Nein Pros and Cons of Going to College in Germany

If you’re looking for an amazing country to get your degree in, look no further! Germany is the perfect option for tons of reasons. It’s the birthplace of many famous scholars and influential people such as Albert Einstein, Karl Marx, Beethoven, and even the Brothers Grimm!

Going to college in Germany is a surefire way to jumpstart your future career goals!

Just think — you could be attending the same college as Einstein, walking the halls of Zürich Polytechnic as he did, and following in his inspired footsteps.

Germany is also the birthplace of the printing press, aspirin, and the automobile! What better place than a place with so many significant people and discoveries for you to attend college? 

We’re not trying to sugarcoat it. Germany has some dark history too, and it’s not all sunshine all the time. Like any kind of travel abroad, there will be challenges and hiccups in the road. We’ve got the down-low on the cons of going to college in Germany and also tips to help you overcome them. Read on for some pros and cons of going to college in Germany!

The pros and cons of going to college in Germany

1. Pro: Free tuition

Let’s start with the biggest pro. Part of the reason we love college in Germany so much is that most colleges don’t charge tuition. Pinch yourself, because you’re not dreaming! Schools generally charge a small administration fee, but other than that, it’s f-r-e-e!

During a time when college tuition in America is creeping up to $20,000 a year for public schools and $46,000 a year for private schools, being an undergraduate in Germany for free seems almost too good to be true. But it’s not! 

As if that wasn’t enough, the cost of living is also uber affordable in Germany. In a big city, you will probably need ~900 euros per month to live comfortably. That’s just over ~$1,000! Not bad! 

In smaller, more rural areas, the cost of living is closer to ~500 euros or ~550 USD. With tuition-free college and a low cost of living, you can potentially make it out of college with no loans or debt. 

2. Con: The airfare

Flying to Germany is the first step to going to college there, but it can be a hard step to take with airline prices these days. Depending on the month and day of travel, a one-way trip to Germany costs upwards of $1,000!

Don’t think of airfare as a cost — think of it as an investment into incredible opportunities.

As far as startup costs go, this is a big one and it can definitely feel overwhelming. Just think about it this way: What you pay in airfare is a fraction of what you’ll save on tuition costs! Paying $1,000 upfront can definitely be cause for apprehension, but you’ll come away debt-free — and with a great education to boot!

We know this is a hard con to get over, but trust us when we say that going to university in Germany is worth it.

• What you can do: Start a FundMyTravel campaign! Family and friends are often happy to help out with your dream of traveling abroad. Even as little as a $5 donation can go a long way! If 200 of your friends give $5, you’ll be on your way to Germany in no time. You can also keep an eye on airfare prices and keep your travel dates flexible. There are almost always cheaper days to fly than others, a trend that you’ll pick up on with a little research. And if you’re really on it, you might find an incredible sale that can potentially cut your airfare price in half!

3. Pro: The views!

Germany has a bit of everything! The landscape itself is gorgeous and varied. From miles of spectacular coastline to the majestic and mountainous Alps and the deep forests in between (over a third of Germany is covered in forest!), you’ll never find yourself bored with outdoor views in Germany.

There’s more than gorgeous landscape though. Germany is also home to incredible medieval castles, enchanting villages, and beautiful churches. While you spend time as an undergraduate in Germany, you’ll also find yourself in awe of the architecture — the sheer age and durability as well as the splendor and vastness.

Whether you’re touring the countryside by train or wandering on foot through a charming little village with cobblestone streets, we know you’ll have a great time.

Going to university in Germany may find you in cities most of the time, but you can be sure there are plenty of opportunities to get out there in the wilderness too!

4. Con: Learning German can be difficult

Living abroad can be made more difficult by a language barrier. And German is a dang difficult language to learn! With three gender choices for nouns, verbs that are separated and placed throughout the sentence, and sounds that are awkward to pronounce, learning German can feel impossible.

So, do you really need to learn it when going to college in Germany? Well, kind of. Many German colleges offer courses in English, and many German people speak English as well! 

However, it helps your schooling to have more freedom in choosing a course that isn’t in English. And it’s important to be able to communicate with the locals who don’t speak English as well. You don’t have to be fluent in German while attending college in Germany, but you should probably pick up the basics if you’re going to be living there for one to four years.

• What you can do: Start early and work hard! Download some language apps and get studying — before you go to Germany. Getting a head start will allow you to feel more prepared when you have to actually start speaking it to native speakers. And don’t be afraid to work hard and make mistakes! German is a hard language to learn and it may require a lot of practice. If you keep at it and learn from your mistakes, you’ll be communicating with the locals in no time.

5. Pro: Top quality colleges and programs

German universities are recognized all over the world and many have a world-class ranking. Germany is home to 47 universities that are ranked among the best worldwide. For instance, the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich is the top university in the country and the Technical University of Munich is the second.

But, with 47 universities to choose from, you can’t go wrong! There’s no doubt that you’ll earn an internationally renowned degree as an undergraduate in Germany, which sets you up for success in the future with your career.

Will you find the best degree programs in Germany in Munich? Berlin? Frankfurt?

6. Con: Some of the resources are lacking 

Tuition-free schools are awesome for students, but sometimes mean that equipment and resources are a bit lacking. This is especially true for public universities in Germany.

Resources such as high-tech computer labs, on-campus gyms, and student centers aren’t widely available. The colleges that do have these resources will likely charge a small fee for you to use them. While this isn’t ideal, it’s a fair trade-off for not having to pay for your education!

• What you can do: If the resources aren’t offered by the college, that doesn’t mean they aren’t offered somewhere else. Search the city for nice computer labs or maybe even invest in a laptop of your own. Plus, there’s sure to be gyms and student gathering places scattered around the city for you to enjoy, even if they’re not offered directly by your university. And just because your campus doesn’t offer extra resources doesn’t mean it’s not a nice place to go to school! Enjoy your university campus for what it is — a place of learning and research.

7. Pro: You’ll be surrounded by interesting and diverse cultural experiences

Germany is chock full of history! From the world-famous Pergamonmuseum in Berlin to the stunning Kölner Dom cathedral, you need only look around the corner to find history, heritage, and incredible culture.

If you love theater and music as well, then you’re in luck! Germany is home to some of the most incredible, ornate concert halls where some of the greatest composers like Beethoven and Bach once directed. You can still hear orchestras and the like play there today.

There are also theaters with modern and classic productions alike! Entertainment in Germany is rich with history and culture.

No matter where you are going to university in Germany, you’ll have your hands full with more than just museums and entertainment. Germany is also famous for its food — mainly its sausage, Bratwurst, and foamy pints of beer. Of course, you can’t miss the seasonal white asparagus.

And we’d be crazy if we didn’t point out the excellent desserts, most notably the Black Forest gateau, a cake so fudgy and cherry-flavored that you’ll never want to eat any other dessert for your whole life.

8. Con: The courses are less structured

You’ll find your independence when attending college in Germany!

Procedures and policies will differ from school to school, but there is less hand-holding in general when going to college in Germany. Students are responsible for taking initiative in reading and homework.

One major difference at universities in Germany is that students are not automatically registered for the end-of-semester exams. You will have to sign-up for your exams yourself, which can be stressful to remember on top of already anxiety-inducing testing!

The end-of-semester exams often represent 100% of your grade, with no other assignments or attendance points to help. That makes it even more important to sign up and be ready for them.

• What you can do: Be diligent about doing your reading and studying throughout the entire semester. Don’t be the student who has to pull an all-nighter and cram for finals!

9. Pro: There are tons of international students for you to befriend

Germany is an amazing place to go to college. Because of this, tons of international students are drawn here every year. There are over 350,000 international students going to college in Germany! That number has grown 53% in the past ten years and it’s expected to keep growing. 

Basically, you’ll be in good company when you’re attending college in Germany. There will be a ton of students your age who are also foreigners to Germany. Together, you’ll bond over struggling with the German language, over pints of beer, and (of course) over exams.

You’ll come away with lifelong friendships that will benefit you both personally and professionally for years to come!

[Get Matched with 5 College Programs in Germany for FREE!]

College in Germany will be MORE than worth it

Ready to be an undergraduate in Germany?

Going to college in Germany will be amazing! You’ll have free tuition, which more than offsets the airfare costs. The student resources might be a little lacking, but the quality of the degree programs in Germany more than makes up for it.

The colleges in Germany are world-ranked and top-notch! Even though you might struggle with the language, you’ll have international friends to commiserate with and practice with too!

And, through the ups and downs, you’ll have opportunities of a lifetime to interact with Germany scenery, from the giant Alps to the Black Forest. You’ll experience the culture of Germany firsthand, from ancient castles and ornate cathedrals to huge museums and awesome entertainment.

Plus, you can spend your weekends eating Bratwurst and drinking pints of beer! We know you’ll have an amazing time when you’re attending college in Germany. Gute Reise!

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