne zeitliches Li­mit möglich, müssen aber der Ausländer­behörde gemeldet werden.

En Alemania, alrededor del 60 % de los estudiantes trabaja para obtener ingresos adicionales. En principio, los estudiantes extranjeros pueden trabajar sin una au­torización especial. No obstante, existen algunas restricciones para estudiantes de países no pertenecientes a la UE o nuevos en ella (90 días completos o 180 medios días por año). En la universidad es posible trabajar sin límite de tiempo, pero los em­pleos de este tipo deben ser registrados ante las autoridades de extranjería, que deciden si el puesto puede ser clasificado como actividad estudiantil secundaria.

CHECK-lIST

+++ ACCOMMODATION +++ WOHNEN +++ AlOJAMIENTO

www.studentenwerk.de www.wg-gesucht.de

Student halls of residence are at the top of the popularity ratings. They are usually close to universities and offer an ideal op­portunity to get to know other people. It’s by far the cheapest solution (roughly 180 euros a month). Rooms are allocated by the local Student Services, but they are of­ten in short supply. Some Student Services also offer packages covering a variety of services ranging from accommodation to insurance. Students who prefer to live in private rented accommodation must expect to pay at least 300 euros a month. A popular alternative involves living in a Wohngemeinschaft, a private apartment shared by a number of students.

Studentenwohnheime stehen ganz oben auf der Beliebtheitsskala. Die Häuser lie­gen meistens in Uninähe und man lernt schnell Leute kennen. Außerdem ist es die preiswerteste Lösung (rund 180 Euro im Monat). Die Plätze werden von den Studentenwerken vermittelt, sind aber oft schwer zu bekommen, weil das Interesse so groß ist. Also: Auf jeden Fall rechtzei­tig bewerben! Manche Studentenwerke bieten auch Servicepakete an, die von der Zimmervermittlung bis zur Versiche­rung alle möglichen Leistungen enthalten. Wer alleine leben will, muss mit einer Miete von mindestens 300 Euro rechnen. Eine beliebte Alternative sind Wohnge­meinschaften (WGs), in denen sich Stu­dierende eine private Wohnung teilen.

Las residencias estudiantiles son muy po­pulares. Generalmente están cerca de las universidades y en ellas se puede cono­cer rápidamente a otros estudiantes. Es la solución más económica (unos 180 euros al mes). Las habitaciones son asignadas por los Studentenwerke (Obras Estudian­tiles), pero ¡ojo!: la demanda supera a la oferta. Es aconsejable presentar una so­licitud no bien se obtenga una plaza de estudio. Algunos Studentenwerke ofrecen también otros servicios, desde ofertas de alojamiento hasta seguros. Los apar­tamentos pequeños de alquiler cuestan, como mínimo, unos 300 euros al mes. Una alternativa son los pisos compartidos: se alquila un piso algo más grande entre va­rios estudiantes que se reparten las habi­taciones.

> EvERYTHING YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT

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+++ SECURITY +++ SICHERHEIT +++ SEGURIDAD

www.polizei.de

+++ DEADlINES +++ TERMINE +++ fECHAS +++

www.zvs.de www.hochschulkompass.de

There is no such thing as a country with­out crime, but in Germany you can move around relatively safely. As in all coun­tries, certain areas should be avoided – for example, in the vicinity of train stations. Generally, too, women do not need to have any fears. Nevertheless, it is best to keep away from dark secluded places – but that advice does not only apply to Germany either.

Ein Land ohne Kriminalität gibt es nicht, aber in Deutschland kann man sich recht sicher bewegen. Bestimmte Gegenden, etwa in Bahnhofsnähe, sollte man – wie überall – lieber meiden. Auch als Frau muss man generell keine Angst haben. Um dunkle einsame Orte sollte man aber lieber einen Bogen machen – aber auch das ist keine deutschlandspezifische Sa­che.

En todos los países hay criminalidad, pero en Alemania se puede uno mover con con­siderable seguridad. Conviene evitar, eso sí, lugares como los alrededores de las estanciones de ferrocarril, como en todas partes. Tampoco las mujeres tienen por qué tener miedo; no obstante, deberían evitar los lugares oscuros y solitarios que no sólo son poco recomendables en Ale­mania.

The summer semester usually lasts from April to September at univer­sities and from March to August at Fachhochschulen (FH, universities of applied sciences). Accordingly, the winter semester lasts from Oc­tober to March at universities and from September to February at FHs. 15 January and 15 July are the deadlines by which applications for admission in the next semester must arrive at most institutions of higher education. Some institutions of higher education have other dead­lines. Re­registration for the next semester takes place at the end of the current semester; students who miss the deadline are exmatriculated. Please also note the ZVS (Zentralstel­le für die Vergabe von Studienplätzen) deadlines!

Das Sommersemester dauert von April bis September an den Univer­sitäten (Termine können variieren), von März bis August an den Fach­hochschulen (FHs). Das Winterse­mester geht von Oktober bis März an den Universitäten, von September bis Februar an den Fachhochschulen. Am 15. Januar und 15. Juli ist jeweils Bewerbungsschluss beim Akade­mischen Auslandsamt vieler Hoch­schulen. Achtung: Manche Hochschu­len haben unterschiedliche Fristen. Die Rückmeldung für das nächste Se­mester erfolgt dann am Ende des lau­fenden Semesters. Wer sie verpasst, wird exmatrikuliert oder muss „Ver­waltungsgebühren“ zahlen. Die ge­nauen Termine stehen im Vorlesungs­verzeichnis. Bitte auch die Fristen der ZVS (Zentralstelle für die Vergabe von Studienplätzen) beachten!

El semestre de verano va general­mente de abril a septiembre en las universidades y de marzo a agosto en las universidades de ciencias aplicadas (Fachhochschulen, FH). El semestre de invierno va de octubre a marzo en las primeras y de sep­tiembre a febrero en las segundas. El 15 de enero y el 15 de julio son las fechas límite para reinscribirse para el semestre siguiente en muchas universidades; pero algunas univer­sidades tienen otras fechas. La rein­scripción para el semestre siguiente debe realizarse al final del semestre en curso. Los estudiantes que no se reinscriben son borrados de la ma­trícula. Las fechas exactas se hal­lan en los catálogos de asignaturas. ¡Por favor tenga en cuenta los plazos de la ZVS (Zentralstelle für die Vergabe von Studienplätzen)!

+++ APPlICATIONS +++ BEWERBUNG +++ SOlICITUDES +++

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+++ fINANCE +++ fINANzEN +++ fINANCIACIóN +++

All applicants for a higher education place who come from outside Germany must ap­ply for admission. That applies to undergrad­uates and also to postgraduate or PhD stu­dents. The admission procedure examines whether an applicant fulfils the relevant requirements. They include, for example, the school­leaving certificate or previously completed periods of study. Diplomas must be recognized as equivalent to German qualifications. Proof of adequate knowledge of German is also required for many courses. You should make enquiries in good time in order to be able to catch up on any admis­sion requirements you may still need.

Jeder Studienbewerber aus dem Ausland muss eine Zulassung beantragen. Das gilt für Studienanfänger, aber auch für Graduierte oder Doktoranden. Bei der Zulassung wird geprüft, ob ein Bewerber die notwendigen Voraussetzungen mitbringt. Dazu zählen zum Beispiel das Schulabschlusszeugnis (wichtig für Studienanfänger) oder bereits erbrachte Studienleistungen (wichtig für Graduierte und Doktoranden). Sie müssen als gleichwertig anerkannt werden. In vielen Studiengängen ist auch der Nachweis aus­reichender Deutschkenntnisse Vorausset­zung. Man sollte sich frühzeitig erkundigen, um gegebenenfalls die Zugangsvorausset­zungen nachzuholen und die nötigen Doku­mente zusammenstellen zu können.

Todo extranjero que desee realizar estudios en Alemania debe solicitar su matriculación. Esto es válido tanto para quienes comienzan sus estudios, como para quienes desean re­alizar estudios de posgrado o doctorado. En el proceso de matriculación, la Universidad verifica si el solicitante cumple con los re­quisitos necesarios, entre los que se cuenta el haber finalizado la enseñanza secundaria. También se verifica qué estudios ha reali­zado ya el candidato. Los estudios previos deben ser reconocidos como equivalentes a los alemanes. En muchas carreras tam­bién es necesario poseer conocimientos sufi cientes de alemán. Para poder presentar puntualmente la documentación necesaria es recomendable informarse con tiempo.

www.daad.de/zulassung www.anabin.de

www.daad.de/gebuehren www.studis-online.de

HOW ABOUT A SCHOlARSHIP?

Many German foundations award scholar - ships for which international students can also apply. The DAAD scholarship database provides an overview at www.funding-guide.de (in German, English and Spanish). If you understand German, www.stipendienlotse.de is another good address for information about scholarships.

International students in Germany must prove that they have access to at least 643 euros a month. This amount will probably be raised by 5 euros/month. On average, studying in Germany involves costs of 770 euros a month. However, roughly one quarter of all students manage on less than 600 euros, while another quarter spend more than 890 euros. Tuition fees of up to a maximum of 500 euros a semester will be charged in a number of German Länder. International applicants must also pay application fees.

Internationale Studierende in Deutschland müssen nachweisen, dass sie über mindes­ tens 643 Euro im Monat verfügen. Dieser Betrag wird voraussichtlich um 5 Euro pro Monat erhöht. Durchschnittlich kostet ein Studium im Monat 770 Euro. Rund ein Vier­tel der Studierenden kommt aber mit we­niger als 600 Euro aus, ein anderes Viertel braucht mehr als 890 Euro. In mehreren Bundesländern werden rund 500 Euro Studienbeiträge pro Semester verlangt. Für ausländische Studienbewerber fallen außerdem Bewerbungsgebühren an.

Los estudiantes extranjeros en Alemania deben probar que disponen de por lo me­nos 643 euros por mes. Está previsto que ese mínimo aumente en 5 euros próxima­mente. En promedio, estudiar cuesta unos 770 euros por mes. Sin embargo, una cuar­ta parte de los estudiantes gasta menos de 600 euros, mientras que otra cuarta parte necesita más de 890 euros. En varios Län­der se debe pagar una matrícula de hasta 500 euros por semestre. Los estudiantes extranjeros deben abonar además una tasa de solicitud de plaza de estudio.

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Until a few years ago, foreign students had to apply directly to the institution of higher education at which they wished to study. Uni-assist e.V. aims to make it easier for in-ternational applicants to apply to German universities and colleges. Arbeits­ und Ser­vice stelle für internatio nale Studienbewerbungen is a charitable association whose affiliates include more than 200 German higher education institutions, the German Rec-tors’ Conference (HRK) and the DAAD. We asked Thomas Liljeberg, uni-assist’s director, five questions.

What are the advantages of applying through uni-assist?Many study programmes at German in­stitutions of higher education now have restricted admission: only a limited number of places are available and not all applicants who satisfy the admission requirements will automatically receive a place. As a result, many applicants ap­ply to several institutions at once in order to increase their chances of gaining a place. That is a perfectly legitimate prac­tice. Unfortunately, however, it generates a substantial administrative workload for universities and colleges. A central clear­ing office has obvious advantages here. We now work with more than 100 institu­tions of higher education, carrying out the initial examination of applicants’ docu­

mentation on their behalf. This means that students who apply to several universities or colleges through uni­assist only have to submit one application. We digitalize the documentation and send the formally admissable applications on to the institu­tions. That saves a lot of money and effort, because all the papers only need to be translated and certified once.

How long does the process take?It’s impossible to make generalizations about that. We guarantee the universi­ties that they will receive all data records at the latest two weeks after the close of applications so that they can start their admission procedures as soon as pos­sible. That therefore means the process­ing time is also correspondingly short for applicants. Outside these peak periods, however, it can sometimes take four to six weeks before students receive the result of the examination. As soon as the appli­cation has arrived and the processing fee has been paid, we check the paperwork and ensure that all important documents have been received. We actively help stu­dents submit a complete application – to that extent, uni­assist can also be seen as a seal of quality. If you want to play safe, you can also submit your application on­line. In other words, you initially send in your certificates in digital form. On the basis of these scans, uni­assist will pro­vide a provisional assessment of whether an application has any chance of success. Applicants then know whether sending in certified copies of their documentation will be worthwhile or not.

How much does uni-assist’s help cost?An application to one or the first institu­tion of higher education normally costs 55 euros, the fee for EU citizens is 30 euros. Chinese applicants with an APS certifi­cate pay 25 euros. An additional fee of 15 euros is payable for each additional appli­cation at another institution. Thus, for ex­ample, if you come from Russia and would like to apply to three different uni­assist

universities, you will have to pay a total of 85 euros – 55 euros plus 15 euros plus 15 euros. When you transfer the money from outside Germany, further costs will also accrue as a result of bank charges, which you must take into account. That is import­ant because we can only pass applica­tions on to higher education institutions when the fee has been paid in full. This transfer can take some time. You should therefore ensure you leave enough time for the money to reach us before the final application deadline.

Which applicants is uni-assist responsible for?When it comes down to it, it is the high­er education institutions themselves, which are members of the association, that decide whether or not you have to ap ply through uni­assist. As a rule, uni­assist is responsible for applicants with foreign school qualifications, such as a High School Diploma, A­Levels, Baccalau­reate and Gaokao, and/or foreign higher education credits. Meanwhile, however, there are also a number of universities that have assigned uni­assist the task of processing all groups of applicants for Master’s degrees – in other words, also including applicants with a German higher education qualification. Essentially, uni­assist is not responsible for applicants for first higher education degrees with a German Abitur diploma, which also includes graduates of German schools abroad who gained an Abitur there.

How can I ascertain the admission requirements for a course?Interested students can find detailed infor­mation on INOBIS, our online application and information portal. A diploma data­base makes it easy to find out whether, in principle, specific qualifications are suffi­cient for admission to a programme, while another database informs users what they can study at the uni­assist higher educa­tion institutions. Additionally, a database supplies an application check­list that contains important application details in an easy­to­understand form. There is a lot of information about studying in Germany available on the Internet – but it is often difficult to find and rather complicated.

ADMISSION?!

www.uni-assist.de www.inobis.de

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+++ lANGUAGE +++ SPRACHE +++ IDIOMA +++

www.sprachnachweis.de www.testas.de

If you want to study in Germany, you must be able to communicate in German. Even participants in international degree pro­grammes should improve their kno w l ­edge of the language during their studies. After all, knowledge of German is often re­quired for PhD dissertations – and also for normal everyday life. Differ ent institutions offer tests on the Internet that provide ori­entation (www.ondaf.de, www.goethe.de/einstufungstest). TestDaF is a test of Ger­man as a foreign language that can be ta­ken at centres worldwide. It is recognized by all German higher edu cation institu­tions. Goethe Institute tests can also pro­vide proof of adequate German­language skills (www.study­in.de).

Wer in Deutschland studieren möchte, sollte Deutsch können. Auch Teilnehmer der internationalen Studiengänge sollten sich parallel zum Studium in Kursen an der Uni fortbilden. Denn auch für Promo­tionsarbeiten sind häufig Deutschkennt­nisse notwendig – und natürlich auch für den ganz normalen Alltag in Deutschland. Verschiedene Einrichtungen bieten zur ersten Orientierung Tests im Internet an (www.goethe.de/einstufungstest, www.ondaf.de). Der Test „Deutsch als Fremd­sprache“ (TestDaF) kann weltweit in Test­zentren abgelegt werden. Er wird von allen deutschen Hochschulen anerkannt (www.testdaf.de). Auch die Prüfungen der Goethe­Institute reichen zum Nachweis aus (www.studieren­in.de).

Quien quiere estudiar en Alemania debe saber alemán. Es recomendable que tam­bién los participantes en los cursos interna­cionales aprendan alemán paralelamente a sus estudios. Y es que para escribir te­sis doctorales se necesitan conocimientos de alemán ... como también para la vida cotidiana. Diversas instituciones ofrecen tests en Internet para una primera orien­tación (www.goethe.de/einstufungstest, www.ondaf.de). El examen TestDaF se puede hacer en todo el mundo en centros de exámenes y es reconocido por todas las universidades alemanas (www.testdaf.de). También los exámenes del Goethe­Institut sirven para acreditar los conoci­mientos de alemán (www.estudiar­en.de).

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CHIll-OUT AT THE CITY BEACH ClUB

SKIS AND TOBOGGANS

Palm trees in the city. No, it’s not a dream. In German cities away from the coast people are drawn to the beach clubs with their Mediterranean atmosphere in the summer. There’s nothing more relaxing than dozing in a deckchair with sand caressing your toes, right in the heart of town.

Dirndl dresses and leather trousers? They’re

fine for the Oktoberfest. But Germans much pre­

fer their own well­known, elegant fashion brands

such as Boss, Strenesse, Steffen Schraut, Marc

Cain or Kaviar Gauche.

Simple, simpler, Bauhaus. The German design school has produced many classics. But German designers can make quite different things as well: playful, amusing, unconven­tional, as Chair One by Konstantin Grcic clearly proves.

It doesn’t always have to be English. Tokio Hotel have proved that the German language is as good as any for producing chartbusters – and for learning German too. It’s more fun!

SUCCESS WITH GERMAN SONGS

It’s obvious: if you study in Munich, you can go skiing every weekend in the winter. But there are winter sports available not just in the Alps. In the Sauer­land, the Rhoen and the Harz there are enough mountains with snow in winter to put a sparkle into sports fans’ eyes.

DESIGN

fASHION[20_21]

> WHAT IS TYPICAllY GERMAN? lEATHER TROUSERS, BEER AND CUCKOO ClOCKS? NO WAY ...

TYPICAllY GERMAN

WATER RATHER THAN BEERGermans prefer to drink mineral water (sparkling) rather than beer! Germany has over 500 different mineral waters. But the very favourite German drink is in fact coffee.

People in the land of Porsche, BMW and Mercedes like riding bikes. On average every person in Ger­many cycles a good 300 kilometres per year. In uni­versity towns like Münster or Freiburg the bike is often the chart­topping vehicle for students. It keeps you fit and is simply practical. What’s more, there are lots of cycle paths everywhere.

Everyone has their image of another country. Neuschwanstein Castle and the Hofbräuhaus, leather trousers, dumplings, a litre of beer and autobahns without speed limits are things that many people abroad immediately as­sociate with Germany. But is all this typically German? Yes, it’s part of the picture, but by no means everything. The 16 German federal states stretching from the North Sea to the Alps are so different, every town has its char­acteristics, so it’s difficult to say what is really typically German today. One thing is certain: sometimes quite different things are typical of a country than we tend to think!

CYlCES INSTEAD Of CARS

SUSHI OR DUMPlINGS?

Sushi, tortellini, falafel, tzatziki, kebab, tabouleh, paella... A survey carried out by the Allensbach Institute showed that over half of Germans prefer international cuisine when eating at a res­taurant. And there’s ample variety of these even in the smaller towns. Beef roulade with dumplings is on the menu too, of course...

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The electrical engineer is current-ly working on a doctorate and repeatedly has to present his findings in scientific papers to research groups. The working language is English. “Writing is not the problem,” explains Andreas. “But I have to practise speaking so that I can answer questions.” “You’ve really moved on,” says Ellie. “Once you get going, your English steadily improves.”

language tandems need to observe certain rules. The partners are not vocabulary trainers. In other words, they must already have some knowledge of the respective lan-guage. Vocabulary and grammar have to be learned alone independently. Even in the case of languages with very difficult written characters, the native speakers only help in speaking, not in writing. Obviously, you need to be cor-rected frequently. In a nutshell, that is the whole purpose of the tandem, which is why you really shouldn’t be too sensitive in that regard. How quickly you’ll find a suitable partner also depends on how much demand there is for your native language. Ellie was immediately able to make many interesting contacts through www.sprachduo.de and did not only get to know nice people, but also the city of Munich from very different perspectives.

On a recent visit to Tübingen Ellie discovered how import-

ant it is that you don’t exclusively meet with fellow-coun-

trymen. “I went to see a friend from Cambridge who’s there as an Erasmus student,” she reports. “We spent the whole weekend only talking English – afterwards I had to re-adjust all over again.” Back in her “German” routine, however, that wasn’t so difficult. At the coffee shop she only works with Germans. “We have a lot of fun together,” says Ellie. “And because we’re at the central station where we have a lot of regular customers who come in every day, I do a lot of talking there too.” That’s why she has no fears about her semester of German. “I may not need to do an exam, but you still ought to be able to speak German well so you can benefit from the curriculum.” As a result, she intends to maintain her Sprach-Duo contacts. After all, one thing is clear: sitting in a ski-lift talking with native speakers beats a lecture any day.

> More information and tips about language tandems: www.sprachduo.de www.speak2speak.de www.tandemcity.com

SUMMER, fUN AND lEARNING THE lANGUAGE Feel like getting a taste of what a German university is like for a few weeks? No problem. Many universities offer summer courses in German and English during the summer vacation period (sometimes also in winter).The courses range from art history to economics. There are also a large number of courses for people who want to learn German. The summer courses leave enough free time to get to know the country and its people. The courses cost money, but the DAAD does award scholarships. Support is available, for example, for German-language courses that focus on the subject of German as a Foreign Language and run for no less than 18 days with at least 25 lessons a week. An overview of all programmes can be found at www.daad.de/sommerkurse

STUDYING IN GERMANY WITHOUT lEARNING GERMAN? That doesn’t really make very much sense. Although knowledge of English (e.g. TOEFL) is sufficient for inter-national degree courses, students can also learn German in language programmes at university during their degree course. As a rule, however, you need to be able to prove adequate knowledge of German before you begin your studies (TestDaF, DSH). It’s also important to be able to speak the language in everyday life – otherwise you can feel left out and only discover half of what’s going on.

Links for learning German:www.testdaf.dewww.goethe.dewww.deutsch-uni.comwww.sprachkurse-weltweit.de

lEARN[22_23]

DO YOU

HOW

The small basement party is jam-packed. Students from all over the world are crowding onto the dance floor. Where do you come from? What are you studying? Which types of sport do you enjoy? A truly Babylonian confusion of languages is in full swing. At least 50 or 60 young people have come together this evening to find a partner who will help them learn the language. “Interest is always especially great at the beginning of the semester,” explains tutor Tim Appel. “Many also come to make contact with other students when they’re new in town and don’t know anyone.” Appel is re-sponsible for the SprachDuo meetings in Munich, an initiative of the AEGEE European student forum. There are now 20 branches of this free, non-commercial undertaking across Germany. It is based on a very simple idea: learning a language with someone else is much more fun. Every jumper or T-shirt bears a piece of paper with the wearer’s name and nationality. Sigi is looking for someone from France because he will soon be working in an in-ternational firm as a legal intern. Oskar, who has only just come to study in Munich from Sweden, would like to improve his German in the easiest possible fashion. “The tandems work together in entirely different ways,” says Appel. “Some only meet a few times to prepare for a very concrete situation, while others become good friends and remain in contact long after half of the tandem has left the country.”

Ellie and Andreas immediately found a mutual interest:

skiing. “I love the mountains!” enthuses Ellie Smith. “That’s why I chose to study in Munich.” The Londoner, who is study-ing German and Spanish at Cambridge University, is spend-ing her compulsory year abroad in Germany. She spent the first six months gaining work experience in a small lawyers’ office and then registered as a student of German at Ludwig-Maximilians University. Her German tandem partner, An-dreas Fackelmeier, found her through the SprachDuo Internet platform. On this particular morning they are meeting “for a coffee and a cup of tea” at the Uni-Lounge. “Whether we talk German or English depends on the subject,” explains Andreas.

“If something is important to me, then I automatically speak German.” “And I speak English,” says Ellie spontaneously. Andreas laughs. “You can speak both really well and simply switch between the two.” After all, the Englishwoman also has the advantage of continuous practice – and in the most diverse locations: “In the office or at the court I have to cope with legal jargon,” says Ellie, who wants to complement her degree in languages with a qualification in law. “But at the same time I have a part-time job in a coffee shop to earn the money for my rent – and there I learn colloquial expressions I’ve never heard before.” Her German language-learning part-ner has also gained considerable linguistic self-confidence.

IT´S MORE fUN TOGETHER

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GERMAN?

THIS UNIvERSITY IS RIGHT fOR ME!

Which subjects are offered by which universities? Where is the equipment particularly good and how content are the students? The CHE (Centre for High-er Education Development) has produced rankings for 33 subjects which offer the most comprehensive and most detailed overview of the study situation at German universities and universities of applied science. The analyis includes facts about studying, teaching and research as well as the opinions of over 250,000 students about their universities and departments. Soft factors also play a part, such as supervision and how well courses are organized. Users select up to five criteria and receive a list of universities which score well in the chosen aspects. The atmosphere in the place of study is important too, but that’s difficult to measure. But you can quickly discover what the leisure activities and nightlife are like by looking on the Internet. When you click onto a university, you automatically find a link to its town or city. www.das-ranking.de

TÜBINGEN

If you can already speak German well, you can also do your research through the Federal Employment Agency. Its Berufnet website offers a whole list of suggested careers in response to keywords such as “languages” or “energy” and describes the openings for study as well. That’s important, because once you’ve chosen a subject to study, the next step is deciding where to submit your application. Academic ex-cellence is a feature of many universities, not just those in the big cities. Smaller cities such as Heidelberg, Münster or Tübingen also have universities with outstand-ing reputations, and the places themselves have attractive student scenes. Whilst the bigger universities usually have a greater choice of courses and seminars with higher levels of freedom, the smaller ones often have clearer struc-tures and better supervision.

CHECK-lIST

What am I good at – and what is less interest-ing to me? Hold a mini-brainstorming session, but without worrying too much about jobs or definite subjects to study.

Ask parents and friends. How they see you can open up perspectives that you may never have thought of by yourself.

Which area of study suits my inclinations? Hunt around for possible courses, for instance on the Internet at www.daad.de.

Which requirements must I satisfy? At the universities specialist advisors can provide detailed information about courses of study. Tip: look out for advice services for future international students.

What do other students think about the course and the university of my choice? Look for contacts with networks, for instance via www.studivz.net, and let people tell you about university life.

Can I do it? Naively embarking on studies can end up badly. Always take a good look at the curriculum and examination regulations.

BERlIN

Are you interested in academic depth or a more practical orienta-tion? The type of university is important too. If you want to pursue basic research, a university is definitely the best place for you. But in Germany it is also possible to study at a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule or FH). The lecturers come from industry, have a lot of practical experience and put their students in touch with the professional world. Courses are very clearly structured and more reg-ulated than at general universities. Consequently, Bachelor students who want to follow up with a Master’s degree often find it easier to handle if they have come from a university.

Of course, money also plays a role when choosing a place to study. Some Länder charge tuition fees (maximum 500 euros per semes-ter), while others do not. In smaller towns it is easier to find reason-ably priced accommodation than in places like Munich, Cologne or Hamburg. But it’s not just the rents that are more expensive in the big cities (with the exception of Berlin!), cinema tickets, cafés and restau-rants are more expensive too. On the other hand, global players are mainly located in and around the big cities. For students with an in-ternational background these companies can be very interesting, for instance when gaining practical experience during your studies.

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[24_25]

THE STUDY NAvIGATOR

Before you start studying, you need to answer two key questions: Which subject do I want to study? And which university shall I choose? It’s not always easy to know what you want at first. To begin with it’s important to discover where your special strengths and interests lie and which kinds of activities you really enjoy. Tip: it’s a good idea to write down your preferences, strengths and weaknesses, because a list like this makes things a lot clearer. If you have difficulty doing this, you can find support on the Internet. There are several self-assessment tests which help you to sound out your aptitudes and abilities and discover a suitable direction of study. As a rule the university syllabuses are free of charge. Orien-tation is also provided by various German study guidance portals, for instance einstieg.com. However, these online tests are accompanied by experts and there is a charge. Alternatively, the community participants of university portals, such as unicum.de, can get their personal profiles for free.

For international students who are interested in studying technical subjects, such as mechanical engineering or civil engineering, the nine leading techni-cal universities in Germany have developed a self-assessment programme. The TU9.de test enables you to get to know the range of requirements involved in studying technical courses. It takes about 90 to 120 minutes to work through the test and assess your mathematical skills, logical reasoning, motivation and level of commitment. After the test every participant receives a reply with an explana-tion of the results.

WHAT?

> Tips and tests:

finding the right

subject to study

lINK TIPS

General information on studying www.study-in.de

International programmes in English www.daad.de/international-programmes

Einstieg – advice on studies and careers www.einstieg.com

Help with orientation and applications www.inobis.de

University or university of applied science? www.studium-ratgeber.de/hochschultest

Federal Employment Agency careers advice www.berufenet.arbeitsagentur.de

Hohenheim University study choice test www.was-studiere-ich.de

Self-assessment www.self-assessment.tu9.de

WHERE?

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+/+/+ UNIvERSITY Of TElEvISION

AND fIlM MUNICH +/+/+

Their stage is the red carpet: since 2004 the two designers Alexandra

Fischer­Roehler and Johanna Kühl have experienced a breathtaking

rise with the label Kaviar Gauche. Their “Lamella Bag” sells as far

away as Korea, and American star Charlize Theron is among their

customers. The two successful fashion ladies met during their training

at Esmod university of fashion design in Berlin. The school, which was

originally opened by the purveyor to the German Empress, is now

internationally networked. During the three­year course in Fashion

Design and Creation the students personally get to know important

fashion centres such as Tokyo, Paris or Beijing. At the end students

produce a diploma collection concept with the aim of creating their

own label. Then it’s time for the grand performance: the designs are

presented in a big fashion show. www.esmod.de

“Learning by doing” is the motto at Munich’s University of

Television and Film (HFF). The recipe is good: several HFF

graduates have been immortalized in the Oscars Hall of Fame.

Caroline Link (photograph) won the Academy Award in 2003

for the best foreign language film, and Florian Henckel von

Donners marck followed in 2007. Florian Gallenberger re­

ceived the Oscar for the best live action short film with his final

graduation film Quiero Ser in 2001. The courses, which last at

least eight semesters, are

devoted to training directors,

screen writers, producers and

cinematographers. The HFF

creates solid foundations in

filmmaking, technical and me­

dia business expertise, whilst

providing ample space for ex­

perimentation. Lecturers include such great names as director

Wim Wenders and cinematographer Michael Ballhaus. The HFF

is the only German film university with a chair for technology.

After all, Munich is regarded as the most important German city

for film and video technology. www.hff-muenchen.de

+/+/+ ESMOD – INTERNATIONAl fASHION

UNIvERSITY GROUP +/+/+

THE CRAfT

WITH THE GlAMOUR fACTOR

Natural sciences and technology are forward-looking fields in which German

universities are recognized for their great expertise. But Germany also has a lot to

offer with courses leading to creative careers.

+/+/+ POPAKADEMIE +/+/+

>CREATIvE STUDIES

+/+/+ GAMES ACADEMY +/+/+

Students at the Games Academy in Berlin and

Frankfurt are free to use the laboratories and sem­

inar rooms round the clock, for instance to ex­

periment with ideas on 2D space shooters. Europe’s

unique specialist school for games development

trains experts for the booming computer and video

games industry in three to four semesters: pro­

ducers, programmers, game designers, and game

artists who are responsible for putting games graph­

ics into practice. The lecturers are professional

games designers and come from German and inter­

national studios. www.games-academy.de

Rapper Danny Fresh, himself a

graduate from the Popakademie in

Mannheim, now teaches the musical

know­how to up­and­coming stage

stars. From punk to funk, pop to hip­

hop: in Germany this unrivalled

college fosters music personalities of

all modern musical styles and works

with high­calibre musicians. The

Popakademie sees itself as a compe­

tence centre for all aspects of the

music sector and offers two courses.

Pop Music Design prepares students

for a career as professional mu sicians.

They study composition, song writ ing

and producing. The especially

practice­oriented Music Business

course is more for organizers and

decision­makers behind the scenes.

www.popakademie.de

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[26_27]

lIvE, lOUD, lAID-BACK

THE fUN fACTOR

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> A NICE ROOM AND GOOD fRIENDS ARE fEEl-GOOD fACTORS IN A NEW TOWN

Many students in Germany choose to live like the five from Münster, because it’s almost im-possible to find a separate apartment for less than 300 euros a month. The price for a room in a WG, where several tenants share the costs, averages between 200 and 300 euros a month. International students coming to Germany can start their search on the Internet from home, on websites such as www.studenten-wg.de or www.studenten-wohnung.de.

Places in student hostels are also in demand, especially among first-year students. The hostels are often close to the university. Their apartments are often furnished and have low-priced Inter-net connections. This type of accommodation is also reasonably priced (on average 180 euros per month) and is available through Student Services (Studentenwerke).

And how do you make contacts in the new town? “The best way is simply to mix with the people,” says Ayosha, “for instance through uni-versity sport.” He’s convinced that you quickly gain contacts by openly approaching others: “I enjoy cooking and often invite a big crowd in to eat,” he says. It’s something his flatmates ap-preciate too!

Room with a view: the WG students

share the balcony as well as the

kitchen, bathroom and living room

A happy crowd: Christopher, Sawssan, Sybille, Ayosha and Sophia (from the left)

Münster, Hafenstrasse, 2nd floor, 5 rooms, kitchen, bathroom, balcony: it’s where Ayosha, Sophia, Sybille and Christopher share an apartment as a Wohngemein-schaft, or “WG”. They have their own room and share the rent and electricity, the kitchen, bathroom and a living room. The four study at the university and the university of applied sciences in Münster and are now sitting in the kitchen drinking coffee together. Saw-ssan from Lebanon has just dropped by for a chat. When asked which type of accomodation they would recom-mend for students, they reply in unison: “WG”. “A WG helps you to find your feet in a new town,” says Ayosha.

“And you gain lots of new contacts – that’s great for leisure time too.” Christopher has already lived in a classic student hostel: “In a WG I have to consider my flatmates more than the students in a hostel,” he says, “but here I can have my own furniture. And there’s always someone around. That improves the atmos-phere.” “It means you don’t have to eat, or clean, alone,” agrees Sybille. “But you have to be able to agree with others, about cleanliness, shopping and things like that,” adds Sophia. Sawssan lives in a different WG, but she also likes student hostels where “you live in your own domain”.

[28_29]

lIvING + lEISURE

V

eit

Me

tte

www.das-ranking.de

The very extensive ranking of

the Centre for Higher Education

Development (CHE) and the

weekly newspaper Die Zeit helps

school leavers and would be

students to find the right higher

education institution.

www.studivz.net

Students can contact one

another and exchange informa-

tion on this platform, which is

one of Germany’s largest social

networking websites.

www.uniturm.de

This website enables students

to exchange study literature,

lecture notes and other ma-

terial.

www.young-germany.de

English-language website with

lots of information about higher

education and employment.

www.tu9.de

This website is produced by nine institutes

of technology that place special emphasis on

internationality (TU9 Initiative) and provides

lots of information about engineering and

natural sciences.

www.spiegel.de/unispiegel

The German news magazine Der Spiegel

publishes its Unispiegel six times a year. The

magazine also provides up-to-date informa-

tion about the most important developments

in German higher education on the Internet.

www.all-students.de

This website sees itself as a central informa-

tion portal produced by students for students

in Germany. Its authors – all of them are still

students themselves – want to offer school-

leavers and students first-hand information.

www.internationale-studierende.de

On this website, Deutsches Studenten -

werk, the umbrella organization of the Stu-

dentenwerke (Student Services) in Germany,

presents information specifically for interna-

tional students. If you’re interested in

studying in Germany, you should carefully

read through the section called “Prepare

your studies”.

www.hochschulkompass.de

On this website, the German Rectors’ Con-

ference offers a database maintained by

universities and colleges that outlines study

programmes at all state-recognized institu-

tions of higher education in Germany. You

can browse through almost the entire range

of courses available in Germany on the basis

of the most diverse search criteria. The site

also presents a useful overview of the appli-

cation deadlines for individual universities.

www.daad.de/de/termine.html

An overview of forthcoming education and

higher education fairs in which the DAAD

will be taking part.

www.daad.de/offices

This page provides access to all the addresses

of the DAAD network with direct links to the

14 DAAD branch offices worldwide as well as

contacts at the numerous DAAD information

centres around the globe.

www.eu.daad.de

This DAAD website provides lots of informa-

tion on the higher education programmes of

the European Union (EU) as well as EU edu-

cation partnerships with countries outside

the European community.

www.daad.de, www.study-in.de

The German Academic Exchange Service

(DAAD) promotes the exchange of students

and academics between Germany and the

rest of the world through a large number of

international projects and programmes. It

maintains offices in numerous countries that

can be contacted directly for information

about study opportunities in Germany. Its

website provides a phlethora of detailed –

and, very importantly, reliable – information

about all aspects of studying in Germany. It

also includes databases of courses and schol-

arships as well as links to all DAAD offices

and information centres worldwide.

Even if living costs are not above average, the monthly sum of 643 euros that every international student has to prove their parents can provide will certainly not allow you to lead a life of luxury. On average, German students have available funds of 770 euros a month. How much you will spend depends very much on where you study – and not least on your leisure activities. Roughly a quarter of all stu-dents have to get by on less than 600 euros a month.

Monthly rent 185 – 315 euros Canteen meal 2.60 – 3 euros Bread (1 kilogram) 2 – 3 euros Milk (1 litre) 0.50 – 1 euros Daily newspaper (monthly student subscription) 16 – 20 euros Health insurance 54 euros Cinema visit 4 – 8 euros

Some German Länder charge tuition fees, in which case you have to reckon with paying up to 500 euros per semes-ter. Some higher education institutions also charge foreign applicants application fees (approx. 50 euros). A semester contribution of between 50 and 100 euros is also payable for the use of the social facilities offered by Student Services, such as the canteen or sports amenities. At some universities this payment also covers the cost of a semester ticket that enables students to use the public transport system for six months.

What can you do if your funds are not enough? If you don’t have enough money to make ends meet, you can try for a scholarship. Numerous institutions, such as the DAAD, foundations closely associated with German political parties and church and business organizations, provide financial support for international students. The precondition for backing is above-average achievement in your subject and/or significant political or social commitment. The DAAD scholarship database lists not only its own programmes, but also those of 50 other organizations: www.funding-guide.de

very few manage without additional income: German students earn roughly one quarter of their budget themselves. Finding a good part-time job is not very easy. Student Services at German higher education institutions have therefore set up job cen-tres for students in conjunction with the Federal Employment Agency. Here you can find temporary jobs such as typing or other short-term work in busi-nesses. An interesting alternative is a job as an aca-demic assistant (wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft – or Hi-Wi for short) at your university or college.

But beware! Your studies can suffer if you spend too much time working. Medical student Indradeo Hem-raj from Mauritius has already seen many of his fellow students lose form: “When you do too many night du-ties in hospital, you stop being able to concentrate.” And that can turn out to be expensive: if you exceed the standard study period, you can end up paying up to 500 euros a semester in additional tuition fees.

financial documentation Before you begin your course you will need to provide evidence that you can finance your studies. Please consult the German Embassy in your country to find out which form of financial documentation you will require (e.g. proof of income/assets of parents, bank guarantee, scholarship, security payment to blocked account).

Service packages Student Services at many higher education institu-tions offer special service packages that give new stu-dents from outside Germany financial security for their first year in higher education. These all-inclu-sive deals are very convenient and make it easier to calculate costs. International students receive ac-commodation, food and medical insurance cover for a lump sum. Leisure activities are often also included. These service packages can already be booked before you arrive in Germany. Cost: between 158 and 358 euros a month depending on the range of services in-cluded. Further information: www.internationale-studierende.de

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[30_31]

WHAT DOES STUDYING COST?> How much money you can expect to spend

Germany isn’t expensive compared with other European countries. The prices

for food, housing, leisure and cultural activities are average for the EU. They are

even relatively low compared with countries like France, Great Britain and the

Netherlands.

lINKS

Summer Schools in GermanyLanguage and Specialist Courses

www.summerschools-in-germany.de

DAAD_SomKur_E_2010_Anz-210x276_1125.indd 1 25.11.2009 14:46:27 Uhr