1. Length and Purpose of Studies in Germany
2. Which university suits my needs best?
3. Which city to choose?
4. Personal Initiative
5. Admission requirements
6. Language of Instruction
7. Application
8. Visa application
9. Costs
10. Further Information

1. Length and Purpose of Studies in Germany

You should first decide whether you want to take up a full study program in Germany, including final examination, or whether you want to study in Germany as an occasional or guest student, perhaps for one year, and then return to your home university to take your final examination. You may also want to come to Germany after having taken your degree at home in order to take a one-year or two-year postgraduate course or a doctoral course by way of further academic and professional qualification.

You should inquire whether a German Diplom, Magister, state examination or doctorate is recognized as a qualification for employment in the corresponding profession in your home country or whether graduates are even needed in your chosen subject. A further question is whether there are reasonable prospects of finding appropriate employment in your desired profession. You should only decide to start organizing your path to the German university once you have fully informed yourself about how the path back to your country is organized and about your professional prospects there.

 
2. Which university suits my needs best?

Well, this will be up to you to find out as it depends on your expectations of the perfect university. First of all you should identify what your needs really are. Is the size of the university of importance for you? Or maybe its reputation, certain professors teaching there, special course contents, internships offered? Ask yourself, and then ask the universities. They will provide you with information about all the international courses they offer. Simply send them an e-mail with you requests. How to find out about these e-mail-addresses? Contact the DAAD or try a special search machine at www.higher-education-compass.de.

You should also consider that German universities have a certain amount of freedom concerning course contents and curriculum design. Just because two universities offer a course with the same name, does not have to mean that the programs are identical. Gather as much information about a university's study focus as you can. How? Check its homepage. One last thing: if you plan on going for a PhD to Germany, you can only apply at a university (Universität) or a technical university (Technische Universität). At the Fachhochschule only Bachelor and Master Programs are offered.

3. Which City to Choose

As you might already know the variety of universities and interesting cities is vast. The city you choose for yourself should first of all depend on the cities' universities and your field of study. But furthermore you might want to choose between a big or a small town. There are Pros and Cons for both of them. In a small city you might find cheaper housing close to your university. In some bigger cities the prices for accommodation are quite high. The costs for transportation are lower in smaller towns where it will be easier to find your way around and meet other students. However, the bigger cities will offer you a greater variety of cultural opportunities such as museums, theaters, concert halls and so on. Naturally in cities like Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg or Munich you will find more foreign students, which sometimes in an important factor for students when choosing their place of study. But is it safe in the bigger towns? In general, life in Germany is quite safe no matter where you are, but if safety is a big issue for you, then you should pick a smaller student-town. Finally, if you plan on doing a student job in the semester holidays, you should be able to find something in any university town. If you are more serious about getting working experience in Germany, try to find a university that includes internships in their course programs.

4. Personal Initiative

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. This means you alone will be in charge of your studies. The study and examination regulations (see below) define the study content which must be mastered for a certain degree. They also state a study period for each degree course in which, in general, the first professional qualification, the first degree (Diplom, Magister, state examination), can be gained. This suggested period is known as the so-called standard period of study (Regelstudienzeit). Studies may be longer or shorter than this standard period of study. Most students require considerably more time for their studies than is envisaged as the standard period of study.

5. Admission requirements

General remarks: German universities have no entrance examination. The basic requirement for admission is proof of an adequate educational background, which German applicants provide by passing the Abitur (the German secondary school leaving certificate). 8 Percent of all available seats at German universities are reserved for foreign nationals.

But in some subjects the number of available places of study is not sufficient for the number of applicants. This so-called Numerus clausus (limited access for certain subject) does apply for subjects such as Medicine and may prevent direct admission. At many universities there are admission restrictions for other degree courses as well. The respective university will provide information on the subjects in question.

Thus, Germans and foreigners alike are subject to a selection process in which the grade point average of the secondary school leaving certificate plays a decisive role. However, because Germany is very interested in inviting foreigners to study at German universities, a specific percentage of seats for restricted subjects has been reserved for students from abroad. In the medical sciences the quota is 6 % and in other degree courses it depends on regional restrictions.

Requirements for Thai students: In general the Thai high school leaving certificate is not regarded as an equivalent to the German higher education entrance certificate. Other certificates will be asked for and decisions will be made on a case-to-case basis. An assessment test will be required in most cases for Thai students who are interested in taking up initial studies in Germany. Preparatory courses for the assessment test are offered at special colleges, so called Studienkollegs.

However, students who have already earned a Bachelor's Degree from a Thai university will not have problems to enter a German university. Special commissions of the universities and faculties compare the credits and qualifications you received during your earlier studies and those that are equivalent to requirements in the course at the German university are fully accepted. In many cases the Bachelor is taken as equivalent to the Pre-Diplom (2 years of university studies). For the international study programs that follow the Bachelor-Master pattern a Bachelor's degree from Thailand is in most cases sufficient for entering a Master's program.

In some degree programs the number of available study places is not sufficient for the number of applicants so that Germans and foreigners alike are subject to a selection process. For certain subjects, e.g. medicine, prospective students have to apply via a central admissions office. For more information contact the foreign student office of the university of you choice. The address can be found on the university`s homepage.
First inquiry on admission: In your initial inquiry to the university of your choice you should outline your educational background and your qualifications carefully (secondary school leaving certificate, courses taken at the Thai university, courses and credits of bachelor degree, level of language knowledge in German and / or English etc.).

Ask about the university's application requirements and where to find the official application forms - they are usually somewhere out there in the internet. When you are getting more serious about applying at a certain university, you should ask where to find more information on the program's curriculum and its contents. Usually the universities are very helpful and forthcoming with answering requests from students.

6. Language of Instruction

Regular Courses of Study: For most courses of studies in Germany the language of instruction is German. For these courses a good knowledge of German is required which has to be proven by students from a non-German speaking country by a language proficiency test, the DSH, which is taken in Germany, or TestDaF (German equivalent to the TOEFL), which can be taken abroad.

You may be exempted from the DSH if you took your high school exam in Germany or at a -German school abroad or if you can present certain language certificates from the Goethe-Institut.

Most universities offer language courses by way of preparation for the DSH. Most of these courses, however, require some previous knowledge of German. The expected level of proficiency can vary from one university to the next. Details can be inquired at the higher education institution of choice again via the foreign student office.

If you are interested to study in Germany in a degree program taught in German you should make use of the opportunities available for learning German in Thailand, for example at the Goethe Institut, Bangkok (contact: www.goethe.de/bangkok). There you also can gain information about the certificates accepted as a valid equivalent to the DSH and about where and when the TestDaF-exam can be taken.

International Degree Programs: For the International Degree Programs that are taught in English, good knowledge of English is mandatory and has to be proven by tests like the TOEFL. The information about the necessary score depends on the program (s. list below) and is given in figures referring to the paper based test and the computer based test (i.e. 550/213). Although TOEFL may be named in most of the program descriptions, all institutions will accept equivalent tests, e.g. IETLS (Band 6)

While many courses do not require any prior knowledge of German, some do. All institutions offer German courses and will encourage participants to acquire a better knowledge of the German language and culture during their course of studies in Germany.

7. Application

Normally students apply either

a. directly to the higher education institution of their choice via its foreign student office or

b. through ASSIST (the Application Services for International Students, starting operation on May 1st, 2004), in case the university of you choice is one of the ASSIST membership universities.
Please check a current list at www.uni-assist.de/english/universities.html

The foreign student offices also help with questions regarding admission requirements and acceptance of degrees. The necessary forms will be provided by these offices or can be downloaded from the university's website. They are also available at the DAAD Information Center Bangkok.

You will approximately need one year from the initial inquiry until commencement of studies. You should not make any decisions on leaving for Germany without having obtained information from the universities in question and / or from the German embassy. If you want to commence your studies in the winter semester (starting in October), you should have submitted a full set of documents to the university by 15th July each year. The deadline for the summer semester (starting in April) is 15th January.

8. Visa Application

การยื่นขอวีซ่าศึกษาต่อประเทศเยอรมนี

นักศึกษาที่ประสงค์จะไปเรียนต่อที่ประเทศเยอรมนี ต้องมายื่นคำร้องขอวีซ่าด้วยตนเอง พร้อมแสดงเอกสาร/หลักฐาน (ตัวจริงและถ่ายสำเนามาด้วยอย่างละ 2 ชุด) ดังต่อไปนี้

1. แบบฟอร์มคำร้องขอวีซ่าเพื่อการพำนักนานกว่า 90 วัน ที่กรอกเรียบร้อย 2 ชุด (ติดต่อขอรับแบบฟอร์มได้ที่ สถานทูตฯ หรือ จาก website: www.bangkok.diplo.de ภายใต้หัวข้อแผนกกงศุลและวีซ่า

2. หนังสือเดินทางที่มีอายุการใช้งานไม่ต่ำกว่า 6 เดือน

3. รูปถ่ายขนาดสำหรับติดหนังสือเดินทาง (2 นิ้ว ฉากหลังเป็นสีโทนสว่าง) จำนวน 3 รูป

4. หนังสือตอบรับให้เข้าศึกษาของสถาบันการศึกษา หรือหนังสือรับรองการสมัครเข้าศึกษาจากสถาบันการศึกษา
(กรณีได้รับทุนการศึกษา จำเป็นต้องแสดงเอกสารว่าท่านได้รับทุนการศึกษา)
* ท่านที่ประสงค์จะไปเรียนภาษาเยอรมัน จะต้องแสดงหลักฐานการสมัครเข้าเรียนภาษาชั้นเร่งรุดจากทางสถาบันศึกษา (ไม่ต่ำกว่า 20 ชั่วโมง ต่อสัปดาห์)
* ท่านที่ประสงค์จะไปฝึกงาน / ฝึกอบรม จะต้องแสดงหนังสือสัญญาการรับเข้าฝึกงาน / ฝึกอบรม

5. หลักฐานหรือหนังสือรับรองฐานะทางการเงินจากธนาคารเป็นภาษาอังกฤษ (Bank Statement) ซึ่งแสดงว่าสามารถรับผิดชอบค่าใช้จ่ายในระหว่างที่ท่านศึกษาอยู่ที่ประเทศเยอรมนี ระบุชื่อเจ้าของบัญชีและชื่อนักศึกษา

การยื่นคำร้องขอวีซ่า จะต้องโทรศัทพ์นัดหมายวัน-เวลาที่จะมายื่นคำร้องกับศูนย์บริการข้อมูลก่อนเท่านั้น
ที่หมายเลข  1900 222 343 วันจันทร์ ถึง วันศุกร์  เวลา 09.00 น. - 17.00 น.

หมายเลขดังกล่าวสามารถติดต่อได้เฉพาะเมื่อโทรในประเทศไทยเท่านั้น

ผู้ร้องจะต้องแจ้งชื่อ-นามสกุล หมายเลขหนังสือเดินทาง ศูนย์บริการข้อมูลจึงจะให้นัดหมาย วัน-เวลาเพื่อมาติดต่อและทำการสัมภาษณ์ที่สถานทูตฯ ค่าธรรมเนียมในการโทรศูนย์บริการข้อมูล ผู้โทรเป็นผู้รับผิดชอบโดยคิดนาทีละ 9 บาท

สถานทูตฯ ไม่สามารถให้นัดหมายวัน-เวลาในการยื่นคำร้องขอวีซ่าได้ ไม่ว่าจะเป็นทางโทรศัพท์หรือทางจดหมายอิเล็กทรอนิกส์ก็ตาม

หากมีข้อสงสัยเรื่องวีซ่าเป็นภาษาไทย กรุณาติดต่อหมายเลขโทรศัพท์ 02-287-9067, 02-287-9069

ค่าธรรมเนียมในการขอวีซ่า :
ประมาณ 60 ยูโร ชำระในวันที่มายื่นคำร้อง โดยชำระเป็นเงินบาทคิดตามอัตราแลกเปลี่ยน

9. Costs

You should assess your financial resources soon and realistically. The German foreign missions or aliens' authorities need proof of sufficient financial funds to cover your cost of living for the first year of your study. Currently, the amount needed is Euro 700,-- per month.

You should not plan on financing your studies by working in Germany. The German authorities adhere strictly to the laws governing foreigners in Germany. The residence permit only allows you to study in Germany. It is not a work permit. Any violation may lead to expulsion from Germany.

Tuition Fees

Germany didn't generally use to charge tuition fees. But this has meanwhile changed. Some federal states are already charging fees or are just about to introduce them. (Please contact the university of your choice to find out or check the information at http://www.studentenwerk.de/pdf/Uebersicht_Studiengebuehren.pdf )

But some courses, which represent an additional offer that has to be financed by the participants, are charged with the specific amount of fee. In these (few) cases fees range between Baht 10,000 and Baht 180,000 per Semester. Tuition fees charged by private universities may be up to Baht 300,000 per Semester.

All German universities charge a small administrative fee, which in many cases includes a ticket for public transportation. It usually ranges between Baht 1000 and Baht 4000,- per semester. The exact amount can be requested at the universities.

Living expenses

You have to expect to spend about Baht 30,000 - 35,000 per month for living in Germany. This amount includes food, accommodation, health insurance, books and participating in student life (e.g. going out once in a while). A health insurance is compulsory for all students in Germany. The insurance companies provide special student rates insurances. The case is different if you are older than 30 years of age. In this case a special arrangement has to be made with the insurance company. Problems might as well occur if you have a chronic disease. In this case, too, special arrangements have to be made.

Examples: