Tuition-free higher education in Germany

Germany offers many programmes at public universities without tuition fees, making it an attractive and competitive study destination. Accommodation and food can cost less than in the USA, Canada or the UK, although this depends on the city and your lifestyle. Not every programme is free: in Baden-Württemberg, for example, many students from outside the EU/EEA pay €1,500 per semester, or €3,000 per year. Exemptions apply, so check the institution’s conditions, semester contributions and your full budget in advance.

Another important advantage is the opportunity, after successfully graduating from a German higher education institution, to apply for a residence permit of up to 18 months to seek qualified employment. For graduates from outside the EU, this depends on meeting the relevant requirements and does not guarantee a job. Career preparation should start during your studies: develop your German, look for internships and build professional connections. In my experience, a short master’s programme of one or two years can leave less time for linguistic and professional adjustment than a bachelor’s degree. Prospects depend on your field, experience and language skills.

Germany offers an international environment and a variety of opportunities for graduates. German is sometimes considered very difficult, but speakers of Slavic languages are already familiar with cases, declension and conjugation. Our languages have six or seven cases; German has four: nominative, genitive, dative and accusative. Personally, I appreciate the structure and logic of German. I speak both English and German, five languages in total; sadly, I have lost my command of a sixth. That experience helps me understand students’ difficulties and find a suitable approach to learning.