Study and research in Germany

FAQ's - Universities

• What types of higher education institutions exist and how do they differ from each other?
• Where can I find more information about the profile and range of studies offerd by each higher educaton institution?
• Are there any rankings that can help me find the university that suits me best?
• Where can I go to find out how to apply for a study place at a German university?
• Where and how can I do a doctorate in Germany?

What types of higher education institutions exist and how do they differ from each other?

The German higher education system stands out with the wide range of different kinds of higher education institutions that it offers. You can choose from traditional universities (Universitäten),  universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen), universities of technology (Technische Hochschulen or Universitäten), universities of education (Pädagogische Hochschulen), universities and colleges of art, music and film (Kunst-, Musik-, und Filmhochschulen und Universitäten der Künste), universities of applied administrative sciences (Verwaltungsfachhochschulen) and universities of the armed forces (Universitäten der Bundeswehr) as well as distance studies universities (Fernhochschulen) and universities of cooperative education (Berufsakademien). Most of these higher education institutions are public institutions. But higher education institutions supported by the church also exist, while recent years have seen the range of private universities grow.
You can find detailed information on the profiles of each type of higher education institution on our homepage by clicking here: Higher education Institutions >> Types of higher education institutions. Table 2: Types of higher education institutions at a glance will prove very useful in providing a quick initial overview. If you are interested particularly in studying at a distance studies university, you will be able to find everything worth knowing, including the degree programmes they offer, on the web-based portals studieren.de and Fernstudium-Info.de.
Please note: You can gain high-quality, state-recognised academic degrees at all state-recognised higher education institutions, regardless of their respective profile. German higher education institutions all stand out with their highly-qualified academic staff and the close combination of theory and practice. Essentially, all the various types of German higher education institutions enjoy the same status.
So, whatever type of higher education institution you choose, make sure it is state-recognised. This guarantees that your studies meet high quality standards that are recognised everywhere.

Where can I find more information about the profile and range of studies offerd by each higher educaton institution?

The DAAD Database provides a good overview. Go to Universities >> University Profiles to find the addresses of and links to more than 300 German universities.
You can also find further useful information on the following websites:

• www.hochschulkompass.de 
  
• www.studienwahl.de
  
• www.wege-ins-studium.de

Are there any rankings that can help me find the university that suits me best?

In contrast to many other countries, there is no long tradition of university rankings in Germany. They have only begun to play an increasingly significant role in recent years. However, please do take care when selecting a ranking. Besides some few reliable and reputable examples, there are also numerous publications that fail to meet the quality standards expected of a ranking. This is why the DAAD – working in cooperation with the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE) and the German weekly newspaper DIE ZEIT – offers its own university ranking in English. You can find it on our homepage at: English >> University >> University Ranking.

Where can I go to find out how to apply for a study place at a German university?

Your first point of contact should be the International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt – AAA) of your chosen university. The staff there will be able to tell you everything you need to know about procedures, dates and deadlines, requirements, and the papers and documents that you need to submit.
You can find a list of all the German International Offices on the DAAD homepage at: Planning Your Studies >> Facilities >> International Office (AAA).

Where and how can I do a doctorate in Germany?

Normally, you can gain a doctorate at all universities in Germany, including most universities of technology, the universities of education, and the art, music and film colleges, as well as the universities of the arts. The key factor is whether the higher education institution in question is itself entitled to award a doctorate (Promotionsrecht). Please note that this is not the case for the Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen). You can find more information on the various kinds of higher education institutions in our FAQs on Types of Higher Education Institutions.
You can generally be admitted to doctoral studies if you successfully gained a university degree. Access to doctorates is still restricted at present for graduates of FH universities of applied sciences. Under certain conditions, however, these graduates can also gain a doctorate from a university. But they certainly need a doctoral supervisor from the university. Often, they will additionally be required to gain some additional academic achievements.
In the past, Germany did not have Graduate Schools or Graduate Centres, etc. at which doctoral students were taught and supervised in structured programmes. Nor is there, generally, any set curriculum under which the doctoral phase has to be completed.
However, Germany's universities and research institutions have increasingly been offering special programmes for doctoral students for a number of years now. These include Graduate Schools, Research Schools, Doctoral Colleges, Graduate Centres or Graduate Colleges. Many of these programmes have an international focus. We offer further information on these on our homepage at: Research >> Doctorate.

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