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Study Free & Settle in Germany ?
In 2014, Germany’s 16 states abolished tuition fees for undergraduate student’s at all public German universities. This means that currently both domestic and international undergraduates at public universities in Germany can study for free, with just a small fee to cover administration and other costs per semester.Public universities & a few private universities in Germany charge no tuition fee, but you do need to pay a minimal semester contribution of about 300 Euros per semester. However this semester contribution entitles you to a semester ticket which helps you travel for free around the city.
How to Minimize Cost of Study in Germany?
There are various ways through which you can reduce you costs while planning to study in Germany thereby making the study nearly free. Some of them are listed below.
Search for Free Universities in Germany
First step in this direction is to choose the right universities that offer tuition fee free . About 95% of the German universities are publically owned and charge no tuition fee . Hence first thing you have to do is to shortlist such universities
Search Free Courses In Germany
Having shortlisted such universities, the next step is to find out the list of courses offered with tuition fee waiver and see whether the course you are interested in is in the no tuition fee list. Also make it a point to check the fee structure and the exact course outline before applying to the university. Also make it a point to check the admission criteria, some courses might need you to do some extra course work, or attend additional German language classes, which obviously are not free.
Start Preparing for meeting the Eligibility Criteria at home before you leave India.
The next step is to check the admission criteria & eligibility conditions. Some courses might need you to do some extra course work, and attend additional German language classes in German. To overcome these you have to find out an institute in Germany that will help you with a pathway program at an economical cost. As of now, you need B2 level of German language proficiency for entry into a partially German taught course and basic B1 level for English taught courses. The fee structure for language courses are costlier in Germany as compared to India. If you fall short in language proficiencies in English or German or both, it is better to do a basic German course and Test of English in India before you leave India.so that you can learn the language in a shorter duration in Germany.
Apply To Various Scholarships
Many institutions offer scholarships to international students for studying in Germany. DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), the largest funding organization in the world offers various scholarships to students who wish to pursue bachelors, masters or doctoral research in Germany. Some of the other scholarships available are Erasmus Mundus, Bosch Scholarships, etc.Applying for various scholarships is another way to fund your study in Germany without having to spend much from your own pocket. However you need to have a good score for obtaining a scholarship
Take part time job & internship
The German law allows international students to work part-time for up to 20 hours a week or 120 full days of a year. You don’t need to possess a qualification in the first place because there is a wide range of jobs available and you will likely find something anyway. Commonly, students in Germany work as tutors, bartenders, administrative staff, babysitters, etc. Many of the universities offer internship as a part o the study program. This internships are with paid salary Paid internships and working part-time alongside studying is an option you must seriously consider in Germany which will help you earn while learning so that you can reduce your dependence on money from your parents
Shared Accommodation & Cooking
Staying in a shared accommodation instead of a hostel and Cooking your own food will bring down your cost to a great extent than staying alone and taking food from restaurants.
Public transports & Bicycle
Taking public transport instead of private vehicles where you can use your semester ticket from your university can help you bring down your travel costs. Another smart way is to use rented bicycle which not only saves money but helps improve your health as well.
Stay back with PR and citizenship in Germany
After graduating in Germany, international students are allowed to work and stay back in Germany. After graduation you can work in Germany with a ~Residence Work Permit” or an “EU Blue Card”. After 2 years of working in Germany you are eligible to apply for Permanent Residency, With PR, you can stay in Germany as long as you wish. Having the PR you can study, work and even bring your family members in Germany. After 8 years of PR and living in Germany you are eligible to apply citizenship as per the rules of Naturalization.