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Fast Facts
Flag of Germany -
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Government: Federal Republic
Area: 357,021 sq km
Population: 83,251,851
Capital: Berlin
Language: German
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Currency: EUR
Religion: Protestant and Roman Catholic
Climate: temperate and maritime
Time zone: +1 GMT
Member of EU: Yes
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Geography
Since the reunification in 1989 Germany is once more one of
the biggest countries in Europe with its capital Berlin. Obviously,
it contains many geographical features as varied as the shore
of the Baltic and North sea and the ecosystem of the Alps.
357,000 sq km are home to 82 million people with almost 80%
living in urban areas. Germany shares borders with Austria,
Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands,
Poland and Switzerland.
Population
Germany's population is predominantly Caucasian, with a significant
Turkish minority. Germany has absorbed a significant number
of refugees from the former Yugoslavia. German is the main language
although local dialects can be strong.
Germany is a rather secular country. Even though the vast
majority is Christian with 38% of the population being protestant
and almost 34% being catholic. There are a certain number of
Muslims and Jews forming religious minorities.
Weather and Climate in Germany
Germany's climate is almost as varied as its country but mostly
temperate or marine. Extreme temperature lows and hights are
rare. Winter temperatures vary from west to east, with about
freezing temperatures in the west and well below freezing in
eastern Germany. Summer temperatures are typically between 20
and 30°C, with more rainfall during the summer.
Life
Exciting Cities Berlin the capital, traditional Munich close
to the Alps, Cologne only five and a half hours from London
by rail.
 Attractive
Landscapes Romantic Black Forest, scenic river cruises
on the Rhine, Moselle, Danube etc, Lake Constance in the south
bordering Austria and Switzerland – a popular holiday destination,
Garmisch Partenkirchen in the Bavarian Alps – host to international
ski competitions.
Vibrant customs & traditions Charming
Christmas markets with romantic atmosphere, well established
music and theatre festivals, carnival in the Cologne area, the
fairytale road dedicated to the Grimm Brothers, the Passion
Play in Oberammergau.
Rich in history & architecture Neuschwanstein
fairytale castle in Bavaria, royal palaces and gardens, Colditz
Castle near Leipzig, Brandenburg Gate in the capital Berlin,
enchanting, medieval towns ie. Bamberg, Trier, Hamelin, over
25 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Events Range of music festivals, Love Parade
in Berlin, Rhine in Flames, Oktoberfest in Munich, international
sport events – host to the football World Cup in 2006.
Good Value for Money Shopping, accommodation,
eating and drinking - generally less expensive than in the UK
or USA.
Top Destination for business International
trade fairs i.e. CEBIT, ITB, Book Fair, IAA, state of the art
conference venues ranging from hotels to unusual locations.
Excellent Transport Infrastructure Reliable
public transport, ICE trains travelling at speeds of up to 198mph,
comprehensive network of motorways, 30 international and regional
airports.
Central Location Easily accessible by all
means of transport, borders nine countries, EURO as currency
enables smooth travel within Europe.
 Food
and Drink Large variety of beer i.e smoky beer from
Franconia and Wheat beer from Bavaria, Kölsch from Cologne,
Black Forest gateaux, internationally renown red and white wines,
famous German sausages, Christmas specialities ie. mulled wine,
Lebkuchen biscuits and Stollen cake.
Type of university
 Germany
has a long tradition in education, science and research. The
history of many higher education institutions extends back over
many centuries. Following the destruction caused by the Second
World War, an education and research landscape has evolved in
Germany which, particularly since German unification, is as
extensive today as has never before been the case. 349 higher
education institutions are located throughout Germany (as per
2001). Those interested in studying in Germany can choose between
universities and university-status institutions, such as the
technical universities, or the Fachhochschule institutions,
or the colleges of art, music and film. All state-maintained
higher education institutions are open to students of all nations.
Your decision on which type of higher education institution
is right for you depends largely on what your study objectives
are. You must be quite clear in your own mind about these before
being able to select the most suitable institution.
- The university
- Technical Universities
- Fachhochschule Institutions
- Colleges of Art and Music
- Other University Status Institutions
The University
Since the days of the higher education reformer Wilhelm von
Humboldt (1767-1835) the principle of the "indivisibility
of research and teaching" has prevailed at universities
in Germany. Accordingly, German universities are not merely
institutions which provide education and training, but are also
always places at which independent, pure and applied research
is pursued. "Pure education and science" itself demands
that students engage in strict academic work. Consequently,
the length of studies is higher than in many other countries.
Universities award the academic degrees of Diplom and Magister
Artium as well as the doctorate. They have the right to confer
the habilitation, the professorial teaching qualification, and
can qualify university professors. The new Higher Education
Act (HRG) opened up opportunities for completing degree courses
with internationally compatible qualifications, i.e. Bachelor’s
and Master’s degrees. Universities are increasingly making use
of this opportunity.
University faculties and schools incorporate the following
study fields: medicine, science, engineering, arts and humanities,
law, theology, economics and social sciences, and agriculture
and forestry. The broad range of disciplines offered within
the faculties and schools facilitates interdisciplinary study
or respectively specialisation, right up to the advanced theoretical
fields of a particular science. Many universities have significant
libraries and archives which support student studies and personal
focuses.
Although university studies are based on firm regulations,
most disciplines do provide opportunities for students to pursue
independent and individual research interests.
Technical Universities
Originally, and as the name implies, the technical universities
restricted their teaching to technical and engineering disciplines.
However, in the course of time, they have developed into more
comprehensive higher education institutions. Hence, students
can now also study arts and humanities degree courses at the
technical universities. Nevertheless, the focus of their activities
continues to be directed towards engineering and science.
Fachhochschule Institutions
Students are increasingly deciding to study at one of Germany’s
Fachhochschule institutions, particularly because the studies
are shorter and have a more practical focus than is the case
in university studies with their greater research focus. The
term Fachhochschule is often translated as university of applied
sciences to reflect that higher educational and practical nature.
Colleges of Art and Music
The education and training provided by the colleges of art and
music in Germany aim to prepare students for careers as professional
artists or musicians as well as teachers in artistic subjects.
Studies at a college of music or art differ substantially from
those at a university.
Other University Status Institutions
 Apart
from the above-mentioned types of higher education institution,
Germany also has colleges of education at which teachers are
trained for primary schools, lower secondary schools, special
needs schools, and, in some cases, standard secondary schools
and the lower grammar school classes. In general, however, teacher
training has been integrated into the university structure.
The comprehensive universities developed when a university,
a teacher training college, a Fachhochschule and, in some cases,
a college of art and music were merged to form a single institution.
Consequently, comprehensive universities provide students with
greater choice and an opportunity to change their degree courses
and degrees while still studying.
Germany also has a number of higher education institutions
which focus on very specific subject areas, such as the schools
of medical and veterinary science in Hanover (Medizinische Hochschule
and Tierärztliche Hochschule) or the medical university in Lübeck
(Medizinische Universität). The Deutsche Sporthochschule in
Cologne (sport) and the Kunsthochschule für Medien in Munich
(art and media) train highly-qualified experts. The Filmhochschule
in Munich and Filmhochschule in Potsdam-Babelsberg as well as
the Filmakademie in Ludwigsburg offer degree courses which cover
the whole range of film, TV and media studies. Finally the Hochschule
für Verwaltungswissenschaften in Speyer offers postgraduate
degree courses in administrative sciences for German civil servants,
whereby foreign students are regularly enrolled in courses,
for example, educators from developing countries.
Besides the state-maintained institutions, there are also several,
generally smaller universities maintained by other organisations,
for example, church institutions. And last but not least, students
can choose to attend a small number of privately-maintained
universities which charge tuition fees, however.
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