Author: Quentin Cheok
1st Year PhD in Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London
The day I was called to the Ministry of Education (MoE) to receive my letter of approval for my scholarship was a day of exhilaration. I remember thinking that it was finally my turn to start my university degree life. I was not sure which scholarship I would be offered though, whether it would be mechanical engineering or biotechnology.
Upon arriving at the MoE, I was informed that I was being offered to study Biotechnology in Germany! Now I knew that the MoE was offering scholarships to Germany but never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be presented with it! Naturally I was very pleased with it and accepted the offer.
I first heard of the scholarships to Germany during my O-level years. It was during a mock exam at the Science College when memos were handed out, informing students about the scholarships on offer and one of them was the scholarship to study in Germany. I remember being interested in it as I knew that they excelled in engineering and biotechnology.
Anyway, fast forward a couple of years later, I was sitting in the German Embassy, procuring more information about living in Germany as a student. It suddenly hit me that I had to study German since the degree was only offered in English for the first year! There was an uneasy feeling as I contemplated the difficulties of studying German as a second language but I calmed my nerves as the Education Officer at the Embassy came to speak to me. Bearing in mind that the Embassy was not an education office, the officer was still very helpful and provided me with more information about studying in Germany. I learnt that I was going to be sent to a city called Mannheim, in the Rhein-Neckar region of Germany. The closest airport to it was Frankfurt, which suited me fine as Royal Brunei Airlines used to fly direct to Frankfurt. Unfortunately, the Frankfurt route has since been cancelled.
A little know fact amongst Bruneians is the fact that higher education in Germany is free for people of all nationalities! Actually, they have since introduced a nominal semester fee of up to €500 in some of the German states. This is still quite affordable in comparison to British, Australian or even Asian university fees! In Germany, there are two main types of “universities”; the Universitaet and the Fachhochschule. The Universitaet is the classical form of higher education institution. The universities operating in Germany at present focus on teaching methodological and theoretical knowledge. Research and teaching are closely combined with each other. Most of the universities are so-called full universities which offer the whole spectrum of academic subjects. As a rule, these include law, arts and humanities, cultural studies, natural sciences and economics/business administration, teacher training and, with some exceptions, medicine.
Some universities have a strong technical/engineering focus and consequently call themselves technical universities or universities of technology, even though students can also increasingly study arts, humanities and social sciences subjects there today.
In comparison to the more applications and practice oriented Fachhochschulen, the universities attach great importance to basic or fundamental research. As far as possible, the orientation and interpretation of this research should be free from political targets and externally-controlled interests. The principle of the freedom of research and teaching is a highly-valued asset at Germany’s universities – a response to the misuse of science and research in Germany’s more recent history.
Single subject universities represent a special form of institution in German higher education. Institutions that have specialised in a single discipline include the Hannover Medical School (MHH), the University of Lübeck (medicine), the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, the German Sport University Cologne, and the University of Administrative Sciences Speyer.
Those who study at a Fachhochschule have a better preparation than traditional university students for positions and assignments in specific industries and work fields. So the FHs above all offer degree programmes in the field of technology, business and management, social studies, media and design. On the other hand, those interested in studying for a degree in medicine, in education (school teachers) or law will not be able to study these fields at a Fachhochschule.
The strong applied or practical focus of the Fachhochschulen is also reflected in the profile of their lecturers and professors. Many of them have already gained career experience in industry, business or social work. This know-how qualifies and enables them to provide students with insights into the processes, working methods and expectations of companies or social and cultural institutions. Compulsory study internships (as a rule students are required to complete one or two practical semesters) round off the transfer of this knowledge and practice to students.
I arrived in Frankfurt, jet-lagged and lost. I was lucky to have a fellow Bruneian, attending the same course as I was. We were met at the airport by officials from the Brunei Embassy in Germany, who then took us for an hour long car ride to Heidelberg, the sister town of Mannheim. The plan for the two of us was to arrive in Germany, 2 months before the semester started to start a basic German language course.
However, 2 months to learn an entirely new language is not enough, only just to give us a taste of what was to come. Fortunately, the degree course was taught in English for the first year and during that first year, we worked really hard to bring our German language up to par. We had to sit for a German language proficiency test, known as “die Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang” or DSH. This is the German equivalent of the IELTS test.
Part of the requirements to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Germany is the Praktikumssemester or the practical semester where a student must undertake an internship. This allows students to get a feel for industrial applications of what was learnt in the lecture theatres. This usually adds 6 months to the 3 year Bachelor’s degree.
After having completed the Bachelor’s degree, I decided to move into a different field of study as well as a different location. I decided to go to the United Kingdom, specifically London.
When I arrived in the UK, I discovered that the UK and Germany are not so dissimilar. However, I do think that Germans are more organised and efficient. The main difference is the language of instruction in the universities. Seeing as we have all studied English from a young age, studying in the UK should pose no problems whereas the same cannot be said for Germany. Even after three and a half years in Germany, I still cannot say that I know the German language in its entirety. And as with all languages, the less you speak it, the worse you will be at it.
The German Bachelor programmes do not come with an Honour’s qualification although it has already been accredited by the National Accreditation Council and is therefore, equivalent to a British Bachelor’s degree with Honours.
The fact of the matter is this: the degrees from both countries are equally world renown and it all boils down to where you would like to have the experience of living. The German language does make it more difficult for Bruneians to study in Germany but it is not impossible to learn. All it takes is the will to learn it.
Nice article, Q.
Hope you are keeping well there.
And yes, after being back here for donkey years, i’ve returned my Italian fluency back to the italian nation.
Well, ok, I can still understand most of it but to converse in it.. hehehe…
Hope to read more from you as time progresses..
Get yourself a twitter account and add me.. we can keep in touch easier that way.
Thanks for the positive comment, David. I will contribute as much as required.
A very interesting introduction to German higher education. Didn’t know that higher education was free to all. Also, the part about German Bachelor programmes being equivalent to a British Bachelor’s degree with Honours is interesting.
So does it take three and a half years to complete a German degree, with the first year is in English? How much of the German language did you manage to grasp during the two months of basic German language course?
Hey, thanks for the comment. sorry it took so long to answer.
the whole first year in English bit depends on which university you apply to. most don’t do it.
there are also international universities with entire course in ‘t English but these aren’t funded by the German government so you have to pay tuition fees.
Last time i heard MOE do not allow students to apply to these unis but then again, i think there are two Bruneian students in the International University of Karlsruhe or somewhere else.
great article Q. was really interesting to read about the differences between german and british institutions; esp the fees! and was very inspiring to think about how a different language doesn’t have to be an obstacle, but rather an opportunity to learn a new skill. (2 for the price of 1 as it were. huhu)
i too hope to read more from you! =)
Thanks, Kat. it’s definitely an advantage to know more than one language.
Interesting and great insight into German education system. Very different from what we have here. In many places, education is money making enterprise. With the marketing department playing a big part, I guess you can say that a lot of universities are selling their degrees.
Anyway, I just only stumbled across this website from facebook. Never knew such a site existed. hehe a lot of familiar names around though, which is good.
All the best with your research
Hey Denny!
Thanks for the comment! I feel quite proud that this article had one of the most comments. Thanks to all those that commented!
Education is a money-making enterprise. Admittedly, most universities in Germany have to supplement their income by charging “activity” fees as they are unable to function with only the money from the federal government.
A good read. A friend of mine is doing a PhD in Biotechnology in Germany and had to compete for a studentship, which he won. Perhaps there is a limit as to how high up the free education goes?
And can you elaborate on the immersive Deustche programme (if any) to prepare for the DSH?
Ah the PhD is free in the sense that you do not have to pay tuition fees for it. the studentship is to pay the “wages” of the PhD student, as is the case in the UK. However, a studentship in the UK takes care of the “tuition” fees (20,000 pounds i think for international students) of the phd students as well as pay them their “wages”.
The DSH is quite similar to the IELTS. There will be an oral examination, listening as well as written exams. My university allowed us to be matriculated without the DSH, providing that we pass it before graduation. Most universities will not allow that; meaning you need to prove German proficiency before matriculation.
Depending on how good you are with it, it can take up to 2 years to sit for an exam and if I am not mistaken, you need 66% to pass. I did it in 18 months but as I said, it depends from person to person.
Classes at my uni were held 2-3 times a week, with 2 hrs for each session. These were free as well. And it helps a lot when you speak to native speakers. It really helped a lot when I had my first year in English as that gave me more time to improve my German.
I noticed on your website that you spoke German; do elaborate. I was under the impression that only a handful of Bruneians spoke German. How is it that you speak it? (if you would care to indulge me in my curiosity)
oh and do feel free to ask any more questions.
I speak some German. Just enough to survive. Did Deutshe in uni and followed up with usage for a year or two. Since I no longer have the need for it, it would take days to get back up to speed but I still speak it last I checked.
I like the thought of studying in Germany. Contemplated it back then but opted for other avenues. Although now I would not see it as a place where I would land in, I do hope other students would consider it as a viable option.
Dear all, would u elaborate wht u mean by free, no fees at all?Does that mean, we only pay for accomodation and transport of course food..is that so?pls, tnx alot.