After you've slaved away at a Bachelor's degree and achieved your goals, what comes next? A Masters, of course, and Germany is the ideal place to study for one. Germans value skills above almost everything else, and the nation's universities offer a vast range of Masters subjects, in M.A., M.Sc., and M.Eng. formats.
This article explains what Masters offer, how to apply, and the various forms you'll encounter.
Most academic pathways progress from a Bachelor's degree, through to a Masters, and then a Doctorate (or PhD), and German universities generally keep to this rule
More advanced than a Bachelor's, Masters courses are suited to able students who have scored well in Bachelor's examinations and have a strong interest in a particular subject. They also tend to be much more specific than lower level qualifications, providing in-depth knowledge needed to enter many German professions.
In Germany, a Masters degree is often a requirement to enter the senior ranks of occupations like accountancy, business management, medicine, teaching, and engineering. A Bachelor's degree is necessary to launch careers in these areas, but it isn't enough.
In the past, German Masters were known as a Diplom. However, as European qualifications are harmonized under the Bologna Process, they tend to be referred to as simple Masters degrees these days.
One of the attractions of studying a Masters in Germany is the cost. Many public institutions charge no tuition fees, beyond an administrative fee per semester. This usually amounts to little more than €200.
There are some exceptions. For instance, many business schools charge per semester, and the major state of Baden-Wurttenberg charges tuition fees at all universities.
Typically, a German Masters course will take 2 years to complete. Part-time options may extend this duration by a year, but Masters rarely take longer than that. Fast-track courses are also possible, and can be completed in one year.
At the end of the course, students will be awarded a grade based on their achievements. A good grade for a Masters in Germany is 1.0-1.5 (Sehr Gut), while 1.6-2.5 qualifies as Gut.
Choosing the right Masters course and location is extremely important
Course quality varies, as do costs, and how welcoming universities are for international students.
The best starting point when seeking out a Masters is Master-and-More. Its site includes a comprehensive search function, listing all of the current German Masters courses. Students can search by subject or location.
So if you are settled in Berlin, you can easily find a course nearby. Clicking on the course name brings up a host of relevant information, including contact details, eligibility requirements, and what the course entails.
To gain admission for a Masters, students will need to meet eligibility requirements, including achieving the required academic standard at Bachelor's level. If you are coming directly from abroad, double check that your degree matches the standards requested, as this isn't always the case.
Most German Masters courses require a decent level of German, but this isn't as pronounced as it is at Bachelor's level. If you speak good English and moderate German, that may be enough. But if you don't, universities will generally fund immersive German courses as part of the application process.
The actual application process requires filling out an application form, supplying academic credentials, securing letters of recommendation, and possibly providing a CV. All of this can be handled via the Uni-Assist portal, which makes life much easier.
After that, you will need to purchase health insurance and provide evidence of financial security. Usually, students do so by opening a "blocked account" - and Expatrio can help out here if you need assistance.
With those foundations in place, you will be able to enrol on a Masters without any problems.
Master of Arts (M.A.) courses include subjects like literature, history, law, geography, social sciences (in most cases), philosophy, art history, and art and design
The courses tend to be seminar or lecture based, with an emphasis on discussion and argument. Library research and workshops are also major features, but the precise mixture depends on what you study.
Students will normally have to complete an extended research task in dissertation form, which requires excellent writing skills.
Several career paths could result from an M.A. Teaching is a common destination, as is the Civil Service (Öffentlicher Dienst). Journalism, the law, and marketing are also possibilities.
As the name suggests, a Master of Science (M.Sc.) is different
Possible subjects here include physics, biology, and chemistry, as well as numerous sub-disciplines such as molecular biology, industrial chemistry, and vehicle design.
Computer science courses tend to fall under the M.Sc. category as well. So, if you are thinking about a career in financial data systems, digital security, or video game production, this could be the type of Masters to choose.
M.Sc. courses feature much more lab work and applied sections, and may have work placements included. They lead to careers as diverse as aviation research, working in bank IT, or research teaching at major German universities.
If you are concerned about marketing your skills after graduation, take time before applying to find courses that potential employers value. Ask companies for their feedback about subjects and courses, and search the web for student opinions.
Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) courses are often quite similar to M.Sc. courses in their subject matter and the course structure
They tend to include engineering components, whether that's physical and civil engineering, or digital forms.
There's one major difference, though. M.Eng. courses will generally be closely linked to specific industrial sectors and companies. In Germany, businesses work tightly with universities to train skilled staff, and M. Eng. courses are the preferred way of doing so.
If you work at a major German company, ask about funding opportunities for M.Eng. courses. Companies are usually very happy to fund the upskilling of their staff, often more so than in countries like the UK or USA.