Information for Students from Abroad

Experience of life abroad is becoming increasingly indispensible in all walks of life. So perhaps you would like to further your professional and linguistic competence by spending a period of study in Germany. Candidates wishing to study in Germany must have fulfilled the requirements to study at a university or college in their home country. In addition they should check that their school leaving certificates are recognised as equivalent to the German "Abitur", and hence will qualify them for study at a university or college in Germany. Information on these matters may be had from the "Akademisches Auslandsamt" at any German university. Furthermore, you should come equipped with a high level of proficiency in German. Before you embark on your course of study your knowledge of the language will be tested in the “Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang ausländischer Studienbewerber (DSH)”. Exempted from this tests are graduates from European universities with internationally recognised degrees such as Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree. Last but not least you must provide evidence to the German Mission Abroad or the Ausländerbehörde in Germany showing that you are able to finance your course of study, since it is not possible to finance a course by working.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers relevant information at its internetsite Five good reasons for studying in Germany for students from abroad.

 International students can get interactive information for study and daily life on www.study-in.de

for first-year students the website degree programmes offers extensive information,

the database admission informs about conditions for study and promotion at a German higher education institution,

students who want to continue their studies in Germany will find on special graduate studies all things they need to know,

information on international certificates provides the database international degree programmes,

the website summerschools informs about selected language courses at German higher education institutions,

common information about daily life in Germany is compiled at living in Germany,

the scholarship database contains information on the programmes which are available to scientists from abroad, giving details of possible sources of funding for a period of study or research in Germany,

information on certain special schemes, which are not listed in the databases of the DAAD, may be had from the branch offices and the diplomatic missions of the Federal Republic of Germany and the relevant departments in universities and colleges abroad,

the DAAD Information Centres (IC) can answer inquiries of interested persons in the countries of their residences,

a separate survey informs about special scholarships for qualified and executive personnel from developing countries at the website programmes for developing and transformation countries.

The internetportal Bachelor-Studium.net compiles the most important and relevant information about the Bachelor & Master study courses (all websites in German):

information about the Bachelor study courses

information about the Master study courses

studying in Germany.

Under the heading "studying in Germany" you will find information and many useful hints concerning the organization of your studies in Germany:

 "finding the right study course" wants to give some basic information needed finding the right study course

"finding the right university" provides hints and information concerning the choice of the right university

"having found the right university" gives information concerning the several stages of your study course: from the beginning via the progressing of your studies up to your final examination and vocational entry.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is the central co-ordinating institution for EU-funded programmes in the field of higher education as well as  cooperation agreements on higher education with non-European countries.

Within the framework-EU-programme on lifelong learning the sectoral-programme in the field of higher education ERASMUS addresses itself to students from EU-countries. Students can apply for a study term or a students' practical at one of the European universities participating in the programme. The following activities are funded:

taking a study term at a German host-university (see also the related website "Mobilität" of the DAAD, in German),

taking a students' placement at a universitary institution, centre of scientific research or a German enterprise,

taking part in an intensive programme.

For further information on application modalities please consult the International Office/the ERASMUS coordination-office of your home-university.

The website "ERASMUS-Guide.de" (in German) provides systematically prepared information on ERASMUS' application modalities as well.

Further information about taking your "first steps" at your German host-university is provided by the Local ERASMUS Student Initiatives.

Amongst the EU-cooperation-programmes with non-European countries in the field of higher education (so called Third Country Programmes) the ERASMUS Mundus-Programme especially addresses itself to cooperation and mobility in the field of universitary education. It offers scholarships to students of exceptional quality to follow an Erasmus Mundus Masters Course at two or more European universities. The scheme is open to students throughout the world, excluding those from the countries of the European Economic Area. On the website "Study in Europe" (issued by the European Commission) you will find all relevant information initially needed on taking a study term at a European host-university. Students interested in taking an ERASMUS-Mundus scholarship will find information about application requirements under the heading "Application Guide".

For more detailed information on application requirements see also the ERASMUS-Mundus Programme Guide issued by the European Commission.

Further information about taking your "first steps" at your German host-university is provided by the Local ERASMUS Student Initiatives.

IAESTE
The IAESTE (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) exchanges and cares for traineeships for students of as engineering and nature science as agriculture and forestry science.

International Parliamentary Internships
The German Bundestag collaborates with the Humboldt University in Berlin to run its International Parliamentary Internships scheme.
This fifteen-week placements gives well qualified young people  from the USA and Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe who are interested in politics the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of Germany’s system of parliamentary government.

The following is a list compiled by 'Deutsche Kultur International' of the most important German foundations and organisations that (even if only to a limited extent) make awards to students from abroad.

The Academic International Offices (Akademische Auslandsämter) in German universities and colleges can answer a whole variety of questions from students and scholarship holders regarding study in Germany.

Thus most Auslandsämter provide a wide range of basic information which students from abroad can download. See for example the University of Tübingen website.

A list of all addresses of the International Offices in German Universities can be found on the site of the Hochschulkompass (click "Higer Education Institutions - International Offices"):

www.higher-education-compass.de

Gives financial backing to cultural and scientific projects submitted by senior and junior scientists, as well as by institutions and university departments of every scientific or cultural discipline (website in German).

www.krupp-stiftung.de

The Catholic Academic Exchange Service (KAAD) is the scholarship institution of the German Catholic Church for post-graduate students and scientists from (developing) countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Near and Middle East, as well as Eastern and Southeastern Europe. The KAAD supports his scholars in form of scholarships and educational programs and offers spiritual and personal assistance in view of future multiplying functions students will have in their home countries.

www.kaad.de

Since the academic year 2002/2003 the Czech-German Fund for the Future has been awarding scholarships for Czech and German students in the humanities and social science fields who plan to work on a project with a Czech-German theme while studying in the partner country. Scholarships are limited to a ten-months' study-period in the neighbour country. Each year 12 scholarship holders are chosen by an independent commission.

The Diakonisches Werk of the Evangelic Church in Germany supports and looks after student and those engaged on college placements from all over the world, albeit with a special interest in students from Eastern Europe and the Third World. It can offer particular help with re-integration when students return to their country of origin (website in German).
Diakonisches Werk der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland

The Franco-German University (FGU) consists of a group of affiliated member universities from both France and Germany. It aims to reinforce cooperation between France and Germany with regard to university education and research.

www.dfh-ufa.org/hilfe/english/

Scholarships for students from abroad (particularly from developing countries) who wish to study at universities and colleges in Germany (website in German).
www.fes.de

Scholarships for study at a German university or college. Awards are available for first-time students and PhD candidates; in exceptional cases awards may be given for continuing study. Students are assigned to a member of the academic staff.

www.fnst-freiheit.org/webcom/show_article.php/_c-715/_lkm-1023/i.html

Scholarship programmes for American students (tenable for one year).
Fulbright-Commission

Scholarships for language courses and practical experiences in Germany (website in French).

www.dfjw.org

Information about scholarships for language courses and

practical experiences.

Awards research scholarships to German and British post-graduate students.

www.ghil.ac.uk

Scholarships and prizes for senior and junior scientists/researchers; support and advise of American and German historians and political scientists.

www.ghi-dc.org

The master's degree "International Media Studies" study course is a full time course of advanced studies lasting four semesters. Oriented towards the development of international media competences the study course imparts expert knowledge in the fields of journalism, media economics, development cooperation as well as pedagogics. It addresses itself to a wide range of target groups concerned with the mass media in a closer or wider sense. 

Connecting topics like media and development, journalism, communication science and media economics a high proportion of the studies' practical training is on practical media work and the development of media competences.

Support for particularly talented students by the Awards Section of the foundation.

www.hss.de/homepage-e.shtml

University and college scholarships for students and graduates from abroad, above all from countries with weak currencies, for undergraduate and postgraduate study. The foundation makes a point of taking care of its award holders.

www.kas.de/wf/en/

Scholarships for Polish and Czech students to spend a study period in Germany.

www.gfps.org (website in German).

Application modalities in Polish and Czech.

US-Interns is a transatlantic exchange program. The program finds 8-12 week (up to 6 months) internships for students at American and German universities in the respective host country. Special attention is given to matching the individual qualifications of the participants with the expectations and demands of the employer.
www.usa-interns.org