Academic System

With more than 300 Universities, about 220 Universities of Applied Sciences & a number of other institutes, Germany is an important destination for international students. Germany has a Dual Education system divided into General Education & Vocational Education. It is estimated that over 1500 Masters programmes and 2000 Bachelors programmes are available in Germany.

German universities follow a semester system. There are two semesters in each academic year - the Winter Semester (September to February) and the Summer Semester (March to July). Higher studies in Germany typically last for six to eight years and include six to eight semesters for a Bachelors degree and two to four semesters for a Masters degree. The language of instruction is German but some universities also offer English as a language of instruction for foreign students. Education in Germany is fully controlled by the State and is highly subsidized.

Accomodation

Housing in Germany is expensive. Students may spend up to half of their budget towards rent. Looking for accommodation is a time-consuming process that you need to plan for. Information about rentals is conveniently available in the newspapers, on university notice boards & with Estate Agents. Make sure that the Estate Agent you work with is a member of the Ring of German Estate Agents (RDM). Many cities have shared-living centers, also called Mitwohnzentrale which help students to find an accommodation for limited period on a commission basis. The most popular choices for students are the student halls of residence at universities or flat-sharing known as WGs or Wohngemeinschaften. Dormitories are another very economical choice in terms of accommodation in Germany but rooms in dormitories tend to be small.

Climate

A major part of Germany lies in the cool temperature zone & remains cloudy, cool & wet in summers as well as in winters. In most areas, the hottest month of the year is July with a mean temperature of 17 degree Celsius and the coldest month is January with a mean temperature of two degree Celsius.

In the north and west, the climate is oceanic & there is rainfall throughout the year. Here, summers are generally warm with high humidity, precipitation & moist air and winters are mild though foggy. Moving east, the average temperatures for the warmest and coldest month become more extreme. Here, winters are very cold and summers are extremely hot.

In south and central Germany, the climate is characterized by even lower temperatures & greater precipitation. Sometimes faun, a warm wind, arises in this area.

Visa Regulations

A visa is absolutely necessary under immigration laws in Germany. Under students visa regulations a visa must be issued to a student before entering the country. This visa, permits students to enter Germany before taking admission in an educational institution however the student has to show evidence of University or College admission within a prescribed period of three months.

All students who wish to study at a High School, University or College in Germany, are required to obtain a residence permit. Permanent residence permits are difficult to get and only those who are defined as "highly skilled" have a chance of getting such permits.

Graduates can remain in Germany for up to one year after graduation without a job offer for the purpose of finding employment. If the student has found a job offer or employment, it is up to the local authority to grant a work permit. There is no national law that limits the length of a work permit.

Public Transport

Public Transport in Germany is efficient & easily accessible. The German railway system is one of the world's biggest, fastest & most modern systems & links almost all cities in Germany. Deutsche Bahn is the leading passenger rail service in Germany & it connects various German provinces with each other. Local trains are used to commute between small towns & are also linked to long-distance trains.

The bus network in Germany is also excellent but it is not spread nation-wide. It is a secondary means of transport & Germans do not use it very frequently. Many buses are operated by BahnBus & are often used by commuters during midday & on Saturday & Sunday, when rail services are slow.

National holidays

Jan 1 Jan 6 Apr 6 Apr 8 Apr 9 May 1 May 17 May 28 Jun 7 Aug 15 Oct 3 Oct 31 Nov 1 Nov 21 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 31

New Year Epiphany Good Friday Easter Sunday Easter Monday Labor Day Ascension Day Whit Monday Corpus Christi Assumption Day Unity Day Day of Reformation All Saints' Day Repentance Day Christmas Eve Christmas Christmas (2nd Day) New Year's Eve