Common Mistakes to Avoid When Applying to German Public Universities

Applying to public universities in Germany can be a challenging process, especially for students from India. Knowing the common mistakes can help you improve your chances of getting accepted. Here are some important mistakes to avoid when applying for German Public Universities. 

Studying in public universities in Germany is free. Public universities in Germany are state-funded which means every year a major part of the country’s budget is allocated for the development of these higher institutions of study. While the majority of the public universities in Germany have courses in the German language, however, the number of English taught programmes at the public universities is only increasing. In this article, we are going to talk about the common mistakes that Indian students make while applying to public universities in Germany and how you can avoid them.

Popular mistakes while applying to public universities in Germany

Here are a few popular mistakes that students tend to make in their application to public universities abroad which can be easily avoided.

1. Delaying Your Application Preparation

One big mistake is waiting too long to start preparing your application. Many students do not realize how much time they need to gather documents, write essays, and meet language requirements. Deadlines can be different for each university, and some may be earlier than you think. Start preparing early so you have enough time to complete everything properly.

2. Not Checking if Your Qualifications Are Recognized

Different countries have different education systems, so not all Indian qualifications are recognized in Germany. Make sure your previous degrees or certificates are accepted by checking with organizations like uni-assist or the university itself. If your qualifications are not recognized, your application may be rejected. Candidates should note that all public universities are state-funded universities that provide state-of-the-art education inclusive of the latest amenities for students to have a holistic study experience. Hence, getting admission to public universities is extremely competitive. Every year, these universities receive thousands of applications for their programmes and unless your application doesn’t stand out there is a huge possibility that you will not be studying in a public university in Germany

Eligblity Requirement for German Public Universities

• Candidates should note that these universities have a very rigorous university admission process in place to only select serious candidates. The minimum academic score requirement for students looking to apply to Germany is 75% and above for general courses and 85% and above for popular courses in Germany like mechanical engineering and automotive engineering.
• Candidates looking to apply for post-graduation courses in Germany should know that public universities in Germany only accept 16 years of education. In India, most bachelor programmes are for three years, thus students only have 15 years of education at the time of applying. Students who have a total of 15 years of education are not eligible to apply to public universities in Germany.
• Candidates would have to either opt for a four-year bachelor’s programme or partake in a one-year diploma/certificate programme before applying to universities in Germany. This way the candidates would have a total of 16 years of education before applying to public universities in Germany.

3. Ignoring Language Requirements

Language skills are very important when applying to German universities. Even if you want to study in English, many universities still want proof of basic German knowledge (like A1 or A2 level). For courses taught in German, you usually need a higher level (B2 or C1). If you ignore these requirements, your application could be turned down. Prepare for language tests like TestDaF or DSH in advance.

Our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors, highly recommend applicants provide their GRE/GMAT scores as part of the admission process. As this would only add value to their university application. Coming to English language tests, candidates are advised to appear for either IELTS, TOEFL or PTE language tests as part of the admission process. English language scores for programmes taught in English across public universities in Germany will only add more strength to the candidate’s application. Experts suggest candidates book their exams six months prior to their first university application deadline. This way they could revisit their scores if required.

4. Not Researching University-Specific Requirements

Every university has its own rules for admission, including specific grades, required subjects, and additional documents like motivation letters and CVs. If you don’t pay attention to these details, your application might be incomplete or rejected. Research each university’s requirements carefully and make sure your application meets them. One of the advantages of studying in Germany is that they are not very strict with GRE/GMAT score requirements. Many universities are happy to waive off your standard test scores if you have a strong academic profile along with substantial work experience in your field of study. However, candidates are advised to practice caution.

5. Missing Deadlines or Submitting Incomplete Applications

Meeting deadlines is very important when applying to universities. If you submit your application late or forget to include required documents, it will usually not be considered. To avoid this mistake, create a timeline with all deadlines and a checklist of required documents well before the submission date.

Perhaps the most common mistake that candidates tend to make is to assume they have ample time to apply. You Don’t! Candidates often treat the university application deadline as the last date for submission of your application. While technically this is correct. However, you need to understand that all universities work on a first-come-first-serve basis. So if there are 100 seats for your preferred course and they have filled up before the deadline, you will be asked to apply for the next intake.

There is also misinformation that all countries follow the US intake season. That is incorrect. While the US universities have two intakes, namely Fall (September – December) and Spring (January - May). Other countries, be it Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand all follow the Fall Intake season that starts in September.

Be it the USA, the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand or Canada, universities across top study abroad countries are opting for early admissions. Candidates are strongly recommended to opt for early applications as this way they will be able to secure a seat for their desired programme at their preferred university and not worry about seats getting full.

6. Limiting Your University Choices Too Soon

Many students focus only on their top-choice university without considering other options. This can be risky because some programs are very competitive (like medicine or engineering). It is a good idea to apply to several universities—aim for five to eight—to increase your chances of getting accepted.

A lot of times, candidates are fixated on the Tier I universities and forget to diversify their application by applying to multiple universities. This way, a lot of times candidates miss out on applying to other universities as they are obsessed to get into top universities especially when their academic profile does not support the high competition one finds on the top. Candidates often are unable to book their seats as they have missed out on the university deadlines and have to wait for the next intake season to apply.

The pool of universities you are applying to should be a healthy mix of Tier I and Tier II universities. This way, even if your application is not selected for Tier I colleges you will have Tier II universities to fall back on and not waste a year.

7. Relying Too Much on Consultants

While it can be helpful to get advice from education consultants, relying too heavily on them can lead to problems if they give you wrong information. Some agencies might promise guaranteed admission for a fee, which is misleading because no one can guarantee admission into a German university due to strict processes. Always double-check information from official sources and consider handling your application yourself when possible.

8. Underestimating the Importance of Personal Statements

A strong motivation letter is often a key part of your application. Many students do not realize how important it is or fail to make it personal for each university they apply to. Your motivation letter should explain your academic interests, career goals, and reasons for choosing that specific university. Take the time to write a compelling letter that reflects who you are.

9. Submission of a thesis

Candidates applying to universities abroad are required to walk the extra mile to make their applications stand out because of the competition. And when you talk about public universities in Germany, let’s say applicants are advised to walk double a mile. Candidates applying to engineering courses would be required to submit a detailed thesis on a topic that they would have ideally studied in their bachelor’s.

Candidates would be required to submit a thesis as part of their application process. This way the candidates would be able to provide a strong application to the admission committee and also at the same time showcase their expertise on a specific subject. Candidates should note that they take the thesis submission seriously, as they could be asked questions around the writing of the thesis.

10. Online Interview & Internal Test

No university admission is complete without an interview. Universities in Germany will conduct an interview to understand the seriousness of the candidate before granting him a university acceptance letter. Similarly, many German public universities may opt for an additional screening test in the form of an online internal test that candidates would have to pass. The syllabus for the internal test would be notified on the official website of the university and would be on a 30 to 40-point scale.

It is important for the candidate to appear confident during the entire interview process. The university is looking for an asset that would add to its reputation. Candidates would also be asked about their thesis submission and questions about pursuing the said course, long-term goals, their source of motivation and reasons to study in Germany. It is important for candidates to present a confident front and know the details of their course well. It would not hurt for the candidate to know intricate details such as their department and professor in charge at the university above all they should practice these questions before the interview. 

11. Templatised SOPs, LORs & CV submissions

Your Statement of Purpose (SOP), Letter of Recommendation (LOR) and Student CV are documents that are going to break or make your application. These documents should be precise, self-explanatory and reflect your intentions of studying abroad.

SOPs

The Statement of Purpose (SOP) is a document that should ideally reflect your personality traits to the admissions committee. It is an essay stating the purpose of applying to a particular course in a particular university. This essay consists of a gist of who you are, who you want to become, and how ready you are to pursue a certain course in an institution. In order to put their best foot forward, students outsource their SOPs to experts who completely miss out on the real function of an SOP. Template content is provided to the candidate which is immediately flagged by the university.

What you should do

Candidates are required to write their own SOPs. They can definitely take guidance from experts however, they should understand that a well-written SOP is important for the admission process and should come from the candidate, reflecting his/her intentions of studying abroad.

LORs

The Letter of Recommendation (LOR) is a document that provides the admission officers with a comprehensive insight into your suitable candidature, for admission into the concerned university. It aims to provide a favourable picture of your experiences, achievements, contributions, and skills communicated by the recommender. A lot of times, candidates are unable to secure genuine LORs and often end up having to write their own Letters of Recommendation (LOR) and get them authorized by the concerned person. In this arrangement, the recommender is often unaware of the contents of the LOR and is unable to vouch for the candidate if the university wants to confirm the same.

What you should do

The key is to start early. Know that your recommender is a busy person. And you are required to provide him with ample time to write you your recommendation. If you request for a LOR early, you allow the recommender to flesh out a well-versed recommendation letter which will further strengthen your application process to universities abroad.

Student CV

A resume or Student curriculum vitae (CV) is a summary of your academic and professional qualifications, achievements, contributions, extracurricular activities, and technical skills. Your resume casts your first impression on the admission committee and thus, must be designed very carefully and subsequently, critiqued meticulously. Candidates often make the common mistake of submitting a professional resume that is fit for job interviews often highlighting the professional background and leaving out academic achievements.

What you should do

Candidates should know the difference between a professional resume and a student CV. The candidate should keep in mind that the main purpose of the student CV is to highlight the academic achievements and professional experience of the candidate that is tailor-made for university admissions.

12. Not applying early for scholarships

Scholarships and financial aid are one of the most important factors in the application process. They help bring down the cost of studying abroad for candidates. Applicants often wait till the end of their application process to apply for scholarships. This should be avoided at all costs. Scholarships are financial grants that are given to meritorious students. There would be multiple students who would have applied for scholarships and the scholarship granting committee would take weeks to select the right candidate for the grant. This entire process could often take up to months to complete.

What you should do

Candidates should keep in mind that the scholarship process could take months and hence apply early. Once they have made up their mind about studying abroad. They should start their search for scholarships, shortlist the ones they are eligible for and start filling out the scholarship application form. This way they would be able to flesh out a well-written application for their scholarship and increase their chances of getting one.