In the 21st century, Germany is a great power and has the world's fourth-largest economy by nominal GDP, as well as thefifth-largest by PPP. As a global leader in several industrial and technological sectors, it is both the world's third-largest exporter and importer of goods. Germany is a developed country with a very high standard of living sustained by a skilled and productive society. It upholds a social security and universal health care system, environmental protection and a tuition-free university education.

Germany was a founding member of The European Union in 1993. It is part of the Schengen Area, and became a co-founder of the Eurozone in 1999. Germany is a member of the United Nations, NATO, theG8, theG20, and theOECD. The national military expenditure is the 9th highest in the world. Known for its richcultural history, Germany has been continuously the home of influential Artists, Philosophers, Musicians, Sportspeople, Entrepreneurs, Scientists and Inventors.

The Federal Republic of Germany lies in the heart of Europe and is a cosmopolitan, democratic country with a great tradition and a lively present.This is a land of Bach and Mendelssohn, Wagner and Goethe, Robert Schumann and Johann Böttger. This is also the land and its people who played a huge role in bringing about the fall of Communism, when tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest in Leipzig. A unique cultural landscape exists in the every heart of Europe. East and West meet here. Germany consists of 16 states and its capital and largest city is Berlin. It has a largely temperature seasonal climate.

Study in English taught Universities in Germany:-

International students have the option to study in English medium in private Universities. These Universities usually have management courses at Bachelor’s and Master’s level and are paid. The tuition fees for the Bachelor’s courses is approx. €5600 and for Master’s is €6500 per semester.

Second option is Study in German language:-

The students will studying German language in the first year of their studies in a Language Institute. The fees for the GermanLanguage (Foundation Course) is €8500 per year. After the Foundation program, students will be going to the Government Universities, for main course ie. Bachelor’s or Master’s. The degree course will be FREE of cost. (some of the Universities may charge a nominal fees of upto€600 per semester)

Get a Scholarship to Fund Your Studies

In English speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, UK, Australia and developed countries of Europe, the tuition fees are high and a burden not only for international students, but for local residents as well. That’s why Germany has become a popular choice for many students wishing to study abroad and get great education, while not burying themselves in debt after graduation. As of October 2014 Germany offers literally free higher education for its residents and international students alike. Regardless how low the tuition fees might have been; now they are gone and more money will be saved by the struggling students. Six of the top 100 Universities in the world are German, where many Nobel laureates have studied.

Following a judgment of the Federal Constitutional Court in 2005 Universities in Germany required students to pay registration and tuition fees, yet this was practiced only in four Federal states out of 16. The tuition per semester used to be €500 in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hamburg and Lower Saxony, while in other states for undergraduate studies you only have to pay a symbolic €50 for registration. With the recent changes and the abolishment of tuition fees no wonder Germany attracts a large number of international students wishing to get an education or further their studies in Masters or Doctoral programs, at established and internationally recognized Universities. However tuition is only free for postgraduate students regardless of their origin; postgraduate studies still charge a certain tuition fee depending on the federation.

Although Germany has an outstandingly good and free of charge education system, the cost of living there can be pretty high for international students; and since there is little financial support, it’s advisable to apply for a scholarship before leaving your home country, to help you with different expenses such as accommodation, books, study materials and health insurance among others, that are around €600 – €800 per month. In metropolitan areas like Munich or Berlin, living expenses can get up to €1000 per month. Postgraduate studies are not free like undergraduate ones, so you have to pay for admission and confirmation fees. Students who stay more than the designated number of terms must pay €500 per semester, thus a scholarship will help you greatly to finance your studies and life in Germany.

Living in Germany, with a population of 82.4 million people, means living in one of Europe’s most populous countries; a cosmopolitan place of diversity and moderninity. As a result of different regional earldoms and monarchies throughout Germany’s history, each city has its own unique personality and character. This makes the country as a whole a fascinating place within which to live.

Germany is well known for its cuisine and is an ideal place for people who enjoy fine food, wine and ales. Significant investments have been made in the infrastructure of the country over the past few decades and it has risen to become an industrial powerhouse and home many of the world’s biggest car producers. Relgion in the country is varied with the majority of the population being Catholic (34%), Protestant (34%) or Muslim (4%) with the remainder unaffiliated (28%).

Germany is an interesting, lively and affordable to live. It has a significant and powerful economy that affords expats living there a high quality of life. The expat population in the country has risen gradually throughout the years and today there is an estimated 250,000 expats living in Germany (approximately 0.3%). The standard of schooling and education in the country is high, as is the public infrastructure and healthcare systems. Many foreigners do find the German lifestyle slightly formal and ridgid and for this reason it may not be suitable for some people. It is also important to be able to understand and speak German in order to live and work effectively here.

Cost of living in Germany

Germany offers expatriates a good standard of living. However, any expatriates who are offered a local contract in Germany should be aware that this country has one the highest tax rates in the world. Despite this, it is worth noting that salary levels are also significantly higher that other areas in Europe. The cost of living in Germany can vary according to the city in which expatriates are based. In many of the more developed cities, such as Belin, Bohn and Cologne, the cost of living is high, while those that are situated in former East Germany offer a lower cost of living. When compared with other cities throughout the world, it is generally accepted that the cost of living in Germany is relatively low and this was confirmed during the 2012 Mercer survey, with no German cities featuring in the list of top 50 cities by cost of living.

Language

German is the only official language in Germany. However, a large percentage of the people living in Germany do speak English and it is widely used for international business.

Expat job and career prospects

Germany’s high unemployment figures entail that the immigration rules in Germany are very tight in order to protect the jobs of the German people. For this reason finding work as an expat can be quite challenging, especially if you are not fluent in German. Furthermore, many people in Germany study at university level for up to seven years, providing them with a higher level of education and vocational training than many of their international competitors. There are, however, some sectors within Germany that are in need of skilled workers from abroad. Shortages are especially evident in the electrical and mechanical engineering fields.

Things every expat should know about living in Germany Residents are legally required to remove any snow or ice from the front of their properties (unless the building has an assigned caretaker). You are legally liable for any injuries that occur as a result of your neglect of this duty. In some areas people are legally required to sweep the street immediately outside the entrance to their home. Within the majority of rental properties you are not permitted to make copies of keys. You will usually need to seek permission from the landlord before doing so. In the event you lose you key you will be required to replace all the locks. Within seven days of moving into any apartment you must register details of your address with the local police.