There are more than 400 universities in Germany, and all of them offer different programs and are located in different cities. So if you want to study in this European country, you should consider all options and choose a university that will be a perfect fit for you.
In this article, you will find tips on how to compare various higher education institutions and make the right choice.
Define your goals
Choosing a university to study is similar to choosing a house to buy in a foreign country. You need to define your goals and requirements first and then move to consider different options. Because if you don’t have a clear idea of what exactly you want to get, you will not be able to make the right decision.
The first thing you should do is to ask yourself a few questions:
- Why do I want to study in Germany in particular?
- What are my career goals? What kind of education should I get to achieve the goals set?
Set priorities
With whom do you want to study? Do you want to be surrounded by international or local students?
If you choose universities with the highest proportion of international students, you will get a great experience of working in a multicultural environment. Besides, you will not feel isolated – you will get support from international students like you who learn to live in a foreign country.
And if you choose universities with the lowest proportion of international students, you will learn German much faster. Since you will be forced to communicate with locals more often, you will steadily improve your foreign language skills.
Check university rankings
The vast majority of German universities offer high-quality education. But still, some higher education institutions can give you more knowledge than others. Therefore, you need to conduct a little research and find which universities are worth applying to.
Firstly, you should check national and international rankings:
- CHE Ranking
- QS World University Ranking
- Academic Ranking of World Universities
- Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings
Secondly, you should make a list of the top 10 German universities that offer the program of your interest. After that, you should compare the course curriculum and get acquainted with the application requirements.
Once you define the universities that seem to be a perfect fit for you, you can start writing application letters. You can do it by yourself or with the help of experts from research paper companies – it all depends on your writing skills level.
Compare research facilities
German universities offer a broad spectrum of research activities, including basic research and applied research and development (R&D). Higher education institutions and university hospitals employ more than 100,000 research workers and spend 17.3 billion Euros on research and development. So if you want to become a researcher, Germany is the right place for you to study and start your career.
Before you apply to a chosen university, check whether it has suitable research facilities. For instance, Ludwig Maximilian Munich University maintains an array of facilities which cooperate with renowned external partners from academia and industry. Freie Universität Berlin has cooperative initiatives with the eight regional Max Planck Institutes.
Compare a few options and pick a higher education institution that will allow you to realize your research potential.
Compare different cities
Study abroad is an expensive thing. So if you have a tight budget, you should compare not only different universities but also the cost of living in different German cities.
Here is the list of the most expensive cities to live in:
- Munich
- Hamburg
- Frankfurt am Main
- Düsseldorf
- Bonn
Here is a list of the least expensive cities to live in Germany:
- Bielefeld
- Halle
- Krefeld
- Passau
Besides, you should understand that the pace of life and weather in each city is different. So make sure that you are choosing a university in a place where you can live comfortably.
Find universities that offer scholarship
Do you want to study in Germany, but don’t have enough money to cover all education-related expenses? Find universities that offer a scholarship for international students and start an application process. If you don’t know how to write a good scholarship essay, check the TrustMyPaper review, and find writers and editors who can help.
Here are a few university-specific scholarships to consider:
- Frankfurt School of Finance and Management Doctoral Tuition Waivers
- FRIAS Cofund Fellowship Programme for International Researchers
- Ulm University Scholarships for International Students
- Hamburg University of Applied Sciences Masters Scholarships
- Humboldt University International Research Fellowships
- HHL International MSc Scholarship for Effective and Responsible Leadership
- KAAD Scholarships for Developing Countries
In conclusion
Your choice of university defines your career. So make sure that you have considered all possible options and analyzed them in detail before making a final decision.
About the author: Daniela McVicker is an educational writer and blogger. She’s collaborating with a number of websites including FreeEssayWriters which provide students with useful information and guides. Daniela likes sharing her experience and tips on how to make learning fun.
