Studying in Germany now 18.47pc costlier for Bangladeshi students
There has been a steady increase in the number of Bangladeshi students and scientists applying to study in Germany. According to the German embassy in Dhaka, nearly 3,000 Bangladeshi students are currently enrolled at German higher education institutions
Recently, the cost of study in Germany for Bangladeshi students increased by around 19 percent. Fees for students who applied for higher studies by August this year remain the same, but those sending their applications thereafter had to pay the increased fees.
Those applying since September will begin their studies in January 2020.
Prospective Bangladeshi students will need to prove that they have at least 10,236 euros (Tk9.63 lakh) in a blocked account in order to get the student visa. Before the increase in fees, students were required to deposit an amount of 8,640 euros (Tk8.13 lakh) in their blocked account, according to the German Embassy in Dhaka.
The embassy published a note regarding the increase in the blocked amount on their website that reads:
"Dear Students,
please note that the necessary amount for the block account deposit has been raised! From 1st September 2019 (date of submission of the application) all applicants must provide the total sum of 10,236/- Euro in their block account (853/- Euro per month)."
Students are required to open and deposit the said amount in the specialised blocked account prior to their arrival in Germany. This account can only be accessed after they register with the local residence authorities.
The withdrawal limit of the blocked account is also being increased from 720 euros to 853 euros per month, and it came into effect from September 1.
A blocked account is a unique type of bank account designed for international students to be able to provide reliable evidence that they possess necessary financial funds to study and live in Germany. It can be opened prior to one's arrival in Germany but can only be accessed after the student registers with the local residence authorities in Germany.
Bangladeshi students in Germany
For several years now, there has been a steady increase in the number of Bangladeshi students and scientists applying to study in Germany. According to the German embassy in Dhaka, nearly 3,000 Bangladeshi students are currently enrolled at German higher education institutions.
To promote academic exchange between Germany and Bangladesh, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and other organisations award numerous scholarships to Bangladeshi students and young scientists and academics every year.
Indian students second largest group in Germany
Indian pupils constitute the second-largest international student group in Germany after the Chinese. According to the German embassy in New Delhi, in 2018, the number of Indian students attending German universities stood at 17,570.
International students in Germany
According to data from the German federal statistics office, 2.86 million students are studying in Germany for higher education in the academic year 2018-19. Of them, 13.74 percent are international students.
China is traditionally the largest distributor of international students in German universities. Other big groups enrolled in 2017 came from India, Russia, Austria, Italy, France, Cameron, Ukraine, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Why international students choose Germany?
International students choose Germany for a number of reasons, including free higher education, world-class professors and countless job opportunities after graduation.
Graduates in Germany have the second highest rate of employment in Europe, according to Eurostat. It shows 91% of education graduates in 2017 in Germany found employment, making it the European country with the second highest rate of employment.
Most of the international students are studying engineering subjects in German universities. The other most preferred study fields are law, economics and social sciences.
According to Studying-in-Germany, the largest information portal about studying in Germany for foreign students, a total of 1,39,559 international students were studying engineering as of the winter semester in academic year 2017-18. In terms of percentage, 37% of foreign students are currently pursuing an engineering degree in Germany.
