There are many very old universities in Germany, some of which were founded in the Middle Ages, e.g. the universities in Erfurt, Heidelberg, Cologne, Leipzig, Trier, Mainz and Tübingen. There are about 120 universities in Germany. Most universities have very many enrolled students, often more than 10,000.
There are not only very many students enrolled at the universities, but also a large number of subjects from which one can choose, including disciplines in the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, economics, law, etc.. Some subjects, such as medicine, can only be studied at universities in Germany and not at universities of applied sciences.
At the university there is, on the one hand, research, and on the other hand, teaching, i.e. not only is knowledge conveyed to the students, but created, also by the students themselves. The students learn methods and theories pertaining to their fields of study. One learns to work scientifically during one's studies.
Even if you only want to come to Germany for a semester abroad, there is a lot to organize and consider - from the place of study itself to the courses you want to take to your accommodation. The International Office at your home university can give you a lot of tips and support, often it is also possible to find a partner university. For many students it is also interesting to apply for a grant or an exchange programme - organisations such as ERASMUS and the DAAD are good contacts here.
As a student, you always need health insurance in Germany - regardless of whether you are studying all your time in Germany or just coming for a semester abroad. When you enrol, you must prove that you have health insurance. You can take out either private or public health insurance coverage.
Our private insurance for students is more affordable than public health insurance for students and provides better benefits with a deductible of 300 euro per year.
If you are already over 30 or will soon be 30, you should definitely take out private insurance because public health insurance for students over 30 costs approximately 150 euro, compared to approx. 107 euro for private health insurance.
It’s quite simple to find your student health insurance: Just enter a few details about yourself in our plan finder, and you will be offered a student health insurance plan that suits your needs. Even if you are not yet a student and are, for example, a language school participant or Work & Travel participant, we have the right health insurance coverage for you. If you then would like to study at a later point in time, you can easily switch to private health insurance or public health insurance.