All those applying to Germany will at one point come across the above acronyms. Uni stands for University, TU is for Technical Universities and FH are for applied universities.
I will try and give a few pointers here about what differentiates the three.
A University and a Technical University are the same for all students pursuing technical studies. Universities are larger, simply because they are made up of all the other branches as well, such as law, medicine, social studies and languages. One can only pursue a Ph.D at a university. The Professors are required to invest more time on research than on lectures. The lectures themselves are more theoretical in nature paving a way for a career in research.
Applied universities are universities where the primary goal is to make you fit for an career in the industry. It is not possible to automatically start a Ph. D with a degree from an applied university. You will be asked to complete a few more fundamental courses at the university, before you are allowed to enroll as a Ph.D student. The curriculum in applied universities is oriented more to the demands of the industry. As such the applied universities have very strong ties with their respective industries. Many of the labs are more modern and well-funded when compared with the universities. The professors are required to spend more time on lectures.
An interesting question is how this difference influences your starting salary in the industry. Previously when there was still the German Diplom, many industries had different pay scales for the two, with the Diplom from an applied university labeled “Diplom (FH)”. Now after the Bologna Process, with the introduction of Bachelors and Masters, this divide is reducing, but has not yet vanished. This difference is, as I have already, mentioned much more pronounced if you decide to stay at an academic institute.
So before you decide to apply, take a moment to decide where you want to be after you get your degree.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
A few pointers for students (esp. from India) wishing to pursue their studies in Germany
After reading through several posts in the group, I thought it would be helpful to list these things.
First off, I am assuming you already have a degree or more from India or somewhere else and that you are interested in pursuing your education in Germany.
For those of you who are fresh from school, these points may not be relevant.
So, let us for the sake of clarity, assume you have completed a degree, and you are interested in a particular field. And you have heard that Germany is good for education. So, what next?
Do not find a group in Facebook titled “Indians in Germany” and post: “HELP-I want to study in Germany!” It is very difficult for anyone, including those who wish to help and share some experiences, to post anything of meaning.
First do your groundwork. This includes among other things, making a list of universities you are interested in. You can find such a list by simply using the DAAD website, which has extensive filters, and is mostly up-to-date. Another source of information is the local DAAD offices and places where you can learn German, like the Max-Müller-Bhavan and Goethe Institutes.
Now the above step is not trivial. Do not choose universities based on what some soft criteria, such as name of the city, East or West Germany, or you heard someone tell you this university is the best. Universities are well differentiated in Germany, and you’ll be hard pressed to find the same research being done in more than 3 or 4 universities. So try to invest some time in the process, go through the webpages, research profiles, and the courses offered. Many degrees will have similar names, with very different specializations.
It will also help to know that each university is made up of institutes and each institute is make up of different chairs, each with its own professor, research port-folio and funding. So chances are high, that even if the university is not known outside Germany, the institute is highly regarded, and the professor is world renowned. So navigate down to the professors and see what they are working on. Writing to the professor is also a very good idea. Just make sure your English is understandable, and do not use slang or short forms. Acronyms that are common in India are virtually unknown here.
Now once you have that step sorted out, your questions will be more focused and the answers you may get more helpful.
Many universities have dedicated departments for admissions, and they will be able give information for incoming students. So it is advised to write to them with your questions. Every university is different and has different criteria for admission. To make matters more interesting, each department and institute will have a different set of criteria. So my advice is only: invest a considerable amount of time in your ground work.
Some of you may be fortunate and your university has a tie-up with one of the German institutes. This simplifies your workload considerably.
I wish you happy searching.
First off, I am assuming you already have a degree or more from India or somewhere else and that you are interested in pursuing your education in Germany.
For those of you who are fresh from school, these points may not be relevant.
So, let us for the sake of clarity, assume you have completed a degree, and you are interested in a particular field. And you have heard that Germany is good for education. So, what next?
Do not find a group in Facebook titled “Indians in Germany” and post: “HELP-I want to study in Germany!” It is very difficult for anyone, including those who wish to help and share some experiences, to post anything of meaning.
First do your groundwork. This includes among other things, making a list of universities you are interested in. You can find such a list by simply using the DAAD website, which has extensive filters, and is mostly up-to-date. Another source of information is the local DAAD offices and places where you can learn German, like the Max-Müller-Bhavan and Goethe Institutes.
Now the above step is not trivial. Do not choose universities based on what some soft criteria, such as name of the city, East or West Germany, or you heard someone tell you this university is the best. Universities are well differentiated in Germany, and you’ll be hard pressed to find the same research being done in more than 3 or 4 universities. So try to invest some time in the process, go through the webpages, research profiles, and the courses offered. Many degrees will have similar names, with very different specializations.
It will also help to know that each university is made up of institutes and each institute is make up of different chairs, each with its own professor, research port-folio and funding. So chances are high, that even if the university is not known outside Germany, the institute is highly regarded, and the professor is world renowned. So navigate down to the professors and see what they are working on. Writing to the professor is also a very good idea. Just make sure your English is understandable, and do not use slang or short forms. Acronyms that are common in India are virtually unknown here.
Now once you have that step sorted out, your questions will be more focused and the answers you may get more helpful.
Many universities have dedicated departments for admissions, and they will be able give information for incoming students. So it is advised to write to them with your questions. Every university is different and has different criteria for admission. To make matters more interesting, each department and institute will have a different set of criteria. So my advice is only: invest a considerable amount of time in your ground work.
Some of you may be fortunate and your university has a tie-up with one of the German institutes. This simplifies your workload considerably.
I wish you happy searching.
The importance of the German language for foreign students
Many universities are starting to offer international courses, especially in Engineering, to make the courses more attractive for foreign students.
But knowledge of German is vital. Even if you are lucky enough to find a course with 100% English as the medium of instruction, Germany is important for day-to-day life and be able to communicate with the others. It is also essential for landing a job in Germany.
Though it is possible to learn German in Germany once you arrive here, it is advised to start early, if you plan on visiting Germany.
You will be surprised to know how many doors open, once you know to communicate in German.
But knowledge of German is vital. Even if you are lucky enough to find a course with 100% English as the medium of instruction, Germany is important for day-to-day life and be able to communicate with the others. It is also essential for landing a job in Germany.
Though it is possible to learn German in Germany once you arrive here, it is advised to start early, if you plan on visiting Germany.
You will be surprised to know how many doors open, once you know to communicate in German.
Returning after a 2 year hiatus
This blog still exists... Pretty funny to read all the stuff here I wrote 2 years back. Well i ll try to upload a few more thoughts now and then.
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