Study in Cuba
Sunshine and blue skies, Cuba Libre and Mojio, vintage cars and colorful (crumbling) facades: This is probably what many people first associate with Cuba. The Caribbean country has even more to offer - for example an education system whose academic quality can certainly compete internationally. Anyone who is not deterred by the socialist economy of scarcity can experience a very exciting country in a historic process of change during a semester abroad.
University landscape
- There are over 40 universities in Cuba. The University of Havana is the most famous and one of the oldest in the Americas.
- All institutions are public and controlled by the Ministry of Higher Education.
- Since there are usually fixed timetables, school-like class groups quickly emerge.
Study structure
- The academic year begins in September and ends in July.
- A Cuban course of study is divided into four sections:
1. Licenciatura (Licentiate/Bachelor, 4 years)
2. Diplomado (Maestria, 4 years)
3. Candidato a Doctor en Ciencias (doctorate, 3-4 years)
4. Candidato a Doctor en Ciencias (Habilitation)
Language
- Courses are held exclusively in Spanish. Anyone who cannot provide proof of good Spanish skills must take part in a language course as a prerequisite for admission.
- Language courses are offered by Cuban universities, among others.
- The price range is approximately between €260 for a two-week standard course to €480 per week for individual lessons.
tuition fee
- In general, the Cuban education system is free, but international students have to pay tuition fees.
- As a guideline: For full-time study you pay around €5,000 per academic year.
visa
- You must submit your visa application to the Cuban embassy in Berlin. An approval can take up to three months!
- When entering the country you must already have a return ticket and international health insurance.
Cost of living
- You should expect to pay around €600 per month in a city like Havana.
Examples:
Cup of coffee: €0.85
Cuba Libre: €2.20
Bus ticket: €1.80
- There are two currencies in Cuba: the Peso Cubano (CUP) for the locals, and the other the Peso Cubano Convertible (CUC), which is used solely for tourists and the purchase of “luxury goods”.
Accommodation
- Compared to German rental prices, living in Cuba, including Hanvanna, is quite inexpensive.
- The cheapest option is probably dormitories - but these usually leave a lot to be desired in terms of equipment. A good alternative is a room in a host family.
- In Havana you should budget around €270 for the rent.
Study in Vietnam
Vietnam is changing. Also in the field of education. The ambitious goal: by 2020, four universities in the country should be among the top 200 in the world. International university cooperation, an orientation towards Western educational standards and more research are intended to drive progress.
University landscape
- There are more than 350 higher education institutions in Vietnam (160 of which are universities).
- A large part is in state hands, although there are now also private universities in the communist-ruled country.
- There are over 50 collaborations between German and Vietnamese colleges and universities, including, for example, the Vietnamese German University (VGU) in Ho Chi Minh City.
- The form of teaching is still quite schooled and frontal teaching is more the norm.
Study structure
- Winter semester: beginning of September to the end of January
- Summer semester: beginning of February to beginning of July
- The course structure and academic degrees generally correspond to the Bachelor-Master system.
Language
- English is becoming increasingly important as a language of instruction in Vietnam. Relevant language skills can be proven using a standardized language test (e.g. IELTS or TOEFL).
tuition fee
- Tuition fees for international students are higher than for local students and vary from university to university, from course to course.
- As a guide: a two-year master's degree costs around €900.
visa
- You must submit your visa application to the Vietnamese embassy in Berlin or the branch office in Bonn.
Cost of living
- Like many other Southeast Asian countries, the cost of living in Vietnam is very low. With €500 a month you are already living at a high level.
Examples:
- Beer (0.5 l): €0.60
- Main course: €1.50-3
- Monthly motorcycle rental: €38-55
Accommodation
- For a rental apartment with two rooms you have to budget between €150 and €300 per month.
- For example, a room with a Vietnamese host family is cheaper (100 to 180 €/month).
