Living in Germany
by Andrea León
Visa
When you have decided what path to follow, be sure you apply for the corresponding visa. Remember that going abroad and asking for permission to stay longer than a tourist is a process that takes some time. So keep in mind applying for it early enough and revising the necessary information to know the type of visa or permit of residence you need, according to your purpose, language skills and obligations. Also remember to check your passport and other documents: are they still valid? Should I renew them? Do I need other official forms? And avoid any bad moments that can keep you from enjoying the most the experience of travel and learning from the world.
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Germany is one of the most popular desti-nations among students around the world. The top quality of its education and low tuition fees, combined with the affordable living expenses attract a large number of people to the country every year. But how can you prepare yourself for the adventure of going abroad and the challenge of learning a new language, tra-ditions, and regulations of the country to discover? Not to lose your bearings on the way, we invite you to read the experience of a current international master’s student in Germany, her process and thoughts as an international student.
Andrea visited Germany many times before deciding to move to Chemnitz for her master’s program. Back in 2010, she spent Christmastime with ERASMUS friends around Berlin, and later she would go on to visit them every winter (summer in her home country) became a tradition. “It was not difficult to fall in love with the country when I found so many nice people to share my experience with. My friends took me to many places on every visit, and every city I went to had its charm, and it was so different to everything else I had seen before. I liked Germany since the first moment because of the diversity, the landscapes, the people, and how well organized things are!”. But travelling and moving in are two different things and you have to be prepared.
Study opportunities
Germany offers a wide range of programs in every possible subject and academic level (Information about current programs are available in the DAAD database or STUDY-IN.DE webpage). And if your German language skills are not the best yet, and you prefer courses taught in English, almost every university offers degree programs like this, especially at master’s level. It doesn’t matter if you are interested in the humanities area or the scientific world, you will definitely find courses suitable for you and your desired language.. Like Andrea, who’s still dealing with pronunciation and language courses: “Even when I understand many things, I don’t have sufficient German language skills for academic purposes. Moreover, my field of interest is English. I was surprised and enthusiastic about the large number of courses offered in English. That confirmed my idea of coming here. It was just perfect! The only problem then was finding where to go. I liked many programs, and I started googling every city… I must say I fell in love with so many of them through pictures, but I had to decide somehow”.
“When it comes to the living costs, you will notice that Germany is not as expensive as other EU countries and that you will have to pay very low tuition fees or no fees at all. But expenses can vary from city to city, and if you do not expect to receive a scholarship or any extra financial aid, this will be an important point to consider when deciding where to study. Additionally, some of the available scholarships are directed to specific university houses and/or cities, making your decision easier… in my case”