DAAD - Branch Office Cairo
Your stay in Germany
When will I start working with m y German supervisor? Do I have any contact to my German professor during the period of the language course?
You will start working with your German supervisor after you completed the language course.
Does the GERLS program cover lab costs and bench fees?
The GERLS program does not cover lab costs and bench fees.
When will the 6 months German language course take place in Germany? Will these courses be held parallel to the doctoral research itself, or will it take place the first six months without any other activities?
The six-month language course will take place prior to the Ph.D. course.
What is the main target of the German language course?
The overall target of the language course is that you will be able to communicate in German whilst living and studying there. It is vital - even if many people will be able to speak English - that you are able to express yourself in daily life at university, but also at other occasions outside of the campus life.
Moreover, DAAD pays the full PHD GERLS scholarship holders a 6 months language course in order to pick up their PhD studies in Germany. DAAD requires in return a result of each scholarship holder which will be a passed language course certificate, whether it will be the TestDAF, the DSH or a language institute certificate.
DAAD signed you in for a test at the end of your course in Germany and will pay for it as well. So, attending the test at the end of your language course is obligatory.
You will have to attend a language evaluation test at your language institute in order to attend the right level of language course for you in Germany. If you passed the A.2 level in Egypt, then usually you will pass on to the B.1 level as soon as you start in Germany.
Does the final level in the German course have influence on the matriculation in the German universities or any other administrative aspects?
Many German universities require a language course certificate in order to enroll. Not all of them do, but it is always advantageous to have passed it if they ask for it.
Besides these reasons it is always an asset to your career to be able to mention on your CV the TestDAF or another language course certificate which is valid in Germany. Think about possible future co-operations with German universities/professors/working groups that may result from your PhD in Germany. Having taken such a step in your career is always of great value.
