Germany continues to attract droves of international students every year. According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (July 2014), it is ranked as the fifth most preferred study destination in the world. This is a big accomplishment considering the fact that it started offering degree programmes in English just recently.
Engineering is a very strong backbone of the German economy and is one of the reasons why it still has the strongest economy in the European Union. Germany can boast of reputable engineering firms like Daimler, Volkswagen, and Siemens. These firms have a high international reputation across the globe. Germany and most countries in the EU have a gradual shortage of skilled workers, especially in the engineering field. This accounts for the introduction of the blue card system. Now would be a good time to get a bachelor's degree in Engineering from Germany as it would open a whole range of opportunities for you.
Traditionally, Germany offered most degree programmes in English at the master's level. However, in its effort to attract talent at a very young age, it has started introducing degree programmes in English at the bachelor's level. Students can therefore study in English and also learn German alongside at their own pace. By the end of their bachelor's programmes, they would have learned enough German to be eligible for most employment opportunities. It must also be noted that public universities in Germany are stated-owned and financed by the state. A high level of standard is thus maintained in all public universities. No tuition fees exist in public universities currently. However, the State of Baden-Württemberg will introduce tuition fees for international students from the winter semester 2017/2018 onwards. Students are also expected to pay a semester fee which rarely exceeds 500 Euros. This fee usually includes a semester ticket for local public transport.
For students to qualify to study at the undergraduate level in Germany, they need the Abitur. The Abitur in most cases is not equivalent to the high school diploma from most countries. It is usually the equivalence of the high school diploma, plus one or two years of study at an accredited university. Be sure to enquire from the university you wish to apply to, whether the high school certificate from your country is equal to the Abitur. You can also visit http://anabin.kmk.org/, which contains information on foreign institutions and academic qualifications. Please note that this site is available only in German.
Below are five German universities where you can get a bachelor's degree in an Engineering discipline for free. The amazing part is that these free degree programmes will also be taught completely in English.
1) Hamburg University of Applied Science
Hamburg is an international city on the water and ranks as one of the top 20 most liveable cities in the world. This makes it a beautiful place for students to live. It is also one of the most dynamic places in Europe, with innovative clusters in many fields. This university has an excellent reputation in information technology and ranks among the top German universities for computer science degree programmes (CHE RANKING). The university is practically oriented and has excellent professors who have worked outside the classroom. These professors bring with them years of industry experience.
The university currently offers a Bachelor's programme in Information Engineering. This degree programme allows students to meet the challenge of modern information engineering, in an atmosphere of international communication and exchange. More importantly, with the rapid development of the world's economy and the progress of technology, the demand for qualified staff in the field of information and computer engineering will increase substantially in the coming years.
2) Deggendorf Institute of Technology
The European Campus, which is part of The Deggendorf Institute of Technology, was launched in October 2015. The European Campus is centrally located in the charming touristic town of Pfarrkirchen, in lower Bavaria; Southern Germany. This town provides a friendly and exciting atmosphere for international students. The European Campus provides three benefits for international students. The first benefit is that students will receive multilingual education to prepare them for global careers, although the dominating lecture language will be English. Secondly, degrees will have a modular structure allowing students the freedom to choose from a range of modules, according to their academic progress and focus area. Last but not the least, the rapidly expanding industries in the region means successful students will have excellent prospects to develop fantastic careers.
The European Campus currently offers a Bachelor's programme in Industrial Engineering (Maintenance and Operation).Those who are interested in renewable energies, engineering and its maintenance, repair and operation in connection with economic viability and project management, are suited to the Bachelor of Industrial Engineering programme. This interdisciplinary-oriented programme with an additional qualification in the area of language and culture is targeted towards people from all over Europe and beyond.
3) Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences
Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences is a highly dynamic and committed university of applied sciences whose programmes prepare students to use scientific methods in their professional career. It provides an excellent learning and working environment that creates the necessary framework for a short period of study and high level of success. This university focuses a lot on the dual study system which combines both theory and practice. It as such produces graduates who are able to meet real world demands. The university also has a strong international focus and has most of it's students having spent at least one semester of study or internship abroad. In addition, it places strong emphasis on research and hence founded the Institute for Applied Research (IAF) in order to support all activities related to the area of research. Moreover, the Institute of Executive Education (IAW), founded in 2008, focuses on a wide range of activities in the field of further education and offers a large number of training programs and events.
The University currently offers a Bachelor's programme in Engineering and Management. It is designed for students who intend to work for international companies in functions or projects which require an engineering background as well as a thorough understanding of management practices.
4) University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt
University of Applied Sciences Wurzburg-Schweinfurt is one of the largest universities of applied sciences in southern Germany. The city of Schweinfurt, in Bavaria, is located in one of the most beautiful and safest regions in Germany. The university offers the dual study system which combines both theoretical and practical knowledge. It also possesses modern infrastructure and laboratories equipped with the latest technology. Furthermore, it has a close collaboration with regional companies. Students would therefore be in a good position to find internships and possibly jobs after completing their studies.
The university currently offers a Bachelor's programme in Business and Engineering. This programme is based on a well-balanced combination of technology and business. It presents a wide range of career opportunities for entering the job market. The combination of technical and non-technical study modules serves as the basis for both conventional and new fields. Graduates of this degree programme have excellent opportunities for starting their careers and will continue to have good prospects in the future.
5) Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences
Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences attracts students with its personal atmosphere, modern teaching methods, brilliant facilities and unique degree programmes on both its campuses, in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort. The Lower Rhine region is full of picturesque landscapes and rich historical traditions. The professors and lecturers are young, accomplished and approachable researchers who enjoy working closely with students to help them reach their full potential. As a university of applied sciences, the focus of its degree programmes is on practical applications and real-world relevance .The university has over 80 percent of its degree programmes taught exclusively in English, which gives people from all over the world the opportunity to earn a quality education according to the rigorous and internationally recognized academic standards of Germany. The university's brand-new campuses are research hot spots which feature top-of-the-line equipment and facilities, including laboratories, classrooms, libraries, language centres and canteens. It also maintains numerous collaborative contacts with private industry in the engineering field. Students have little difficulty finding eager partners for their projects, internships, or bachelor’s theses.
The university currently offers six Bachelor's programmes in the Engineering field, in English. They are:
- Bioengineering
- Communication and Information Engineering
- Electronics/Electrical Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Mechatronic Systems Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
These programmes are designed to be highly interdisciplinary and provide profound technical expertise as well as finely-tuned soft skills.
