Germany

Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a federal parliamentary republic in western-central Europe. It includes 16 constituent states with a largely temperate seasonal climate. Germany is the most popular member state in the European Union. After the United States, it is the second most popular migration destination in the world.

In the 21st century, Germany is a great power and has the world’s fourth-largest economy by nominal GDP and the fifth-largest by purchasing power parity. As a global leader in several industrial and technological sectors, it is both the world’s third-largest exporter and importer of goods. It is a developed country with a very high standard of living, and it maintains a comprehensive social security and a universal health care system.

Germany was a founding member of the European Communities in 1957, which became the European Union in 1993. Germany is also a member of the United Nations. Germany is known for its rich cultural history, and it has been the home of influential artists, philosophers, musicians, entrepreneurs, scientists and inventors.

Pre School

Age 3-6 years

Primary Level

Age 6 years & Duration 4 years
Children attend the Grundschule for four years (six in Berlin and Brandenburg), after which they transfer to one of four different types of secondary school.

Secondary Level

Hauptschule [ Duration : 5 years ]

The main objective is to prepare students for their entry into the world of work. Once students have obtained their Hauptschulabschluss (leaving certificate) at the age of 15-16, they can go into vocational training, start entry-level work in the public sector, or attend a full-time vocational school

Realschule [ Duration : 6 years ]

It gives them a broader general education and expects them to show greater independence. Students are given more vocationally oriented education.
At the end of class 10 they are given different options: in-company vocational training, work in the public sector at entry and executive level, or further school-level education at secondary level II or at a Fachhochschule.

Gymnasium [ Duration : 8 or 9 years ]

This is designed to provide students with an education which will enable them to study at a German university or equivalent. Students at secondary level II (the last two or three years at the Gymnasium) select two or three specialist subjects.

Gesamtschule [ Duration : 6 years ]

The Gesamtschule (comprehensive school) combines elements from the Hauptschule, the Realschule and the Gymnasium.

Tertiary Education

Universities

Germany’s universities are recognised internationally.
Most of the German universities are public institutions, charging fees of only around €60-200 per semester for each student. German universities have a strong focus on research.
Students wishing to attend university in Germany must, as a rule, hold the Abitur or Fachabitur certification. High school diplomas received from states outside of Germany are not considered equivalent to an Abitur, but rather a Realschulabschluss and therefore do not qualify the bearer for admission to a German university.
Foreign students lacking the entrance requirements can acquire a degree in a Studienkolleg, which is often recognized as an equivalent to the Abitur.
Most of the German universities are public institutions, funded by the Länder governments, and students have traditionally undertaken study without tuition fee payment.

Universities of Applied Sciences

There is another type of post-Abitur university training in Germany: the Fachhochschulen (Universities of Applied Sciences), which offer degrees similar to those at a traditional university, but often concentrate on applied science.

To get on-the-job experience, internship semesters are a mandatory component of studying at a Fachhochschule. Therefore, the students at Universities of Applied Sciences are better trained in transferring the knowledge and skills they have acquired into practice,

After four years a Fachhochschule student has a complete education and can directly enter work life. The FH Diploma is roughly equivalent to a 4-year Honours degree. An FH Diploma qualifies the holder for a Ph.D. program directly but in practice many universities require an additional entrance exam or participation in theoretical classes from FH candidates.

Due to the Bologna process, bachelor’s and master’s degrees are being introduced to traditional universities and universities of applied sciences in like manner.

Similar to other Visa requirements, Indian students planning to study in Germany and going to apply for Student Visa of Germany need to provide a document known as “Finanzierungsnachweis”. It is a proof that student has sufficient financial means & is able to support himself / herself financially during his /her studies in Germany.

Students can provide variety of evidences to prove his / her financial ability. However Blocked Bank Account in Germany is one of the best options suggested by most of the stake holders. Students must be able to provide evidence of having 8,640 Euros available in his / her Blocked Account with Bank in Germany.

Opening a Blocked Bank Account in Germany is the first thing students need to comply with before proceeding for his / her Student Visa Application of Germany. As of now Deutsche Bank is offering this service to Indian students. Please keep in mind that application process for a Blocked Account must be done well in advance before you apply for visa as it can take around 6 weeks. There are 2 options available to Indian students to open Blocked Account as described below.

In such case, the Embassy or Consulate of Germany in your country serves as an attesting authority for the administrative procedure of opening a bank account. As an alternative form to open a blocked bank account in Germany is by applying directly in one of the branches of the chosen bank in your country

Opening a Blocked Bank Account through a German Diplomatic Office in India

• Download the application form for opening a Blocked Account from official website of Deutsche Bank.
• Fill in the Application Form, leaving empty the following sections : date, place and signature – as these must be filled in front of German diplomatic office.
• Set an appointment through e-mail or phone to the German Embassy or Consulate Office near to your location to get Blocked Account Application certified or attested.
• On the day of Appointment with German diplomatic office, provide the following documents for attestation : Two printed copies of appropriately filled in Application Form, Original and a colour copy of Passport, Any Identity Card issued by Indian Government, Two passport size Photos, Letter of Admission from German University, Verification Fee as well as Email Confirmation for the Appointment. Note that Verification / Attestation Fee charged by German Diplomatic office is 20 Euro.
• Mail all of the above mentioned Documents verified by German Embassy or Consulate to Deutsche Bank in Germany.
• Deutsche Bank in Germany will send an email confirming an opened Blocked Account together with Account details.
• Transfer 8,790 Euros in this Blocked Account from Account with local bank in India. Allow transaction fee to be deducted from the amount transferred which is up to 50 Euros.

Opening a Blocked Bank Account directly in a Branch of Deutsche Bank

• Visit a branch of Deutsche Bank and open a Saving Bank Account by filling in required application form and submitting required documents.
• Apply for a Blocked Account by providing the following documents : Original and a colour copy of Passport, Any Identity Card issued by Indian Government, Two passport size Photos, and Letter of Admission from German University
• Deutsche Bank will send an email confirming opened Blocked Account together with Account details
• Once you receive that confirmation email you can transfer the money from saving to your blocked bank account.
• Transfer 8,790 Euros in this Blocked Account from Saving Account with Deutsche Bank. In this Option, Deutsche Bank will help for Foreign Exchange transaction from Saving Account to Blocked Account and students can save cost of attestation as well transaction fee

Note that Deutsche Bank charge 150 Euro as an Administrative Fee.

Do not send your documents as attached scans by e-mail or by fax. Deutsche bank only accepts original documents [ attested copies ].

Deutsche Bank Privat und Geschäftskunden AG
Service Center Hamburg / Ausländische Studenten
Alter Wall 53, 20457 Hamburg
Deutschland / Germany

Accessing Funds to Cover Living Costs

Students can use the money available in their Blocked Account with Deutsche Bank to cover their Living Costs while studying in Germany. Students are allowed to withdraw 720 Euros each month from their Blocked Account with Deutsche Bank.

Withdrawing Money from a Blocked Account in Germany

• When student arrives in New Zealand, he / she needs to visit nearest Deutsche Bank branch to activate Blocked Account.
• The Bank Officer will authorize students to access 8640 Euro available in his / her Blocked Account.
• The bank officer will provide Eurocheque-Karte or EC Card to withdraw money from an ATM Machine and online banking id and password