₦airaland Forum

Degovmob:
@Takeastep,thanks bro. I am very happy for you as well. You won't believe I have been searching for a potential supervisor since 2012. Being that waste management programs are not many as other educational courses or programs are,finding a supervisor took me time. I have sent well over 300 emails to professors and schools in Germany and Austria since 2012. Admission as you said is the main thing in PhD. A friend of mine in Munich said that once I come over to start the PhD, that he's certain that I will get a scholarship or a research/teaching assistant position. Now,you have said the same thing. It is really a morale boost. Everything is in the powerful hands of the Almighty God.

As a Phd student, you have little or nothing to worry about. Take that to the bank!

Cindino20:
Well most pple on this board re mssters student hence phd discussion is almost non existent ...search for takeastep..he is doing his doctorate (probezeit) in Hamburg I think

Phd is viewed as a job in Germany..and phd candidates re employed by the uni or research institutes ( 50% or 75% TV-L 13)...some re awarded scholarships by Graduate schs( new sys) or bodies such as DFG, Marie Curie etc..I doubt if any sch will allow you to start a phd with private funding...cos it takes abt 3-4-yrs. In some schs it is stated that private fundin is not allowed this is done to prevent students from droppin out due to financial constrains.

If you re awarded scholarship you may nt be allowed to work ( clause of scholarship so you can concentrate on your studies) ..if as a research assistant in the uni you wont ve the time to work ( I doubt if its allowed) cos you will spend some time workin in the unu and the rest o n your thesis

So my advise is this, discuss the issue of fundin with your prospective supervisor

Also check out some scholarships using this webpage.

http://www.mystipendium.de/

All the best.

Well said. I agree totally with what Cindino20 highlighted. Most importantly about discussing with your potential supervisor. Discuss everything, i mean everything. So you will be very clear about what is in stock for your. The success of your Phd is his/her success too. Dont hesitate to ask about anything not clear. As a phd student, you are more a colleague to him/her than a student. So, build a relationship and leverage on it. Thats what i'm enjoying now. Good Luck.

[quote author=Degovmob post=38397021][/quote]I am really happy for you. I pray everything works out perfectly. The admission is the main thing for you now. Once you get that, you are good to go.

I tell you, there are many funding opportunities for Phd students here, and you have 90% chance of being recruited as a research assistant while your programme is on. So you might end up not spending your money for the whole duration of the programme.

Truth be told, if you get your Phd here, you don blow be that. Just keep it real and be yourself. Baba God full ground for you.

Keep me updated. Cheers!

tariy:
Hallo haus Guten morgen....
Please I need university in Germany for English taught BSc courses for a commercial student who just finished his secondary school........

Do your search here: https://www.daad.de/deutschland/studienangebote/studiengang/en/

justwise:
Follow him first

I have done that. So how do i check the pm?

justwise:
Follow him first

Ok. thanks.

kosplateau:
@All, I know daad.de exists but I won't mind getting info from those who know how to get a PhD position wrt a supervisor and a topic or folks who are in already.

I did B.Sc and M.Sc in Computing in Nigeria. I wldn't mind going to Germany first on Masters and then move on to PhD after say a semester.

Looking at Summer or Winter 2016.

Thanks.

Guess i should give a bit of info here.

There are actually 2 ways in which you can get Phd slot here in Germany:

1. By applying for advertised Phd positions in your area of interest. That can be found on Daad here: https://www.daad.de/deutschland/promotion/phd/en/13306-phdgermany-database/ They are mostly fully funded. Just follow the instructions and apply.

2. You need to connect with a potential supervisor that works in your area of interest. Now this is quite difficult. Because, you need to search for schools that do research in you area of interest, then visit their websites and track down the names and contact addresses of as many professors as you wish. Then send them mails, asking them to supervise you. You can send to as many as you wish. Meanwhile, you must get your well packaged CV and research proposal ready. Send both alongside the mails. Then wait for response. Most times these professors do have funding opportunities that are not known to the public, just waiting for capable students that can take them on. But you have to be very patient. your replies may not come in soon. But summer holiday is your best bet. They are less busy now!

In my own case, i was quite lucky. Because my ex-lecturer had his Phd here, so fortunately i was also interested in the area similar to what he worked on. I spoke with him, he then connected me with the man i'm working with now.
I sent an e-mail to him with the documents i mentioned earlier. After some time he responded. It took a while though, but i was patient. After showing interest in me, he then later suggested i bring up a proposal in another area of research different from what i earlier sent but inter-related. I didnt waste time, i prepared it and send within 48 hours. We chatted back and forth for over a year before i landed here. I tried applying for Daad scholarship through his assistance but didnt make it (going for it again this year)

You need to sell yourself to any potential supervisor. Package your CV very well. Thats the only thing that tells them who you are and what you can do!

Doing another Master? Well it may sound like an easier route because once you are in the system already, it's far easier to pursue your Phd study directly. There arent many students doing that, so opportunities abound.

However, why waste another 2 years doing Masters again...except if its in another area, i dont think its necessary. Why not just chill, take your time and follow the process i highlighted. If nothing comes up by the end of this year, then you can think of using the Masters option.

Hope this helps!

kosplateau:
Just check the mailbox u used to create this NL acct and revert or answer me on what o wrote earlier. Thanks.

This is what i got. And i have just replied with ok. Same for others.

Hello takeastep,

kosplateau would like to send you an email message, but since you're not connected, you'll need to contact kosplateau by replying this email.

kosplateau:
@Takeastep: Good progress! I sent u a pm

Guys sending me pm, i really cant see any o. I only got a yahoomail and i have done the needful but yet to see any pm. Any way out? cc Cindino20

yusufftaiwo:
@ takeastep... Still waiting for Ur update about Ur short experience over there sir, ow tedious is ur research...

@ Cindino20...hope u got my pm sir, there's still no show from Gtb...hoping to hear from u

Sincere apology guys. I have been quite busy lately.

@Cindino20: Not sure i got your pm. You may try resend. Thanks.

@yusufftaiwo: Experience so far has been nothing short of beautiful (short of superlatives). I must confess i have learnt many things during my time here; top of which is the ability to plan myself financially. I really dont have money issues, but knowing the fact that i have to pay for bus ticket, insurance, accomodation and food things monthly (out of the money i'm being paid) has really allowed me to plan myself very well and also spend within my budget. I have also improved tremendously in my time management - esp when it comes to meeting up with buses to your destination.

People here (i mean of all Nationalities) that i have met have been very good. Even though, i dont have a full grasp of their language, we dey flow satisfactorily. English mostly; then a bit of German (just a bit).

They've got good foods also. Lots of fresh stuff - vegetables, fruits aplenty. You wouldnt need to spend your quid on junks.

The research/learning environment is 'crazy'. These guys have gotten everything here. Every single materials, machines/equipments i thought of using for my Phd, they have them! Moreso, my colleagues in the institute (Germans, Iranians, Egyptians, Thai...etc) they've all been friendly, open and accommodating. We have fun together. Go for lunch together; dinner once a while and all sort. Less than 2 months, i'd already learnt the use and application of all the equipment. They teach me like secondary school boy (lol), not minding that i already have my MSc and years of working experience.

One thing that has helped me is my sincerity and honesty. Anytime they ask me if i know how to do 'this' or 'that', i dont decieve myself. I open up sharply. and they are very willing to teach you until you are tired. Even the few things i have half knowledge about, i ask them to explain more.

Seriously, i cant quantify what this experience has done to me. Its priceless.

Hoping to secure my Phd admission before my stay ends (less than 2 months). Already discussed it with my potential supervisor. Topic sorted. Just to iron out funding things. All things been equal, e go happen soon.

But, i tell you, if you dey here, Naija no go sweet you to return o. Organized System at its best! No wonder embassy dey full everyday...

Friends what do you think about learning German language via https://www.babbel.com. A friend needs A1 certificate within the next 3 months. Cant be available to attend classes at Goethe. Please.

Hey guys, pls is it possible for one to learn German and get A1 certificate at Goethe within 2 months?

Please guys, i want ask more about the insurance thing.

Is one to pay the insurance fee for the whole duration of stay or monthly? I mean can it be paid monthly or for the whole three months of stay (like in my case)?

Cindino20:
My advise to everyone includin Takeastep...quitely go for public Insurance baba...if u re under 30 u will contribute abt 81.50euros a mth...the advantages re far more than private insurance...

Disadvantages of Private Insurance...

1.if you visit the hospital..u get to pay ur bill fitst and then get partial refund from ur insurance coy...very tricky and the health care cost is high..a friend of mine once vsiited a Dr. And complained of abdominal pains only for the doc to just examine him, gave him pain relievers and then referred him to the general hospital again nothin was diagnosed and he was asked to take same drugs he received from the former doc....and my friend recieved abt 120euros for the first doc( Dr.Pain .....) and abt 140 for the second one...He had to pay and then file a claim with his insurance company..save urself this headache...yes pple will argue that Nigerians don't fall ill yes I agree I barely visit the clinic ( except when I ve "wicklo" caused by bittin my nails out of boredom or being tensed..u wont believe..I had to do an Xray and a minor sugery for that , If I was usin a private Insurance coy I would ve been done with financially cos I did same minor surgery twice within 6mths.. ) ....to be on the safer side just go with the govt insurance .

2. Some employers will not employ u with private insurance ( e.g Amazon)..they will ask u to get a new insurance contract before u get the job and they will pay for it...

3.In some uni...e.g Bochum and Bonn Rhein seig or so ...they prefer and encourage student to use govt insurance ...Aok..Tk..etc.

4.Dependin on ur job contract..at times u can file for payment of sick leave from Ur Krankenkasse (health Insurance coy) ..well I really dont know hw this works and if its applicable to students...I guess it will be after 6weeks of sick leave the krankenkasse will step in and pay for sick leave..( Prolong illness)..well I dont wish this for anyone..but again we live in a world when nothing is certain.

Disadvantage of Govt Insurance....

Cost...the difference is abt 40 euros a mth....

Think and choose wisely

All the best pple.

Modified...Emirates airline use to ve cheap flights then...U can also check Airmaroc or use opodo.com to check for cheap flights......

Fantastic piece. I think i now get the gist better now. Meanwhile, i suppose its ok for me to go with Mawista for my first three months here. then i can switch to the public insurance after then for my Phd programme. Is that fine?

Obiwannn:
bros, no wash me jarre! you know say na from where I stop na you start .. Only u na bad guyz!!!


bros abeg help me confirm...if person choose the private, na all the money wey the person spend for hospital the insurance company go pay back? and if no be all, what percentage?
secondly, can someone choose private this month and public the next month? or once you choose one, you must stick to it?
thirdly, and lastly, lets say person wey use private come sick and needs to perform an operation (God Forbid oh), I trust the person would be able to withdraw more money than need be (i.e above 670 EUR) from his blocked account in that month by applying to the ....(dunno, maybe alien office, i think)??

Well as for me sha, I go carry my specially prepared Anointing Oil follow body (The Devil is a LIAR ), but still I intend to fully utilize the excellent health care facilities available in Germany (afterall I pay for it right?) hence all these my plenty questions.

bros no fear, God wey don start am go finish am for you. Thanks for your swift responses.

you are welcome bro. Man no dey shake. As e dey so, God don perfect everything already. I dey gbadun all of una for hear. you all are lovely companions. Keep it rolling people..... Cheers.

adenjnr:
I do not see this as a problem
1stly, you need 8k for yourself and 4k for your spouse (another 4k for a child.... if you have one)

2ndly, you can do a court marriage now, collect the certificate and pictures or pictures from your introduction (if you have done one). You can also collect your call log from your network provider, different pictures you guys have snapped together (birthday pics, occassions you attended together) depending on how long you guys have been together (the longer the better)

Lastly, If you have the money (12k) and the proof, its better you process the two together because if you process yours 1st, Family Reunion Visa takes up to 9months sometimes.

hmm.. Nice info. Great one indeed. please keep it up guys. You are keeping many souls on the right path!

Obiwannn:
please do u know the embassies that verify and the ones that dont? I know for certain that US does not verify an account statement submitted at their embassy. Which other embassies do not?


why did u get a return ticket when one way could have been cheaper?
Or are you returning after the 3 month program?

Yeah. Hope to extend my visa within the three months. But certainly, i will return after 3 months before coming back full blast for my Phd. Once i sort out my Phd admission within the 3 months, i wont have issues returning anytime.

Nathan2222:
Seems pretty costly according to this

Thats likely one way. I bought a return ticket.

twinkle1:
ABEG SHEY NA ONE WAY OR RETURN TICKET

RETURN TICKET.

lamingo:
172 is for return ticket i guess. another cheap flight is euthopian arlian with 2 hours stop over at addis ababa. by 5 am one is alreay in frankfurt. one way is around 123k while roundtrip is btw 170 n 180k

Yeah correct. I got return ticket.

Obiwannn:
lol..I dunno oh, but boys will have to look for something cheaper oh..
thought I saw 120 something earlier this month when I checked flight prices to Hamburg, although the day of departure I keyed in was sometime in September. But with you having to pay 170+, I guess you booked like a week or two before departure? and it seems one really has to book the flight thingy way ahead of time.

Funny enough i booked a week before departure but had to rebook and make payment 2 days to go. I kept monitoring the price but it didnt change much. The lowest within that period was 169k. you can do a thorough search for a cheaper flight. never mind the stop overs. The dont matter, you will definitely arrive here as scheduled.

Meanwhile, we are are now in summer big time. flights are much expensive this period. It will be cheaper in September - That's almost winter, i guess.

Obiwannn:
172K? JEEZ..That's pretty expensive ...Na 1st class you fly ni?
Anyway, thank you for replying.

1st class kwa? na Economy o. You got a cheaper flight?

hadassaheke:
172k? aww dats very xpensive o.......anyway its well.......gud day pple

Yeah very expensive. Summer is always like that.

Obiwannn:
Thank God for journey mercies bro. Please I would like to know the airline you used, the amount you paid, how many kg of luggage you were allowed to carry and if you first flew to Frankfurt before going to Hamburg or if you flew to Hamburg directly.

If you could just ask around your residence, I think another Nigerian (and fellow Nairalander) also lives there.

Enjoy your stay boss! By God's Grace, we'd join you......shortly.

Sorry for the rather late reply. i have been resting.

I took Turkish airlines; night flight. It was about 172k. Stopped over at Istanbul then immediately took a connecting flight straight to Hamburg. Then took a train straight to the city centre then a bus to my apartment. The flight was awesome. Ate everything on offer (No dulling; no go do first time gentle boy ooo. Your money covers everything)

Turkish airline allows 2pcs of 23kg. I took a very big bus which i think was bigger than 46kg; but i was advised by the custom official at MMA to split it into two. So, i think its advisable you get two bags too. Make sure you package your stuff very well, particularly your foodstuffs. Wrap them well in used newspaper and cello-tape each differently. Liquids arent allowed in the plane so you have to do a very tight packing. The immigration officers detected my body cream and it was seized. Do a tight packing, i repeat and be confident when you get to MMA. Those custom pple would always ask you what you have in your bag. Be free to explain.

I wasn't really queried. Once they heard i am going for a research and i am also a government employee...it was smooth sailing.

Get as much as would sustain you for few weeks before you settle down. As for me, what i have here might take me for a whole month. Rice, beans, garri, noodles, spag, even ogbono...lol

I hope this helps. Any more question? feel free to ask. The Hamburg Man is here for you. lol

daimlerbenz:
Welcome to Germany. It's a nice place to study. Guy, try do your cooking at home except you be omo baba olowo (like Davido). German babes? with regards to our experience in the south, na no go area. Even their boys dey complain say dem too proud. They are brought up with an attitude of being independent of the menfolk. Well, you could be lucky though. Enjoy your stay bro.

Thanks. henceforth, Doing the cooking at home 24/7. Me no dey close to Davido at all. Even my colleagues in the office told me they take lunch to the office from home............ Did hot pap + egg in the morning, gunning for something hotter this afternoon.

twinkle1:
Your proof of work experience. Did you submit your cv or professional certifications?

I submitted both.

Hello top guys,

I arrived Hamburg, Germany on wednesday morning for a 3-month research visit as a prelude to a possible Phd programme at the University of Hamburg. Got a young guy who picked me at the airport to my apartment (my host sent him). My host already sorted out accommodation for me at http://www.johann-carl-mueller-stiftung.de/studierende/2_studentenzimmer.html. i think its about 270 euro (who cares? he's paid everything).

The room is good with constant internet facility (LAN) and everything you need as a student.

My earliest impression:

My host and his group members have been very friendly and accommodating. Just treating me like a kind of ambassador. Few speaks good English, many only German. All members of my working group do speak English. Not fluently but at a comfortable level. They even requested i teach them more English; me sef asked them to begin teach me German sharply lol.

I took some foodstuff from Nigeria, so i might not be able to talk much on the cost of food for now. But i went out with my host on wednesday to have a nice sandwich, i think its about 5 euro and a bottle of apple drink 0.99 euro. But i heard its cheaper and more sustainable to cook at home.

I will have to wait till tues to start work fully in the lab, cos i still have to sort out my insurance thing. I was told its very important and compulsory i get an insurance before working. So my host already recommended Mawista ( 44,80 € per month ). I will be doing that on monday and then the real work will start. Though got my office arranged already with my computer installed. Did a tour of the institute; the environment, equipment and facilities.

Surprisingly, a Nigerian is my next door neighbour - from Cross River. An Egyptian also lives here - very friendly. And i heard there are many foreigners here. Hope to meet them as time goes on.

A great place, Germany. the environment is good, clean, serene and lovely. I saw some beautiful babes too. Would be nice to move closer to them, especially as this weather no dey smile.

I hope to keep in touch with you guys.

One love.

Kelvinpam:
Greetings to y'all..After attempting a tough WEBtest this morning, I just got admission to study chemistry in the university of siegen....itz the Lord's doing

Big thanks to dolpaz, Walesby, honourableseyi for their last minute help to beat the application deadline.

Congrats! I have been perusing through the school web lately. Pls i want to find out the documents you submitted for application? Does it include any language certificate? Did you put in for BSc.? Thanks..waiting.

dolpaz:
Rhine waal
Fachohschule sud wesftalen
hochschule mannheim
Uni of lubeck

und so weiter, und so weiter

use daad sir !

So much appreciate. Cheers.

dolpaz:
First,

What's did you study during your HND, if its computer/chemical/microbiology/business administration/economics related

Then count yourself lucky

you have countless number of schools that offers courses taught in English language

Just your IELTS and maybe Goethe A1 should be sufficient for admission

Hope that helps !

Really? That sounds great. HND Computer science is the course. Could you please fill me in with names of such schools. I would appreciate.

styles2009:
Yes,you'll need to do A1 to C1

ok. That will be quite lengthy and expensive. Thanks though.

A German University requires C1 German language certificate. Does that means one needs to learn German from A1 to C1 at the Goethe Institute or how does it work out?