Germany's institutions of higher education have a centuries-long tradition of academic excellence. There are more than 300 institutions of higher education spread all over Germany, with no less than 82 universities, 136 Fachhochschulen and 46 colleges of music and fine arts. The spectrum of study options is extremely broad. In the last few years inter-disciplinary science and research have become significantly more important. There are generally no tuition fees, neither for German nor for foreign students. Since 1994, German universities have developed new study opportunities of particular interest and relevance for foreign students (courses and lectures held in English, tightly-organized study programs, international degrees, academic support system provided by tutors and mentors). To find out more about these newly established programs, please refer to the brochure International Degree Programmes in Germany (available at the DAAD Information Center) or check the DAAD-homepage.
Both offer degree programmes leading to an M.A./M.Sc. or the German equivalent. The "Fachhochschule" (university of applied sciences), however, is generally more orientated towards the practical use of knowledge. Most of their degree programmes are in the field of natural sciences, engineering and business administration. Degrees in the field of humanities, social sciences or fine arts are not offered at the "Fachhochschule". Quite often, "Fachhochschulen" maintain close contact to the industry and offer extensive opportunities for internships. On the other hand, "Fachhochschulen" do not award the title of PhD So, if you are quite sure you do not want to pursue an academic career (university teaching etc.) but instead you want to gain as much practical experience as possible, a "Fachhochschule" might be the place for you to study.
Generally speaking, a B.A. or B.Sc. degree from a Thai (or British, American, Australian) university will offer you access to a postgraduate degree programme at a German university, leading to a M.A. or M.Sc. If you do not already have a B.A. and want to come to Germany in order to get a B.A. or B.Sc. you will have to check with the staff at the DAAD Information Center whether your high school leaving examination is acceptable for a degree programme or not. Sometimes you will also need to complete at least 2 or 4 semesters successfully at a university in Thailand before you can apply for admission to a B.A. programme in Germany.
4. Do I need to know German if I want to study in Germany ?
No surprise - people in Germany speak German and most of the teaching at German universities is done in German. However, if you do not know any German yet, you might want to take a close look at the newly established International Degree Programmes in Germany mentioned in Q 1. Here most of the teaching is done in English (please check brochure or Internet for details) and even if some previous knowledge of German is required, you will not have to pass the general university language exam (DSH - Deutsche Sprachpruefung fuer den Hochschulzugang auslaendischer Studienbewerber) which is considered to be quite difficult. In this case, a good command of English is absolutely necessary (minimum TOEFL score of 550 and up, please check for details). Even if you decide to pursue a degree programme in English, it is still a good idea to work on your German for use in daily life etc. Take advantage of the excellent German language courses at the Goethe Institut in Bangkok.
5. How much will I have to pay for living expenses like food, rent etc. ?
Living expenses depend very much on the city you are living in. Bigger university cities like Munich or Hamburg are more expensive than smaller university cities like Oldenburg or Cottbus. Generally speaking, you can expect living expenses of 700 Euro/month (about 35,000 BAHT). Compared to the United States or to the United Kingdom, it is probably still cheaper. By the way: Many institutions in Germany offer student discounts for travel, newspaper subscriptions, banking etc.
6. How about scholarships ?
Because German universities charge very moderate tuition fees, there is no need for "part-of-the-tuition-scholarships" as they are sometimes offered by American or British universities. However, there are a number of scholarships available for excellent foreign students, almost all of them for PhD candidates already employed by a Thai university or research institute. Please check with the staff at the Information Center or with the German embassy for details. You also might want to check out the scholarships information here on our homepage.
7. How about accommodation? Can I get a place in a student dormitory ?
As a foreign student coming to Germany, you have a number of options to find accommodation. You can either choose to live in a student dormitory (where the rent will be low because it is subsidized by the government) or you can try to find a place on the "free market" which tends to be more expensive. Student dormitories are generally quite nice in Germany - very often you will have an apartment with your own kitchen and bathroom. Sometimes you will have to share kitchen and/or bathroom with fellow students living in the same building. It is probably a good piece of advice to live in a dormitory for the first one or two semesters. Later on, with the safety of having a place to live, you can start looking for a different place on the "free market".
8. What about libraries and computers at German universities ?
German institutions of higher education usually have extremely well-stocked libraries and archives where you can work in the quiet atmosphere of the reading rooms. You do not need to buy all the recommended and mandatory reading for your seminars. However, popular books are often on loan. There are various types of libraries and different lending procedures.
Many institutions have set up computer facilities in the individual faculties where students can work with various programs. On top of this, most institutional computing Centres (Hochschulrechenzentren - HRZ) have computer work-rooms. Any number of computer courses are offered at the HRZ. On application it is frequently possible to use the workstations and servers. At many institutions developments are so advanced that students are able to gain access to the Internet and set-up E-mail boxes. The Foreign Student Office is probably linked to the Internet and may allow students access, here, too. It is certainly worth asking what possibilities there are both at the Foreign Student Office and at the institution itself.
9. What are the most important differences between German and Thai universities ?
Generally speaking, German universities tend to offer the students a wider range of course choices within their respective fields of study. And, very important: Your academic work will be much less supervised by your professors. To a very high degree, you are responsible yourself for your academic progress. You will find that the personal initiative which is required in order to successfully complete your studies within a certain period of time will, in contrast to many other systems of higher education, not be compensated for in Germany by a prescribed timetable or any permanently available advisory professor or tutor. A constant check on your progress with the help of tests, midterm exams etc. is unknown to the German university system. Although there is some kind of examination at the end of the semester (usually in the form of a written exam or a term paper), the most important examination determining your final grade will still be given at the very end of your course of study.
10. How can I obtain more information about "Studying in Germany"?
Right here, on the internet. You'll find lots of sources on the World Wide Web, e. g. the homepage of DAAD head office or the German Embassy in Bangkok. Check our annotated Linklist;
If you live in Bangkok, you are very welcome to visit our Information Center. For information on our office hours, please see information on this website. You may also send your questions by e-mail or fax (02 286 48 45).
