Allow time for your visa application

The unexpected rush of Indian students to Germany has led to a situation of overload at some German consular authorities in the country. The situation is particularly severe at the German consulate in Chennai, which is responsible for all visa applications from South India. This is an unacceptable situation, and it is a pity that the new consulate in Bangalore is still not fully operational.

Indian applicants for student residence permits presently run the risk of missing important deadlines at their German universities. It is highly advisable to contact the respective VFS offices as soon as possible to make an appointment for the required visa interview at the German consulate / embassy.

Don't forget: Residence permits (whether for work or study) cannot be issued by consular authorities without prior consultation with the respective immigration offices in Germany. After the visa interview, it usually takes between 4 and 6 weeks before the entry visa can be stamped into the candidate's passport.

At the present situation, first contact with the VFS representatives should be made at least 10 weeks before the envisaged date of departure.

Chris
germanstudycentre@gmail.com

Growing demand for qualified manpower

Due to the present economic boom in Germany, the demand for qualified manpower is rapidly increasing. According to new statistics, the shortage of professionals with qualifications in engineering, the sciences and mathematics has increased to 117,000. The German government sees no chance to recruit enough qualified young people from the domestic population. It has, therefore, plans to make the present, already liberal stay-back options even more attractive to study graduates from abroad.

For international students, Germany has become the third most important study destination, just behind the US and UK and ahead of other major players in the international educational scene like Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In 2009, around 235,000 students with foreign passports were enrolled at German universities. In the same year, however, only 5,000 graduates from outside the EU stayed back in Germany to work. Most of the international students either returned home or moved on to English-speaking countries after finishing their studies.

Keeping the high public subsidies for university education and the shortage of manpower in mind, this situation is very unsatisfactory in the eyes of the German government. One problem are lacking German language skills of many foreign graduates. Most employers in Germany still expect new employees to communicate fluently in the local language. So, if you consider staying back in the country after your studies, start investing some time into learning German as early as possible!

Chris
germanstudycentre@gmail.com

Germany: First choice for international students

Good news for German universities: Germany has been named as the most supportive country for overseas students, reports the BBC based on an international ranking by the British Council. The UK was ranked in third place, with China coming fourth, ahead of the United States in sixth place, in a table showing 11 of the biggest players in the overseas student market.

The strongest overall performance was from Germany, which has promoted a deliberate policy of internationalisation. Among the attractions for international students, writes the BBC, is the increasing availability in Germany of courses taught entirely in English, so much so that students can complete degrees without ever having to speak German. Another major attraction of Germany is that overseas students do not pay any more in tuition fees than home students. Universities in many parts of Germany do not charge any tuition fees, which means in those places overseas students do not pay any fees at all.

For the complete BBC article:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12610268

Chris
germanstudycentre@gmail.com

Rush of students to Germany

International students applying to German universities for the fall 2011 intake will be facing tough competition. The world is slowly climbing out of the recession, and Germany is presently one of the economically most dynamic countries in the West. Add to this the attraction of low or no tuition fees, moderate living expenses and excellent scientific reputation, and you will easily understand why Europe's most populous state has become a crowd-puller for young people worldwide.

This being said, chances are still good for the brainy around the world. If your CGPA is over 70%, you are in the game. Give your profile a boost by obtaining above-average IELTS, TOEFL and / or GRE scores. When it comes to graduate students, most German universities appreciate relevant work experience and basic German language skills.

For understandable reasons, most international students target English-taught master programmes in Germany. Few are aware that the country offers excellent opportunities for school leavers (after standard 12). They are smoothly integrated into the German university system by a specially designed pre-degree or "bridge" year.

When thinking about higher studies in Germany, don't avoid the German language. The country has one of largest job markets for high-tech professionals in the world and offers generous stay-back options for graduates from non-EU countries. Knowing German is the door opener to these vast opportunities...

For more information contact:

Chris
germanstudycentre@gmail.com

Germany - where the government pays for your education

More and more European countries are raising the financial barriers for international students. From the coming academic year onwards, Sweden - with expected yearly tuition fees between 8,000 and 14,000 EUR for non-EU students - will join the league of high-price destinations on the continent. Other European nations that have recently become rather costly for international students are the UK, Denmark and the Netherlands.

The German-speaking countries continue to make only moderate demands on your wallet. Tuition fees in Germany, Austria and Switzerland are still largely nominal, amounting to app. 1,000 EUR a year – both for domestic and international students, no matter which part of the world they come from. Moreover, this low-fee policy applies not only to undergraduate programmes taught in German but also to the vast majority of English-medium graduate courses that are now available in large numbers in Germany and Switzerland.

And things are getting even better: Germany continues to roll out the red carpet to international students by gradually abolishing even nominal  tuition fees. The federal state of Hesse (with Frankfurt as its bustling centre) reverted to a 0 EUR policy in the academic year 2008/09, and North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state with one of the densest university landscapes in the world and home to cities like Cologne and Düsseldorf, will do so from 2011/12 onwards. 

And, not to forget: Some of Germany’s most dynamic universities are now located in the eastern part of the country, where tuition fees have never been introduced.

For more information contact:

Chris
germanstudycentre@gmail.com

Studying in Germany becomes even more affordable

The present strength of the Rupee in relationship to the Euro has made studying in Germany even more affordable than before. You don't need more than Rs. 5 lakhs per year to cover your whole expenses - fees, accommodation, food, insurance etc.

Applications for the coming intake (September / October 2010) are still accepted for several master programmes in engineering, sciences and IT at reputed public universities.

Hand in your documents before 15 July and be in Germany by the end of the year!

Chris
German Study Centre Cochin (DSZ)
chrisgkiem@gmail.com
0484-2218887

Guidance to University Studies in Germany

For professional advice on university studies in Germany and neighbouring countries, customised packages for admission counselling, visa preparation and pre-departure briefing, contact us at

Dr. Chris G. Kiem
Email: germanstudycentre@gmail.com

Please note that we can meet candidates only after prior appointment.

For more information on studying in Germany, please visit the other entries of this blog.