You have decided to pursue higher education at a public university in Germany, a choice that promises exciting opportunities. However, the application process for German public universities can seem intimidating. Don’t worry, with Edvise Hub‘s guidance, you can breeze through this process effortlessly and without any difficulties. In this blog, we will walk you through each step of applying to German public universities, ensuring you understand the requirements for Pakistani students.
Understanding the German Higher Education System
Germany is renowned around the world for offering a wide range of educational opportunities of varying levels. Its higher education system is famous for having high-quality standards and an excellent reputation. Hence, it comes as no surprise that the country has been ranked as the number one study destination among all non-English countries. Also, education is not centrally organised in the country. each of the 16 German states have their own higher education laws and regulations. Let’s take a closer look at its higher education and what makes it number one.
Types of Universities in Germany
Germany has three types of universities that you need to consider when planning your educational journey in the country.
Academic Universities: The programs taught at academic universities are based on theoretical knowledge and methodological expertise. Another feature is that there is a possibility of pursuing a doctorate in academic universities, which is not usually possible at other higher education institutions.
Universities of Applied Science (Fachhochschulen): The programs taught at universities of applied science focus on the practical side of learning and professional practice. The courses that these universities cover include business, social work, technology and medicine. These programs consist of an important part known as Praxissemester or a work placement for the period of one or more semesters.
College of Art and Music: This type of university consists of courses for future artists and musicians. There are institutions that offer a range of courses in arts while others choose to solely focus on specific areas such as music or design.
Public vs. Private Universities
In Germany, most universities are state funded, which means they offer low to no tuition fees at the undergraduate level and many master’s programs as well. In fact, more than 90% of students opt for public universities, while 5% choose to attend private universities.
The country is home to over 120 private universities and most of them fall into the category of universities of applied science. Despite the significant difference in tuition fees, you will find that be it private or public universities, both maintain a high level of standard for teaching and offer valuable programs to both national and international students.
Qualification of German Higher Education System
Germany is a part of the European Higher Education Area which means it follows the directives of the Bologna Process that offers three higher education qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree: Consists of six to eight semesters depending on the university type and can last up to 4 years. You can choose to study, a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc) or Bachelor of Engineering (BEng).
Master’s Degree: Consists of three to four semesters and can take up to 2 academic years to graduate. You can choose to study a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc) or Master of Engineering (MEng).
PhD Degree: There are two types of PhD programs in Germany: Traditional model, in which you need to find a supervisor to support you and your research topic. In this model, you get to work at your own pace. Or you can go for a structured PhD program, in which you will get help from a group of supervisors with your research and this model has a fixed term of about 3 years to complete the course.
Top Public Universities in Germany
Germany is home to some of the top universities in the world that provides exceptional educational opportunities for international students. Here are the top 10 public universities in Germany:
- Technical University of Munich (TUM)
- Humboldt University of Berlin
- Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU)
- RWTH Aachen University (RWTH)
- Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin)
- University of Stuttgart
- Technical University of Braunschweig (TU Braunschweig)
- Karlsruhe University of Technology (KIT)
- Technical University of Dresden (TU Dresden)
- University of Bonn
Application Process for Pakistani Students
Find a Course
In Germany, there are over 1600 degree courses that are taught in the English Language. Most international students opt for English-taught courses as they prefer to cover their coursework and thesis in English. The first step in the application process is to find a course and a university that meets your requirements. To do so you search for the course you are interested in on the Higher Education Compass or you can contact Edvise Hub consultant, who will provide you with all the latest information about the courses that are offered by universities in Germany.
Check your Eligibility
Once you have decided upon a course and a university, it is time to check your eligibility.
For Bachelors Course:
One of the most basic requirements that international students need to fulfil is University Entrance Qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung). This entrance qualification determines if the qualification, training and work experience obtained in your home country is sufficient for pursuing higher education at a university in Germany. You can check if your qualification is recognised in Germany at UNI-ASSIST. All you need to do is enter the country you have obtained your degree and tick the boxes that are relevant to you.
As a Pakistani student, it is important to know that the Pakistani Higher Secondary School Certificate is not considered equivalent to a German Secondary School Certificate (Abitur). Hence, to enrol in a bachelor program at a German university you need to complete a year of undergraduate studies at a university in Pakistan before you apply for the same program in Germany or you can enrol into a foundation program in Germany, also known as Studienkolleg and pass a test (Feststellungsprüfung) to be eligible for admission for a bachelors in Germany.
If you are a high school graduate who holds an A-level certificate then you can directly apply for an undergraduate course at a German university.
For Masters Course:
Pakistani students applying for Masters courses must have completed 16 years of education (MSc, MA, BEng, BS honours).
English Language Requirements to Study in Germany
To study courses that are taught in English, Pakistani students need to provide proof of English language proficiency in order to qualify for admission:
German Language Requirement to Study in Germany
If you are applying for a program in the German language or a program that provides hybrid (German=English) courses. You will need to provide proof of language proficiency in German:
- Test of German as Foreign Language (TestDaF)
- Goethe Institute German Language Diploma (GDS)
Documents Requirements
- Educational documents must be attested by an authorised body, for Pakistani students:
- Secondary School Certificate (SSC-Matric certificate) and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC-FA/ FSC certificate) need to be attested by the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC).
- Bachelor, Master and MPhil/MS degrees and transcripts have to be attested by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan.
- O/A level students need to get their certification attested by the British Council Pakistan.
- School Leaving Certificate
- Valid Passport
- Official Academic Records
- Language Proficiency Proof
- CV
- Recommendation Letter
- Motivation Letter
How to Apply
Once you have fulfilled the prerequisites and have all the documents attested and ready, you are ready to apply. See if the university you are applying to is a part of the program Application Services for International Students, if yes then you can apply through UNI-ASSIST. The advantage of applying via UNI-ASSIST is that you can apply to several universities at a time. You need to pay €55 for your first application and €15 for all additional universities you wish to apply to.
If the university you wish to apply to is not participating in the UNI-ASSIST program, then you can apply directly to the university. The university website or the selected degree course page of the university will contain all the information concerning the application.
Conclusion
And this is it folks. We understand that the application process for public universities in Germany can be a little difficult but by following the process one step at a time you can get to the last stage which is submitting your application in no time. If you still find that you need help with it then you can always turn to Edvise Hub for assistance. Our dedicated consultants are always ready to help students in need.
