Apply to German Masters Programs in Germany?

[romeluc]

I am graduating (Jan 2015) with a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from a university outside Germany. I studied everything in English and know very little German (no better that A2). Germany is my favorite country to do my Masters in and so far I have been looking at English taught programs only, but  I am not sure if this is the best approach. Is It more typical for internationals to be willing to learn the language first and then apply to courses in German? I would only be comfortable committing to learning a new language if I am sure it's going to be useful, i.e.  securing a place in a German university.  

This is a concern for me especially because many of the universities I looked at seem to be very demanding in their requirements for international students. For example, RWTH Aachen asks for 2.5 on the German scale, but for the American GPA system they ask for 3.5/4 -- which is very high. My GPA is 2.82/4 and is considered above-average/good at my university. I plan to apply to about 5 programs that I feel I'm qualified for, but I wouldn't be very confidant about being offered a place and so wouldn't be willing to commit to learning German yet.

Please, could someone offer any advice in my case? Should I be more optimistic? Is there something I'm missing?
 

[Courgette]

hi.  I made an account just so I could offer my 2 pence on your question.

 

I have very limited experience with applying to German institutions in STEM fields from American institutions, and moderate experience with the German university system.  That said, I have been told that RWTH Aachen and TU Munich together are the best engineering schools in Germany - if your GPA is a 2.82/4 on an American scale, my sense is that is indeed below standard for those schools (unless you can say that by "above-average/good" you mean "top 5 percent").

 

Without knowing much more about you the most useful suggestion I have for you is for you to make use of your contacts at your home institution.  Politely email a professor who likes you and ask if you can meet to talk about applying to programs in Germany.  Ask what institutions he or she would recommend applying to and what your chances of being admitted are.  Also ask if he or she can point you towards others who may be able to provide further assistance, advice, and knowledge.  Odds are he or she won't necessarily know but may be able to connect you with other people in your department with greater experience - and through this network you may be able to find contacts at a German institution with a reason to take you on.

 

lastly - look into the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) study grants for masters students.  

[romeluc]

Thank you Courgette. I will definitely do as you advised. As soon as I am prepared and ready to ask professors for recommendations, I will ask about Germany as well.
 

[xolo]

I'm a recovering engineer and happened by the forum. A2 is weak for language skills. I don't know about Germany, so keeping that in mind, in Spain most universities require B2 (if I recall correctly). But common sense should tell you that you need at least B2. Working for municipalities in Spain requires C1. I assume you like Germany and the language? If that is true then you have a great opportunity. Going from A2 to B2 is going to take some work but then while you are in Germany you will probably go to C2 if you have the interest! I think it is common in the EU and the US for the university to state what language level required for non-native speakers. In the US it's usually TOEFL and sometimes iELTS which are not scored per the harmonized EU scale. Why not just ask? You might have to actually take a certifying exam.

Edited September 19, 2014 by eyepod

[Cate2015]

Depending on the subject and location 2,5 can be a very good or average mark.

 

I suggest to apply for a master program in English language at a German university because C1 is really necessary to follow the courses in a masters program. 

As advanced learners learn the German language more quickly when actually in the country B1 or B2 might be sufficient for the very start, but must get improved to strive in the program. 

 

In electrical engineering RWTH Aachen and TU Munich are among the very best choices but there is no strong hierarchy between the universities. Among the 80 universities 40 belong to the global Top 500 (few not listed because they don't provide data), none to the Top 40. 

Not-even-placed less scientific universities of applied sciences have almost the same reputation in many industries but not in consulting. There are a lot of non-university institutes for postgraduate peak science to match the Top 40 in special jobs.

 

11 newly found German Universities of Excellence receive extra general funding to improve their international position despite the growing number of competitors especially from Asia. These are RWTH Aachen, FU Berlin, HU Berlin, Uni Bremen, TU Dresden, Uni Heidelberg, Uni Köln in Cologne., Uni Konstanz in Constance, LMU München, TU München, Uni Tübingen. 

 

For Engineering and electrical engineering consider also Dresden. Dresden is the European Epicenter of Microelectronics and TU Dresden (national number 3 in industrial income, leading the table by number of patents) connected to a singular number of local non-university peak-research offers some English language masters in Electrical Engineering as "Nanoelectronic Systems" or "Organic and Molecular Electronics", Advanced Computational and Civil Engineering Structural Studies, Nanobiophysics, etc, etc. 

 

Microelectronics, Material sciences and Biotechnology are the 3 fields of Industries where the location excels and offers best masters and PhD courses. The important non-university institutes are listed at http://www.dresden-concept.de/en/alliance/members.html , all of them flourishing and tightening their connections to the regional research university to give it rising international visibility.

 

https://www.cfaed.tu-dresden.de is for Electrical Engineering. Googling for phD Dresden finds some other options. 

Edited September 23, 2014 by Cate2015

[Balladeer]

(I am quoting you because you said you are familiar with German university system )

 

I am also from outside Germany. I am applying for MS in CS at TuM. However the last date is Nov 15 (but advisable Oct 31).

 

If I send my packet on 11th, I will still manage to get it delivered it by 13 or 15th.

 

Their semester calenar:

The winter semester lasts from October 01 to March 31.

The summer semester lasts from April 01 to September 30.

 

What I want to know is:

• Whether Summer semester application offer better chances of acceptance (maybe because less number of applicants)?
• What are the main differences I should be looking at between these application periods?
• Is there any specific pitfall of applying or getting in during Summer semester other than maybe I'll have to rush for Visa and all? 

I am in a fix because I can very well apply for October intake but I would not want to wait if it's possible and I will have even a slight edge w.r.t. in one of the two.

[Balladeer]

 

 

Could you please provide some resource on which German institutes are good for a Computer Science MS (and then possibly a PhD)? I plan to specialize in Machine Learning and Data/Text Mining (as in thesis and choice of project field, given that's  a thing in Germany)?

 

Any link/resource/direction would be very helpful.

[NikkiCoco]

Visit www.learnlanguagesquickly.weebly.com

I found a great German teacher to help me prepare for DAAD. 

[soumya213]

Hey, Can anyone please help me .

 

I am a student from India and I think RWTH Aachen needs GATE score Indian students for eligibility.

Is there any way I can get into it with a GRE score or something.

 

I have a pretty good score in TOEFEL - 110/120

and am yet to appear for GRE.

 

Kindly suggest something !