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Studying in Germany can be very different from what you would have been exposed to so far. The courses require an understanding of concepts and are often application oriented.A 120-credit programme can take between 2 to 3 years and a 90-credit programme can take between 1.5 to 2 years to graduate in. These figures are an estimate for an average student.Please do not select a University solely based on its ranking. Consider other parameters as cost of living in the city, proximity to major cities, curriculum offered. Such factors will affect job opportunities more than University ranking alone.There is no minimum attendance requirement, but you’re expected to be sincere and participate in the class sessions actively. Being attentive will help secure a Research Assistantship under the Professor.I don’t know about other Universities for certain, but in TH Rosenheim you have 3 attempts to pass or clear the subject. If not, your enrollment is canceled and you’ll have to return.Learn German! Learn it atleast till B1 (CEFR) to make the transition and integration in the new country a little bit easier.However, if you want to study with German as the academic language of instruction, learn until C1. This will help you grasp technical concepts better and you’ll be able to better articulate your ideas.Have your documents notarized as it is required by the Universities to consider/grant admission.NOTE: Photocopies of the documents to be notarized, and not the originals.Prepare a list of universities you would like to apply to. Be specific with the kind of curriculum you’re seeking and realistic about the admits you can secure with your current profile.Arrange these names in a folder (PC/laptop) and gather all relevant information about the university of interest. For example, application deadlines, academic requirements, LORs, curriculum offered, etc.Being organized will help you bypass anxiety and confusion.Prepare your SOP (Statement of Purpose) and have it proof-read by as many people as possible to pick out on errors and lack of cohesion in ideas/language.Get in touch with professors / work supervisors (if you have work experience) for LORs (Letter of Recommendation).Send applications to the universities as soon as they open because many universities have rolling admission and will offer admission as long as seats are available. Apply early to not be at mercy of others.Beware of fraud consultancies who “guarantee” admission.Think about finances whether or not you’ll need a loan. Typically, a blocked account of €8640 (€720/month) is required every year for sustenance in Germany. You could come to Germany and work part-time too to recover the investment. Normally, the wages start from €9/hour.Apply for a passport, if you don’t already have it.Open blocked account with €8640 or more. This is a requirement for visa application. Apply for Travel Insurance.Apply for a visa appointment date atleast 2 months before your intended date of travel. Please ensure you have an admit letter by the appointment date. Otherwise, there is no point and the German Consulate will reject your visa application.NOTE: Information about German visa can be found at Federal Foreign Office - German National Visa.Link to student visa checklist: https://india.diplo.de/blob/1862506/b697563f971d99b8d8e2c3034288e982/student-data.pdfWait for about 4–6 weeks for visa approval. You’ll, at times, need to show flight tickets to prove the intent of travel.For life in GermanyDo not make advance payments for any accommodation without a contract. Frauds exist in Germany too. It is possible that the rooms may not as shown in the picture. Therefore, please make payments only after inspecting the accommodation in-person and reading the contract.Register at the Bürgeramt after you have accommodation.Get health insurance. This is mandatory and will cost about €90/month.Enroll at the University with original documents.Have your visa extended before it runs out.Carry passport with you at all times until you get your visa extended at Ausländeramt and have a Resident Permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis)

There are three types of student visas to the US:1. F1 Student VisaStudents applying for a program which requires more than 18 hours of study in a week require an F1 visa. This includes all undergraduate programs as well as graduate programs like MS, MBA, etc.Spouses or children accompanying F-1 visa recipients will travel on an F-2 visa. Please note that spouses are not able to work but may accompany and/or apply for their own visa to the U.S. to work or study2 . J1 Exchange Visitor VisaThe J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa is for students, visiting scholars or lecturers pursuing an exchange program. For example, Fulbright scholars and many students on short-term study abroad programs from Indian universities will travel to the U.S. on a J-1 visa.J1 visa is usually sought by working professional who goes to America on an exchange program, hence the name Exchange Visitor Visa. These may include a 10-month vocational training or some research fellowship, etc. Whichever be the case, the applicants would be notified for the same by the respective institutions.Spouses or children accompanying J-1 Visa recipients will travel on a J-2 Visa. Please note that spouses are able to work when permission is obtained in advance.3. M-1 Vocational/ Non-Academic Student VisaThe M1 visa is a type of student visa reserved for vocational and technical schools. While the process remains similar to an F1 visa, the difference is that on entering, the M1 visas are time stamped and students cannot overstay their visit.Cost of Visa :F1 200 $J1 180 $M1 200$Accepted modes of payment: Credit Card/Money Order/ Demand Draft.Documents Required for F1 Student Visa ApplicationStudent visa requires you to carry a lot more documents than you would for a tourist visa, by comparison. You need the mandatory documents along with supporting documents of financial and academic records. Make sure you refer to this checklist before going to the consulate for the visa interview.A valid passport with a validity date at least six months beyond your period of stay.Printed copy of DS-160, the online application formInterview appointment letter (original and copy)Form I-20 sent by the college (where you are going to study)Visa fees payment confirmation receiptBank statement for at least three years showing that you have enough assets to pay for the first year (could be of parent or guardian)Pay slipsOriginal mark sheets/provisional certificatesScore sheet of exams like TOEFL , GMAT, IELTS, etc.Supporting financial documents required for F1 VisaFor the USA, students need to show proof of the amount of fund they need to cover for the first year total expenses. It includes tuition fees, living expenses, and other expenses (like books). They also need to show the proof of the readily available funds for rest of the tenure of education.Evidence of Financial Resources required for F1 VisaTax returns for the past 3 years (Form 16)Bank statements/passbook for the past 3 yearsOriginal pay/salary slips and letters of employmentStatement from certified CAScholarship letter (If the applicant has received it)The loan approval letter by the bank or the concerned authorityHow to Apply for US Student Visa (F1 Visa)There are several steps to apply for a student visa:Your visa process starts when you receive Form I-20 from your college. Though you can pay the SEVIS fee anytime during the application, it is strongly recommended that you pay the SEVIS I-901 fee before you start your US visa application.After paying the SEVIS fee and getting a receipt, you can apply for a DS-160 visa form. It is an online application form.Print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.Pay the visa fee through NEFT or at authorized AXIS bank/Citi bank locations.Schedule a Biometric appointment and Interview appointment.For the Biometric appointment, you will be required to appear in person to get your photograph clicked for the visa and get your fingerprints scanned.At the Personal interview, the interviewer will ask you questions about your choice, of course, college, finances, and intent of coming back. If s/he is convinced, they will keep your passport with them to get the visa stamped.Remember, F1 student visas can be issued up to 120 days before the starting date of your course of study. However, you will not be allowed to enter the United States on F1 status earlier than 30 days before your start date.Additional Information:F1 visa holders are eligible for up to 12 months of OPT (optional practical training) on completion of graduation. That means you can work for a year after you finish your studies. It is a temporary employment permission allowing students the opportunity to gain practical experience in their field of study. After that, you’ll be required to apply for a work visa if you have to continue working in the US. You can remain in the US up to 60 days after the completion of your course even if you don’t have a job offer or haven’t applied for OPTInterview Tips for Student Visa:Focus: It means that you need to sound absolutely focused to the officers regarding your decision of studying abroad. You should be able to portray how studying in a particular country and in a defined ambiance will help you realize your academic goals. It is essential to express why studying in India would not help you fulfill your purposes. This can be supported by explaining how the chosen curriculum will help you achieve your goals.Clarity of Goals: You should be able to describe your aspiration of staying in a country for a defined period. It is essential to mention that you plan to utilize the experiences after completing your studies from the foreign country in actualizing your short-term and long-term goals. Showcase your intent of utilizing the time period you would spend in the chosen country in exploring its education system as well as industry and relate it with your career aspirations.Return Ticket A student visa is granted for a defined frame of time, which is the duration of the course you wish to study. Make sure that you do not express your desire of staying in the chosen country for too long or starting your professional career there. A study permit or a student visa varies from a work permit or a work visa.Keep your family and friends aside If you tell the visa committee that you want to go to a particular country because your friends or family members reside there, then chances are that you will get rejected. However, if everything goes right, you may always add on this point as the icing on the cake.Time A visa interview is generally less than half-an-hour, thus, it is vital that you understand the importance of time. You have to impress the officers heading the visa committee within this time frame. Give your visa preparation enough time and prepare for the interview with the kind of dedication it needs.Language Fluency in a spoken language is essential to assure the officers that you are prepared to study in the medium of official international language, that is English. Though the scores of the standardized English language test, you would have taken, show how well you have a hold on the language, yet good communication skills would always help in impressing the visa officers. Polish your grammar and practice in front of the mirror or your family members or friends who motivate you. Practice will make you confident and help you present your strengths intensely.StrengthsThe officers are there to test your character and eligibility.Character: You should be able to express that you are dedicated to learning as well as capable of living abroad. This includes your drive to overcome the challenges of studying the demanding course you have chosen to study as well as getting absorbed in the culture of the chosen country. It also means that you come from a background where you have learned the value of judicial laws and that you will obey the laws of the country you will go to.Eligibility: This includes your ability to support the expenses of your studies and managing your living in a foreign country during the course of your studies.Paper-Work Ready Keeping yourself ready with this step will make half of you already relaxed. a would help you in concentrating on your interview even more; therefore, it is advisable that you keep the documents ready with you beforehand. Things you may get asked for during the interview includes your passport, passport-sized photographs, your standardized test scores, academic transcripts, educational certificates, proof of loan approval, bank statements, and many other related documents. Some of the original documents, like your birth certificate, needs to get translated to English and authenticated by a notary for the visa office.These were the generic things to be kept in mind while appearing for a Visa Interview and even drafting your Visa Letter. However, different countries have different kinds of visas that vary in processes. For instance, a US Student Visa has a lot of variations that need to be understood precisely.

It is unlikely to assume, in advance, your study permit will be rejected!If you don’t have one or more of the followings items, then your study permit may be rejected:You don’t have a valid acceptance letter from a designated learning institution (a university recognized by the Canadian Government).You don’t Have sufficient funds to pay for your living and accommodation.You don’t have proof of confirming you don't have any criminal records.You don’t have a valid passport.If you can fulfill all these four points, you can start with your study permit application. At Skipissues, we have compiled a complete checklist for your study permit application. Feel free to check that out!Explanation of point 2:You need the following amount of money to show for your Canadian study permit:1 year worth of tuition fee of the program you are planning to enroll.CAD 10,000 for living cost outside of Quebec and CAD 11,000 living cost in Quebec (1 year)CAD 4,000 for each dependent outside Quebec and CAD 5,100 for each dependent for in Quebec. (1 year)To summarize, you need your tuition fee of 1 year+ 1 year of living cost + dependent cost for 1 year * the number of dependents + extra CAD 3,000 to 4,000 at your disposal in case of emergency.Good Luck!