So German!
Feb 28, 2019 - Paula Schöberlein for SoGerman
While speaking with Canadian university and college students, I realized many Canadians are interested in studying in Germany. Not everyone follows through on this though and there may be several possible reasons for this: a semester abroad could prolong Canadian undergraduate studies, while abroad some students may still have to pay tuition at their Canadian university, some may not want to leave their friends for a whole semester, et cetera…
To this I say, why not do your graduate studies in Germany?
There are thousands of possibilities you may not even be aware of! Let me show you why you should study in Germany.
Most Canadians have a hard time believing me: I study for free. No tuition. Zero. Zilch. Yes, there are some small fees each semester, for the student union or public transportation for example, but this only amounts to a fraction of the cost of tuition in Canada or the United States. Going to university for free, you can spend your money on all the other things that come with studying abroad – accommodation, flights, and buying souvenirs for your family.
Germany offers a multitude of master’s degrees. The search engine of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) shows close to a thousand degrees that are taught in English! Don’t worry, dear Franco-Canadians, there are Master’s degrees being taught in French too! You can study everything, from Quantum Physics (University of Technology Kaiserslautern) to Business Administration (Humboldt University Berlin) to Aerospace Engineering (University of Applied Science Aachen). You can also find unique programmes – what about studying logic in Munich or decision-making in Nuremberg?
The good thing about English is that it is a universal language spoken by students around the world. As a result, the mix of students in courses taught in English is quite diverse. Therefore, you do not only have the chance to get to know German culture, but you also get to meet many interesting people from all over the world. Studying in Germany means studying in an international environment. For example, in the Master’s programme Global Communications: Politics and Society in Erfurt, around half the students are international! You could be one of them!
Why not travel around Europe a bit while you are studying in Germany? Germany is in the centre of Europe which makes it a perfect starting point for your European tour! You can easily travel to most European countries by bus or train. Public transportation can help you go everywhere. Check out Interrail – it is a flat rate pass for trains and is ideal for exploring the whole continent.
Reason number 5 is in line with the previous one: Germany is about 28 times smaller than Canada. However, our population is around twice the size of Canada’s. This means everything is closer! You can easily bike around Germany in the summer, something that would probably take months in Canada. No matter where you study in Germany, almost any other city is just a weekend trip away by train, bus or car. Get active and explore Germany’s diverse regions.
Traveling around Europe is easy. Prague is just a few hours away.
Leipzig is a great city for students.
Berlin has the highest concentration of universities and colleges in Germany.
Have you ever met Germans abroad? Have you noticed that they often speak more than one language? At most universities, language classes outside of your course of studies are free! As a result, you have the possibility to learn German for free! Almost every university has a Sprachenzentrum (language centre). They usually offer a variety of language classes, taught by native speakers. German will be offered for sure, but you could also dive into French, Spanish or Italian. If you want to start German before your arrival, check out the classes at the Goethe Institut Canada.
To be honest, Oktoberfest is just for tourists. It is overcrowded and ridiculously expensive. $17,20 CAD for a litre of beer! That might sound like a normal price for a pint to Canadians but not in Germany! Germany is the land of beer, you can get beer much, much cheaper! In your spare time in Germany, you can visit all the cute little local beer festivals. Germany is not just about the beer though – you should also check out the many wine festivals in the various wine regions. Forget Oktoberfest and immerse yourself in real German culture!
ZEIT Campus, a German magazine for students, compared the costs of living and studying in Tübingen and Jena with those in Barcelona and New York. The results did not surprise me; being a student in Germany is dirt cheap! The rents are half the price of rent in Barcelona and just a third of what you would have to pay in New York City. Public transportation is free or discounted for students. Food in Germany is cheaper too. Especially in comparison to Canada! Honestly, I think I am losing weight here. (Just kidding, it is way too cold for that.) You can download the ZEIT magazine for free here (in English).
German universities have an excellent reputation. You will profit from outstanding teaching and research. LMU Munich and Heidelberg University rank among the world’s best universities, closely followed by many other German institutions. Your master’s degree will be honoured all over the world! A degree course in Germany will prepare you perfectly for the global marketplace.
You probably know that universities are among the best matchmakers, but that is not what I am talking about (that would be a nice side effect though). I am actually talking about falling in love with Germany. After spending two years in this beautiful country, you may never want to leave. Even if you do leave it after your studies, the country and all the experiences you have had there will certainly have a place in your heart forever.
Get started with these links!
https://www.study-in.de/en/
https://www.daad.de/en/
https://www.deutschland.de/en
https://canada.diplo.de/ca-en
Most Canadians have a hard time believing me: I study for free. No tuition. Zero. Zilch.
