What are the basic requirements to study in Germany for Indian Students
Hi, I am Eri and today I will answer the most common question asked in my DM on Instagram ” What are the basic requirements to study in Germany? ” If you have ever planned to think about studying in Germany then you might have heard about the free education system. So, most public universities do not charge tuition fees from students. Yes, it does save money and your dream to study abroad becomes more affordable. You might also want to know why Germany is not the best option for you.
Now, you might want to enrol in either Bachelors Programme or Masters Programme in Germany. And if you have set your mind to pursue your education in Germany, it is important you gather as much information as possible regarding the requirements and university admission criteria in Germany.
If you have not yet shortlisted the courses of your choice, then you can go through the DAAD database of international student programmes in Germany, and search for options of your preference. Once you shortlist the study programme you’re interested in, the next step is to understand the admission criteria. Because you will have to meet the criteria set by the university in order to gain admission to that specific programme.
The list which I have prepared is especially for Indian Students who are planning to study in Germany.
1. Completion of Secondary School less than grade 12
Your possibility of admission:
Admission for academic study in Germany is unfortunately not possible without additional proof of education!
2. 12 year Secondary School Leaving Certificate (less than 50%)
There are multiple criteria for Bachelors Program in Germany with various admission guidelines. Before you try to understand the eligibility criteria for a bachelor in Germany, allow me to give a brief on the admission process.
There are many universities in Germany, some are Public and others are Private. The mode of education is either English or German. Similarly, the admission process also differs from university to university. For example, some ask for scores like TestAS and some do now. Now you will surely ask me What is TestAS ?and why is it important for a Bachelors admission in Germany.
Why should I take TestAS?
TestAS is the most important aptitude test for foreign applicants wishing to study in Germany. TestAS analyses skills are necessary for successful studies, e.g. logical thought processes, recognising
structures or solving problems. German universities use the TestAS certificate in order to select and admit suitable students for their courses. Thus, TestAS increases your chances of obtaining a university place in Germany.
2.1 Not Cleared JEE Entrance
If your grade point average in 12-year secondary schooling/your Pre-University Examination is less than 50% of the maximum score and you have not cleared the Joint Entrance Examination (both parts, Main and Advanced) of the Indian Institutes of Technology?
Your possibility of admission:
Admission for academic study in Germany is unfortunately not possible without additional proof of education!
2.2 Cleared JEE Entrance
If you have successfully cleared JEE Entrance examination then you are eligible to apply for Bachelors programme in Germany.
Your possibility of admission:
With your educational background, you qualify for direct subject-restricted admission to a German higher education institution for academic studies in the subject areas of technology and natural sciences.
3. 12 year Secondary School Leaving Certificate (with 50% or more)
3.1 No Period of Study
I know as an Indian, most of the students planning for bachelors in Germany will be checking this option. You are currently either in 11th, 12th or just passed 12th grade. Since, Germany askes for 15 years of education for Bachelors Admission, direct admission to bachelor right after 12th is not possible (unless you are from IB Board).
Another option is a Vocational Degree or Ausbildung or Apprenticeship which required at least B1 or B2 level of proficiency. The complete guide on how to apply to Ausbildung in Germany from India can be seen here.
Your possibility of admission:
With your educational background, you qualify for subject-restricted admission to a preparatory course/the Feststellungsprüfung (university qualification exam) for the Schwerpunktkurse (focus courses) corresponding to the subject area that you specialised in during your higher secondary school education.
If your school-leaving certificate is not recognized in Germany, you will be required to attend a one-year preparatory course known as Studienkolleg.
3.2 Atleast 1 year education at Higher Educational Institute
If you don’t want to go for studienkolleg, you can enrol in a Bachelors course in India, and then apply for the first year of Bachelors programme in Germany. In this way, you can skip the preparatory course, however, you will not get a lateral entry in the second year. You will be applying and studying in the first year again.
Your possibility of admission:
With your educational background, you qualify for direct subject-restricted admission for academic studies in the subject area of your previous academic studies or a related subject.
4. Successfully completed at-least a 3 year Bachelors program
Your possibility of admission:
With your educational background, you qualify for direct subject-restricted admission for academic studies in the subject area of your previous academic studies or a related subject.
4. Successfully completed at-least a 4 or 4.5 year Bachelors program
Your possibility of admission:
With your educational background, you qualify for direct general admission for academic studies in any subject area.
Is your educational degree valid?
This applies to all who completed Diploma, Bachelors or Masters in their respective home country. To be admitted to a German university, your qualifications must be recognized by the university you have chosen. What this means is that you need to have a recognized ‘higher education entrance qualification’, also known as Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (HZB) or Abitur. You can check here to know if your educational degree is valid in Germany? You can check if your educational institutional is listed and mentioned on Anabin.
University not listed on Anabin?
What if my university is not listed on Anabin? The Statement of Comparability is an assessment of whether your qualifications in higher education in overseas countries can be compared to your German qualification by the German Central Office of Foreign Education (ZAB).
The primary purpose is to identify an equivalent German qualification and to detail how in a German professional or academic setting your international qualification can be utilised.
Language Requirements
Language requirements are also among the university admission criteria. If your degree programme is entirely in German, then you will be required to provide proof of German language proficiency such as Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH) or TestDaF. You can enrol in the Faster German A1 course and learn A1 within 15 days.
Alternatively, if your course is taught in English and you are not a native English speaker, you will be required to provide IELTS or TOEFL scores. Thus, you can also filter the courses based on the medium of the language which you want to study. Where to prepare IELTS course?
Hence, these are the basic requirements for Indian students planning to come to Germany for Bachelors Programme or Masters Programme. I also shared some more information regarding the validity of educational qualifications and language requirements.
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