HOW TO ACE YOUR GERMAN STUDENT VISA INTERVIEW

by with No Comment Culture

While admittance into a German university is one of the first steps to getting your degree, successfully processing your German student visa interview is another.

Before you can relocate to Germany, you are required to have an interview with the German embassy in your country for assessment of competency regarding your studies in Germany.

In this article, we will review a few common questions and tips that are likely to come up in your interview, should you require one.

Questions Regarding your Decision to Study in Germany

Most of the questions asked will revolve around your choice to study in Germany – why you picked a specific place, and why you picked your course. Answering this question does not require any specific information.

Generalized answers regarding the quality of education and your passion for your desired course is good enough. The following questions may be asked:

Why do you want to study in Germany?

Why did you pick that specific university/ city?

Why are you interested in the course you applied for?

How did you find out about this university?

Isn’t this course offered by any college or university in your country?

What other universities have you applied to?

Questions Testing your General Knowledge of Germany

Questions in this category are asked to test your familiarity with Germany and its culture. It is advisable to do research on lifestyle and all things German to ace this section. These kinds of questions include:

What tourist places do you know and what are they famous for?

Can you speak German?

Where is Germany located and what are its neighboring countries?

What are the most expensive cities to live in, and what are their average living costs?

How many states are there in Germany and can you name some of them?

Questions Regarding your Study Plans

Seeing as you are going to Germany for scholarly purposes, it is very common for the embassy to ask for details about your studies. Here are a few questions that could come up:

How long is your course and what does it entail?

What is your highest level of education?

What have you done since your last graduation?

Questions to Ascertain your Financial Stability

Although German tertiary education is relatively not costly, the German embassy might question you on your financial security and how you intend to sustain your stay in Germany. Here are some questions they may ask:

How are you funding your education?

How much will you be able to earn after your studies?

Where will you stay in Germany?

What will be the total cost of studies per year?

Questions about your Plans for the Future

Study plans aside, the embassy is very likely to ask about your life after your degree. This section includes:

What are your plans after studying?

Where would you like to work after studying?

What are your career aspects?

Advice For the Interview
Alongside these questions are a few tips that may help you to give the best impression possible. Take note that it is not mandatory, only suggested.

Dress smart. As you prepare to answer the questions in the interview, it is good to also prepare your appearance to depict professionalism and seriousness.

Be punctual. Whether it is a few minutes early, or right on time, make sure not to be late as this may create a negative start to your interview. Try as much as possible to be a pleasant client.

Make sure you have all documents. An interview may prove to be useless if you do not bring all of the required documents needed to process your student visa. It may result in you having to re-sit the interview a second time, or even having your student visa denied.

Applying for a student visa may sound challenging or daunting, but it is a smooth transition if you can prep yourself beforehand. The entire process will feel lighter in the moment, and it will be easier to complete, as you know what to expect.

exchange programme students discussing

What You Need to Know About Student Exchange Programmes

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A student exchange programme is an avenue for students from a secondary school or university to study abroad. One of their institution’s partner institutions organises it. The term “exchange” means that an associate institution proposes an admission to a student. This does not mean that the students have to find a counterpart from the other institution with whom to exchange. This “exchange” could be short-term or long-term. Each has its distinct focus and objectives.

A short-term exchange or STEP often lasts from one week to three months. During this period, there is an intensive exposure to the understanding of other cultures, communities, and languages.

We can usually apply for these programmes through various governmental and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). They are the ones that organise such programmes. Most times, their sponsors demand an oral presentation.

On the other hand, a long-term exchange lasts six to ten months or up to one full year. Students who intend to partake in this programme must have a student visa. The visa depends on the host country one chooses, as they may require further details or documents. For instance, guest students going to the US need a J-1 cultural exchange visa or an F-1 foreign student visa.

Students in long-term exchange programmes get to know a host family and integrate themselves into the local community and society at large. They have to speak and understand the host country’s language at least at a basic level.

Students also have to incorporate what they learnt into the development of their country. A typical instance of an exchange programme is Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (a government-funded programme.) Likewise, The Council on Standards for International Educational Travel, a non-profit organization, commits to quality international educational travel and exchange for youth at the high school level.

The application process for long-term exchange programmes.

Long-term exchange programmes application and interviews take place 10 months before departure. But it can be only 4 months before in some cases. Applicants should be between the ages of 13 and 18. Some allow students older than 18 years of age in technical work-study programmes. They often require a preliminary or full application form, including fees, followed by a scheduled interview for the applicants. 

For high school students, a GPA of 2.5 or higher is mostly required. Candidates with the best performance in both academics and conduct have more chances of being selected to serve as ambassadors for their countries.

The organization, university or college defines the costs of the charges from their student exchanges. The costs vary depending on the country, duration of the study, and other private factors. Different programmes through the institution of choice may offer students scholarships that cover the expenses of travel and accommodation. They also cover the personal needs of a student.