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Contents:
0. Introduction
1. Possibilities for Studying in Germany
2. Types of Universities in Germany
3. Tuition Fees at German Universities
4. Foreign Students at German Universities
5. Visa
6. Counseling
7. Enrollment
8. Health Insurance
9. Studying
10. Exams and Degrees
11. Culture, Leisure in Germany
2.1. The University
German universities are not merely teaching facilities, but always also places of independent fundamental and applied research. German universities award the academic degrees "Diplom" and "Magister Artium" as well as "Doktor". They hold the privilege to award the postdoctoral lecture qualification ("Habilitationsrecht"). The new Framework Act for Higher Education ("Hochschulrahmengesetz") has provided for the opportunity to complete courses of study with the internationally compatible degrees of "Bachelor" and "Master". In the meantime, more and more universities make use of this opportunity. Distinct advantage: shorter duration of study!
In the diverse faculties, specific fields of study like medicine, natural sciences, engineering sciences, arts and humanities, jurisprudence, theology, economic and social sciences as well as the sciences of agriculture and forestry are subsumed. Within the faculties, an offer of a wide variety of subjects enables you to further specialize theoretically. Many universities possess major libraries and archives, which enhance the study and the chosen specialization.
A university study proceeds according to hard rules, but also gives leeway for special research interests in most disciplines.
The duration of study at a German university averages ca. 8 to 10 semesters depending on the field of study and private planning.
2.2. "Technische Universität" / "Technische Hochschule"
Originally, only technical subjects were taught at the "Technische Hochschule" and the "Technische Universität". In the course of time, they emerged as comprehensive universities though; therefore, some "Technische Universitäten" and "Technische Hochschulen" also offer arts and humanities programs nowadays. The emphasis, however, is still undisputedly on engineering, natural and economical sciences.
According to the many annually published university rankings, the Technische Hochschule Aachen ranks as number 1 in Germany.
The university collaborates with many renowned German companies. Students therefore have the opportunity to participate in different projects and to gain first practical experiences.
2.3. Other Types
In addition to the aforementioned types of universities there are the teacher training colleges ("Pädagogische Hochschulen"), at which teachers for primary schools, secondary schools (mainly Hauptschule, but also partly Realschule and the lower grades of Gymnasium) and schools for mentally and/or physically handicapped children are trained. Generally, however, teacher training is integrated into the universities.
Comprehensive universities ("Universitäten-Gesamthochschulen") came into being through merging the university, the teacher training college ("Pädagogische Hochschule"), the university of applied sciences ("Fachhochschule") and partly also the colleges of art and music. Here, students have the opportunity to choose between fields of study and degrees even while already studying. Oriented towards highly specialized fields of study are universities like the "Medizinische Hochschule" and the "Tierärztliche Hochschule" in Hanover as well as the "Medizinische Universität Lübeck". In Cologne, the German sports academy ("Deutsche Sporthochschule") and the college of art for the media ("Kunsthochschule für Medien") train highly qualified personnel. The film academies ("Filmhochschulen/-akademien") in Munich, Potsdam-Babelsberg and Ludwigsburg span the whole field of film, TV, and the media with their course offer. Finally, the "Hochschule für Verwaltungswissenschaften" in Speyer offers administerial postgraduate studies for professionals in the civil service - foreigners regularly being among the students, e.g. instructors from developing countries.
In addition to the state-funded universities, there are a number of mostly smaller universities sponsored by institutions like for instance the church. And finally, you can study at a small number of private universities, which, however, collect tuition fees (see Tuition Fees at German Universities).
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