Life in Germany
German Education Dilemma: Bachelor’s or Master’s for Pakistani Students
Are you a student from Pakistan with a dream of studying computer science in Germany?
The decision between pursuing a master’s or bachelor’s degree can be a perplexing one. Having witnessed this common dilemma among peers and being frequently questioned about it, I decided to document insights and share experiences.
Navigating the educational landscape in a foreign country is no small feat, and choosing the right path adds an extra layer of complexity.
In this article, I’ll delve into the challenges and decisions one might encounter when considering higher education in Germany.
Key factors for your decision-making
Two critical factors, in my opinion, can aid you in making a good decision:
- Limited Timeframe — How much time would you like to spend for completing your studies?
- Interest in studies — Do you genuinely want to study, or are you pursuing it merely for the sake of a degree?
Limited Timeframe
Completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree typically takes 4 years and 2 years, respectively, in both Germany and Pakistan.
However, completing studies within the specified timeframe can be challenging in Germany, especially for expatriates.
This is one of the most significant factors one should consider when choosing between bachelors vs masters from Germany.
I observed that I was losing interest in studies over time while pursuing a master’s degree, hence, I wanted to complete my studies as fast as possible.
Interest in studies
Honestly, if you ask me, I did my masters just for the sake of degree, and I think it was a waste of my time.
If you share the same mentality, I would not recommend you to come here with this mindset.
I have seen Germans planning their degree based on their interest and dive deep into courses they enrolled. Investing quality time not only enables them to have good theoretical as well as practical knowledge. Hence, I find them smarter, competent, and most importantly, curious.
Welcome to the world of roller coaster
When we leave our home country and move abroad, it’s a complete new start of life. We need to face different challenges every now & then. Things get time until we settle.
Here are some of the challenges that could be a bottleneck for completing your degree in the specified timeframe.
Initial Days & Settling Up Things
Upon arriving in Germany, tasks such as registering in the city office (only possible if you have an accommodation), activating your bank account, securing health insurance, enrolling in university, and extending your visa can take some time for newcomers.
Finding accommodation, in particular, in Germany is difficult and could take up to months (if you’re lucky) or years.
Tip for accommodation
Start searching for accomodation as soon as you get a visa. But,
be aware of scams.
Websites for searching an accommodation.
- https://www.immobilienscout24.de/
- https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/s-immobilien/c195Understanding German Education System
You need to plan your degree yourself — We don’t need to plan our degree in our home country. There are pre-defined courses throughout your degree, and you need to study it irrespective of your interest.
German universities operate differently than those in Pakistan. Here, students must plan their own degrees, selecting courses and managing credit points.
It might be possible that courses have conflicting exam dates and/or 2 exams on the same day. And, you get to know about this information when you’re close to register your exams.
Typically, in Pakistan, concerned department takes care of this conflict.
Attending lectures — All the lectures in Pakistan take place in the same classroom & teachers are going from classroom to classroom.
However, it’s the other way around in Germany, where students are going from lecture hall to lecture hall for attending lectures. And, these lecture halls can be distance apart.
By the way, attending lectures in German universities are not mandatory. You can skip. However, there are some lectures worth attending. So, I would recommend having a good balance.
Managing expenses — Job with studies
Earning while studying is essential in Germany to manage expenses, as the blocked account will eventually deplete. Balancing work and studies becomes a crucial aspect, unlike in Pakistan, where financial backgrounds may allow for full-time focus on studies.
What is a block account?
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.
You can read more here.Food preparation
Restaurants in Germany are pretty expensive. One can’t afford to eat food all the time from restaurants. Even Turkish döner costs ~€7 as of now.
We need to allocate time for buying grocery and preparing food as well. This is again something you don't need to worry about (as far as cooking is concerned) when you’re in Pakistan.
(Daily) WhatsApp Call with Parents
This actually depends on person to person. When I was a student, I used to do a video call with my parents. And mostly friends in my circle used to do the same. Even, I am still doing it.
Cleaning & Hygiene
Laundry, cleaning our rooms and shared areas such as kitchen would also consume some time.
Learning German
German universities offer courses in English. However, German is the official language in Germany.
We need to learn German if you plan to stay here after your studies. All the official documentation i.e. working contract, accommodation contracts, visa documents are in German.
This may or may not be one of the obstacle in your studies.
Personal growth
Yet, amidst these challenges lies a transformative journey. Overcoming these hurdles isn’t just about academic success; it’s about personal growth and resilience.
Independence — Living in a cross-cultural environment made me self-reliant. Managing household tasks, especially during sickness, became a solo venture.
Sense of Responsibility — Handling everything independently fostered a strong sense of responsibility.
Value of Money — Managing expenses wisely instilled a profound understanding of the value of money.
Confidence & Courage — Navigating through various situations alone as a ‘one-man army’ significantly boosted my confidence and courage.
Conclusion
The decision between a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Germany boils down to the limited timeframe.
With 24 hours in a day, managing tasks beyond studies becomes a challenge for expats. Consider the table below, highlighting challenges in both Pakistan and Germany.
| Challenges | Pakistan | Germany |
| ------------------------------------- | --------- | ------- |
| Initial days & settling up things | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Finding an accomodation | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Extending visa | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Understanding German education system | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Managing expenses - Job with studies | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Preparing food | ❌ | ✔️ |
| (Daily) WhatsApp call with parents | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Laundry, cleaning room / kitchen | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Learning German | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Full-time studies | ✔️ | ❌ |This article aims to provide a realistic perspective, not to demotivate, but to offer clarity on what to expect when studying in Germany.
Your educational journey is a personal one, and understanding these challenges will help you prepare for a fulfilling experience.
Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy:
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section.
