How to Study in Germany for Free (8 Steps)
Studying in Germany could be very tempting, especially when the future ahead of you after finishing a degree will lead to numerous big opportunities. Yet, despite the assurance of success, many still hesitate to pursue an education in Germany because of the expense they will be spending. Worry not! In this article, we will be looking at how to study in Germany for free.
If you were one of those with huge hesitations in choosing Germany, there are still various ways to achieve your dreams. The money will not stop you from getting your dreams so, here are some suggestions we can give you to get that free high-quality education you wanted!
Study in Germany for Free
1. Make sure that you have a good academic background
Each university checks for the academic background of every applicant trying to get into their colleges. It is their right to filter any students that seem to be relevant and students that will raise their reputation. Some of the aspects that they check on students’ backgrounds are their secondary education GPA and their behavioral tendencies.
Of course, universities want their students to be well-mannered and excellent enough to carry the name of their institution on the students’ shoulders. So, If you want to raise your chances of securing slots in different universities, the first thing you need to do before applying is to study well and have an acceptable behavior. This is one of the most critical steps for students to study in Germany for free.
2. Apply as early as you can
Apply as early as you can, will give you a head start from the other applicants or students in getting into the university you wanted to. The advantages of having a head start will give you time to research the universities you were planning to attend. This can help you familiarize the campus and look for students to interview on how to ease the expensive way of studying. Do not be afraid to get advice from faculty and seniors about your financial situations and surely, help will come knocking on your way.
Also, early application means that your portfolio will be more outstanding and prioritized than other applicants since they would be considering your activeness and eagerness in attending their institution.
3. Check and Apply to Free Universities in Germany
Fortunate news for international students is that many universities in Germany are free even for international students. State and public universities in the country are free for all students. You can definitely study for free in Germany by applying to these free universities in Germany.
4. Research Scholarships in Germany and Apply
You can get major academic, athletic, and artistic scholarships from universities that offer a wide variety of degree programs. In Germany, most of their state and public universities offer academic scholarships to those whom they believed to be the assets of their country. Getting scholarships from a German university is a good way to study in Germany for free since it oftentimes provides living expenses for students as well.
Scholarships from universities are one of the many sources of funds that a college student could apply to. Aside from this, student loans are encouraged by the university and are widely available for local and international students in the country.
5. Apply for DAAD Scholarship
DAAD Scholarship is a government scholarship that the German government provides. It is fully funded, meaning that it covers your living expenses (since German universities have free tuition for everyone already). I highly encourage you to apply for the DAAD Scholarship to be able to study in Germany for free. There are many international students that take advantage of it, so you should try to as well!
6. Apply for private Scholarships from organizations and companies
If you were planning on taking a degree that has something to do with big organizations or companies worldwide, you can apply for scholarships from them through their foundations. Most likely, student scholarships would also be one of the projects of their foundation. An example of an organization that has missions on supporting students was the WHO that supports several medical students in their studies.
However, some companies require some students to pay back for their scholarships by working for them. All you need to do is research the companies that support your line of study and apply it to their scholarships.
7. Get a part-time job
Tuition fees and other school fees were not the only sums you will be paying during your stay in Germany. Housing rent, food, clothing, and utilities were some of the few daily necessities that also need money attention. If you find yourself not being able to pay your living expenses with scholarships, you can work to be able to study in Germany for free.
However, according to a German government website, you must always check the hours of your work because a student in Germany is only allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours a week during school days. The country always reminds its students that education must come before labor.
8. Manage your money well
Lastly, when you got to receive that hard-earned paycheck from your part-time job, you must learn how to spend it wisely. Pay your bills after receiving your salary and immediately save a part of that. By doing this, when financial emergencies such as school projects, field trips, or health issues occur, you will have enough savings to cover those bills.
Being away from your own country while studying in a different one will teach you how to be thrifty. Since financial security is very weak in a different country, you must pull yourself together to get through these challenges by saving up money.
I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Europe Scholarships Page.