Studying abroad
Study in Germany
Frequently asked questions
I have been asked several times about student life in Germany by relatives, friends, etc. So, I thought it would be a good idea to document it as a story here. Hence, I created this post as an FAQ.
DISCLAIMER — All the information provided here is just for guidance purposes. Please always check official guidelines. It is also possible that information is already outdated.
Where to start?
The first step is applying for a bachelor’s or master’s program. I would highly recommend starting from https://www.daad.de/en/. Here you can search for different international programs.
This portal documents everything well. You will easily find all the required information for submitting your application.
What is the cost of education and living?
Education is (mostly) free in Germany, but one still needs to manage living costs. The biggest challenge for me while studying was managing my expenses. A blocked account resolved this problem.
A blocked account is a type of account in a bank where we cannot withdraw our transferred money until we enter Germany. Furthermore, a student can withdraw a limited amount of cash from his account every month.
According to this guideline
Since January 2021 you are expected to demonstrate funds of 861 EUR per month / 10,332 EUR per year.
You can read more here.
Where to search for accommodations?
Usually, students prefer to stay in hostels because they are comparatively cheaper. Besides student hostels, it is also possible to rent an apartment for up to 3 students and share the cost.
I highly recommend staying in student hostels because you don’t have to worry about paying electricity bills, internet connection, etc. The net rent covers everything.
If something breaks, you can email the concerned person. They will make sure to fix it for you.
You can search on Google “studentenwerk <YOUR-CITY-NAME-HERE>” and apply for it. You could find other accommodations via
Working hours and pay scale for student jobs?
A student is allowed to work 80 hr/month. I was a computer science student. As a computer science student, you can work in a software company as a working student. The pay varies between €12–€16 per hour.
There are also research assistant jobs (or Hilfswissenschaftler in German), but they pay around €10 per hour.
Do cooking skills play an important role?
Yes, I highly recommend learning some cooking skills if you plan to move abroad. It will save your money to a great extent. Buying food from restaurants or similar is pretty expensive.
Transportation costs?
A student receives a student id every semester that works as a semester ticket. This ticket covers transportation costs.
If I recall correctly, I had to pay between €200–€300 as an enrollment fee to get this semester ticket.
Thanks for reading. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments section. I would be happy to answer if I know it.
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