Post: #1

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32821678?SThisFB

Article talks about Germany offering (nearly) free college education to foreign students. This looks like something I would like to take advantage of down the line so I was wondering if anyone would be able to provide the inside scoop on this.

Post: #2

I have spent a lot of time in Germany and can vouch for the fact that the university education system has been almost free for many years.

An additional fact I do not think was mentioned is that completing the degree entitles you to stay in Germany for one year post-graduation to obtain employment.

I am personally considering moving there for an MBA.

Post: #3

I'm German and currently doing my Masters in Germany and hence, know what I'm talking about. University generally is free of charge. You only have to pay the administration fee which is about 250-300€ per semester. Only in some federal states you have to pay more (up to 500€, I think). Of course, this only applies to the public unis and only to their public courses.

Post: #4

I did an Austauschprogram in Germany in the 2000-01 at a large German Uni.

I shared a WG with seven other students. One was from Shanghai. It turns out that she had been living in her little dorm room for seven years at that point. She attended one class per semester so that she would be deemed a uni student and thus qualify for her cheap housing (at that time it cost 70DM per month). We also got to travel on public transportation for free.

The bitch then worked full time at the Lufthansa counter in Frankfurt. Since she was making good money, didn't have to pay for her train, hardly paid any tuition fees, and only paid a bit for rent, she was raking in the dough. She was actually married and had her husband move from Shanghai and become a uni student too. He got his own room (uni students couldn't have roommates), but they would trade off sleeping in each others' rooms every night. She hooked him up with a job at the airport as students were allowed to work up to six months per year in Germany w/o needing to get a work visa (Arbeitsbewilligung).

The bitch had the moxy to convince even more friends and family to take advantage of the system, and during my year abroad 20 other people from Shanghai showed up and claimed they were there to study. They all got jobs working at Fraport or something. Friday nights they would all convene in the WG and cook some noxious fish-head stew while taking up the entire kitchen. All my other flatmates were basically driven out those nights when the Shanghaiese would show up.

Obviously I was annoyed by her, primarily because she was completely taking advantage of the system, didn't give a shit about it, and also treated her flatmates with little respect. But it turned out fine in the end when the Uni administrators basically told her that she had to complete her studies by the end of the year since it shouldn't take her over seven years to get a bachelor in education. She cried and screamed for a few days when she realized the jig was up. I had a shit-eating grin on my face the entire time.

My year abroad in Germany was the best year of my life thus far. I've since lived in Germany on and off over the last 15 years and still work for a German firm in the States and speak the language daily. If you're even remotely interested in the country and language and could imagine studying in a foreign setting, please do it! You won't regret it.

Post: #5

I actually have a master's degree from an American university and was considering going to Germany to get another one - maybe even a PhD.

I have no German language skills but I very willing to learn. I did some poking around on https://www.daad.de/deutschland/en/ and it seems like you need to demonstrate some German proficiency already even though the article I posted in the OP mentioned some girl who did her masters in Germany with all her classes being taught in English so I'm a bit confused.

What's the admission process like? I had fairly good grades for my masters program but my bachelors GPA was pretty mediocre. Would I have to take any standardized testing like the GREs?

Post: #6

(06-05-2015 02:03 PM)Wutang Wrote:  I actually have a master's degree from an American university and was considering going to Germany to get another one - maybe even a PhD.

I have no German language skills but I very willing to learn. I did some poking around on https://www.daad.de/deutschland/en/ and it seems like you need to demonstrate some German proficiency already even though the article I posted in the OP mentioned some girl who did her masters in Germany with all her classes being taught in English so I'm a bit confused.

What's the admission process like? I had fairly good grades for my masters program but my bachelors GPA was pretty mediocre. Would I have to take any standardized testing like the GREs?

I depends what and where you want to study. If you are doing an all-English programm, you dont need to know German already. Thats at least the impression I get, since at my uni there are A LOT of foreign students who dont speak the language at all.

Whether or not you have to take some test before being able to apply also depends on the programm. Generally, I dont think that it's demanded often, though.

Post: #7

University of Frankfurt.

They have a pretty decent MBA program (not quite on par with a top 20 American program, but decent) and it's an all-English program with German language classes offered at night.

Post: #8

Apparently there's a standardized test designed for foreign students looking for admission - seems like it's only for those seeking an undergraduate degree though.

https://www.study-in.de/en/plan-your-stu..._34145.php

Post: #9

I had Indians, Chinese and Jordanians that I meet personal at my university. Some are there for more then one year and still did not speak any German. So it really depends what subject you chose.
Even in daily life you can either stick to your community or pass along with english. Sure it will cut you out in some way of the non student circles but depends on your goals.
Be ok with get drunk at the parties and festivals should help you to integrate.