₦airaland Forum

omoomoba:
Number13, I sent you an email. Did you get it?

Hi. I tried replying the email, but received a sending failure alert. What's up?

It's been a long time! People coming to Germany from Nigeria: study, study, and study, and prepared to study, study, and study when you get here! I now feel like I cheated myself into TUM. I used to take getting an A (above 70% in the university where I did my bachelor's in Nigeria) as being equivalent to the German 1.0. I didn't know one needed to be above about the 95th percentile to have a 1.0. The reality of the matter dawned on me when I saw the result of my German as a Foreign Language A1.1+1.2 midsemester test. The teacher briefly returned the marked scripts to us so that we could make sure there was no mistake in the grading. I had 54.25 points out of a possible 68 -- just below 80%. I thought it was quite good until I saw the grade: 2.7! That many exchange students in my class still doing their bachelors' had 1.0s and 1 point somethings didn't help matters. I could make excuses that some of them might have studied German before, but I don't know that... The fact remains it was a 'below average score' (if we assume 2.5 to be average). Heck, bachelor's grades better than 2.5 on the average was the requirement to get invited for the interview phase of my present programme in first place! I could still say, well, my grade in German doesn't affect my overall grade in my current programme, but... let me just say, I can't really tell until it's time for the exams, which is drawing nearer everyday, but here, even in the regular programme-related courses that I'm taking, I'm maybe an average student at best. In Nigeria, I used to be very, very good. So, my advise to those intending to come to Germany remains: study, study,...

Disregard if it's been discussed before. Be aware that sharing (downloading or uploading) copyrighted files through peer-to-peer applications (like torrents), etc. in Germany is punishable by the payment of a sizeable amount of fine. You'll receive a warning letter asking you to pay the fine, and if you ignore it, you'll be required to appear in court. If you have a way of hiding your IP address, you may not get caught, but... So torrents especially, careful.

Just 4 parameters are required to convert GPAs in between 2 grading systems: the points for minimum pass marks and the maximum obtainable points. The values of the marks and the point scales are irrelevant.

Oga twinkle1, no vex. The temptation to comment was just too great.

twinkle1:
I just dey look una

DanIndia:
RANKING does matter A LOT, no matter where. We've had this argument once and it didn't turn out so well.

Sure, it's a no-brainer.

Williamso:
You know my post is actually two-sided.

I know. But one side was emphasised

Williamso:
Here's what a Faculty member from one of the Max Planck's institutes has to say about rankings:

"If you're planning to apply for a PhD at Max Planck, better to be among the 10 best graduands from an averagely-ranked school than to be among the 20-30 best graduands from a top-ranked school. Though due to competition, we understand it can be more challenging to be among the 20-30 best graduands from a top-ranked school than among the 10 best from an averagely-ranked school. But make no mistake, a top 10 graduand from a top-ranked school has more chances than a top 10 graduand from an averagely-ranked school.


_{Of course this is not verbatim as it was said in German. As for source? I can't remember. Try Google}

Surprise, surprise. And some 'authorities' said rankings didn't matter in Germany.

willy2000:
So higher ranked sch ols are better but you still chose to study in a country where the most highly ranked school is not among top 30 in the world. What an irony

Like I said earlier and will continue to say it, ranking is not and should not be a major deciding factor for choosing a Uni in Germany, in America or UK it may be but not here in Germany.

Choices are restricted by constraints. As Mourinho once said, 'I love the Eiffel Tower but I can’t have the Eiffel Tower in my garden.' With due respect to Germany, you think I would've gone to Germany if I could go to MIT, Cambridge, or ETH? In my case, the constraints were finance and competition, not irony. Even within Germany, I applied to just one school - TUM. Reason? Their ranking in my preferred field. The 'reputation' referred to by the QS, THE, and Shanghai rankings is as perceived by academics. I don't believe you're an academic, so the ranking isn't a representative of your opinion, and it's only natural that you may not agree with it.

twinkle1:
Bro you are right.. It's indicative.. But when people start throwing lame arguments all because a school is few 10s or 50s steps higher than another because of a controversial ranking just irritates..

For example no german school has ever entered top 20 not even 30.. Will one now say all those top 30 schools are better than the top 10 German schools that the rankings arrange ??

Those rankings breed lame arguments.. So I really don't take them that seriously.. Though they can be indicative..

Yeah, as you said the rankings are indices of certain criteria. Since there's no 'perfect' way to process the criteria into rankings, that's why I said that the higher-ranked schools are generally better, and not - as you rightly pointed out - all better, or that they're definitely better for that matter. I was just disagreeing with the dismissal of the ranking as something unimportant.

twinkle1:
I perfectly understand willy2000 's point ... What is the effect rankings of universities in Germany.. That one will have upper hand?..
These things just feed ones esteem that's all..

Not quite. Academic rankings aren't vanity rankings. They're based on set criteria, and these criteria are in turn, based on factual data. The difference between rankings are how the data are processed into ranks. Universities that are higher up the QS generally carry out better work and produce better graduates (based on reputation among academics), and generally carry out more influential researches than the universities lower down the ranking.

willy2000:
Don't get carried away by ra kings, Germans are really not interested in such A graduate of TUM is treated the same way a graduate of FAU in job Interviews. And mind you, the prestigious feeling of attending the highest ranked school is just for you and you alone. Germans don't brag about that, instead they discuss about the beautiful environment in which they studied. How they were able to spend less, go on road trips because their study city was cheap.

There are lots of factors one need to consider when choosing a school, if you have the luxury of such. And I tell you ranking is the least among them.

The QS ranking is based on academic reputation, employer reputation, student-to-faculty ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio and international student ratio. Why the ranking should be the least factor to be considered when selecting a university is beyond me. The ranking should be one of the most important factors.

Eke40seven:
I didn't use TUM but I have enrolled from here already. Did my health insurance and have the enrollment certificate on my portal too. Although, I didn't use TUM for the visa processing but I still have enough time whichever way. Mine is Sustainable Resource Management. Don't wait until you get there before you enrol, you can start now.
I'm actually doing this on behalf of people who I know that are in same situation but do not have the luxury of time.

OK.I'll get to Munich soon, so I have plenty time. The insurance provider that I intend using didn't reply when I tried obtaining the proof of insurance through email so... I'll enrol there.

Eke40seven:
Hello! No matter what you do, don't send money in parts from two different countries when funding your account for instance, some in Euros from Germany and may be another part from Nigeria. That's how I made my payments and by the grace of God, today is one week plus one day I have been happily anticipating confirmation from DB and yet no show. I have sent contacts and even emails when I felt it was taking too long, no reply from the main contact form but the response from the mail directed me to the contact form, now I have taken more actions, I found the official phone numbers of my branch and won't stop calling them until they produce the dam* confirmation.. Them go hear am.... I feel DB is just too slow with their process for a German organisation... Ifesowapo micro finance bank in my local community will do better.

No cause for alarm though, I know some other people on Same situation so mine is not peculiar.

No cause for alarm exactly. Lectures don't start until 12.10, and the enrollment deadline is 13.11. Heard that obtaining health insurance and subsequent enrollment at TUM can be done in a day or two. Are you for MSCE?

By the way, anyone going for visa collection, be sure to go to the consulate general with the original travel health insurance certificate; a mere online printout won't do. I learnt that the hard way.

Obiwannn:
Oga, this statement is not true and very fallacious.
And I would give you instances.
1) CAU Kiel, when I applied for their MSc program in Material Science and Engineering, I could have applied using an English Language Proficiency Certificate, but it was stated clearly on their website that for applications using the said certificate, you get a score of 0. There wasn't any specified or required Test benchmark per se, they instead grouped you according to your score.

For admission, they used a point system.
Your CGPA carries 10 to 20 points (can't really remember)
SOP carries 5 points
Closeness of your undergraduate degree to your Msc also carries a certain point
Their language requirement was thus:
IELTS score of 9 - 4 points
8 - 3 points
7 - 2 points
6 - 1 point
proficiency certificate - 0 point
Native speakers are given a score depending on their country of origin, but were also allowed to submit test scores.
Pompido and Alibee and other Kielites can attest to this fact.

2) A friend who applied to a very competitive program at Uni Stuttgart, InfoTech precisely, during application was told he could use a Language proficiency certificate. During the second stage of screening, he was told to send his full Project thesis or the Abstract as a pdf attachment. He was also told to submit a language test score to improve his chances, same school which had earlier said one could apply using a Language proficiency certificate.

So Oga next time post facts and not assumptions.
Tschuss!

@All, If you must take a language test, be serious with it. Try to score the best you can, and don't assume your below average score would do much more than a language proficiency certificate

Well, I wasn't making an assumption. The MSPE programme of the TUM didn't attach any points for language proficiency. You either fulfil the language requirement (by meeting the minimum language test score or submitting a document that states that the medium of instruction for your bachelor's studies was completely English), or you don't. No in betweens. Using schools that I applied for or intended to apply for, the same applies for English-taught post graduate programmes in Japan, and even for post graduate programmes in the department of mechanical engineering at MIT. Now, those are not assumptions.
I'm not disputing the exanples you gave about schools that attach importance to how well you fulfil the language requirement, but I think they're the minority. Now, that's an assumption.
However, isn't the whole essence of language requirements a measure to ensure that your English language skill -- or lack of it -- will not detract your understanding of the course being taught? And is setting a minimum score for language tests or asking one to provide a document certifying your language proficiency a way of saying that 'if you fulfil one of these conditions, the level of your English language is good enough to understand the courses being taught in this programme.' Afterall, the English language requirement is not a condition for one to study English, it is but a tool to study something else.

victz:
@Zeeblamjo1, Futurewise11, DanIndia and those currently living in Germany. Please, why is it that the cost of accommodation in Germany is so high? Is it that there are lack of availability of housing/infrastructure in Germany or what is exactly the problem? It's like this problem is also affecting their own citizens. A German student studying at the University of Tubingen decided to be living in a train because of this same problem. She said that the cost of living in a train is cheaper than keeping her rented apartment in Stuttgart. And this problem is almost everywhere in Germany. It's even worse in bigger cities like Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt etc.

If a student should be paying €300 per month out of €670 withdrawn from blocked account monthly for accommodation and another €90 for insurance it means that he/she will be left with €280 for the rest of the month. I know that student jobs after few months can serve as compliments but is there nothing the government is doing to address this issue?

The government eliminated tuition fees. Even for foreign students. Maybe they should provide free accommodation and reinstate the tuition fees instead.

dolpaz:
Easier to Register = IELTS

Easier to write and Pass with high score = IELTS

Most schools in Germany requires at Least 6.0 which ia achievable with just 1-2weeks preparation.

Work on Listening, Reading and Writing. The speaking will take care of itself.. Trust me.


All the best Hadassaheke

I haven't written the IELTS before, but TOEFL was easy enough for me. Also I think that you actually speak to a real person in the IELTS speaking test, while you literally write -- with a pencil on a paper -- in the writing section. So if you might feel nervous to speak to an actual person, you may prefer the TOEFL, where you are required to speak into a recording device. Another pro of the TOEFL is if handwriting is not your strongest skill set (like me). The con of the TOEFL will be if you cannot type quickly, on the other hand. The rule of thumb for deciding which language test to take would be first of all to see what language test the school accepts or prefers. If both are accepted and no preference is given to any, you might then want to consider the aforementioned points.

Obiwannn:
If you have the money take either TOEFL/IELTS. It surely would help your application and improve your chances especially when your CGPA is not high enough and the course is very competitive

Nwa nne. Hmm. Merely meeting the minimum requirement for the TOEFL or the IELTS test scores are meant to satisfy the English language requirements. It's not the-higher-the-better like the GRE and other aptitude tests, or your GPA. A minimum required score is as good as a perfect score.

hadassaheke:
@oga number13 please when you submitted your application at TUM for their m.sc program in power engineering, did you submit an english proficiency letter from your school or you wrote an english test?

Hallo. I submitted a letter from my school. MSPE accepts them. P.S. I hope I haven't missed any other Qs that you might've directed to me before. I noticed this one by chance -- I rarely visit the thread these days. If anyone has any Q specifically for me, do ask it in a PM. I won't miss it that way.

zeeblamj:
It's hasn't been an easy journey through life for most people. It's hasn't been an easy journey through school for most people. And after schooling, how much did they earn? They still had to suffer for months even trying to put together 8040 euros which is not a lot of money in Germany. Some of them even got rejected after finding and everything. So tell me, how can it not be a relief to finally have the visa stamped on their passports? If there were more opportunities in their motherland they would never dream of going anywhere so u can blame anyone. Life hasn't been easy. And doing ur Msc in Europe is a good chance at succeeding in the job race when u come back here. I'm very happy, in fact dancing for all my friends here who are coming to Germany.

You made a very valid point there. True, so true.

kilo4sure:
Hmnn obiwon this ur post would attract Numbers 13 oh, Lol. Numbers 13 my guy where art thou?
Congrats obiwon,hollaytan,dehonourable, et al. Go and do exploits.

I dey o. How far? I just visit the thread occasionally to know what's going on. I've simply given up on looking for Obi-Wan Kenobi's puns.
Congrats, Obi-Wan. The Force be with you, always. Congrats to all other people who have got their visas.

It's a good thing to be able to be honestly happy, but let's not go overboard in expressing our joy at getting a permit to visit a foreign country, shall we? Such emotional outbursts seems to diminish the value of our own country, and that's not very nationalistic.


I urge you all to make study your priority, and not work, or 'hustle' as some of you term it. It's astonishing to hear people make statements like 'I don't care about the standard of the university, I'm only interested in how readily available jobs are in the city/town/village where the university is located.' It's important that you make ends meet of course - without money, you won't be able to study. Isn't it better though, that you graduate with the best possible grades, and get the best possible jobs after?

The visa interview is what it is - an interview - not an exam. You're not granted a visa because of how many questions you answered correctly or wrongly. It suffices to show enough knowledge to prove that you're going to Germany to study, or for whatever reason you're going. Surely, getting as many questions as you are asked right is a way to 'show enough knowledge'. I'm just raising this point because it seems as if too much emphasis is laid on getting the questions right or wrong on this thread. Also, the VO simply types the answers you provide during the interview and sends it to the appropriate authority for assessment. I don't know if she includes her personal assessment of the interview with the answers, but the VO isn't the main person that you should be convincing during your interview - you don't get to see that guy.

My 2 kobo

AK47, any luck finding accommodation yet?

Disregard if the Nigerian-German GPA conversion Q's been already answered: GGPA = 1 + 3(maxNGPA - NGPA)/(maxNGPA - minNGPAtopass)

Eke40seven:
Obiwannn had a confrontation with NUMBER 13, such an UNLUCKY chap!! LOL
My fellow TUMite, I see you like yourself a good pun. Check out this thread I opened a while ago for pun lovers, we would appreciate your inputs...Oya leave my friend obiwannn, come and test your wits against real pun lords.

https://www.nairaland.com/2100004/nairaland-book-puns-lovers-wordplay

@Fele1, your questions plenty. just note that you will need German language proficiency with up to B1 or even B2 sometimes in order to apply for the degree in question.

Thanks, Eke! What a SITE that is; I haven't seen so many original puns in one place! I'm afraid I might get a HAIRDRYER treatment from the followers if I post any pun that is below the standard of those that are there; I had better COMBED through the THREAD carefully as if I were looking for a NEEDLE in a stack of hay.

Obiwannn:
I would be very grateful if you can teach me how to use the phrase...MR. KNOW IT_ALL.

1. You should go to the INTERNET and check out the meaning of the word 'pun' first, I'm sure you'll be able to CONNECT with the various way in which puns are used.

2. When you show greater INTEREST in the usage of puns, your APPRECIATION of puns will increase.

3. We really should CUT it out, however, I don't want any bad BLOOD between us!

Puns intended in all three. I included appropriate emphases in case you don't get any of them.

Obiwannn:
Calm dwn oga. styles has a point and i believe he knws more than waht hes telin us. Mayb he works with the embassy (pun intended) or he knws sum1 who does (which i think is the case here).
Eitherway, and whoever that is, currently reading this post/thread, abeg na 1 Nigeria we b oh.. Most persons here are gud law abiding aspiring NIGERIAN STUDENTS/WORKERSwho have very good intentions and no sinister motives

OK, so I'm not just reading through this thread in order to point out errors or anything like that, but I think this may not be the first time I've seen you use the phrase, 'pun intended' without there being any pun in your comment. Perhaps you don't know yhe correct usage of that phrase, or maybe I just didn't notice the puns? No bad intentions!

iyke20024:
Not bad. You can get TUM. Focus more on your motivation letter. They also prefer related working experience abroad. As far as your cgpa meets their requirements. It would not be the only reason why you were not accepted. Especially if the course is not restricted for admission.
If they can turn down first class tells you its not just an issue of your cgpa.

Remember they also do interview

To be safe apply to more university. Have a mix. Top university. Middle and so on. Maybe two from each categories.

Regards

The point I was trying to underline is the fiercely competitive nature of the admission - so much so that a student with very high undergraduate CGPA from Nigeria can be rejected. Good statements of purpose and letters of recommendation sure helps, but especially when they are unsure about Nigeria's academic standard as it is, one's grades in the relevant subjects - to which the CGPA is directly related - is the most important factor, and a 3.30 CGPA on a 5.0 scale might simply not cut it.

sonyville:
Greetings oooh....
Please I want to place a fresh masters application to any school in Germany.

1. Do anyone know any school still accepting applications? If no

2. Any idea of school accepting applications for summer semester (March or April) even if the language of course is german?

3. My final Cgpa is 3.30 in 5 yr cuz (mech engr), do this meet the minimum requirement to secure admission in Germany? cuz I can't still find out why Tum munich denied me admission

Please I will need your guide on this cuz even.the Daad results is confusing.
Thanks my people my people.... Congrats to u all that have already scaled thru
Zeeblamj... Oga eke40seven, imuhopeful, kilo4sure...ogagaejay.........I hail una oooo

3. TUM is clearly the best university in Germany in the field of Engineering. A friend that I applied to TUM with was rejected even though he also had a First Class. Getting admitted to TUM with your grade might be extremely difficult.

yusufftaiwo:
Well, in my case I received no email after my interview ,I guess probably because Ur account was already funded b4 interview... D only email I received was APPROVAL... Wish u d same too...Relaxxxxx

So be it. Thanks for your reassurance.

twinkle1:
Then you are perfectly fine .. The next mail you should get from the embassy is your APPROVAL

So be it. Many thanks.

twinkle1:
Have you funded your account Bro?

My parole is alright Bro..

Yeah, I funded before the interview...