5 Things to Know Before Studying Abroad In Germany

All those people who had the chance to study abroad, anywhere in the world, surely know that it’s not an easy thing to do.  Flying hundreds of miles away from your home to a country where you’re going to live, study, work,

get to know new cultures and meet new people might sound scary at first but you can make the whole thing an experience that you’ll never forget with some little effort.

Why Germany?

Germany is a really beautiful country and it’s the perfect country to break your limits and enjoy the modern civilization that is shaping the world. It’s not a surprise that Germany is the 2nd country after the USA to welcome millions of international students and offer them an education that will define their lives.

Only four states out of 16 states in Germany charge a tuition fee, which is 500€/semester maximum. Universities in other states offer complete free-tuition education. So you will only have to pay for the rent, food, transport and still have enough money to explore Germany and have fun.

So this is the reason why many people from all over the world pick Germany as their preferred place to study. So if you don’t want to end up with a lifetime debt and work as a slave for all of your life to pay that debt, then go to Germany and live life to the fullest!

Based on my experience as an international student in Stuttgart, here are five things I wish I knew before going to Germany:

German Language

If I started learning to speak German before I came to Germany it would have saved me a lot of stress and make my life much easier. So if you can, try going to a course or pick online lessons on German language and get a basic understanding of the language. It will help you tremendously, especially with the locals if you want to explore smaller towns and local shops. German is not that hard if you’re really persistent in learning it.

Scholarship

Many of the people I met during my time there had won a scholarship beforehand which helped them a lot since they didn’t have to take part-time jobs to support themselves like me. The German law allows international students to take part-time jobs but try to get a scholarship if you really want to enjoy your time there.  I’d recommend you take a look at www.studying-in-germany.org guide for scholarships and other information.

Insurance

Be sure to get a good insurance plan before you even think of leaving for Germany. Not because of the reason that Germany requires all international students to have insurance, but for your very own safety and wallet. I had picked a plan at home without thinking that much and only a few months after I settled in Germany I had a small accident for which my insurance didn’t pay and I had to ask my parents for extra money to cover the expenses. From then on I decided to really pay attention to all these things. Also don’t pick a company in your home country but pick a local company because that makes it easier for them and for you as well. I picked one in Stuttgart, where I studied, calledMawista.com and they had a plan meant for students. So remember the insurance!

Germans are really friendly

I admit that I was a bit ignorant and brainwashed when it comes to knowing the German people. I thought they were cold and unfriendly, focused only on their work and not having fun. Oh god, I was so terribly wrong. They are very friendly and surely know how to have lots of fun! OktoberFest is enough of a reason to prove this. If you go to Germany and don’t experience this beer festival you haven’t done anything. I got to meet a lot of people and had a really great time everywhere I went.

Life is cheap

Compared to other countries in Europe, Germany is definitely one of the cheapest to live in. You can buy local groceries and cook at home instead of eating out, and share a flat with a flat mate if you can find one. My maximum expenses went as much as 800€ per month, but that really depends on what city you decide to study. Still it’s far cheaper than other countries