More and more students are heading to Germany for their university degrees. In the academic year 2023/2024, there were almost 380,000 international students in the country, and the number of international students has increased by over 50% in the last ten years. But is Germany good for international students? Let’s dig into student reviews to find out.
Image Source: studying-in-germany.org
There are plenty of reasons to study in Germany. International students from EU countries can take advantage of low tuition fees (or none at all) at German universities. Add this to low living costs, and you can study abroad for considerably less than in other countries.
Perhaps more exciting is the number of job opportunities available in Germany. From Berlin’s creative and tech sectors to corporate finance and banking jobs in Frankfurt, there are opportunities for any kind of graduate.
Although all of the above reasons might be compelling enough for you to apply to a university in Germany, the people you really want to hear from are actual international students in Germany. What do they say about studying? Is it as good as it sounds?
Let’s hear from student reviewers on EDUopinions to answer the question: is Germany good for international students?
Is Germany Good for International Students?
Between 2022 and 2024, German universities received over 350 reviews from international students on EDUopinions. The average overall rating for German universities was 4.09/5, just beating the Netherlands (4.06). However, Germany is beaten by other popular destinations for international students in Europe, including the UK (4.25), Ireland (4.25), Denmark (4.17) and France (4.14).
In the end, international students actually rank Germany as one of the lowest countries in Europe in terms of the overall study experience at university. Other factors are different, though.
For example, international students rank the value of German universities highly, giving an average of 4.11. This puts German universities on par with Italy and Denmark.
Germany also ranks highly for career prospects – as you would expect for the largest economy in Europe. It even beats popular career destinations like the UK, France, and the Netherlands in this factor.
Interestingly, though, international students rank Germany as the lowest country in Europe for the quality of student life (3.75/5). As we’ll find when we look at real student reviews, many different factors can impact the type of lifestyle you have in Germany. With so many different universities and other higher education institutions, it’s natural that students will have differing experiences across the country.
What International students say about studying in Germany
Student Life
Student life in Germany can be very different depending on the size of the university and its location.
Some student reviewers on EDUopinions mention that they decided on a smaller university or Hochschule (a more practice-oriented university of applied sciences) instead of a larger university because of the smaller class sizes and the chance to network with local businesses. Studying in a smaller city will also offer more opportunities to practice your German skills.
However, studying somewhere like Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, or Frankfurt will offer more cultural attractions and job opportunities, but it will come with a price—usually higher rents and food costs.
Although Germany scores low compared to other European universities on the quality of student life, our reviewers do frequently mention the quality of extracurricular activities available at German universities. International student clubs and other activity groups allow international students to bond with other students, German and global and can help you settle into your new university quickly.
Student Review – The Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences
I am a second-semester Masters in Marketing student at Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg in Germany. Choosing this University of Applied Sciences over other universities must have been one of the best decisions I have made. As an applied sciences university, the students are taught more practical skills rather than just theory. This practical approach is exactly what I was looking for in a Master’s program in Germany. The entire course is designed in such a way that students are exposed to real-life case studies and marketing projects. Most of the assignments are group-oriented tasks, which helps students work together and learn from each other.
Apart from the academic benefits, the university offers excellent infrastructure, including a vast library with numerous books and other reading materials. However, I wish the university provided more extracurricular activities. Although they have student clubs and other initiatives, there is a lack of sufficient opportunities for all students to engage more with the university.
Student Review – Munich Business School
I’m a person who loves to travel and explore places generally. Even if i am here for educational purposes it’s still nice to be able to do that; the exploring and sight seeing so to speak. The town is filled with attractions, historic places and some rare monuments. You also get to see people you don’t get to see if you were cooped up in your little bubble. In terms of the course, it’s an easy W. I like how well the lectures are structured. I like how easy going the project advisors get, considering that it can be very difficult to put together research they don’t make it more difficult to look for help. It’s clear that MBS is a student driven University whose main goal is to help you excel.
Student Review – University of Giessen
Justus Liebig University is the perfect university for international students who’ll come to Germany for the first time. The university is in Gießen which is a small student city where you can get adapted to Germany. JLU provides the best education you can get while living your best student life! The professors and the staff always tries to help you and give you the opportunity to achieve more. The campus is scattered around the city but you can go from one campus to another in less than 10 minutes by bike as it is a small city. This aspect might be scarry to some students as small cities are often described as boring but Gießen is nothing alike. You can go to many pubs and cafes during winter and you can enjoy the festivals and the lakes surrounding the city woth your friends in the summer. As I’ve mentioned before, it is the perfect city and the university to live the best student life!
Diversity
Germany is one of the most diverse countries in Europe. North Rhine-Westphalia, containing cities like Cologne, Düsseldorf, Aachen, Dortmund and Bielefeld, has over 3.2 million international residents. Across the entirety of Germany, there are more than 13 million expats. This means that wherever you study, you’ll be sure to join a diverse student body.
International students highly value the diversity at German universities. Our review data shows that German universities with a high internationality rating tend to receive a higher overall rating.
Knowing that there’ll be diversity in the classroom can make your move to another country much more comfortable. You might even be able to find student groups with other people from your country or ethnic background, so you can start to feel at home in your new university.
Student Review – University of Freiburg
The university is filled with diverse students from all over the world and the programmes offered by them are on point and very useful for our future research career. The university also has collaborations with many research institutes which offers students to pursue research in their respective fields.
Student Review – Technical University of Munich
There’s a remarkable atmosphere of cultural respect and appreciation here, where people genuinely try to understand and value diverse traditions. I’ve witnessed Germans showing admiration for Indian, French, and Asian cultures, and even making a conscious effort to avoid offending or disrupting these beliefs. While this isn’t a necessity for a university, it’s truly impressive to see. It fosters a sense of inclusivity and boosts morale among everyone involved, creating a welcoming environment where cultural exchange and understanding can thrive.
Careers
Naturally, being able to speak German can help you immensely with networking with local companies and finding internships or full-time job opportunities. However, for some international students, the fact that English speaking isn’t as widespread as in places like the Netherlands can make this difficult.
However, the strong job market in Germany means that lucrative opportunities are available. Likewise, careers departments at schools will have experience with international students. They may be able to help you find an international company to work for after your degree, where being able to speak German won’t be such a necessity.
Student Review – Berlin School of Business and Innovation
The local consumer connection is brilliant. An additional element that gives the program added value is the standard of the lectures. Lastly, within the highlights of the entire program are the job office services throughout the studies and the career forum at the conclusion of the studies.
Student Review – Anhalt University of Applied Sciences
It’s a good university for a small town. The course and exam schedules are not overwhelming (at least for the International Business programme). There are more events than expected. The only negative thing I can add is that I think there are not enough career events organised for international students and the administration is not very good in terms of communication.
Student Review – Technical University of Berlin
International student admission process
Admission departments at German universities very often have dedicated international application staff who can help you apply for a visa and organise your stay. However, as some student reviewers point out, this part of the study process can be challenging depending on where you apply.
The amount of paperwork required to apply to a university abroad, including translations of documents if they’re not in English, coupled with bureaucratic processes, can be frustrating. However, it’s common for reviewers to praise particular members of admissions teams who guided them through the process, so don’t let an international application put you off applying.
Student Review – Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) is highly considerate and supportive towards the onboarding of international students. They offer a comprehensive range of services aimed at easing the transition for students coming from abroad. LMU organizes welcome days and orientation sessions at the beginning of each semester. These sessions are conducted in both German and English, providing crucial information about the university, academic procedures, and living in Munich.
Student Review – Technical University of Munich
I initially approached my time here with a critical eye, hoping to find something to complain about, especially since I wasn’t thrilled about leaving Canada for Munich. However, I have to admit that everything has exceeded my expectations. From the program’s entry level to the admission process, everything has been top-notch. And the teachers? They’re not only knowledgeable but also exceptional listeners. They deserve a raise, in my opinion.
Student Review – University of Stuttgart
My opinion about the Univesity at this point is good. At first, I didn’t like the type of system that is created for students. It’s a bit difficult for international students to get along at the beginning. The language barrier is not so problematic (for international students). I would recommend the University but first, it will be perfect to make research on what are your main priorities.
Conclusion
When deciding whether or not to study in Germany, it’s helpful to hear from other students about what their experience has been like. Even better, if you can hear from other students from your country, or those studying the programme you’re interested in!
That’s why EDUopinions gathers reviews from international students worldwide—so you can make a stronger decision on where to study based on all the information available to you.
Overall, Germany receives reasonably high scores from international students regarding career prospects, internationality, and value for money. So, if you want to study somewhere where you can begin a global career and achieve better ROI on your degree, then Germany might be a good choice.
However, if you prefer a buzzing student lifestyle, international student ratings on EDUopinions suggest you might be better off in a different European country.
The final decision should always come down to your personal preferences and study goals. And if you have your heart set on a German university (maybe you’ve visited and felt at home straight away!), then don’t let reviews or rankings data put you off.
Read more reviews of German universities here.
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