Germany is one of the international community’s most preferred destinations for MS. There are several reasons pertaining to the same. Germany has two intakes: Winter and Summer. A Masters degree usually is a 1-2 year-long course. This post covers the pre-requisite steps to apply for MS in Germany.
Eligibility
This is the first and foremost step (before anything else) in making a decision to study in Germany (or anywhere). It is important to prepare a time plan (at least 4-5 months depending on an individual) and work towards it. Here are a few must-haves:
- An undergraduate degree in any discipline with a minimum of 75% or a minimum CGPA of at least 7/10. German universities have some preference for consistently good academic profiles (this is not possible in 4-5 months though!)
- German Language Proficiency: If there is a Masters course with an international intake option, good chances are it will be communicated in English. But, some universities might need German language proficiency as an admission requirement, though not necessarily for courses taught in German.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language: TOEFL/IELTS
- Some universities recommend GRE
Course Evaluation
A Masters degree is a decisive factor in deciding future career prospects. Hence being able to figure out the right course is important. Germany offers a variety of courses to choose from its esteemed list of private and public universities.
University Shortlisting
The next step is to select some universities based on :
- Holistic Academic Profile: Grades, training, internships
- Course Specifications/ Interests
- Post-study job prospects (if required)
- Cultural Diversity (usually required for and by international students)
- Cost of Studying/Tuition
Personal Statement
Regardless of discipline, a letter of motivation is a document that applicants need to prepare and upload in their application portal(s). This is a very important piece of a document; it is advisable to write and rewrite it beforehand, get it reviewed by a professional (if need be) but it has to be written by the applicant.
Letter of Recommendation
This is also a very crucial document that German universities need as an essential requisite. A letter of recommendation can be by a previous academic professor, employer, or supervisor. It is advisable that applicants communicate well in advance with their referees about the universities they wish to apply to.
Transcript Evaluation
Some German universities require official transcripts which either need to be translated or self-attested. This process can take from days to weeks so keep in the time frame.
Submitting Applications
In Germany, either you need to apply to the universities directly (through their application portal), or via uni-assist.
The majority of universities do not charge any application fees, but some of them might be. If you are applying via uni-assist, you need to pay EUR 75 for the first application and EUR 30 per additional application.
Please also keep in mind that if you are applying to a University that involves uni-assist, please submit the application 4 – 6 weeks before the university application deadline.
Related Articles:
Winter 2022 Deadlines for Masters in Germany
Germany – A Dream Higher-Studies Destination for STEM Students
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