Questions about studying in Germany [click on a question to get to the answer]

1. What are the tuition fees in Germany?

2. What is the cost of living when studying in Germany?

3. Can I study in Germany in a language other than German?

4. A friend advised me to start learning the German language in Ghana. Where can I do it?

5. What are the "International Degree Programmes"?

6. Where do I need to apply for admission?

7. What is a "Fachhochschule"?

8. Can the "DAAD Information Centre Accra" help me obtain a student visa?

9. When applying for admission at a German school, they told me to submit certified copies of my certificates. Where can I have my documents certified?

10. A German university has sent me forms in the German language - do you offer any assistance in translating those forms into English?

11. I received an email from a German university in which they told me to download admission forms from their website, but I cannot download them - where is the problem?

12. One of the admission requirements for a degree course is the applicant's "Proficiency in English: minimum TOEFL-score of 550 points". Does that mean I have to take the TOEFL-test before getting admitted?

13. I am holding a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and would like to continue with a MBA programme in Germany. What are my chances of getting admission?

14. I do not qualify for a DAAD grant, but I still need financial assistance. What should I do?

15. I have browsed this website, but still have some questions about studying in Germany. Can the "DAAD Information Centre Accra" help me?

Questions about living in Germany

1. What's the weather like in Germany? Does it differ particularly over the course of the year?

2. What about mobility in Germany - can I travel the country?

3. Is there any difference between living in eastern or western Germany?

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What are the tuition fees in Germany?

Currently, German universities generally charge no or only very moderate tuition fees (around 500 Euro per term), as the vast majority of higher education institutions are primarily funded by the state. This applies to German as well as international students. As a result, studying in Germany will normally be between 50% and 70% cheaper than taking an equivalent degree in the UK.

What is the cost of living when studying in Germany?

If you want to study in the old regional states (formerly West Germany) or in larger cities in what used to be East Germany (e.g. Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig) your cost of living can amount to about 700 Euro per month. In the new regional states (east) life is generally slightly cheaper, but you will still need around 600 Euro per month there. Do not plan on financing your studies by working in Germany! As an international student you will only get a restricted work permit, and studying in a foreign country is a very demanding task in itself, so there will be little time left for working.

Can I study in Germany in a language other than German?

Yes, that is possible. For those whose command of the German language does not allow to study in German, there is a wide variety of "International Degree Programmes", where the language of instruction is English, at least in the first semesters. German language courses are offered before and during the programmes. Many postgraduate courses are run entirely in English.

A friend advised me to start learning the German language in Ghana. Where can I do it?

If you're based in Accra, you can learn the German language at the Goethe-Institut Accra and at the Ghana Institute of Languages. German language classes are also offered at Cape Coast University and by the Kumasi branch of the Ghana Institute of Languages.

Goethe-Institut Accra: 021 - 77 67 64; email: language@accra.goethe.org
Ghana Institute of Languages Accra: 021 - 22 10 52 or 021 - 22 10 92
Ghana Institute of Languages Kumasi: 051 - 2 55 00 or 051 - 2 87 44

What are the "International Degree Programmes"?

In order to cater for the needs of international study applicants, German institutions of higher education have introduced courses with an international perspective. Students can study for a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degree. The undergraduate courses take from 6 to 8 semesters, and lead to a Bachelor's degree. Postgraduate courses last from 3 to 5 semesters and lead to a Master's or Diplom degree. Once you have obtained a Master's degree, it is also possible to take a doctorate. The academic level of these courses is very high and the same number of places is open to international and to German students. The language of instruction on these courses is primarily English; sometimes intensive German courses prepare you for studying in German in the more advanced semesters.

Where do I need to apply for admission?

This will depend on the institution. Some universities require applicants from abroad to have their applications pre-checked by the organsiation ASSIST. ASSIST makes sure that the applications are complete and fulfil all formal requirements before they are forwarded to the universities. Please note that this service attracts a processing fee. More information can be found on the ASSIST webpage, which also features a current list of all ASSIST-universities. If you want to apply for admission at an institution which is not a member of ASSIST, please send your documents directly to the university of your choice. In this case there is normally no processing fee to be paid.

What is a "Fachhochschule"?

A “Fachhoschule” is a specific kind of university in Germany. The term "Fachhochschule" is usually translated as "University of Applied Sciences" to reflect the fact that “Fachhochschul”-courses tend to be more practice-oriented than programmes at regular universities which usually focus on academic education. “Fachhochschul”-degree courses (Bachelor, Master, Diplom) have proved to be very popular with international students and normally feature practical exercises and internships as integral parts of their programmes in order to provide students with the opportunity to apply what they have learnt. Universities of Applied Sciences, however, cannot award PhD degrees and students intent on taking a doctorate are therefore advised to take up studies at a regular university. Please note that Ghanaian HND holders are generally considered for admission to an undergraduate degree at a “Fachhochschule”, but not at a regular university.

Can the "DAAD Information Centre Accra" help me obtain a student visa?

Since the "DAAD Information Centre Accra" is not affiliated with the German Embassy, we are not in a position to help you with issues related to visa matters. However, prospective applicants for a student visa are advised to discuss their study intentions with Information Centre staff. Please contact the visa section of the German Embassy via email and visit their website to learn more about the requirements for a student visa.

When applying for admission at a German school, I was told to submit certified copies of my documents. Where can I have my documents certified?

If the university requests true copies of your school documents to be included in your application, you may contact the German Embassy. Please deliver your documents, including the application forms, originals and the copies, to the receptionist and allow them at least seven days for certifying your documents. This service is free of charge if the documents are necessary for getting admission in Germany.

A German university has sent me forms in the German language - do you offer any assistance in translating those forms into English?

Unfortunately, we are not in a position to offer translation services. 
Please note: If you have received admission forms in the German language, you might have enquired about a degree course taught in German! If you apply for one of our "International Degree Programmes" all forms and information material will be provided in English. Please make sure that you are about to apply for a degree course taught in English.

I received an email from a German university in which they told me to download admission forms from their website, but I cannot download them - where is the problem?

Many German universities provide admission forms and other documents on their homepage. You might be asked to download these forms. In most cases, these forms will be available in a file format called "PDF". In order to read these documents you will need a software called "Acrobat Reader". If you haven't installed this application on your computer, contact the supervisor of the Internet cafe and ask for assistance to download and install this application. The Acrobat Reader can be downloaded here .

One of the admission requirements for a degree course is the applicant's "Proficiency in English: minimum TOEFL-score of 550 points". Does that mean I have to take the TOEFL-test before getting admitted?

Not necessarily - you have to contact the programme officer of your chosen degree course and enquire about their regulations for applicants coming from English-speaking countries. Though there is no general rule, a letter issued by a Ghanaian university lecturer, stating that you received all your primary and secondary education in the English language, might be sufficient to proof your proficiency in English. However, it is strongly recommended that you make sure your English proficiency is really there since lacking English skills can lead to the rejection of your application.

I am holding a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and would like to continue with a MBA programme in Germany. How are my chances of getting admission?

This combination doesn't look too good. If you take a look at the admission requirements of most MBA courses, you will see that there is usually the following requirement: "Bachelor Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Economics or related field". Related fields to Business Administration are e.g. Accounting, Statistics, Financial Management. Sociology, however, is not a closely related field, neither is Engineering, Political Science, Chemistry etc. Please check with the programme officer as to whether your first degree is relevant to Business Administration.

The same applies if you wish to continue with a Master Programme in - e.g. - Computer Science: your previous field of study must be related to Computer Science. Mathematics, Communication Engineering and Information Technology may be, Biology, Chemistry or Forestry are not.

I do not qualify for a DAAD grant, but I still need financial assistance. What should I do?

In this case you have to look for other sources of financial assistance. You'll find a list of scholarship-awarding organisations other than DAAD here .

I have browsed this website, but still have some questions about studying in Germany. Can the "DAAD Information Centre Accra" help me?

We are pleased to do so - contact us via email or come during our office hours. However, it will be most appreciated, if you could try to get as much information as possible beforehand. Please read the booklets available in the Download section first!

What's the weather like in Germany? Does is differ particularly in the course of the year?

Life in Germany also means to cope with seasonal weather changes. The country lies in a rather cool westerly wind zone between the Atlantic and the continental climate in the east. Extreme weather changes tend to be rare. The average winter temperature is between 1.5°C in the lowlands and minus 6°C in the mountain areas. July is the warmest month of the year with an average temperature of 18° C in the lower regions and 20° C in the sheltered areas of southern Germany. You can pursue leisure activities in accordance with the prevailing seasonal weather. Winter offers skiing, not only in the Alps to the south, but also in the hills and lower mountain ranges. Summer can be pleasantly spent on the beaches of the North and Baltic Sea.

What about mobility in Germany - can I travel the country?

Yes, you can! You do not necessarily need a car in Germany - even though driving may be fun but somehow different from driving in Ghana! The country has an excellent public transport network. Bus and rail will take you to practically every village. The trains run by Deutsche Bahn AG, the S-Bahn suburban rail networks and the tram and underground lines are to be found all over Germany. Busses and taxis are also available. Deutsche Bahn's InterCity trains commute regularly between the major cities, as does the high-speed ICE train. Domestic flights are increasingly popular. All major cities have airports, with many servicing international routes. One means of transport is particularly popular with students and many places have established special lanes and parking opportunities for it: the bicycle. Cycling is an ideal way to get around, especially in smaller towns. You can quickly reach any destination you like. Student districts also usually have the necessary infrastructure, from the cycle repair-shop to the specialist stores for racing bikes.

Is there any difference between living in eastern or western Germany?

The Berlin Wall fell on a November night in 1989 and the two German States reunited in 1990. Today, the differences between the "Ossis" from the east and the "Wessis" from the west are still noticeable, although they are increasingly fading. Young people, in particular, no longer grow up with the awareness of a divided identity. Indeed, much has become more modern in the east: This part of Germany has been undergoing a process of modernisation since German unification. Students will find smaller universities in the east which have the advantage that much more direct contact between academic staff and students is possible.