Canada vs Germany: Which Country is suitable for Indian students?

Canada vs Germany! Both are popular study abroad destinations for international students. To decide where to study, there are many factors that the students need to know. Canada and Germany are one among the list of world’s rapidly growing economies and also offer good student life experience and career opportunities. 

Canada provides a quality healthcare system, a good public health system and an effortless permanent residency application. In contrast, Germany offers an excellent low cost education system, an affordable cost of living, pleasant weather and good health care. While planning to choose between Canada and Germany these questions must pop in your mind: What are eligibility requirements? What is the cost of study? Do they offer work permits? And many more. Let’s unveil these details to determine Canada vs Germany.

This blog includes

• Canada vs Germany : Highlights
• Top 10 Factors to be considered to choose between Canada and Germany
• Canada vs Germany: Eligibility Requirements
• Cost of study in Canada and Germany
• Canada vs Germany: Cost of living and Taxes
• Pattern of Education system in Canada and Germany
• Canada vs Germany- Visa process Rules
• Work permit post education
• Canada vs Germany: Permanent residence (PR) opportunities
• Scholarships availability
• Details of Employment opportunities in Canada and Germany
• Canada vs Germany: Climatic conditions
• Which is the better choice, Canada or Germany?
• Canada vs Germany : Frequently Asked Questions
  

Canada vs Germany : Highlights

Major Aspects	Canada	Germany
Total Indian Students	2,26,450	34,134
Top Courses offered	Business & Finance, Engineering, Media & Journalism, Health & Management, MBA, Hospitality Management, Computer Programming,	Law, Engineering, Dentistry, Architecture, Economics, Business Studies, Philosophy, Earth Science, Historical and Cultural Sciences, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Mathematical and Computer Science
Types of Degrees	Associate Degree, Undergraduate Degree, Graduate Degree, Doctorate Degree	Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral, Diploma or Magister, Work-study degrees
Leading Universities	McGill University, the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, the University of Alberta, the University of Montreal, McMaster University, the University of Waterloo	Technical University of Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen, Heidelberg University, Free University of Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, RWTH Aachen University
Exams Required	IELTS/TOEFL/PTE and GMAT/GRE	IELTS/TOEFL, Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (TestDaF)/DSH, GMAT/GRE
Average cost of study	CAD 25,000/ year	Public universities: €500-€700/year Private universities: €25,000 – €40,000/year
Average Cost of Living	C$20,000 to C$30,000	867 Euros monthly
Funding Sources	Scholarships, Part-time jobs, Fellowships, bursaries	The German Government provides help for the students' education at public universities. However, Part-time jobs and scholarships are also available.
Best student convenient cities	Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Quebec, Calgary, Waterloo	Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Aachen, Stuttgart
Student admission Intakes	3 intakes in a year- Fall, spring and summer	2 intakes in a year- Summer and Winter
Total International Students	388,782	416,437

Top 10 Factors to be considered to choose between Canada and Germany

While deciding why you should study in Canada vs Germany, the following factors serve as the best guidelines to make the appropriate decision.  

Canada Vs Germany: Eligibility Requirements

When talking about Canada vs Germany, the eligibility criteria of these countries is a prerequisite.

Canada

To apply for admission to Undergraduate (UG) courses, a minimum of 12 years of study is mandatory. Along with eligibility, you should write a SAT exam.  The duration of degree programs is 4 years, while for diploma programs it lasts 2 to 3 years.

Admission criteria to Postgraduate (PG) courses is much easier and flexible. To enrol for management courses, you should appear for GMAT test and for admission to engineering programs, you must attempt the GRE exam. There is no cutoff limit, Universities provide their accepted average score of particular courses in their official website.

Despite your degree, you also need to appear for language tests like IELTS or TOEFL. Some universities may not prefer these language tests for Indian students, but it is still advisable to take either IELTS or TOEFL tests because they are important for visa purposes.

Germany

German Universities are often sponsored by the state but not governed by it. Hence, Universities in Germany have their own score cut-off and eligibility criteria. So, it is always advisable to go through the concerned university's website to check your selected programs eligibility details.

Due to the high level of competition at the application stage, For undergraduate (UG) courses universities request as much as 90% in your secondary school or class 12. However, If you have cleared the JEE advanced exam, the cut-off score is 50%. 

You are eligible to enrol for UG courses, If you have completed one year of Bachelor’s degree education from a recognized university in India.

To pursue a postgraduate program in Germany, you would require a German equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in the concerned discipline. Holding these fundamental criteria aside, universities might also expect you to have a good GRE or GMAT score. 

IELTS or TOEFL including working knowledge of German language is necessary for International students. A high level of language proficiency is mandatory for German taught programs and you will be required to take either TestDAF or DSH.

Cost of study in Canada and Germany

The overall cost of study in Germany and Canada depends on the major factors like tuition fees, course duration, living expenses etc. Tuition fee is the most important factor for many students when deciding where to study. Compared to Canada, tuition fees are much lower in Germany. Most public universities in Germany provide exemption from tuition fees for international students. However they have to pay a small semester fee. Even private universities in Germany also cost less compared to Canadian universities.

Cost of study for Undergraduate courses

Certain aspects	UG course in Canada	UG course in Germany
Duration of course	4 years	3-4 years
Tuition fee	$10,000 - $30,000 per year	Public universities- €200- €500  per semester Private universities- €30,000 per year
Room and living expenses	$10,000–$12,000 per year	€8,640 per year

Cost of study for postgraduate courses 

Certain aspects	PG course in Canada	PG course in Germany
Duration of course	1-2 years	1-2 years
Tuition fee	$15,000 - $35,000 per year	Public universities- €2000 per year Private universities- €40,000 per year
Room and living expenses	$10,000–$12,000 per year	€8,640 per year

Canada Vs Germany: Cost of living and Taxes

The German Government declares that international students require at least €861 per month for 12 months in a Blocked Account to cover basic expenses like food, bills and rent etc. Whereas Canada expects to spend CAD 800 for basic costs plus CAD 1080 at least for on-campus accommodation.

In Canada, International students living for over 183 days should file their taxes, even if they earn income or not. Whereas, International students living in Germany don’t have to pay any taxes if they earn below €450 per month. If your income is more, you can file taxes and get refunds on expenses like home repairs, shifting, training etc.

Pattern of Education system in Canada and Germany

The education system is different for both Canada and Germany.

• In the Canadian Education system, your performance will be evaluated throughout the semester by various modes such as quizzes, assignments, discussions outside the main exams. This is flexible for those who don't wish to completely depend on their final examination marks.
• In the German Education system, your result depends on the final examination grades. Assessments are not normally conducted between the semesters. So, the main thing you need to do is to give your best in your semester end exams. 

Canada Vs Germany - Visa process Rules

Both Germany and Canada require a student visa to study and have similar visa requirements.

• Alongside standard visa application documents, international students should provide sufficient proof of funds, university acceptance letter.
• This visa application process also requires proof of your educational qualifications and health insurance.

The only difference between the countries is seen in their preferred rules and regulations.

Canada

The Canadian student visa follows few regulations.

• International students are not permitted to study in Canada unless they have a study permit which is given by Canadian immigration officials.
• You have to apply for a post-graduation work permit within 90 days of completion of your studies
• Your work limit should not exceed 20 hours per week. Weaver is given during holidays, breaks and summer sessions, where you can work up to 40 hours per week.
• Spouses can work full time if their duration of stay is more than a year.

Germany

The rules applied for a German student visa are as follows

• Residence permit is necessary for a student to stay in Germany for more than 90 days.
• The maximum validity of the residence permit issued to the students is 2 years. It needs to be renewed if the course duration is more than 2 years.
• In Germany, students can pursue part time jobs related to their technical industry. In an academic year, students can work for 180 days half-time and 90 days full time.

Work Permit post education

Both Canada and Germany offer work permits for International students. With a Canadian post graduation work permit, students can stay for 3 years after completion of graduation to look for a job. Refer post graduation work permit in Canada to know more information.

In Germany, students who have completed their graduation have to apply for an 18 months duration residency permit  to look for jobs related to their qualification. If you have a job offer relevant to your technical field before your completion of education, then you can directly apply for a residence permit or an EU Blue card.

Canada Vs Germany: Permanent Residence (PR) opportunities

Many students wish to get a PR to stay permanently in the country. Here are the details about the PR process in Canada vs Germany for foreign officials.

• In Canada, students can apply for PR under Canadian Experience Class with a post study work permit alongside.
• Whereas in Germany, applicants living in Germany for 5 long years on a residency permit are eligible to apply for PR.
• You can apply for a German Citizenship if you are marrying a German Citizen or if you are staying in Germany for the past 8 years.

Scholarships Availability

Canada

Canada has become one of the most coveted destinations for study abroad among Indian students. Candidates planning to study in Canada can visit the 'scholarship and funding page’ of Canadian universities to check the list of scholarships available.

Germany

The German Academic Exchange Service or DAAD are the primary funding organizations in Germany. They will help you with various scholarship  options depending on your chosen stream/ field of study. Many other independent research institutes in Germany also offer scholarships to research scholars or students.

Details of Employment Opportunities in Canada and Germany

Canada

Professions like Engineer, program analyst, teacher, pharmacist, nurse practitioner, financial manager, construction manager etc. are some of the most popular jobs in Canada.

Details of Annual Salary package in Prime Job Sectors in Canada

Field of Specialisation	Average Annual salary
Statistics and Data science	CAD 87,248
Management	CAD 86,733
Electrical and Electronics Engineering	CAD 56,794
Chemical Engineering	CAD 75,768
Health care	CAD 68,611

Germany

In Germany, job opportunities in the field of building & construction, health sector, mechanical & automotive, electrical and electronics industry, information technology & telecommunications etc. are more in demand.

Details of Annual Salary package in Prime Job Sectors in Germany

Field of Specialisation	Average Annual salary
IT and Data science	€62,658
Engineering	€74,888
Health care	€1,02,036
Research	€56,703
Finance	€64,372

Canada Vs Germany: Climatic conditions

Canada is wide spread from pacific to Atlantic ocean, covering five time zones. Usually Canada experiences pleasantly cool summers and freezing winters with a lot of snow. The average temperature in Canada ranges from -40 to 30°C.

The country Germany is divided into 16 states and has a diverse landscape. In Germany, the summers are hot and winters are cold. But the country experiences unpredictable rainfall in all the seasons. The average temperature ranges from -10 to 35°C.

Which is the better choice, Canada or Germany?

Both Canada and Germany are top rated and provide very good student life experiences and career opportunities for Indian students. By comparing Canada vs Germany, if you are looking for an extended post study permit, Canada might be the better choice because it is much easier to obtain residency permits.  Public universities in Germany has less than 30% admission rate, while in Canada it ranges between 40% to 58.7%.  Private universities in Germany has admission rate around 60%.  

However, thorough analysis is necessary for the students to make a better choice. Make sure to consider all the crucial factors before taking the decision.

Canada vs Germany : Frequently Asked Questions

1. Should I choose Canada or Germany?

Canada may be a better choice  than Germany if you are looking for an extended post study work permit. If you are looking for outstanding university experience without paying tuition fees, then Germany might be the better choice.  Germany has less than 30% admission rate in public universities, while canada has 40%-58.7%. Whatever country you choose, Make sure to consider all the crucial factors.

2. Is Germany better than Canada for living?

Germany offers high level education at a low cost, great weather, good healthcare and a minimum cost of living. On the other hand, Canada provides a quality healthcare system, effortless PR applications and an excellent public health system. As per Human Development Index (HDI) 2022, Germany is in 9th and Canada is in 15th position.

3. Which country has more job opportunities Canada or Germany?

Job market in Canada is more competitive when compared to Germany. Finding a job in Germany is easier than in Canada. However, after graduating from Canada you are more likely to find higher paying jobs than graduating from Germany.

 

4. What are the application deadlines for German Universities?

The application deadline for German universities is usually mid July for winter semester running from September to February or October to March. The deadline for summer semester is mid January spanning from March to August or April to September. If you are planning to study in Germany make sure to start the admission process early.

5. What are the application deadlines for Canadian Universities?

The application deadline for Canadian universities is usually between December to March for the fall intake spanning from September-December/early January. For Winter intake January- May, the deadline falls between September and November. The deadline for summer intake running from May-August is usually falling in the month of February.