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Master Studies

Do you want to do your Master's degree in Germany? Students from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal or Sri Lanka will find all information and guidance on universities, programmes, eligibility, application, language requirements, financials, living and working in Germany here.

Universities and Programmes

Germany has different types of universities. Take a look, so that you know which one would suit you the best. The difference lies in focus  and courses that these universities offer.

How do I choose a university in Germany?

There are various kinds of universities in Germany. A majority of these belong to either of the following categories:

Graphical representation of the German types of higher education institutions: Universities of Applied Sciences, Universities, Technical Universities

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  • Universities and Universities of Technology (TU) are research-oriented. They offer a wide variety of subjects and can award doctorate degrees.
  • Universities of Applied Sciences (Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften – HAW/FH), on the other hand, are practice-oriented and offer courses mainly in engineering, business administration, social sciences and design. These have strong links to the industry and offer interesting possibilities such as joint supervision for your master thesis, where your professor and the company can together guide you. HAWs do not award doctoral degrees, however as a master degree holder from a HAW, you are in principle eligible to apply for PhD at a university.

Your interest and inclination should define which of the two kinds of institutions you choose!

Which is the best university in Germany?

The German answer to this question is: There is no “best university”, neither in one subject and certainly not across all subjects.

Logo of the CHE Ranking

CHE Ranking

Germany offers a multidimensional ranking, considering various criteria that are important from a student’s perspective. For example, student and staff judgments on quality of teaching, atmosphere at the university, library and other equipment, student numbers, average study duration, number of graduations, third party funding etc. This way you get a good picture of the strengths of each university on www.university-ranking.de. Here you can find your programme by selecting a subject, a university or even a city in Germany!

What kind of Master programmes does Germany offer?

There is wide range of study programmes with

  • German as medium of instruction
  • English as the sole or primary medium of instruction, called International Programmes.

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You can find a comprehensive database of all study programmes, in both German and English on www.study-in-germany.de.

Eligibility and Application

It is always a good idea to check if the university’s requirements and your qualifications match. And then you can start with the application procedure.

Am I eligible to apply for a masters degree course?

In Germany, every university is autonomous. This means that every university / study programme has its own set of criteria for admitting students. So please check the university website for the programme you are interested in. Here you will find the exact admission requirements.

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However, some generalisation is possible. As a four-year Bachelor degree holder from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal or Sri Lanka, your degree is treated at par with a German bachelor degree. Most German universities will consider you eligible for masters as long as you fulfill other criteria, if any.

In case you have a three-year Bachelor degree, do get in touch with course coordinator before applying.

Some universities may ask for your TOEFL/IELTS/GRE/GMAT scores. For example, GMAT may be asked for, if you want to study economics or law. Universities will ask for very good German language skills in case you want to take up a programme in German medium. In such case, your knowledge of German needs to be certified through examinations like the TestDaF or DSH.

What kind of Master programmes does Germany offer?

The German academic year is divided into two semesters: Winter semester (October – March) and summer semester (April – September). So German universities have two intakes.

The following timeline refers to courses beginning with the winter semester. In case you find a course that begins with the summer semester, just calculate the months accordingly and proceed!

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Let us get into the details now:

Month Application step
October – November
  • Collect general information from the DAAD, internet and brochures
  • Attend information sessions at the DAAD closer to you! DAAD has offices in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Pune, Colombo and Dhaka
  • Attend online sessions organized by the DAAD
  • Book appointments with the DAAD offices, if required
January – March
  • Check the website of the selected courses/universities. This will be your most important source of information about eligibility, course duration, fee, application procedure etc.
  • Check the application deadline for courses chosen
March – June
  • You will find the details about application procedure on the website of the course/university you have chosen. Accordingly, send your application either to the university or to UNI-ASSIST.
    UNI-ASSIST is a body that accepts your application, screens it and forwards it to its member universities of your choice against payment. Member universities of UNI-ASSIST often do not entertain direct applications. So please check well before you send in your papers.
    If you have chosen a university that is not a member of UNI-ASSIST, send your application directly.
    Please note that UNI-ASSIST has no representative office in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
  • Application forms and other relevant material can be downloaded from the internet
  • Send the application packet
  • Make sure you have a valid passport!
July
  • Apply for a student visa as soon as you have the admission letter, as the procedure can take around two months. Make sure that you get APS certificate that is a must for students from India with effect from 1 November 2022. The German Embassy and the Consulates require proof of funding for the first year of studies. To find out where you should apply for a visa, use the website of the German Embassy in your country.
  • Apply for a place in a hostel/accomodation. In some cases the International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt) of the university may help you.
September – October Arrive in Germany at least a week before your course begins. Contact the International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt) of your university for guidance.
October – December Get your residence permit within the first three months of your stay in Germany from the Foreigners’ Registration Office (Ausländeramt).

Must I learn German?

As a student in Germany, your life will not be limited to the university campus. You will surely want to interact with people, do your internships, travel through the country-side and make the best of your time there. You may also want to gather work experience in Germany or build your career there. This is where knowledge of German will be of great advantage for you!

Universities offer beginner and well as advanced level courses where you can learn German. You can also start learning the language while you are still in your home country at the Goethe-Instituts (Max–Mueller Bhavan) / Goethe-Zentrums.

German or English Medium

Germany offers education in German as well as in English. Different subject fields can have different language requirements.

Can I do my Masters completely in English medium? Can I do my Masters in German medium?
Germany offers close to 2000 International Programmes with English as the sole or primary medium of instruction. These programmes are called International Programmes.

Few of these programmes may require students to have learnt/learn some German language during masters.

 You can certainly do your masters in German medium if you have the requisite German language proficiency.

A comprehensive database of all study programmes, in German and English medium, is available on www.study-in-germany.de.

Are there any scholarships available?

Funding in Germany is typically available for research, so basically for PhD and above. However, the DAAD offers the following scholarships for master’s:

To get a comprehensive overview of various funding possibilities, visit www.funding-guide.de.

Financials

While in a foreign country being able to manage your finances on your own is very important. You would need to plan your budget keeping your living expenses, travel costs and tuition fees if any.

Can I work in Germany as a student?

Please find the information here below.

Which is the best university in Germany?

The German answer to this question is: There is no “best university”, neither in one subject and certainly not across all subjects.

Logo of the CHE Ranking

CHE Ranking

Germany offers a multidimensional ranking, considering various criteria that are important from a student’s perspective. For example, student and staff judgments on quality of teaching, atmosphere at the university, library and other equipment, student numbers, average study duration, number of graduations, third party funding etc. This way you get a good picture of the strengths of each university on www.university-ranking.de. Here you can find your programme by selecting a subject, a university or even a city in Germany!

What kind of Master programmes does Germany offer?

There is wide range of study programmes with

  • German as medium of instruction
  • English as the sole or primary medium of instruction, called International Programmes.

DAAD India

You can find a comprehensive database of all study programmes, in both German and English on www.study-in-germany.de.

Am I eligible to apply for a masters degree course?

In Germany, every university is autonomous. This means that every university / study programme has its own set of criteria for admitting students. So please check the university website for the programme you are interested in. Here you will find the exact admission requirements.

DAAD India

However, some generalisation is possible. As a four-year Bachelor degree holder from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal or Sri Lanka, your degree is treated at par with a German bachelor degree. Most German universities will consider you eligible for masters as long as you fulfill other criteria, if any.

In case you have a three-year Bachelor degree, do get in touch with course coordinator before applying.

Some universities may ask for your TOEFL/IELTS/GRE/GMAT scores. For example, GMAT may be asked for, if you want to study economics or law. Universities will ask for very good German language skills in case you want to take up a programme in German medium. In such case, your knowledge of German needs to be certified through examinations like the TestDaF or DSH.

Working in Germany

You can of course work in Germany as long as you respect the regulations, which are not complex and are fairly easy to understand and follow.

Must I learn German?

As a student in Germany, your life will not be limited to the university campus. You will surely want to interact with people, do your internships, travel through the country-side and make the best of your time there. You may also want to gather work experience in Germany or build your career there. This is where knowledge of German will be of great advantage for you!

Universities offer beginner and well as advanced level courses where you can learn German. You can also start learning the language while you are still in your home country at the Goethe-Instituts (Max–Mueller Bhavan) / Goethe-Zentrums.

Are there any scholarships available?

Funding in Germany is typically available for research, so basically for PhD and above. However, the DAAD offers the following scholarships for master’s:

To get a comprehensive overview of various funding possibilities, visit www.funding-guide.de.

Living as a Student

Living on your own comes with lots of responsibilities, at the same time it can also be very interesting. It starts with finding a place to stay, learning how to cook, shopping on a budget, making friends and connections. Hope this section helps you with some of your questions.

Can I work in Germany as a student?

Please find the information here below.

Which is the best university in Germany?

The German answer to this question is: There is no “best university”, neither in one subject and certainly not across all subjects.

Logo of the CHE Ranking

CHE Ranking

Germany offers a multidimensional ranking, considering various criteria that are important from a student’s perspective. For example, student and staff judgments on quality of teaching, atmosphere at the university, library and other equipment, student numbers, average study duration, number of graduations, third party funding etc. This way you get a good picture of the strengths of each university on www.university-ranking.de. Here you can find your programme by selecting a subject, a university or even a city in Germany!

Get Guidance

Whether you are in India, Nepal or Bhutan, the DAAD is there to help you with your study in Germany plans. Check out how you can reach us!

Studierende steht lächelnd im Gang vor der Universität

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My GUIDE

Find your way through the richness of German study programmes. Based on your academic background and interests, My GUIDE will find suitable study programmes for you. Check your entrance qualification and contact your favourite university.
Visit My GUIDE

 

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Individual Appointments

You can connect with the DAAD offices in Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi and Pune or meet Team DAAD online!

 

 

 

Student takes part in an online event on the PC

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Information Sessions

The DAAD offers free of cost information session about studying in Germany regularly. Check which dates and topics suit you, register and join!
Click here for dates, timings and registration links: www.daad.in/events.

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