The differences between public and private universities
The university system in Germany is very straightforward. Mainly, there are two types of universities, public and private.
Public universities in Germany
As the name says, public universities are state-owned, covering a wide range of study fields. In a public university, you will most likely study in big auditoriums with large classes of lots of other students. Higher education at a public university in Germany is always accredited.
Depending on your study field of choice, it may be difficult to get into popular classes such as medicine or law. Due to the huge number of applicants, these courses come with an NC (“Numerus Clausus”, a latin-derived term, meaning “limited number”). You need to have a certain grade to be eligible for these courses.
Generally, it is possible to study in English at a few German universities, although you will find more variety in courses at private universities.
Private universities in Germany
If you want to focus on your studies and getting good grades, studying and learning a new language at the same time is difficult. On the other hand, learning the German language first and studying in German afterwards will extend your stay in Germany and generally take some time.
If learning the German language may be a problem for you, we might have a solution: universities in Germany usually have many courses taught in English, although with private universities, the number of these kinds of courses is much greater.
Click here for a list of all private study programmes taught in English!
Another big plus of private universities in Germany is the huge variety of courses available compared to public universities. If you would like to study in a specific field in Germany, such as Marketing, you are sure to find it in a private university.
Compared to the large classes in public universities, private university classes are usually held in school-sized classes, with more focus on the individual.
One point a lot of students worry about is the accreditation process. In reality, the majority of private universities in Germany are accredited, following the high education standards of Europe’s Bologna Process.
Applying for a public university in Germany
Finding out where and how to apply
The application process may be split, depending on whether you are coming to study from an EU member state or not, and if your desired degree programme has an NC or not.
- Applicants who possess a university entrance qualification from Germany or any EU/EEA member country can apply for admission to higher education through the Trust for admission to higher education (Hochschulstart).
- Applicants who do not possess a German higher education entrance qualification or come from a non-EU/EEA country can apply for admission through uni-assist or directly to the university.
In Germany, the university itself decides under which criteria it will allow students to study certain courses. Visit your desired university’s website or international office to find out more about the requirements. Here, as an international student, you may have to take a university entrance exam or equivalents.
Required documents
Here you can find a list of general documents needed for applying to public universities in Germany. The needed documents may vary depending on the university.
- A certified copy of your high school diploma or a previously earned degree.
- Translations of the course modules and grades.
- Recent passport photo(s).
- A copy of your passport.
- Evidence of language proficiency in German and/or English.
- A letter of motivation.
- Payment of the application fee
Application deadline
Universities in Germany only accept applications until a certain date, this happens, so the universities can prepare everything for the upcoming students in terms of organization and such.
The application deadline for winter semester is the 15th of July.
The application deadline for summer semester is the 15th of January.
Applying for a private university in Germany with Compounder
Especially for international students, applying for a study programme in Germany can be rather difficult. Germany, being a country of bureaucracy, requires lots of paperwork, even more so for international students. Services such as uni-assist or hochschulstart are designed to make the complex application process easier but are still hard to grasp for international students. Even with a completed application process, your application will take long because of the sheer number of applications from other students around the world.
By attending a private university in Germany, you profit from a lot of changes that will make your studies in Germany achievable, easier, and less stressful.
With Compounder, we aim to make your application process stress-free, in an easy manner, by offering our portal, where you can find all sorts of private universities sorted by your needs.
To access Compounder’s full range of features, you can register for free, fill your profile with your personal information, study and work history, and directly apply to your chosen private university.
Step 1: Create your Compounder account
Of course, you can also use our website without a registration, for example, if you only want to find out about the universities, degree programmes or scholarships.
However, to be able to use Compounder to its full extent, you have the option of creating an account. Your profile allows you to apply for your desired degree programme.
So, if you decide to create an account with us, many new possibilities and opportunities to achieve your academic and professional goals will be opened up. If you have already completed this step, you can learn more about creating a profile on Compounder in the next section. If not, you can create your profile at any time.
Step 2: Completing your profile information
Once you have completed the registration and received a confirmation email in your inbox, you can start creating your personal user profile. You use this profile to apply to your selected universities in the future.
First off, you enter your personal data such as name, birthday and gender, followed by your school/study or training history and your professional experience, if you have already been able to gather any. If not, don't worry! Just make sure that the data you enter is true. Continue with your application documents, for which you should have a number of documents ready, including your CV, identity card or other documents and certificates, such as language certificates. Always make sure to keep the documents in your profile up to date.
After all, we are here to make your application process easier! By uploading your application documents in advance, you do not have to search for them again when you apply. The data you enter can only be viewed by the respective recipients of the universities when you later submit your application.
Completing your Compounder application profile may take some time, but in return it will make your future applications all the easier. If you have now completed your profile, you are almost there! The next step is to select your desired degree programme. You will find out how to do exactly that and make the right decision in the next section.
Step 3: Selecting your desired degree programme
On Compounder, you can filter and sort degree programmes according to a wide range of factors. Search for a specific degree programme, a university that catches your eye or a location where you would like to study - the choice is yours!
In addition to the information on the individual degree programmes, we also have some overviews of certain degree programmes in general for you. You can find them here LINK.
You can find a more detailed article on how to find the right degree programme for you here. If you are still unsure about what you would like to study, you can take our study finder test LINK.
Choosing the right degree programme is a big decision! Always take the time to inform yourself about the degree programme, the university, and the general conditions such as costs, relocation and more.
Step 4: Your application
The last step - your actual application. If you have found your desired degree programme after your own research, you can now apply for that degree programme.
The information you will be asked to provide varies from university to university and from degree programme to degree programme! Usually, you must at least enter the desired location, language and start date (year and semester).
Next, if necessary, enter your individual letter of motivation in the text field below. This is where you can convince your desired university of your reasons for studying and your plans for the future!
Submit the documents you have previously uploaded. Depending on the university, different documents may be required. Once again, make sure that the documents you submit are up to date.
In the following summary, you will get a final overview of your applications. If you are satisfied, you can now send off your application and you’re done!
Now it's time to wait and see! The university will contact you and let you know what the rest of the application process will look like.
If you want, you can now send further applications, because after you have applied, you are not yet bound to the respective university and are free to send as many applications as you like.
Click here to register with Compounder and start your journey!Comments (0)
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