Ever wondered what it will take to study in Germany? Well Studying in Germany comes at a cost lesser than you can imagine. In 2014, Germany’s 16 states abolished tuition fees for undergraduates at all public universities. Germany is regarded as one of the most structured countries with a high-quality educational system. Recently the country was ranked as the fourth most popular destination for international students. Here’s a list of necessary steps you need to follow if you intend to study in Germany from Nigeria.
- Find a study program
- Check out the requirements
- Take lessons on the German language
- Source for finance
- Apply for admission
- Apply for your German student visa
- Accommodation
- Enrol at your university
Find a study program:
You can start researching way before you come to a conclusion on the university of your choice. Finding a study program shouldn’t come as a problem because most universities in Germany make their study program easily available and accessible online.
Before you start your application process to study in Germany, it is important to decide on the program you will be studying. You can check all German universities that offer courses related to your professional field.
Check out the requirements:
After you have decided on the study program you want to attend, you must make sure you check out the requirements needed to study that program. The admission requirements section is always available on the school website. If you have a problem with the requirements do not hesitate to contact the university directly.
The entry requirements are different depending on the school and course of study, so it is important to go through each university requirement before you make a decision.
Take lessons on the German language:
As the official language in Germany is German, you might need to have at least a basic knowledge of the language even if your program is in the English language. You might have to sit for a German language proficiency standardized test if it’s a requirement for your application. Most undergraduate courses are taught in the German language except for rare cases in some private universities. learning German from the scratch can be difficult but starting early is always to best approach this before your admission process will help you gain a basic understanding of the language and help with effective communication with locals
Source for finance:
To study and live in Germany, you need to have the financial means. Foreign students, Non-European Union students and Non-European Economic areas Students must have a proper financial means to finance their stay in Germany. Every international student must have at least £10,332 to cover the expenses of the first year of living. The amount of money must be deposited into a German bank account. It is important to have a secured financial means before you apply for a student visa. If you are concerned about cost, there are scholarships available to support students studying in Germany at different levels. You can look up different scholarship options online and how to apply.
Apply for Admission:
Since Germany is known for its world-class universities, the admission committee of most universities are usually busy with applications from foreign students, hence it’s important to submit your application as soon as possible. Some universities’ admission applications can be carried out online while some have to be carried out in person. Contact your university to see how you can submit your application. Once the admission application is opened, submit your admission application and then wait for your admission letter. In many German universities, it is possible to apply for admission twice a year. There’s an application for winter enrollment which needs to be made by July 15 and an application for summer enrollment which needs to be made by January 15. However, application deadlines vary from one institution to another so be sure to check the application deadline of the institution you are applying to.
Apply for your German student Visa:
If you are coming from Nigeria you will need to apply for a German student visa. You can contact the German embassy in person or book a visa appointment online with the following link Here. One of the easiest ways to convince authorities that you have enough money to cover your study and living cost is by opening a blocked bank account. Along with other documents you will be required to get a health insurance policy before you can be granted a student visa. An exception to a blocked account can be granted if the applicant is also sponsored by a legal resident in Germany although this involves extra documentation which sometimes leads to delays.
Accommodation:
once you are officially admitted and you have your student visa, getting a place to stay should come next. Accommodation for international students in Germany is quite affordable. It is important to find a place that is financially suitable for you as most German universities do not offer accommodation to students. You can look for accommodation online before leaving for Germany.
Enrol at your university:
The final step to becoming a student is to enrol at your university. The enrollment process establishes you as a registered student in Germany. Higher Education in Germany is free but you need to pay a registration fee of about £150-£250 and a semester payment fee which covers public transportation for six months. At the admission office, you have to submit some documents for registration. They include:
- A valid passport
- Several passport photographs
- Visa or residence permit
4. Signed application form
- Degree qualification documents
6. Admission letter
7. Proof of statutory health insurance in Germany
8. Registration fee Payment receipt
- Proof of language proficiency
- Payment receipt for transportation
11 Proof of higher education entrance qualification either the original copies or original certified translated copies
Once you are through with these steps you are all set to begin your studies in Germany! If you are unsure about anything you can talk to the advisory service of the student committee or your university international office. If there’s anything you are unsure of, feel free to ask us in the comment section below.
