>Chennai Central @The Hindu in association with >DAAD India will host a Facebook chat on Tuesday, July 2 at 3 p.m. on higher education in Germany.
The chat will be open for questions from Saturday, June 29 at >Chennai Central @ The Hindu 's Facebook page. Questions will be answered by Padmavathi Chandramouli, the Information Officer of the DAAD Information Center, Chennai.
Germany’s higher education institutions enjoy an excellent reputation. Teaching and research provide key impulses for innovation and progress. German universities combine research and studies and have been the scene for ground-breaking discoveries such as the printing press, computer and mp3 that have become an inseparable part of our modern lives.
Every year, thousands of young men and women from abroad decide to begin or continue studying at a German university. As a result, Germany is one of the world’s most popular places to study and has witnessed a 70% increase in enrollment of Indian students at its universities since the academic year 2008.
There are good reasons for this, which include among others International degree Programmes (IDP) taught in English medium, excellent quality of education, low or no tuition fees, career opportunities after graduation and above all, social security.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is an association of higher education institutions in Germany and promotes global exchange of international students and research scholars in different programmes.
The DAAD Information Center Chennai is headed by its Director, Franziska Lindhout. Mrs. Lindhout is also a visiting Faculty at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras.
A message from Klaus Ihme, Deputy Consul General, German Consulate General, Chennai
Dear students,
It is indeed a great pleasure to seize this opportunity offered by The Hindu to promote Germany as a great place for your higher education.
Germany has a very old tradition with some universities like Heidelberg, Köln, Erfurt, Würzburg and Leizpzig, which are already more than 600 years old, but still offering high quality and up to date education.
Today, more than 400 higher education institutions provide a wide range of different study fields. Currently, a student holding a bachelors degree can choose between more than 5000 different courses for the master’s degree.
One German speciality can be found in the different types of universities: If you are more practically oriented, you should watch out for the universities of applied science, whereas students who are more scientifically oriented should enrol with a university.
More than 10% of about two million enrolled students come from abroad and enjoy not only very good education, but also the wide range of social activities which are offered. Many of them choose international courses, which are taught in English as well. Although I would encourage every student to learn German, it is not mandatory for these courses.
One of Germany's constitutional principles is to guarantee a good education. Therefore, most of the institutions do not charge any tuition fees, but receive funds from the German government. Competition between the institutions is ensured through different rankings and those, who are the best ones in their field, might be granted the status of an institution of excellence. Still I would say, that all institutions offer an excellent education for those who are motivated and want to succeed!
Last but not least, besides studying, you will have the chance to explore a beautiful country in the heart of Europe and its unique culture, history and landscape.
