350 Degrees F Deutsch

[Dhara Lyford]

Germanyis one of the finest places in the world to study. With its huge network of universities, laboratories, and research institutes, skill-based economy, and cultural respect for learning, the country is perfectly suited to students who want to develop their skills and careers.

Having the right higher education qualification is a necessary step to almost all high-level careers. At any one time, around 2.7 million students are enrolled at higher education institutions across the country, most of them at the 380 officially accredited universities. And the number is growing quite rapidly, with year-on-year increases of 3% in student numbers.

Universities in Germany offer a range of subjects, from law to agriculture. The country is probably most famous for teaching research-based degrees in the natural sciences and industry, and German science or engineering degrees are respected across the world.

The HZB certifies that individuals have completed high school studies to a level required to graduate to higher education. It records both general graduation, along with a detailed breakdown of the student's achievements. So universities find it very useful when admitting applicants.

Not all students will take that route. Others may enter Realschule or Hauptschule, which provide vocation-based education. It's a relatively complex system, but if you want to learn more, our pages on the German school system explain how everything works.

To find out what is required, contact a university you are interested in attending, and ask for their eligibility requirements. All courses will require you to fill out an application form, and most will require students to provide copies of their certificates, a letter of motivation, and recommendation letters.

Importantly, international students cannot study in Germany without a valid visa. They also need to obtain health insurance and will probably require a blocked account to prove they can support themselves financially.

Bachelor's degrees: Provide a foundation in academic or practical subjects, which is an essential launchpad for successful careers. Examples include Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degrees. Courses can be studies at purely academic universities, technical universities, or vocational schools, and take 3 years in most cases.

Master's degrees: Build upon the foundation provided by Bachelor's degrees. Masters tend to be more closely linked to career progression, and follow the same division into Arts, Sciences, and Engineering. Like Bachelor's, they are mainly free at public universities, and they tend to take 2 years to complete.

Work-Study degrees: A popular German compromise, work-study courses offer placements at companies alongside academic modules, allowing students to earn money, gain experience, and hone their skills.

Masters degrees from universities like Freiburg, Karlsruhe, Heidelberg, Berlin Technical University, Chemnitz, and Jacobs University are all internationally respected. And German engineering degrees will impress employers across the globe, no matter where you study for them.

German universities also work closely with German employers to ensure that the country has a steady stream of highly-skilled graduates. For international students, this means that there is a great chance of working for global corporations like BMW, Deutsche Bank, or Siemens.

Most of us aren't fortunate enough to have the financial resources to fund a Bachelor's or Master's degree, and financial constraints can be a major factor in dissuading international students from studying in Germany.

By dual study, Germans mean courses that specifically include work and learning. Because of the way they are structured, students have plenty of time to carry out research, attend classes, and pass examinations.

But they will also have the chance to take work placements to earn money and - in theory - to gain valuable work experience. So a work study program in Germany delivers two things: experience and financial assistance.

Dual studies programs aren't designed to allow students to work mini-jobs for a couple of weeks before returning to college. Instead, these courses are suitable for students on courses that are funded by or connected to major companies.

If you have a desire to work in a specific area of industry (such as car design, or network management), having the chance to work in relevant settings, and the opportunity to build contacts is absolutely invaluable.

Some people will thrive on the vocational nature of these courses. If individuals aren't academically minded, and struggle with research, they may do very well in work-based environments, and discover talents that wouldn't normally emerge in conventional universities.

On the other hand, admission is competitive, and international students will need to work on their German both before and during their studies. They also need to be sure about their career direction, which not all young people are. And even though students can earn money, the income received isn't always enough to live on. For some people saving for standard degrees, and working mini-jobs between semesters can be more convenient.

Dual study courses also lead to focused qualifications that aren't always applicable across the whole of society or abroad. General degrees may open more doors, or lead to further study. But there's no doubt that vocational dual study courses can deliver huge benefits. Just think carefully before applying.

If you are unsure about whether to opt for dual study or conventional degrees, feel free to ask academics or industry professionals. And think about asking wider communities on sites like Quora. The feedback from members can often be very helpful.

Most of all, these courses provide both academic qualifications and routes into work. Those coming from outside Germany can build their resumes, get to know German culture, and forge relationships with major employers. It's a good stepping stone to success in later life.

International students will need to provide plenty of supporting documents to make their dual studies applications, and they may also need to work hard to persuade German companies to take them on.

It's a good idea to undertake work experience with a partner company before applying. Failing that, writing to companies to introduce yourself and describe your skills could work well.

These courses include two main parts - an academic component and a vocational qualification. The vocational component will be tightly focused on a specific occupation, providing an excellent chance of finding employment.

These courses are less academic, and feature more time within commercial or industrial environments. They will tend to lead to employment with particular employers, and are more likely to be funded by private scholarships.

Some courses can be undertaken after students have started work. In these cases, they will take time off to study, while remaining in position. When the course is finished, they can expect a promotion due to their expanded skill set.

It's not always easy to know about every option, but students should always research all of the dual study courses in their fields. Thankfully, some excellent tools have emerged that put the information at your fingertips.

The Hochschulkompass English website is a great source of information about dual study in Germany. Use the search engine to zero in on institutions and courses, and to find out admissions information as well.

Looking to escape the staggering costs of a university education in the United States? You are not alone. And German education officials say a growing number of Americans are heading to the land of beer and bratwurst to get one.

"We've seen an overall increase in international students in this country over the last 10 years, but the increase for Americans has been much faster," he says. Between 2003 and 2013, he says, the number increased by 56 percent.

The fact that many programs are taught in English and tuition is usually free has helped make Germany the third most popular destination for American students studying abroad. Only the United Kingdom and Canada are more popular.

Also appealing is the high quality of German education. This year's reputation rankings in the London-based Times Higher Education magazine placed three German universities in the top 50 of approximately 20,000 higher education institutions worldwide.

One of those three is Humboldt University in Berlin, where Casey Detrow is a student. The 27-year-old New Yorker, who graduated from the Macaulay Honors College at CUNY, is pursuing a master's degree in American Studies at Humboldt.

"[It] offers me every bit of the academic challenge and intellectual stimulation that any top university in the U.S. would offer," Detrow says. She chose Humboldt over six American programs that accepted her over the past three years, including ones at Columbia and Berkeley.

"I just have time and space in Berlin that I really think I wouldn't have access to if I were living in the Bay Area, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago," Detrow explains. "I have an affordable lifestyle and, you know, I have a room of my own. I have time and space to sit in my little apartment and kind of exhale and read and study."

"I really cannot even compare that to what I would be getting in the United States," Detrow says. "When you are talking free versus $50,000, I feel like there is no contest. I can't justify going back."

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