Germany offers one of the best work-life balance for international students. Many public universities in Germany rank on top for their quality of education. Unlike other countries that prefer to profit from international students, Germany offers free education in almost all their colleges to national as well as international students from around the world. Each year there is tight competition from students around the world to secure a seat in more than 300 universities in Germany. A statement of purpose is an important essay written by the student to show that they are worthy of being selected for this course and can make unique contributions with their presence. Students who have notable achievements in academics, as well as extra-curricular activities, are favored over those who reflect as average in their SOP.
India and Germany share a strong bond in terms of education. Exchange programs with schools are quite popular as students from both countries get to experience different cultures.
What is an SOP for the German Scholarship
If a student has made up their mind to study in Germany then they have to apply to universities and colleges that will evaluate their application. Now, if your financial strength doesn’t allow you to pay some specific college fee or take responsibility for your living costs and maintenance in the country, then you should apply for a scholarship. Your scholarship application is incomplete without an SOP through which you can communicate with the authorities and give valid reasons that make you eligible for your financial aid in Germany. There are low chances of your scholarship request being accepted if your family income is more than 20 lakhs. Although the competition is stiff, getting a scholarship is not as difficult as it can be in other developed countries such as the US, UK, or Canada. So, many students don’t take chance and hire the SOP Writers in India to get their SOP done.
Points to remember while writing your SOP for German scholarship
Follow the timeline- Germany is very particular about the start and end dates of their scholarship programs. Many Indian students spend months doing proper research about colleges and their programs since there is a chance that you might not find information about all colleges in the English language. You should start writing your SOP for the German scholarship way before you have to submit it. This will give you the time to edit, rewrite, proofread, and get it checked by professional SOP writers.
Focus on academic score– Germany strives to accept international students in their country who have maintained a high score throughout their academics. You should highlight your high school and graduation marks in your SOP so that there is clear information about your academic level. Some universities might reject you from getting a scholarship if you have less than 85% in your previous degree. Moreover, students who are appearing for their 12th boards in India and hope to pursue education in Germany should try to score more than 90 percentile as it is a respectable score with the German authorities.
Relevance of course- The course for which you have applied to study in Germany should align with the previous subjects that you have studied in India. Your SOP should have strong points that convey how you developed an interest in this subject, why you want to study it in Germany, and what career options you want to experiment with in the future.
Focus on research- Research papers, assignments, and project work that show your orientation toward your subjects will help you make a point about your genuine dedication to the academic field. In your SOP for the German scholarship, you should write about the computer, vocational, and soft skills that you have learned. Overall, your academic qualifications, co-curricular activities, or informal learnings should make you stand apart from other applications.
Reason for scholarship- An SOP for German scholarship is written with proper information about the financial constraints that you are facing back home in India. Expenditure on your or your family’s health problems, meager family income, hefty college or coaching fees, the standard of living, or other personal issues can be some of the common explanations for your reason for asking for a scholarship.
Fluency with German language- Nowadays, a maximum number of courses in Germany are available in English. You most probably will not face a problem with language in your academics but to comfortably survive in Germany, some knowledge of their language is important. Students have to write in their SOP for German scholarship about their fluency level and if they have any plans of learning the language before coming to Germany.
Specify the scholarship- Indian students are not bound to be sure about any specific scholarship that they want and are free to apply for multiple scholarships for their course. However, in your SOP it is critical to write about the scholarship that you hope to get, under what financial circumstances you want it, the specific amount you hope to receive, and how you are planning on spending it.
Language proficiency test– Although the German language is highly favored for international students, students have to take tests like IELTS and TOEFL too. It can be an either choice to give one of these exams whose result should be written in the SOP.
Contribution to the country- Your SOP should state the expertise you have in fields other than academics and if you are ready to contribute to your German university with them, Culture and arts, analytical and computer skills, sports, etc are some points in which you can show your prowess.
Types of German scholarships
A student can apply for multiple scholarships from Germany. Precisely, the two kinds of scholarships that you can avail of from the country are government-funded scholarships and non-government scholarships.
- Maximum scholarship benefits are given by the German government when they accept you for fully funded programs. There is no fixed number for the amount you get for your scholarship as it completely depends on the financial worth of an individual student. Each month, an amount between 150-800 Euros [is given to the student. DAAD and Erasmus are the most famous scholarships that can benefit Indian students.
- NGOs, corporate individuals, trusts, and banks often introduce schemes from which Indian students can take advantage. They are equally valuable as government scholarships however, the German government is not responsible for them. Some popular non-government scholarships are Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung, Mawista, Bayer, and Heinrich Boll scholarships. There is a Marie Curie International incoming scholarship reserved for students from developing countries like India and it can grant you an amount of 15,000 euros each year.
Other than these two, there are special scholarship offers from particular universities that can offer you financial relief if you are coming to France for a specific degree.
Sample SOP for German Scholarship (MS in Germany)
I feel immense pleasure to have received an admission letter from Heidelberg University. Being an enthusiast for the German culture and way of life, it was my lifelong dream to study in the country that I have always admired with all my heart. I am writing this statement to request you grant me the DAAD government scholarship that can help me cover my expenses of living in the country and enable me to submit my semester fees. Due to certain circumstances, I will not be able to cover these costs myself.
My first introduction to the German language was in the 5th standard when we had to choose one foreign language to study with our other subjects. While most students chose common languages, only 8-10 students opted for German and I am glad that I was one of them. I continued studying the language up until high school and was the top scorer in this particular subject. Later, I completed my graduation in B.A. Honors German Program from Delhi University and participated in many language competitions. My GPA in modules such as grammar, oral communication, literature, and translation ranged between 8 and 9.
Soon after, I employed myself with Delhi Public School at the post of PGT German. It was because of my interesting teaching approach towards this foreign language that the percentage of students choosing German as their optional studies increased from 25% to 50%. I requested the school authorities to allow me to conduct a ‘German Language Day’ in school every year on 14 September (also a special day in Germany) and invite students from other schools too. Everybody would take part in activities like article writing on festivals of Germany, discussing popular media from Germany, development of ties between India and Germany, etc. The day would be a fun learning experience for everybody involved. During these years, I was often invited by the German embassy in New Delhi and other coaching institutes to give presentations on the country’s culture to attract students and develop their interest in the language.
After working as a German teacher in school for three years, I have realized that it is time to upskill myself and pursue a Master’s in the German language. I knew that I did not have to search for any other country to offer this course as there could be no better option than to learn the language from its country of origin. After accumulating the required documents, I applied to Heidelberg University and got accepted within a fortnight. Now, to shed light upon my personal information, I am the only child of my parents who are both now retired as private school teachers. My father was a high school educator of mathematics and my mother taught the primary school students for more than 30 years. My parent have saved up a decent amount of money which will help them fulfill their needs in their retirement years. It would be immoral of me to ask them to contribute towards my stay in a foreign country after already spending luxuriously on my studies in India. I will be using my personal savings for my travel fare and food requirements during my stay in Germany; but want assistance with any tuition fee that is applicable and living expenses. It is owing to my exceptional passion for this language and the skills that I have acquired in it from my education in my home country that I consider myself eligible to apply for the DAAD program. This course will open several opportunities for me in my career in India.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge that I also appeared for the language proficiency test almost a month ago and secured an overall band score of 9. I am fluent in both English and German languages and hope that I will be considered for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study in Germany. The rich cultural heritage, advanced teaching methods, and a degree that will be recognized internationally are my biggest motivation to apply for this course.
I thank you for taking the time to consider my application and earnestly hope that you decide in my favor!
Sincerely
XYZ
Conclusion
Germany has seen a 26% rise in the number of Indian students who want to study in their country. They do not see education as a means of profitable business and sincerely reserve the country’s funds for national and international students. However, it does expect qualified and competent students to come and contribute to the country’s will to develop and innovate in fields of science, technology, medicine, programming, engineering, etc. A student’s SOP for a German scholarship is the only document in their application that can make the authorities count the student’s worth and give them a chance to study in their country without worrying about financial hardships. Following the timeline for which various scholarships are applicable is important if you do not want to miss out on the golden chance of studying in Germany. If a student is facing some severe financial issues due to hardships in the family, avoid over-exaggerating them by explaining your point clearly. Do detailed research about the amount you hope to receive and how you are planning on spending it. Finally, elaborate on your knowledge about your course and the significance it has for you.
If a student feels that he/ she does not have the apt writing skills to craft a suitable SOP, then you should prefer contacting professional SOP writers who can guide you through the process. We, at Contentholic, have been SOP Writing Services in India for 13+ years and helped thousands of students with their SOPs. Our SOP Writers are experienced and have command over writing the SOPs which reflects the profile of the student relevantly. So, get in touch with our team and get yourselves convincing SOPs.
