Students must fulfill several requirements in order to graduate from a German university. First, they must speak and read German with at least moderate fluency. There are several private international universities with German campuses that accept English speakers, but Germany's public universities require German proficiency. Second, they must decide what subject they are interested in - German colleges often only offer programs in certain areas, and there are many other private and international institutions that offer vocational training or specialized career-oriented degrees. Finally, they must be accepted to the university (not a guarantee, as most German universities restrict how many students they will accept and only start new classes once per year). International students may also have a tough time transferring credits from other universities, so planning ahead is critical. Once admitted, being a German college student is much like being a college student in other European universities.
German universities are generally well-regarded internationally. Three are included in the top 100 on the QS World University Rankings, a well-known rating system. The value of a German college degree largely depends on the type of degree it is. International programs, such as those run by foreign universities with German campuses, tend to tailor their courses to in-demand degrees such as business or manufacturing. National public universities offer a wide variety of courses; generally, scientific degrees (medicine, engineering, biology, etc.) are most in demand and considered to be valuable by employers, while purely academic degrees (literature, history, etc.) are not as valued.
One recent trend in German higher education is the decision of many universities not to require students to complete a master's degree before graduating. While this used to be the standard for all German colleges, in an attempt to encourage students to complete school many are now offering bachelor's degrees in addition to master's. This opens up more options for students who may not have the resources to spend several years getting their degree. Other recent trends include imposing tuition fees (attending German public universities used to be free, but now there is often a small charge) and allowing individual universities to decide which students to admit, instead of admission being state-controlled.
In general, German higher education is a good deal compared to other European or American universities. It is low-cost, offers a wide variety of programs that are well-regarded internationally, and prepares students well for their future careers.
