Is Education Free in Germany for Indian Students

Team JagVimal 10 Mar 2023 2624 views
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EDUCATION IN GERMANY:

In 2014, the 16 states that make up Germany abolished undergraduate tuition fees at all public German universities. This demonstrates that public institution undergraduate students in Germany are presently able to enrol for free; the only cost is a minor fee per semester to cover administrative and other costs.
The widespread consensus among Germans is that education should not be viewed as a commodity and that free access to higher education promotes economic development and general wellbeing. As public colleges are free to attend, there are no tuition costs. Nonetheless, you must consider your living expenditures, which may be more than in your place of origin.
Yet, this luck might not continue indefinitely. The state of Baden-Württemberg in the south-west reinstated tuition fees for non-EU students in the fall of 2017, and it is possible that additional states will do the same in the years to come. Baden-Württemberg currently charges non-EU students a tuition fee of €3,000 (about $3,500) annually, while those pursuing a second degree pay a lower tuition fee of €1,300 (roughly $1,600) annually.
Germany has previously been listed as the fourth most popular location in the world for international students, making studying there an appealing option for potential students for the time being (after the US, UK and Australia).

COST OF LIVING IN GERMANY:
In comparison to other European nations, Germany's cost of living is fairly affordable for students. Living on 900 EUR per month, students can expect to cover all of their key costs, including rent, food, clothing, books, phone services, travel, etc. Rent makes up a sizable portion of the costs because universities typically do not cover housing. This sum is easily attainable through part-time employment or receiving a stipend. Also, since tuition is typically free, students do not need to worry about it; nevertheless, for institutions that charge tuition, the expense is reasonable and manageable at the specified amount per month.
According to DAAD data, a few examples of typical monthly expenses are as follows:

  • 168 euros ($205) went towards food, 
  • 42 ($52) went towards clothing, 
  • 94 ($115) went towards transportation, 
  • 31 ($38) went into a phone, internet, and TV licence, 
  • 20 ($25) went towards work/study supplies

 and, 61 ($75) went towards leisure.

The cost of living in Germany will greatly depend on where the student chooses to reside. The cost of accommodation can vary greatly and could approach $400 per month for a single room in locations like Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, or even the famed university towns of Heidelberg, if the candidate chooses to live in one of Germany's well-known cities. Some areas do offer students more cheap options to resident halls, but since this country has the third-highest number of foreign students, there are disadvantages.
You won't need a visa to study in Germany if you're an EU citizen or a resident of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland. For your student visa, you should also expect to pay €60 (about US$74), though there are discounts or waivers available for Schengen visas. You must give proof that you possess the aforementioned items. Also, you need to have health insurance in order to enrol in a German university. If you live in one of the EU or EEA member states, there should be a social security agreement between your country and Germany. This means that if you have public health insurance, you should be safe in Germany. If your health insurance is not recognised in Germany, prepare to pay around €80 (about US$97) per month to cover this.

SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDY IN GERMANY:

As an international student, you may anticipate receiving a top-notch education at one of Germany's top institutions. Many of the bigger universities consistently place in the top 100 in global rankings. You can always depend on high-quality education at universities, no matter how highly rated they are. Germany's accreditation requirements for educational institutions are quite stringent.
Tuition-free higher education at public institutions is a choice made solely on the basis of politics by the German government. A degree from a German university will be respected internationally and open up a number of job opportunities for you.
There are numerous government and non-government organisations that offer scholarships to the students based on their needs because it can be difficult for college students to pay for the stated tuition rates of a college at times.The grant is determined after considering the student's financial status. Following is a list of the many scholarship categories: GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIPS:

1. DAAD Scholarship Programs (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst): These prizes are available to graduate students, scientists, researchers, and exchange students. Each year, researchers from Germany and abroad are given access to more than 100,000 scholarships. Its main goal as a government scholarship is to strengthen intercultural communication. Post-graduate students receive 850 euros, and doctoral students receive 1200 euros, to help them enrol in full-time classes.

2. German Erasmus Scholarship Programs: The European Commission finances this scholarship programme. The Erasmus programme gives scholarships of up to 350 EUR to foreign students who relocate to Germany to complete their study.


NONPROFIT SCHOLARSHIPS:

1. Heinrich Boll Scholarships for Foreign Students: The Heinrich Boll foundation provides grants to foreign students who wish to study journalism, law, or economics in Germany in addition to scholarships for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) students.Scholarships are available to international and refugee students at all degree levels.

2. Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Scholarships: Applicants must be under 30 and intend to study for a PhD or other post-graduate degree in Germany. Outstanding academic performance and continued service to others as a volunteer are requirements for this scholarship.
The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, the Mawista Scholarship, and the Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowships (IIF) for Developing Countries are just a few of the several other scholarships available. Also, students in Germany can apply for financial aid from the country's many religious institutions. While studying in Germany, all of these are incredibly helpful.

GERMAN UNDERGRADUATE TUITION FEES:
Despite the fact that there is a cost per semester for administration, confirmation, and enrollment, undergraduates in public German institutions are permitted to enrol for free. Depending on the university, this usually does not exceed €250 (about US$290) per semester.
Depending on the Semesterticket option you choose, a "Semesterticket," which covers transportation expenditures for six months, may have an additional cost. If your study period is longer than four semesters, you can also be charged a long-term fee, which might be as high as €500 (about US$540) every semester.
In Germany, public universities predominate. Private colleges set their own tuition costs, which can total up to and even exceed €20,000 (or around $24,400) a year. Often, their main source of income is from tuition (although some also receive help from foundations).
Under specific conditions, students from the EU, including German citizens, are eligible to apply for financial aid under the Federal Student Financial Aid Program (BAföG: Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz). Generally, those under the age of 30 (or under the age of 35 if you're pursuing a master's degree) are eligible for this money, though there may be exceptions depending on the circumstances. The BAföG is frequently divided in half, with 25% arriving in the form of an interest-free loan that must be repaid and 50% coming in the form of a state grant.

COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MASTER’s AND POST-GRADUATE STUDY IN GERMANY:

A master's degree is normally free if it is "consecutive" at a German institution, meaning it follows right after a pertinent bachelor's degree obtained in Germany. A minor fee per semester is required for enrollment, confirmation, administration, as well as a Semesterticket. The cost of tuition for "non-consecutive" master's degrees for students with bachelor's degrees from other parts of the world varies between institutions and can be as high as €30,000 (US$36,600) per year at private German universities.
All German institutions offer free tuition for the first six semesters of a PhD programme, at least. PhD students must contribute a semester fee for administrative and other fees, which cannot exceed €250, much like students at other levels of study. Learn more about pursuing a Doctorate in Germany by visiting this page.



Ans. In Germany, there are no tuition fees! It is accurate to say that neither Germans nor any other Europeans or non-Europeans must pay tuition to attend school in Germany. Whether you are from the EU or EEA has no bearing. Nearly all academic programmes at public institutions fall under this category.

German education is free because...
Ans. In contrast to consumer goods or commodities, Germany sees education as a helpful good. Germany is one of the few countries in Europe that offers free education to both EU and international students. They believe that granting free access to higher education will advance both the welfare and economic development of the country.

Will Indian students succeed in Germany?
Ans. Germany is one of the greatest places for aspirants to pursue higher education, offering the best curricula for postgraduate, graduate, and undergraduate studies in Germany for Indian students. Also, relying totally on these two aspects, Germany provides affordable housing and living expenses.

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Our FAQ's

Can a foreigner receive a free education in Germany?

In Germany, there are no tuition fees! It is accurate to say that neither Germans nor any other Europeans or non-Europeans must pay tuition to attend school in Germany. Whether you are from the EU or EEA has no bearing. Nearly all academic programmes at public institutions fall under this category.

Germany is one of the greatest places for aspirants to pursue higher education, offering the best curricula for postgraduate, graduate, and undergraduate studies in Germany for Indian students. Also, relying totally on these two aspects, Germany provides affordable housing and living expenses.

In contrast to consumer goods or commodities, Germany sees education as a helpful good. Germany is one of the few countries in Europe that offers free education to both EU and international students. They believe that granting free access to higher education will advance both the welfare and economic development of the country.

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