Overview

Geographical Conditions:

Germany (German: Deutschland) is a country in west-central Europe, that stretches from the Alps, across the North European Plain to the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Germany is the seventh largest country in Europe. Germany shares borders with nine European countries: Denmark in the north, Poland and the Czech Republic in the east, Switzerland (its only non-EU neighbor) and Austria in the south, France in the southwest and Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands in the west. The north-west of Germany has a coastline on the North Sea while the Baltic coastline in the north-east stretches from the Danish to the Polish border.

Germany experiences a temperate seasonal climate moderated by the North Atlantic Drift. The country is a year round destination with warm summers and relatively mild winters. Rain falls throughout the year, which is at its peak during high summer. Being that Germany is exposed to both mild air masses from the Atlantic Ocean and cold air masses from Russia or the North Pole, the weather is often unstable, with remarkable changes and different meteorological situations, such as cold, heat, wind, fog, snow, and thunderstorms. During winter, snowfalls are quite frequent though generally not abundant.

Political & Legal System:

The Federal Republic of Germany is a federal republic consisting of sixteen partly-sovereign states, which have local governments and legislatures that enjoy considerable decentralization in relation to the Federal Government. Berlin, Hamburg and the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen are known as city states. The remaining 13 states are called Area states. Germany is divided into 403 districts (Kreise), of which 301 are rural districts and 102 urban districts.

Germany is a democratic, federal parliamentary republic with Berlin as its capital. The Head of State is the President and is elected for a five year term by the Federal Convention, which includes the members of the Federal Assembly and an equal number of delegates elected by the provincial legislatures. The Chancellor is the head of Government. He/she is elected by absolute majority in the Federal Assembly for a four year term. The Chancellor holds the executive power, which includes implementing the law and managing the everyday business of the country. The Federal Ministers are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Chancellor.

The political system is laid out in the 1949 constitution, the Grundgesetz (Basic Law), which remained in effect with minor amendments after German reunification in 1990. The constitution emphasizes the protection of individual liberty in an extensive catalogue of human and civil rights and divides powers both between the federal and state levels and between the legislative, executive and judicial branches.

The judiciary of Germany is independent of the executive and the legislature, while it is common for leading members of the executive to be members of the legislature as well. The law of Germany is a system of civil law which is founded on the principles laid out by the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, though many of the most important laws, for example most regulations of the civil code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, or BGB) were developed prior to the 1949 constitution. It is composed of public law (öffentliches Recht), which regulates the relations between a citizen/person and the state (including criminal law) or two bodies of the state and the private law (Privatrecht) which regulates the relations between two people or companies. It has been subject to a wide array of influences from Roman law, such as the Corpus Juris Civilis, to Napoleonic law, such as the Napoleonic Code.

Economic Status:

The economy of Germany is a highly developed social market economy. It is the largest technologically powerful economy in Europe. As Europe`s largest economy and second most populous nation after Russia, Germany is a key member of the continent`s economic, political, and defence organizations. The service sector contributes around 70% of the total GDP, industry 29.1%, agriculture 0.9%, besides highest trade surplus in the world. The most important sectors of Germany`s economy are industry, public administration, defence, education, human health and social work activities and wholesale and retail trade, transport, accommodation and food service activities.

Germany is the third largest agricultural producer in the European Union and the third largest agricultural exporter in the world. Germany is the first major industrialized nation to commit to the renewable energy transition called Energiewende. It is the leading producer of wind turbines in the world. Of the world`s 2000 largest publicly listed companies measured by revenue, the Fortune Global 2000, 53 are headquartered in Germany, with the Top 10 being Allianz, Daimler, Volkswagen, Audi, Siemens, BMW, Deutsche Telekom, Bayer, BASF, Munich Re, SAP, Mercedes-Benz, Adidas, Porsche, Bosch, and Nivea. The number of people in gainful employment has risen constantly in the past twelve years, partly thanks to migrants who have come to Germany to work. Unemployment rate is declining. Germany is also a leading country in the fashion industry. Famous fashion brands include BOSS, Adidas, PUMA, Escada, Buffalo, Rohde, Marc O`Polo, etc.

Soceity and Culture

Language:

The German language remains the official language of the country and is considered as the most widely taught third language across the world.  Most Germans learn English as their first foreign language at school. Sometimes French or Latin is taught first, but usually English is, with French and Latin as common second or third foreign languages. Russian, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Dutch, classical Greek, and other languages are also offered in schools, depending on the school`s geographic location. Germany has given recognition to minority languages: Upper Sorbian and Lower Sorbian, Romani, Danish, North Frisian and Saterland Frisian. Around 12 Immigrant languages are spoken by sizable communities of first and second-generation.

Cuisine:

Germany is a land full of culinary delights. Germans love their meats, especially roasts. Some of the most common traditional meat dishes include roasted pork hocks (Schweinshaxe), braised pork roast with cabbage (Schweinebraten und Kohl), and Sauerbraten. Another well-known traditional dish is schnitzel, a German way of preparing meat, usually cutlets. There is a wide variety of preparation styles and sauces including Wienerschnitzel, Jagerschnitzel, and Zigeunerschnitzel. German dishes are rarely hot and spicy. A wide variety of cakes, tarts and pastries are served throughout the country. Beer is very common throughout all parts of Germany, with many local and regional breweries producing a wide variety of beers.

Tourist Attractions:

Germany is the eighth most visited country in the world and is rated as one of the safest travel destinations worldwide. Exciting cities and a variety of countryside as different as the North Sea coast and the Alps never cease to fascinate its many visitors. The East Frisian and North Frisian Islands, the Baltic Sea coasts of Holstein, Mecklenburg and Vorpommern, the Rhine Valley and the Bavarian Alps are some of the most visited tourist regions in the country. Most visited cities of Germany include Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Leipzig and so on. The country features 14 national parks, 14 Biosphere Reserves, as well as 98 nature parks. The most visited areas of Germany: Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park, Saxon Switzerland National Park, Bavarian Forest National Park, Berchtesgaden National Park, Mainau Island, Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park, etc. Prominent tourist landmarks include: Cologne Cathedral, Reichstag building, Hofbräuhaus, Heidelberg Castle, Neuschwanstein Castle and Aachen Cathedral. Several theme parks in Germany which include: Europa-Park, Berlin Zoological Garden, VW Autostadt, Therme Erding, Movie Park Germany, Legoland Deutschland, Leipzig Zoological Garden, Phantasialand, etc.

Lifestyle:

Germany offers a blissful living experience owing to its plurality of lifestyles and ethno-cultural diversity. Advances are being made in terms of gender equality and traditional gender role assignments are no longer rigid. At present Germany is home to Germans and minorities of other nationalities that respect each other, and together make Germany a country of values, unique celebrations, and customs. The country provides good jobs, a clean environment, low crime rates, lots of leisure-time and cultural attractions, good transport links. Germans are generally considered to be extremely industrious – yet they work comparatively little. Germans love their silence due to which there is low corruption. The country tops the scale – owing to its high values in the areas of quality of life and social justice. Therefore, there is peace and quiet.  

There is also an abundance of cultural and leisure activities throughout the year. Some of the internationally recognized cultures from Germany include festivals like Oktoberfest and Weihnachten. German fashion is known for its elegant lines, unconventional young designs, and manufacturers of sports and outdoor clothing. Berlin is the center of young and creative fashion in Germany, prominently displayed at Berlin Fashion Week. German fashion is popular as ready-to-wear and custom-made creations.

Germany is now among those nations with the most liberal immigration rules. It is the most popular immigration country after the USA. Immigrants enrich the country with new perspectives and experiences. There is great social openness and acceptance as regards alternative ways of life and different sexual orientations. The rich history of Germany has greatly influenced and shaped its culture. The people, language, and traditions make German culture unique.

Health Care:

Germany has a universal multi-payer health care system paid for by a combination of statutory health insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) and private health insurance (Private Krankenversicherung).  According to the World Health Organization, Germany`s health care system was 77% government-funded and 23% privately funded. Health insurance is compulsory for the whole population in Germany. In 2001 total spending on health amounted to 10.8 percent of gross domestic product. Patients are allowed to seek almost any type of care they wish whenever they want it. The governmental health system in Germany is currently keeping a record reserve of more than €18 billion which makes it one of the healthiest healthcare systems in the world.

Germany requires all students in Germany to have insurance, including foreign students and guest researchers.  Proof of health insurance is also an important requirement during student visa and university enrolment process under German law. Overseas students need proof of health insurance to get enrolled at a Germany university and to get student visa. There are two types of health insurance in Germany: the compulsory health insurance (public) and the Private health insurance. All students are required to have an insurance plan in Germany. For that purpose, they should consult their university’s international office for more details. Even if they have basic coverage, many students also get additional health insurance plans that cover specific conditions and are customized for them.

Education in Germany

The German education system functions upon the rules and regulations of the Basic Law “Grundgesetz”. The Federal Ministries of Education, Cultural Affair and Science are the main authority to make policy of education, science and arts. The ministry closely collaborates with the Federation and Länders (German states) authorities, in supervising the entire activity of the educational institutions, organizations and foundations.

Children aged three to six, may attend kindergarten. Later the children attend primary school for four years. The secondary school system is divided into: Hauptschule – for less academic students; Realschule – for intermediary students; Gymnasium – for academic students; Gesamtschule – a comprehensive school combining all education types.

Germany’s institutions of higher education are internationally accredited. There are 400 public universities and around 120 private institutions in Germany. According to the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), 6 of the top 100 and 18 of the top 200 universities in the world are German. Studying in this country will place the students among some of the oldest and most established universities in the world, as well as some of the newest and most innovative. 

According to UNESCO, Germany attracts around 5% of the world’s international students. It is the 5th most popular destination country after United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and France. The German government seeks to further increase the country’s international student population to a total of 350,000 students by 2020.

Reasons to Study in Germany

• Germany has many finest and reputed universities. Some of them have been consistently ranked and accredited among the world’s best universities.
• German universities enjoy worldwide reputation due to their recognized teaching and research excellence.
• Students value German universities for the quality education.
• The country provides hands-on experiences to the students during their studies, opportunities to improve academically during and after studies and better placement.
• Germany created a safe and friendly academic environment.
• Germany offers degree courses as per the interests of the international students.
• Foreign students are allowed to stay for a year after graduation, in the event of looking for a job.
• The country offer long-term work opportunities for successful students.
• Employers all around the world respect the degree holders mainly on account of quality education.
• The German law states that international students are allowed to work part-time for up to 20 hours a week or 120 full days of a year. More than 60% of current international students work part-time while studying in the country.