Study in Germany

2 Hanni Geist DAAD North America Information Center San Francisco Stand October 2013

3 AGENDA What is DAAD? Research in Germany – Bologna Process – Excellence Initiative What to expect at a German university Types of higher education institutions – theory based, applied, dual system How to apply Helpful links Contact Information

4 What is the DAAD? German national agency for international academic cooperation and exchange (229 partner universities) Stipends for foreigners Stipends for Germans Internationalization of higher education institutions Promotion of German Studies and German language Support of developing countries to improve education Budget: ca. Annual budget : ~ US $ 540 m Almost 70,000 people supported annually 70 offices and information centers world wide

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6 RESEARCH IN GERMANY

7 EXCELLENCE INITIATIVE 1st line of funding: establishment of more than 40 research schools for young scientists and PhD candidates [one million € each per year] 2nd line of funding: creation of thirty “Clusters of Excellence”, that connect universities with leading German research institutes and businesses [6.5 million € each annually] 3rd line of funding: selection of 11 Universities of Excellence, which will be funded highly for their "future concepts", i.e., institutional strategies to promote top-level university research

8 GERMAN UNIVERSITIES VS. AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES Very affordable, excellent education German and International programs --- WHAT TO EXPECT --- Students – independent Campus – often decentralized Housing – mostly alone or with roommates off campus – student housing available through university Individual sports clubs, but no University gym, no big university sport Focus on academia – social life, sports mostly off campus

9 TYPES OF HIGHER EDCUACTION INSTITUTIONS Universities & Technical Universities (109) Focus on methods and theories Research based theses Variety of fields Degrees:: Bachelor, Master, PhD, habilitation as well as Diplom, Magister, Staatsexamen [old system, slowly replaced by new] Fachhochschulen [Universities of Applied Sciences ] (191) Focus on teaching professional skills Practical theses Fields: especially engineering, economics, social sciences, design Degrees: Bachelor, Master

10 TYPES OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS Music, Art- and Film Higher Education Institutions (55) Applied education Portfolio & tests part of application process Areas of study: design, grafic design, music, vocal performance, film Degrees: Bachelor, Master, Promotion/PhD Private Higher Education Institutions (87) Students pay €500 fees per month. or more Groups often smaller, closer contact to professors

11 DUAL SYSTEM - COOPERATIVE WORK-STUDY PROGRAMS cooperative work-study degree program (duales Studium): combines academic study with elements of vocational training or professional practice job-related or vocational elements are an integral part of the program and it is coordinated around them job-related elements range from work placements in industry, which are integrated into the program, to full professional training courses, completed at the same time as studying Cooperative work-study degree programs are usually the same length as full-time degree programs [

12 Higher Education Degrees in Germany Bachelor, Master, PhD (with teaching credential option) Staatsexamen (state exam for medical degrees)

13 TUITION No tuition!! - (Niedersachsen is the only federal state, but as of summer 2014 they will stop too) Semesterbeiträge [semester contributions] up to 250 € (pays for administrative cost, student services cost for cafeteria, sport clubs, cultural activities and public transportation)

14 Enrollment Bildungsinländer vs. Bildungsausländer – domestic vs. foreign student: „Bildungsinländer“ with German Abitur „Bildungsausländer“ with non-German degree Acceptance at German university based on university entrance qualification [e.g. Abitur], grades, waiting period, language requirements Fields of study with NC [Numerus Clausus] & Wartesemester ( semesters after graduating from High School without being enrolled at German university)

15 High School Diploma after continuous attendance of the classes 9 to 12 at a U.S. High School and to comprise a total of 16 "academic units“ (years): o 4 units English with a minimum grade C: English IV or Honors or AP English, o 2 units Second Language o 3 units Social Studies o 5 units in total Math & Science: 2 or 3 units Math w/ a minimum grade C: Algebra II or III, Trigonometry or Precalc 2 or 3 units Science with a minimum grade C: Biology, Chemistry or Physics, o 2 academic units free to choose Preparatory Course Direct General Admission SAT (Math & Reading) OR ACT (Composite Score) No additional 4- year college AND High school GPA of year at a 4-year institution (courses in English & a foreign language, math and a natural science) OR Associates Degree from a transfer program AND High school GPA of 3.0 SAT (Math & Reading) OR ACT 28+ (Composite Score) Four AP courses in: Math, Natural Sciences, Foreign Language and 1 additional OR English, Foreign Language, Math/Science, and 1 additional Direct subject- restricted admission German University Admissions Overview * More info: anabin.kmk.org and Language requirements for a German-language degree program? One of the following: Deutsche Sprachdiplom der Kultusministerkonferenz (DSD II), Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung (ZOP), Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom (KDS), Große Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS), TestDaF-Niveaustufe 4 (TDN 4) *Please note: This is just a guide about what is needed to attend a German institution of higher education and should not be taken as a guarantee. Each degree program may have its own individual requirements, especially in the cases of art/music/film/architecture. Each degree program is responsible for selection of its own student body and prerequisites may vary by institution and degree program.

16 How to apply Bildungsinländer: For fields of study with regional NC – apply directly at university For fields of study with central NC [ZVS] : medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine and dental medicine Application through Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung (SfH) – selection based on 20% best “Abitur”, 20% waiting period, 60% individual university requirements Bildungsausländer : Application through (please check the university websites, not all universities partner with the organization)

17 LINKS Studying in German, fields of study, scholarships: Which university, what field of studies? Stipends guide: International Programs (in English): University ranking: Student services: Summer courses at universities: DAAD grants:

18 Dankeschön! Noch Fragen? Hanni Geist German Academic Exchange Service / DAAD Information Center San Francisco c/o Goethe-Institut 530 Bush Street, 2nd Floor San Francisco, CA Tel: :: :: :: For more information on Germany – Studying in Germany – German culture & language – current events: Like us on Facebook - DAAD North America Follow us on Twitter