The first question one would face is: which country should he/she select? Choosing a country to study is not an easy task. Four years ago, I was faced with this question, and I selected Germany for my further studies. Based on my experience, I am going to help you make a decision on why choose to study in Germany.
Germany is one of the most popular destinations among international students in the world and holds the top spot for international students in the EU as of 2018. More than twelve percent of students at German universities come from abroad – you could be one of them! Let us first take a look as to why?:
World-class education
German higher education is one of the best in the world! Whether it’s cars or education, people everywhere recognize “Made in Germany” as a seal of quality. You can benefit from Germany‘s long and famous university tradition especially in the fields of engineering and science. A German university degree is highly respected by employers around the world.
Germany has many Top universities in the World. There are 44 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2018 [2], which is more than any other country after the United States and the United Kingdom. There
are 43 universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2018 [3] top 500, with 10 in the top 100:
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (34), the Technical University of Munich (41), Heidelberg University (45), Humboldt University of Berlin (62), RWTH Aachen University(79), University of Freiburg (82), Free University of Berlin (88), Technical University of Berlin (92), University of Tübingen (94) and University of Bonn (100).
No Tuition Fees
The most important reason for studying in Germany is that most courses have no Tuition fee [4]. But, you will need to pay a semester contribution up to 250 Euros, depending upon the university and the services or benefits included.
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Here is the overview of average tuition fees in different countries around the world:
English-taught course
Good news for those who don’t know any German or if your German isn’t good enough yet. Many courses and degree programmes are being offered in English, especially at the master’s degree level. As per the DAAD website, there are 1471 courses that are completely taught in English [4].
Funding Sources
Although students don’t pay tuition fees and receive a ton of benefits, the cost of living in Germany can be still considerable. Various means of funding like scholarships like DAAD [5] and part-time jobs called “HiWi” (Research assistant) or “Werkstudent” (Part-time job in a company) are available to students for coping up with the living expenses. Studying alone can take significant mental efforts; part-time job opportunities also exist in restaurants, supermarkets, etc. for those who don’t want brain intensive jobs. As an international student, you are permitted to work for 120 full days or 240 half days in a year.
Job opportunity
Germany provides excellent job and Ph.D. opportunities. After completing your degree in Germany, you can stay on in the country for up to 18 months to look for a job related to your qualification. As per a study, Germany is likely to face a shortage of 3 million skilled workers by 2030 [6]; this means more job opportunities after studying in Germany.
Explore Europe
Besides studying, living in the center of Europe provides you with an opportunity to travel across the whole continent. What more, the German student visa would allow you to travel to 26 countries without any restrictions. you can reach a number of destinations within a couple of hours by train or plane. Whether you want to go skiing in the Alps, mountaineering in the Dolomites, enjoy the beach in Barcelona, visit Paris, Rome or Amsterdam you have a wide selection of travel destination that you can reach within a couple of hours by train or plane. Weekend trips are easy to plan and really affordable.
German Language
Whatever plan you may have for the future, learning the German language will always be beneficial and opens door to many job opportunities. German is the world’s 4th most popular language[7]. Living in Germany would provide you an easy way to learn the language.
Safety
A question you may have in your mind is: “How safe is Germany for me?” Despite its history of racism, modern Germany is a multicultural society, with some rare incidents of racism. Also, Worrying about safety and crime in Germany is a natural concern for those who are unfamiliar with the country. Germany is generally a safe country, and while crime in Germany exists, it is rather low-scale [8]. Crime in Germany is not a topic one needs to be concerned about.
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Healthcare
Germany also has a reputation for having one of the best healthcare systems in the world 9, providing its residents with comprehensive health insurance coverage. Everyone living in Germany to be insured by law.
Activities
Apart from exploring Germany’s own entrancing history and cultural traditions, there is also the possibility to learn cultures from surrounding European countries and meet people from across the Globe. As a student, it is very hard to get bored in Germany. There is something for everyone: Music, Food (Local and international cuisines esp. Italian and Turkish), Festivals, Arts, Nightlife, Outdoor sports (Biking, skiing, hiking, etc.)
Vegan / Vegetarian Food
A country famous for its sausages and schnitzels, vegan/ vegetarian visitors to Germany might worry that they will have to do a bit of hunting to find meat-free munchies. There are actually plenty of vegan/vegetarian options, both in traditional cuisine and common international staples the Germans have accepted as their own. The university dining hall (mensa) also offer vegetarian food options!
With nearly 10 percent of the Germany population is going meatless, Germany has the highest rate of vegetarianism compared to its European neighbors, according to the NGO known as the European Vegetarian Union [10].
Hope this blog helps you to make up your mind to study in Germany or not to. Let us know what you think in the comments? Would you want to study in Germany or would you choose another destination? Let us also know what else would you like to know about studying and living in Germany?
