Despite the pandemic, around 72,000 – 80,000 students enrolled across 160 German universities last year, as per the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) survey. Germany is fast recovering from the pitfalls of international travel bans and has regained its position as a hot favorite for Indian students looking to study abroad. In this post, we will look at the basics of pursuing Masters (MS) in Germany.
Why Study Masters in Germany
A Masters’s degree from a German university is highly recognized and in fact, valued by the top multinational companies around the globe. Obtaining a master’s from any of the German universities will ensure that you have an ample number of job opportunities going forward, and not just that, there are many job opportunities in Germany itself, which makes it one of the most ideal locations for anyone to pursue their higher education at.
Here are the major advantages of pursuing Masters in Germany:
- High-quality education and degrees are recognized all over the world
- Several Masters programs are being taught entirely in English
- Tuition fees at the State-funded universities are very nominal – EUR 150-500 per semester (i.e. Rs. 20,000 – 75,000 per year) for Masters
- Excellent internship and project/thesis opportunities in the industry while doing the Masters. Hence, students also gain real-world experience
- 18-months of Job-Search Visa for all Non-EU graduates to find a job relevant to the degree
- Salaries in Germany for MS graduates are also quite handsome, ranging from 40 – 85K Euros per annum.
- Opportunities to settle down in Germany via the EU Blue Card route
Eligibility for Pursuing Masters in Germany
- 3-year or 4-year Bachelor degree in a relevant subject from a recognized university
- Minimum 68 – 74% or CGPA 7.3 – 7.9 in Bachelors
- IELTS / TOEFL / DuoLingo / PTE for English Language Proficiency proof
Most Popular Subjects in Germany for International Students
- Engineering
- Physical and Life Sciences
- Mathematics and Computer Sciences
- Health Professions
- Social Sciences
- Business Management
- Fine and Applied Arts
- Humanities
- Agriculture
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How to Apply for Masters in Germany
You can apply via Uni assist, an online portal where you can just complete your application, which screens and forwards applications to the respective Universities. Alternatively, you could also apply to various German universities directly.
Your application with being screened and assessed here initially for any errors, so make sure that you don’t miss anything. Do remember that application fees etc. may vary from university to university and program to program. Check out this step-by-step guide on how to apply for MS in Germany.
When to Apply:
There are two intakes in Germany – Summer (starts in Mar/Apr) and Winter (starts in Dep-Oct).
For the summer intake, you should ideally apply between Oct 30 and Jan 15. For the winter intake, usually, the deadlines are between March 30 and July 15.
Check out the Winter 2022 Deadlines for Masters in Germany (Top Universities).
Costs
Germany is extremely pocket-friendly. Most of the costs are covered by the state so you may end up paying only a few hundred Euros (up to INR 25,000) in semester fees.
The rest of the costs involve renting and food which may make the expense of living in Germany a bit steep for Indians. With rents costing about 700 Euros (~ INR 61,500) per month and the rest about 200 Euros (~ INR 17,500), it may become necessary for students to look into scholarship and funding. For a rough estimate, you will need around INR 8 Lacs per year to cover your living expenses.
Scholarships to Study Masters in Germany
The DAAD Scholarships:
DAAD is the largest financial aid organization in the world. It targets students in Germany and international students as well. The organization supports over 100,000 national and international students and researchers for their work.
- Payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover with additional benefits on monthly rent, Monthly allowance for accompanying family members and allowance for German language course.
- The amount is 72,617 INR per month
- Last Date is 31st October.
You can check the DAAD Scholarship Finder to search and apply for scholarships.
The Deutschlandstipendium Program:
The Federal Government of Germany created this Deutschland stipendium Program to reward talented students. Over 22500 students benefit from this program. The Government of Germany has created this in participation between public and private institutions through sponsorships from businesses, foundations, private universities, and other institutions.
- The talented students are awarded around 300 Euros per month.
- The standard time of funding is usually two semesters but it can be extended if the university sees the student is eligible for more.
- Amount: Starting from Rs 24,940
- The last date is 24/6/20.
The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung:
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung is a political foundation that offers financial assistance to international and German students who
- Have awareness about civil responsibilities by showing intent for social or political involvement
- Have grades that are more than average.
Awarded students may receive up to 1000 EUR/month or the sum covering enrollment fees, health insurance, and monthly requirements of books and stationery.
- Amount: Up to 83,1340 INR/month
- Last date is 30th Nov for Winter session and 31st May, 2022 for summer.
Heinrich Böll Foundation:
They provide several scholarships to German and international students, including refugees, at all degree levels. The Heinrich Boll scholarship is awarded to students who plan to study STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), and those programs with a focus on Environmental Science.
- Other scholarships are dedicated to students who apply to economic, legal studies, journalism, and art degrees.
- The monthly reward is Rs 62,350 per month
- There are two deadlines- one is 1st March and another is 1st April.
Top Universities for MS in Germany
Top State-funded / Public Universities in Germany
- Freie Universität Berlin (Free University of Berlin)
- Heidelberg University (Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg)*
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Humboldt University in Berlin)
- LMU – Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (University of Munich)
- RWTH Aachen University (Rheinisch-WestfälischeTechnische Hochschule Aachen)
- Technical University of Munich (Technische Universität München)
- University of Mannheim
- Berlin University
- University of Cologne
- Hochschule Pforzheim
- University of Bonn (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn)
- University of Freiburg (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg)
- University of Magdeburg
- University of Hildesheim
- Leuphana University of Lüneburg
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
- Technical University of Berlin
- University of Duisburg-Essen
- University of Stuttgart
- Darmstadt University of Technology
- Technical University of Dresden
- Free university of Berlin
- University of Bayreuth
- Chemnitz university of technology
- University of Munster
Top Private Universities in Germany
- SRH Heidelberg
- SRH Berlin
- SRH Dresden
- EBS University
- NEC Munich
- University of applied sciences Europe
- Berlin School of Business & innovation
- Schiller International University Heidelberg
- Jacobs University Bremen
- IUBH university of Applied sciences
- GISMA business school
- Dresden International University
Jobs and Salaries in Germany
Germany is an industrial powerhouse and is filled with opportunities for students pursuing MS. With a 2.4% unemployment rate, it enjoys very high employability for its students.
