Why study abroad in Berlin?

If you’re looking to study aboard in berlin, or a way to learn a new language, Berlin is a great option. With its rich history and culture, you’ll have plenty to learn while you’re here. But in this article, we will discuss why you should study in berlin.

The German Educational System

Higher education is based on the basic law which allows higher institutions to manage their affairs independently and without external interference. The German educational system has set a high standard for students within and outside the country. If you are planning to study in Germany as an international student, you should ensure that you step up your standards to meet the German system. 

Undergraduate degrees usually last for about three to four years depending on the institution or program. Post-graduate degrees such as master’s degrees last for about one to two years in Germany. You can also decide to complete an internship as part of your program which can earn you credits.

The German educational system also allows you to gain practical knowledge by working with some of their partner institutions which are often businesses, research institutes, or studios.

It is also important that you prove that your previous studies qualify you to study in any German institution. It may qualify you for some programs or schools but it may not qualify you for this. This is why it is important to check with your school or program-specific requirements to be sure if your undergraduate studies qualify you to take up a degree in Germany. 

German educational institutions use the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) for easy comparison, measure, and transfer of credits across schools in Europe and beyond. Since you are coming from another country, you may need to calculate the equivalent of the credits you have earned in the country you studied previously.

This is so you can know if you meet the requirement of the school or program you are applying to. Each year of your study program is worth 60 credits in Germany which means each semester is worth 30 credits each.

You may be required to have earned 180 to 240 credits to complete a master’s program in Holland. Most German school programs usually last for three years except for special degree programs.

Learning in German institutions can be strict and require you to be on your toes. There are rarely counselors or course advisors to direct you so you have to ensure you are managing your schedule well enough. 

You will most likely be assessed on activities such as presentations, projects, assignments, group work, practicals, and of course your thesis. 

Many international students have studied abroad in Berlin with the German educational system so you too can.

Schools you can study abroad in Germany

Now that you know how the educational system in Germany works, you may also want to know the specific schools and programs you can apply to in Germany. Here are some notable schools that you want to check out and include in your plans of studying abroad in Germany.

  • Technical University of Munich: this is one of the notable schools in Germany that are open to international students. More than 7,000 out of over 39,000 students in the school are from countries outside Germany so you will have lots of people to relate to. Luckily, you may find someone from your home country with whom you can build meaningful relationships. 

There are over 300 programs available at the Techincal University of Munich. There are also over 60 other programs that you can check out and apply for. The university has been constantly ranked as one of the top universities in the world by global rankings. 

The language of instruction depends on the degree program that you are applying to. Usually, programs are taught in either English or German and it could be both. You will be required to show proficiency in either of the languages as required by your degree program. If your program includes some electives in German, you will be required to show proficiency in both languages.

  • Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen: this is another top university that you can enroll in as an international student looking to enroll in German schools. It is a public research university located in Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. If you are looking for research programs through which you can further your studies, this is one of the schools you want to check out. There are more than 3,000 international students out of over 37,000 students at the university so you can be sure that you will meet other people like you who are foreigners in the school.

There are over 30 international master’s programs and 5 bachelor’s programs in English at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen. From law, communications, behavioral and social sciences, management, philosophy, and economics, you can choose to learn in English or Dutch. 

The language of instruction depends on the degree program that you are applying to. Usually, programs are taught in either English or German and it could be both. You will be required to show proficiency in either of the languages as required by your degree program. If your program includes some electives in German, you will be required to show proficiency in both languages.

  • Humboldt University of Berlin: this is a university in Holland with notable alumni such as Walter Benjamin and Karl Max who are German philosophers, and political theorists among many things. The university is a public research university located in the central borough of Mitte in Berlin, Germany

There are over 6,000 international students from other countries around the world at the Humboldt University of Berlin. You can enroll in the school and get the chance of meeting people of diverse cultures and nationalities. 

There are over 25 bachelor’s degrees and 20 master’s degrees available at the Humboldt University of Berlin. The university has been constantly ranked as one of the top universities in the world by global rankings. 

The language of instruction depends on the degree program that you are applying to. Usually, programs are taught in either English or German and it could be both. You will be required to show proficiency in either of the languages as required by your degree program. If your program includes some electives in German, you will be required to show proficiency in both languages.

  • Free University of Berlin: this is a public research university in Berlin, Germany. It has had over 30,000 enrollments with over 41% of the number as international students from different countries of the world. The notable alumni in the school are Jonathan Franzen and Klaus Wowereit who is a German politician. 

There are over 170 degree programs that you can choose from if you are looking to enroll in the school. Although 

The language of instruction depends on the degree program that you are applying to. Usually, programs are taught in either English or German and it could be both. You will be required to show proficiency in either of the languages as required by your degree program. If your program includes some electives in German, you will be required to show proficiency in both languages.

  • University of Freiburg: this is also a public research university with over 25,000 students with about 6% of the number as international students. It is located at Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The school has over 30 master’s taught in English. This means that you will find more master’s programs taught in English than you would find bachelor’s programs.

The language of instruction depends on the degree program that you are applying to. Usually, programs are taught in either English or German and it could be both. You will be required to show proficiency in either of the languages as required by your degree program. If your program includes some electives in German, you will be required to show proficiency in both languages.

Opportunities Available for International Students in Belgium

While some people have been able to benefit from opportunities available for international students in Berlin, others are yet to find amazing opportunities for students there. Here are some of the opportunities;

  • You can work for up to 20 hours per week as an international student in Berlin while you can work full-time during summer or holiday periods if you don’t have classwork scheduled. 
  • You get internship opportunities that can go towards your credits accumulation and also build relevant connections that can help you in the future. You can do an internship as long as it is relevant to your program. Your school or program in Berlin may have connections or partnerships with renowned institutions or organizations where you can have a credible internship.
  • You can get bother off-campus and on-campus jobs as an international student. Off-campus jobs that are available to you as an international student include caring, housekeeping, store attendants, substitute teaching, PR and communications, tech jobs, marketing, and many others. You can also work as a research assistant or substitute teacher on campus. 
  • You can extend your stay in Germany for up to 18 months after your study. However, taking up a job as research or graduate assistant does not limit your working hours. This means you can for as much as you want as long as it does not clash with your studies or classes. Internships also do not count as part of your program do not count towards your limit. 
  • There are numerous scholarship opportunities available for non-EU students to study in Berlin either for master’s or doctorate programs. Other scholarship programs have Berlin as one of the study destinations. You can benefit from this as an international student.