Germany is a country of diverse landscapes and exciting cities. Its economy is the largest in Europe and the fifth largest in the world. Many pioneering inventions come from Germany. Science and research have a long tradition and are highly valued today. Since opening its doors to immigrants in the 1960s, Germany has become a land of immigration. Germany is a cosmopolitan and tolerant country.
Germany lies at the heart of Europe. More than 80 million people live here – the most populous country in the European Union. Germany is one of the European Union’s founding members and works to promote closer integration among the countries of Europe.
The landscapes of Germany are diverse and charming. On the North and Baltic Seas, there are island chains with long sand dunes, swaths of heath and moorland. Dense forests and medieval castles are situated in the rolling mountains of central Germany. And in the south, the Alps with their sparkling lakes rise above the lowlands. This is where Germany’s highest peak, the Zugspitze, towers at almost 3,000 metres above sea level.
Germany’s economy is the largest in Europe and the fifth largest in the world. In 2011 German companies exported goods valued at over one trillion euros. Most of Germany’s exports are products made for the areas of electrical engineering, mechatronics, heavy machinery, the automotive industry, environmental technology, pharmaceuticals and chemicals. Consumers around the world recognise “Made in Germany” as a seal of quality. Germany is home to many trusted and renowned market leaders, such as Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Bayer, Siemens and many others. In the same way Germany fosters trade relations with partners around the world, German companies also work hard to promote the international exchange of qualified professionals.
Innovative ideas have strongly shaped Germany’s past and will surely continue to do so in the future. Germany has produced a long list of revolutionary inventions, such as the automobile, the airbag, X-ray technology, Aspirin, the computer, the chip card and the MP3 data compression format. Science and research have a long tradition in Germany and are still highly valued today. The oldest German university was founded in Heidelberg in 1386. The list of German Nobel Prize winners is quite impressive as well. There are almost 70 German laureates in the natural sciences and medicine alone, such as Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, Robert Koch, Max Planck, Albert Einstein, Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard and Harald zur Hausen.
Germany has been a land of immigration since the 1960s. Today it is home to 6.9 million people of immigrant descent, approximately 8.5 percent of the total population. Most of them have come from Turkey, Italy and Poland. People from all nations, cultures and religions live together in peaceful coexistence. Germany is a tolerant and cosmopolitan country.
Studying in Germany is a big chance not only for European people but students from all over the world. Regardless of which university in which part of the country you choose to study and reside, these core elements of Germany will hold true. Let’s take a brief look at them in following sections.