USA

WHERE DO I STUDY? US OR GERMANY?

Germany is a country, like the US, offers high-quality education to students and also helps them advance in their careers in many different ways. Germany is an attractive place for socializing and gaining an awesome experience as a foreign student. On the other side, the US is a place for top educational institutions with a culture of intellectualism and full of career opportunities with top-notch research facilities. Now, we will discuss the difference in studying in these two countries.

Period of Terms:

In Germany, there are only two semesters. One is the winter semester and the other one is the summer semester. The winter semester begins in October and ends in March and the summer semester begins in April and ends in September. The classes, in Germany, are usually taken from mid-October to mid-February and from mid-April to the end of July. The remaining time is used for internships, writing papers, and preparing for the exams. In the US, colleges start in September and end around mid-December. But, for some universities, the semesters begin in August. The second semester begins usually in mid-January. Universities that have trimester and quarter board structure go for a winter break in late November.

 

Duration of Programs:

In Germany, a bachelor’s degree can be done for 3 or 4 years. Students can join the master's programs after successful completion of a bachelor’s degree. Typical bachelor’s programs include Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Science for technical and science courses. Students can do a master's degree for 2 years and a doctorate takes 2 to 5 years but depends on the course chosen. In the US, the undergraduate programs are for 4 years and the postgraduate programs are for 2 years. After undergraduate, students can directly study Ph. D without studying doing the master’s degree. Ph. D programs can usually last for 5 years.

 

University Structure and Organization:

In Germany, the state controls and funds the universities. German universities follow an autonomous system that gives them freedom from external interventions. Students can select a course of their choice and should attend classes and tests regularly. In the US, students in the first year apply to main universities and then they attend classes regularly on different subjects. They can choose a major at the end of the first year. Departments and schools for arts and science are also available. In the US, gaining knowledge and learning outside the majors are of the main focus.

Finding Accommodation:

In Germany, private and economical are two popular accommodations available for the students. Economical accommodation mostly means, for students, halls of residence (hostel) and they are usually cheap. Private accommodations include flats, renting rooms, etc. which are usually expensive. The hostel is the common accommodation preferred by the students. In the US, students can take on-campus and off-campus accommodations. Students find it easy when they have on-campus accommodation because they get easy access to the cafeteria and other such places. Students generally take private renting at the end of the first year. Most of the universities also offer dining options. On-campus accommodation generally is hostels that students can stay in. Off-campus accommodation includes leasing an apartment, homestays, and private renting.

Assignments and Grading:

In the US, students’ grading is determined by their performance in projects and tests. Whenever a student submits an assignment. The teacher puts a grade on top of his/her answer sheet. The grades, in the US universities, start from A to F, excluding E, where the top grade is A and the lowest grade is F, which is the failing grade. In the US, final examinations determine the overall grade of their semester examination. Universities, in Germany, use a 1 to 6 point grading system to evaluate students’ performance. 1 represents that you have completed your tasks between 90 to 100% and 6 represents that you have failed to score the pass mark. Grading systems slightly differ in each state, so the marks range slightly differ from one state to another.

Cost of Education:

Public and private colleges, in the US, charge a tuition fee of around USD 32,500 and USD 25,000 per year. The college type that the students choose determines the tuition fees. But, generally, the tuition fees range from USD 4,000 to USD 50,000 per year. In Germany, Students can study for free in public german universities but there is a charge for applying and administration but these are not more than EUR 250 (USD 290) per semester. Also, depending on the universities, the fees may vary. Private institutions charge around EUR 20,000 (USD 25,000) per year for undergraduate programs. Students, who have done their bachelor's degree in Germany, can study a master degree for free of cost.

If you wish to earn an international degree, contact Whizstorm’s experts for a successful studying abroad plan.