Is studying in Germany free of tuition? Should we go?

China people choose to study in Germany, which has six advantages:

First, the threshold for studying abroad is low.

The language requirements in the admission procedures of German universities are relatively low. Unlike going to the United States or Britain, you have to take TOEFL, GRE or IELTS first. In Germany, you can get the university admission notice with a certain number of German hours (usually 800 to 1000 hours), and you can pass the real language of the university when you arrive in Germany. German is mainly difficult in introduction and grammar, which are the strengths of China students. Generally speaking, China students can pass the language test in German universities within two years as long as they work hard.

Second, going to college is basically free.

German universities are truly compulsory education. Not only is the tuition free, but even the miscellaneous fees (called registration fees in Germany) are very small, usually about 100 euros per semester (about RMB 1000 yuan). This is undoubtedly a great temptation for students who are not rich economically but are eager to go abroad for gold plating. Although many German universities began to levy extra-curricular tuition fees in 2004, it is mainly aimed at students who are unwilling to graduate on campus for a long time, while China students can basically complete their studies within the prescribed academic system (generally 12- 13 semester), so don't worry.

Third, there are many discounts for students.

German college students can enjoy all kinds of benefits and conveniences in their daily life, which is the main reason why so many people in Germany prefer to stay on campus rather than go out to society. These concessions are first reflected in the "line". Generally speaking, the registration fee paid by students each semester includes all public transportation expenses (such as buses, subways, trans-regional trains, etc.). ) In the city where the university is located. In some states, it even includes train tickets to and from nearby cities. In addition, college students can also buy discount tickets (generally limited to under 26 years old).

The second is "living". Universities in most cities in Germany provide student dormitories, subsidized by the state, and the rent is relatively cheap, generally between 100-200 euros per month, which is far better than finding a house by yourself. However, students must register and apply in advance, and because there are more and more foreign students in Germany, the demand for student dormitories is usually in short supply, so it is normal to wait in line for one or two years. In addition, students can seek help from local church organizations when looking for a house. Although the organization has no dormitory, it will actively arrange for you to find relatively cheap housing to help you tide over the difficulties.

The third is "food". German universities have canteens, which are cheap and good. Usually, each meal is about 2 euros, while a meal in a fast food restaurant costs 5 euros, which is more expensive in a restaurant. Of course, it would be better if you could stand on your own feet. Generally, students' dormitories have public kitchens, and spending half an hour every day can save 50- 100 euros per month. But if you share a room or live in a German home, cooking is relatively troublesome, because Germans don't like the fumes in the house. In addition, some student apartments can also provide "all-inclusive accommodation" for freshmen for one semester, paying 200-250 euros per month, and providing lunch from Monday to Friday in addition to accommodation. However, due to "more monks than porridge", we must get in touch early, not every city has it.

The fourth is medical insurance. In Germany, students can enjoy very favorable medical insurance. No matter which medical insurance company is insured, the monthly insurance premium does not exceed 50 euros, which is far lower than the normal insurance premium, and the insurance coverage is wide. Except for a few medical items such as dental beauty, almost all serious diseases are covered by insurance items, and you can swipe your card directly without paying for it yourself. Even taking a taxi can be reimbursed by the insurance company. Although Germany's medical reform in the second half of last year required patients to pay 10 euros for initial consultation and a small amount of drugs every quarter, it was still insignificant compared with expensive medical expenses.

To sum up, the average monthly living expenses of German students in China are about 600 euros, including 200 euros for rent, 50 euros for medical insurance, 50 euros for transportation (mainly for travel expenses), 40 euros for books and stationery, 0/50 euros for meals/kloc, and other expenses such as telephone (internet access), leisure and social activities.

Fourth, there are many opportunities for work-study programs.

In principle, you are allowed to work while studying in Germany, but you are not allowed to work all year round. In terms of work, it depends on what visa you get (what remarks are added to the visa). The general rule is that you can work on holidays. But some visas are not stipulated. If there is no regulation, there is a time limit for each month's work (generally no more than 8 hours per week or no more than 3 months throughout the year). Compared with Britain, Canada and other countries, the job opportunities in Germany are much higher. As long as you are not afraid of hard work, you can usually find a short-term job.

Verb (abbreviation of verb) is a convenient signature extension.

In Germany, once you pass the college language test and register successfully, for a long time (generally speaking, as long as you haven't graduated from college), as long as you have a certain amount of money in your bank account, you don't have to worry about whether your visa can be extended, and you can go back to China to visit relatives or visit a third country at any time during the validity period of your visa. In the United States, generally speaking, as long as you return to China, you have to re-apply for a visa. Therefore, many students are afraid to go home.

Sixth, the development prospect is good.

At present, Sino-German relations are at their best in history, and exchanges and cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, trade, science and education are increasingly frequent. Since 2003, China has surpassed Japan to become Germany's largest trading partner in Asia, and Germany has long been China's most important trading partner in Europe.

In this context, large and medium-sized German enterprises have high enthusiasm and expectations for China, and they all try their best to seize the China market, and accordingly the demand for talents is increasing, especially for university graduates who are proficient in Chinese and German languages and have related majors. Therefore, as long as China students have a German university diploma, it is not too difficult to find a good job related to China after graduation. Of course, if you want to have a good development prospect after studying in Germany, it also involves the choice of majors, and the cultivation of personal ability can not be ignored.

But everything has advantages and disadvantages. There are five major disadvantages in studying in Germany.

First of all, it is difficult to cross the language barrier.

In the process of German university admission, the language requirements are relatively low, and the interview is only satisfied with a piece of paper and a few simple questions. When you hold the university admission notice (please note: the German university admission notice is completely different from that in China. German university admission notice should be more accurately called university registration certificate, and you must pass the language test to register. When you come to Germany with great joy to prepare for your great future, you find that the language you master is not qualified for your studies at all, or even for your daily life.

What's more, the college language test is still waiting for you (because German universities rarely offer English-Chinese bilingual teaching). According to the relevant regulations of Germany, if you fail to pass the college language test within two years, you will be repatriated. For this reason, you have to bury yourself in German. Usually, the number of language classes in universities is limited and it is expensive to go to private language schools.

To this end, the author suggests that domestic students who are interested in studying in Germany should not rush to go abroad, must lay a good foundation in German at home, and it is best to pass the German proficiency test at home before going abroad, so that on the one hand, they can have a relaxed learning environment in Germany, on the other hand, they can quickly adapt to a completely unfamiliar learning environment.

Second, the teaching system is completely different.

The teaching system in German universities is very different from that in China. The most obvious manifestation is that German universities attach great importance to students' learning consciousness and initiative. Professors generally don't urge students to study after class. They are usually only responsible for teaching their own lessons well and making a long list of reference books for students. As for whether you understand in class or have difficulties in learning, as long as you don't take the initiative to ask, he doesn't care at all, and he doesn't care if you read reference books. Moreover, German university professors generally have their own tutoring time, so it is difficult for you to find him outside the prescribed time. This laissez-faire teaching mechanism makes it difficult for China students who have been planned and arranged by their parents and teachers since childhood to adapt. Because of poor autonomy, the study plan is in a mess, which affects the academic performance and also dampens the interest in learning.

I once met a girl from China, and her academic performance in China was very good. She is often praised by teachers, and she is very proud of herself. However, in Germany, because I didn't adapt to the teaching methods here, I didn't know how to arrange the courses reasonably, my language ability was limited, and I couldn't fully understand it in class, but I was embarrassed to ask questions face to face because of my face. I have been waiting for the professor to give her after-school tutoring, but I can't. As a result, I learned very hard and my mentality changed at once. I always feel that I can't do anything, and I am depressed all day. Finally, I got schizophrenia and had to give up my studies in Germany and go back to China for treatment.

Third, the study time is long.

The academic system of German universities has its own characteristics: the study time is unlimited, and you can graduate as long as you complete the necessary credits, whether it takes five or ten years. For a person who is not conscious of learning, it is easy to develop inertia objectively.

On the other hand, the complexity of the German academic system makes it very long. In Germany, university education is divided into two stages, namely the basic stage and the professional stage. The basic stage is usually two years. If you want to learn a language in Germany, it may take three to four years. After entering the professional stage, in addition to studying professional subjects, students began to learn to write small professional papers, and after completing several small papers, they began to write graduation papers.

Finally, you need to go through a big exam to test what you have learned from beginning to end. Generally speaking, both the oral and written tests are about 20-30, and one test takes 4-5 courses together for four or five hours. For example, the examination papers of enterprise management include statistics, cost, financing and investment, tax audit, accounting and so on. The final exam can only be retaken once. If you fail to retake the exam again, you will be announced to drop out. This forces students to postpone the schedule of taking the exam for one or two years to be on the safe side. Therefore, few people can finish their studies and get a master's degree within four years, let alone foreigners with good language skills.

Although China people are famous for their intelligence and diligence, it is difficult to study skillfully in Germany, and it usually takes five years or more to successfully complete their studies and get a degree. This is undoubtedly far behind compared with the degree that Britain and the United States can get in a year or two. If the opportunity cost is included, the loss will be even greater. However, the length of the German academic system is not without its merits. At least one thing is recognized by the world: although there are no big universities in Germany, its university diploma is extremely rich in gold.

Fourth, it is not easy to apply for a scholarship.

Because German universities provide free education, they do not provide scholarships themselves. Scholarships are usually provided by the German Academic Exchange Center (DAAD) or foundations of various political parties in Germany, such as Adenauer Foundation, Albert Foundation, Friedrich friedrich naumann foundation, etc. Most of the recipients are senior students, including international students, but they mainly take care of European and North American countries. It is generally difficult for China students to apply for scholarships unless their academic performance is outstanding. And the amount of scholarship is less than that of Britain and America. In addition, almost no foundation will provide financial assistance to applicants during the whole study period.

Verb (abbreviation for verb) There are restrictions on immigration.

As we all know, German nationalism has always been strong. For example, anti-Semitism in World War II had a certain mass base. Even in today's Germany, all kinds of violent crimes against foreigners occur from time to time. On the other hand, the immigration policy formulated by the German government is much more conservative than that of the United States and Canada, and even a little harsh (thanks to the ruling of the Social Democratic Party, if the conservative CDU is in power, the immigration policy will be even tighter). This is also the main reason why few people have enjoyed this treatment since Germany followed the example of the United States to issue green cards to top talents in the IT industry.