U.S. and German Higher Education: The Differences

March 2013

Presenter: Miriam Moeller, International Programs SpecialistNorthern Michigan University (mimoelle@nmu.edu)

Skype: NorthernMichiganUniversityMiriamooVoo: miriammoellerWeb site: www.nmu.edu/ipo

• 4-year, public state university in northern part of Michigan, on the shores of Lake Superior – 6 hour drive from Chicago

• Medium-sized university (9,400 students) in a vibrant, safe city (Marquette – 23,000 residents)

• Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in more than 180 programs

• Campus and community is wired with advanced technology and high speed Internet called WiMAX

• Full-time students receive IBM or Mac notebook computer as part of tuition and fees

Northern Michigan University

Where is Northern Michigan University?

• Born and raised in Germany• Came to Northern Michigan

University in 1997 as an international student

• Earned a bachelor’s degree in English, master’s and master of fine arts degree in creative writing

• Works now as an international student recruiter for NMU

My International Story

U.S. and German Higher Education: What are the differences?

1. Education systems1. Before University2. Types of Degrees3. Majors4. Liberal Studies5. In the Classroom

2. Tuition and Aid3. Extracurricular4. Campus Life5. Sports

Education Systems: Before University

• High school in the U.S.: 12 years without Hauptschule, Realschule und Gymnasialzweig, no Abitur but SAT: College Admissions Test (Reading, Writing and Math + subject tests), taken in junior or senior years

• High School students apply to multiple universities with high school scores, SAT results, essay, “resume” with list of extracurricular activities. German universities can be more selective. There may be waiting lists to get in.

• Apply for federal aid (FAFSA=Bafög) and scholarships

Education Systems: Degrees and Majors• After high school, most students choose to complete:

– A bachelor’s degree: 4 years (bankers, business, arts, teachers, sociologists)– Or an associate’s degree: 2 years (applied sciences, culinary arts,

electricians, hair dressers, hospitality management …)

• Generally, students choose 1 major and 2 minors– I chose an English major with a journalism and geography minor – A certain number of credits has to be completed before graduation (at

NMU most classes count as 4 credits)– Undeclared– Multiple Majors– Pre-vet, Pre-med, Pre-law– Academic Advisor

• After the bachelor …– Master’s with thesis (2 years). Doctorate (3 years with dissertation).– Medical School (4 years of schooling, residency), Law School– State exams (teachers)– Work

Education Systems: Liberal Studies• General classes to obtain “the skills necessary for becoming

independent lifelong learners and effective citizens of a challenging and rapidly changing world.”

• “promotes the integration of knowledge derived from multiple perspectives and stresses the development of problem-solving skills and intellectual creativity through the exploration of a broad range of disciplines and fields.”

• Students can choose Liberal Studies subjects and gain “general knowledge”

• Gives time to decide what to study if undeclared• Develops important skills in addition to becoming an expert in a

specific major• But it takes more time (at NMU between 2-3 semesters)

In Deutschland

• Students choose 1 major (Diplomstudium/Magister: Grundstudium, Vordiplom, Hauptstudium, Diplomprüfung oder Examen)

• Go to Vorlesung, complete 1 exam/paper/project at the end of the term. Some lectures are mandatory

• 1 semester about 6 months (in U.S. 4 months or shorter)• Hochschulreform: Used to study 4-5 years to obtain both

a bachelor and masters equivalent (nowadays 3-year bachelor’s are offered and 2-year masters)

• No liberal studies

Education Systems: In the Classroom• Select your classes (at NMU 12-18 credits per semester)• At NMU: 25 students in a classroom. Lecture classrooms common at

large universities• Classroom Setting: attendance often mandatory, professor-student

interaction often graded, quizzes, tests, research papers, student workshops, internships, public service learning: more like a high school classroom, ABC grades: GPA

• Professors are much more accessible

In Deutschland:anonymous, large class sizes, passive classroom setting, competition can be high among students, professor are hard to reach, students are more independent

Tuition

• Public U.S. universities are supported by the U.S. government, but not to the extend as German universities

• Tuition varies greatly from under $10,000 per academic year to $60,000 per academic year

• Most German universities don’t charge tuition: Big debate (See UK)• Governmental Financial Aid (students pay it back) and Scholarships

(free money) offered in U.S. Bafög available to Germans (some has to be paid back)

Extracurricular Activities

• Gaining skills outside of the classroom important:– Leadership Programs (Student

Leader Fellowship Program)– Community Service (Superior

Edge: diversity, citizenship, real world, leadership)

– Career-building internships– Public Service learning

• Volunteer Abroad

• Student Clubs to supplement major (Model UN)

• On most U.S. campuses, freshmen, sophomores or students 21 and younger must live on campus

• Dormitory Style, “Houses” within dorms

• Meal plans • Laundry services• On-campus transportation • In Germany, most students

live in WGs off campus (Studentenwohnheim)

• Mensa provides cheaper meals to students

• Semesterticket helps with public transportation

Campus Life

• U.S. universities often offer competitive athletic scholarships

• NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) and university stipends (funding varies but often 100 percent)

• At NMU scholarships are available for the following sports:

• Students “try out”• Coaches make the decisions• Scholarships tied to academic performance

University Sports and Athletic Scholarships

Men’s Women’s

Basketball Basketball

Football (American) Cross Country running

Golf Nordic Skiing

Hockey Soccer

Nordic Skiing Swimming & Diving

Track & Field

Volleyball

Questions?

Miriam Moeller, MFANorthern Michigan University (mimoelle@nmu.edu)

Web site: www.nmu.edu/ipoFacebook: Northern Michigan University International