Studying in Germany

A Presentation byVolker Hellemanns

on 15th October 2004

at BME Xi´an Jiaotong University

Part 1

Education System in Germany

Part 2

My University: „FH Lübeck“

Part 3

Typical Living Conditions

Part 1

The Education System in Germany

Overview - School

KindergardenAge 1…6

Elementary SchoolAge …10

Middle

SecondarySchoolAge …16

Low

MajorSchoolAge …15

High

HighSchoolAge …19

Kindergarden

Age of 3, sometimes at 1

• Costs: 50…350 Euro per month

• From 7am…6pm, help for working parents

• There is no right to get a place there

• They learn:– Socializing (cooking...)– Nature experience (trees, plants ,animals)– Technical experience (working with tools...)– Business experience (counting apples...)

Elementary School

Age of 6…10

• Costs: Free

• From 8…11am

• Every Child MUST go

• They learn:– Reading, Writing– Simple Mathematics– Nature experience (plants ,animals)– Working with wood, wool…

Selection through Evaluation

After Elementary School

Teacher gives Recommendation

• Major School (5 years)

• Secondary School (6 years)

• High School (9 years)

Major School Finished after 9th class, free, school duty ends

add 1 year school: Secondary School Certificateonly possible with good marks

OR

Learning a Job in a Company (3.5 years)+ Going to School (Technical, Art or Business)

OR

after 3 years of fulltime school Advanced College Certificate: Academy

Secondary School Finished after 10th class, free

Add 3 year school: High School Certificateonly possible with good marks

OR

Learning a Job in a Company (2…3 years) + Going to School (Technical, Art or Business)

OR

After 2 years of fulltime school Advanced College Certificate: Academy

High School

Finished after 13th class, free

• High School Certificate (Abitur)

• Permission for Academy or University

• Some choose instead learning a Job for (2…3 years) BUT: they have again go to school (specialized) Example: Learn banking business in a bank Then study business at university

Military Service

• Men only, age 18…30

• Mostly after job training, before university

• For 9 months

• Alternative: Social Service (longer)

• Woman: voluntary social year

• Past: everyone

• Present: 50 %

• Future: none, professional army

The Way to University

MiddleSecondary

School

LowMajorSchool

HighHigh School

Low

Academy•Master•FH-Diplom

High

University•Master•Diplom•Promotion (Dr.)

AdvancedCollege (3 years)

Academy vs. UniversityUniversity

• 5…6 years

• More theoretical, deeper knowledge

• Less laboratory work

• 4- 5 examinations in the semester holidays

• Big classes (50…200 students)

• Professors do not care about understanding

• Promotion (Dr.) possible

Academy

• 4 years

• More practicalsbecoming more popular in industry, but less salary

12 week internship, practical semester

• Much laboratory work

• 8…10 exams in two weeks

• Small classes (1…20 students)

• Professors care about understanding

Part 2

My University: „FH Lübeck“

Is that really Lübeck ?

University of Applied Sciences

• Lübeck has 230.000 citizens

• FHL has 2000 Students (all 6000)• „FH-Diplom“ certificate In a few years there will only be masters

View from above

Map of open „Campus“

One Canteen for all

Nature is near (now…)

Time Schedule

• September - January

March - July

• Most classes: 8am … 1pm sometimes until 5/7 pm

• Never at the weekend (Saturday ?)

Otherwise nobody would attend…

Timetable: allows to finish in given time (8 Semesters)

almost impossible fast: bad marks slow: good marks

Every student can make his personal time table and can decide if he goes to a class or not.Caution with small classes !

Personal Time Schedule

Subjects

• Applied Sciences:– Medical Engineering

• Biomedical E. (BMT)• Quality and Security E. (QST)• Construction of Medical Devices (EMG)

– Physics– Chemistry– Microsystem E.– Enviromental E.

• Electrical E.• Business/Mechanical E.• Civil E.

Study Plan for Biomed. E. before: 12 Weeks in a company

for internship1st Half:

3 Semester• Basic subject groups:

– Mathematics– Physics– Chemistry– Electronics– Engineering– Basics (Medicine…)– Non technical subjects (English, Business)

• Classes: 27+25+26 h/week• Practical laboratory work: 5+4+2 h/week

2nd Half: • 3 Semester Classes

1 Practical semester in a company

1 Semester for Thesis

• Deepening the Knowledge Chose - Specialization (BMT, QST, EMG)

- extra classes out of 32

• Classes: 27+21+21 h/week• Practical laboratory work: 2+7+7 h/week

Summary

• 26 Exams (unlimited Tries)

• 21 Exams (3 Tries)

• 9 „Laboratory Classes“– Each: about 6 experiments a 10 pages– Total: over 500 pages of reports– VERY time consuming, correction…

Student Organisations Rewarded for joining (Honor, Bafög)

• Student ParliamentElected every year, 19 students, sets in AStA

• AStA (common student committee) Representation of needs of Students in university,

political oranisation/work, social and financial matters

• Fachschaft Concrete work like

– Organizing Parties– Excursions to companies– Fighting unfair treatment

Failure Rates

Biomed. E. at FHL• 100% fail in at least one exam

• 90% fail staying in given study time

• 50% do not finish

Academy, University together• 30…50% will get no degree at all

Part 3

Typical Living Conditions

Financial Stuff

• Semester Fee to AStA (100 euro/semester)

Bus ticket included !

• 500 euro/month (just enough)– 200 Apartment, outside more expensive– 150 simple food, no restaurant– 150 books, clothes, recreational activities

Apartment

• Most difficult to find

• No right to live in university´s dormitories

Place for 10 % of students

• 150…300 euro/month

• Typical:

2 room apartment in official student dormitories, two single rooms, kitchen, bathroom

High Living Costs

• Train Ticket to Hamburg (70km)

One way: 10 euro Subwayticket: 7 euro

• 0,3l Beer in a bar: 3…6 euro

• Restaurant, one person: 15 euro

• A pair of jeans, shos: 35 euro

• Study books: 20…100 euro

Is a Student Job nessecary ?

• No: Bafög, up to 500 euro/month goverment credit for less wealthy students, must be paid back for 50% when working later, everyone can study (it will change…)

• But: one must stay in the given time schedule, otherwise: no more money

• Long time students or those who enjoy life very much (parties, car…) always work

Thank you for listening !

Any Questions ?