German universities offer some of the best free higher education in the world. Therefore, they are very popular with international students, and in all good universities in Germany there is a competition for admission. It can be from 1.6 to several hundred people per place for the most prestigious educational institutions. The Master's degree program in Germany is considered one of the most attractive programs in the United States, Great Britain, Australia, France, and Italy.

1. Bachelor's or Specialist's degree in a suitable specialty.
2. Know German or English at the B2-C1 level, and confirm your knowledge by passing the official TestDaF, OZD/IELTS, TOEFL exam.
3. Submit recommendations, summaries, and other supporting documents.
4. Convince the university admissions committee that they need you.

The main language of instruction in the country is German. However, the number of master's degree programs in English increases in German universities every year – if before they were mainly in private universities, now more and more English-language courses appear in public ones.

The master's degree program in Germany in English is quite popular – for foreign applicants due to the possibility of admission without additional language training (3% of students come from English – speaking countries), and for Germans-because of career prospects.

Even if the master's degree is taught in English, universities offer students to take a German course (usually free of charge or for a nominal fee). Applicants who want to study in German come to the language courses before entering-at the GLS language school in Berlin or in the south of Germany at the Humboldt Institute.

Among the most popular programs in Germany are:

• programming and computer science-offers for this profile are available in almost every university;
• water supply, engineering and construction – other common areas in English;
• students of medical and creative specialties, and those who have chosen law, study in German in the master's program;

Bachelor's degrees in Germany often have programs only in German, and master's programs in universities are in English and German. Therefore, the first question that you need to ask yourself when planning to prepare for a master's degree in Germany: in what language can I and will I study?

If the choice is made in favor of English, the most effective and quick training will be provided by courses in those countries where it is spoken. In Europe, you can consider England, Ireland, and also the more budget-friendly Malta and Cyprus. If the general level of the language is good (from B2, IELTS 6.0 and higher), and you only need to prepare for the IELTS exam and pass it, the training course will take from 3 to 12 weeks. If your English is at an elementary level, you will need to study for at least a year.

If you plan to study for a master's degree in German, German language schools can offer effective training methods. You can choose a school in Berlin, Munich, Constance, Hamburg and Frankfurt, or choose a language center that cooperates with the university you are interested in. The TestDaF training course in Germany will take 1-2 months, and longer programs are designed for an entire academic year.

Free master's degree programs in Germany for international students are available at public universities in Germany. At the same time, during your studies, you often have the opportunity to take an internship, internship or exchange program offered by partner universities, as well as German language courses (often also free). This approach is necessary to train qualified specialists in the most popular areas.

Public universities charge student fees every semester (about 200-500 euros), and many refuse to pay any fees at all in the master's program. It is worth paying attention to the fact that paid master's degree programs are increasingly appearing in public universities in Germany. For example, a 20-month modular program at the Hector Business School of the Technical University of Karlsruhe costs 30,000 euros.

In private German universities, master's degree courses are paid: 18 000 - 20 000 euro per year. At the same time, students study in groups of 7-10 people and work daily with teachers and professors.

During the academic year in the master's program, students can work 120 hours a year at full-time or 240 hours at part-time. This is without an additional work permit from the Federal Employment Agency.

According to the laws of Germany, all students who have successfully completed a master's degree have the right to a quiet job search for 2 years. This time is enough for young professionals to get used to it and be able to prove themselves to their employers. Many companies are naturally looking for graduates with a good knowledge of German. HR specialists recommend starting a job search 6 months before graduation.

The deadline for applying for a master's degree in German universities, especially private ones, is late, compared to other countries-up to June-July. Most universities follow the same deadlines: until January 15 with admission for the summer semester (beginning in March/April), and until July 15 for programs starting in the winter semester (September/October).