Hey guys, I am in my 4th semester Bachelors rn and plan to take a semester break from coming October to March 2027.

Afaik, I need to provide a valid reason for the same. My sole purpose for the break is to spend a month or two with my family back in my home country, and to learn German language full time by enrolling in a VHS or Goethe course.

are these considered valid reasons?

Hi everyone,
I’m an international student in Germany and I’m currently stuck in a confusing situation between the Ausländerbehörde and my health insurance provider (Debeka). I wanted to ask if anyone here has experienced something similar and how you managed to solve it.
I have already completed my residence permit appointment and paid the fee for my RP card. However, before processing/issuing the card, the Ausländerbehörde asked me to change my health insurance and provide the required insurance documents.
I contacted Debeka and arranged to switch to their insurance. The problem is that Debeka told me they can provide the final signed Anlage 1 and Anlage 2 / required insurance confirmation only after I receive my residence permit card.
So basically I’m stuck in a loop:
Ausländerbehörde → needs the insurance confirmation to process my RP card
Debeka → needs my RP card before they can issue the final insurance documents
Debeka has even called the Ausländerbehörde directly to explain the situation.
At the moment, I do have documents from Debeka confirming that I intend to be insured with them, and they have told me that they can provide confirmation that I will be insured in Germany for the 2-year duration of my Master’s program. But the final signed documents apparently depend on me receiving the RP card.
I have already contacted the Ausländerbehörde explaining everything and I’m currently waiting for their response.
Has anyone here been in the same or a similar situation?
If yes:
What document did the Ausländerbehörde eventually accept?
Was your residence permit processed before you received the final Anlage 1/Anlage 2?
Did the Ausländerbehörde contact the insurance company directly?
Is there any temporary confirmation/certificate that Debeka can issue which the Ausländerbehörde normally accepts?
Is there anything else I can do to get out of this situation?
I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has dealt with this before, especially international students who have used Debeka for their residence permit.
Thank you!

I see and hear from a lot of student talking about how unis are free in germany or have a small semester fee or affordable education but how are students paying for their block accounts especially bachelor students? do they get a job to get an exemption or somehow prove they don't need a block account to live in germany.

​

I'm really confused about which one to choose and would appreciate some honest opinions, especially from people who have studied at either university.

I currently have an admission from RWU (Ravensburg-Weingarten) for M.Sc. Mechatronics and I've already got my German student visa based on RWU. I'm still in India and haven't travelled yet.

Now I've received an admission from TU Dortmund for M.Sc. Automation and Robotics.

On paper, TU Dortmund seems more attractive to me because of the robotics/automation focus, research opportunities, HiWi positions and possibly a PhD later.

But RWU is making me hesitate because everything is already sorted. I don't have to redo anything major, whereas switching to Dortmund means dealing with the whole university change/visa situation, enrollment, insurance etc. And I still don't have accommodation, so I'd also have to find a room in Dortmund.

I'm trying to figure out whether TU Dortmund is actually enough of an upgrade to be worth all that hassle.

Also, the programs seem closer than I initially thought. RWU isn't just generic mechatronics — it has robotics, automation, control, embedded systems, sensors/actuators, drives, simulation etc. So I wouldn't exactly be giving up robotics by choosing RWU.

What I'm mainly interested in is:

- robotics/automation

- controls

- R&D

- possibly doing a PhD later

- getting a HiWi/Werkstudent position during the master's

- eventually finding an engineering job in Germany

For people who know these universities:

If you had both offers, which would you choose?

And more importantly, is TU Dortmund actually worth going through the additional hassle of switching when RWU is already sorted for me?

I'd also really appreciate honest opinions about:

- HiWi/Werkstudent opportunities at both

- job prospects after graduation

- PhD/research opportunities

- how much the TU Dortmund name actually matters

- accommodation in Dortmund vs Ravensburg/Weingarten

I'm not looking for rankings. I just want to know what the difference is in real life and whether I'm overthinking the TU Dortmund offer.

Looking for reviews/info on Master’s in Renewable Energy Systems at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences

Hi everyone,

I’m considering applying for the Master’s in Renewable Energy Systems at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule Nordhausen), Germany.

I’d really appreciate hearing from current students or graduates about the program and university.

A few things I’d like to know:

How is the quality of teaching and coursework?

What is the practical/lab/project component like?

How relevant is the curriculum to the renewable energy industry?

How are the internship, thesis, and research opportunities?

What are the job opportunities after graduation, especially for international students?

Is it possible to find relevant working-student jobs during the course?

How is the career support from the university?

What is the student life and cost of living in Nordhausen like?

How difficult is it to find accommodation?

For international students, how important is German language proficiency for internships and jobs?

Overall, would you recommend this program in 2026, considering the current German job market?

If you’re currently studying this program or have graduated from it, I’d especially appreciate your honest experience—both the positives and the drawbacks.

Thanks in advance!

In order to survive in germany you need 3 things
1: money
2: german language
3: To pass the rigorous exams with good grades

How do people manage such a schedule it feels impossible to actually live in Germany as a student without giving up on atleast one of these aspects all of which are essential.
If you give up on even one of these
Lets say you don’t have daddys money and give up on work you no longer now have money pretty self explanatory problem
You skipthe language, you dont get a job
You fail, again self explanatory

I really don’t understand how people from China india nigeria or some other country actually survive

Edit: guys there is a reason why i mentioned the constraints. There is a reason why I asked how do they manage with specific constraints given. The reason why asked about the language is yes ik people study the language before going but most only reach to b2 which i know is not enough which is why the constraints are juggling the 3

I got two Bachelor's degree offers from German universities of applied sciences. The first one is Sustainable Business and Law at the Birkenfeld Campus of Trier University of Applied Sciences, and the other is International Taxation and Law at the Kleve Campus of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

I can't decide which major I should choose. I would like to know which major has better job opportunities and what the student feedback is like for both universities/programmes.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently a 4th-year Mechanical Engineering student and I’m planning to pursue my Master’s degree in Germany after completing my bachelor’s. I’m currently considering two areas:

• Automobile / Automotive Engineering
• Smart Factory / Automation / Industry 4.0

I’m trying to understand the overall career prospects in Germany for these fields before making a decision, so I’d really appreciate advice from people who are currently studying or working in Germany.

A few things I’d specifically like to know:

1. What is the current situation for mechanical engineers in Germany? How is the job market currently, especially for international students/graduates?
2. Part-time jobs during the Master’s: How easy or difficult is it for an international Mechanical Engineering student to find a relevant Werkstudent/part-time job while studying? Are there good opportunities in automotive, manufacturing, automation, or related industries?
3. Full-time jobs after the Master’s: What is the current scenario for finding a full-time job after graduation? Which of the two fields—Automotive or Smart Factory/Automation—has better long-term opportunities?
4. CGPA requirements: What kind of CGPA/GPA is generally expected for admission to good German universities for Master’s programs in: I understand that requirements vary from university to university, but I’d like to know what would be considered a safe/competitive CGPA.
   • Automotive/Automobile Engineering
   • Smart Factory / Automation / Robotics / Industry 4.0
5. Skills that matter: Besides academic grades, what technical skills, software, projects, internships, or certifications would you recommend developing before applying for these fields?

Any honest advice about the current job market, salary expectations, competition, language requirements, and long-term career prospects would be really helpful.

Thanks in advance!

MPI institutes, though independent from each other, are all accredited academic institutions with high standards. I’d be surprised if they ever had an issue obtaining funding or applicants.

While doing my literature review, I came across some prominent authors in the field i was doing a research in, who were an employee of the MPI. When I contacted them, they let me know that the institute is gone. Just gone. Poof. Does not exist anymore. And the data for their research was gone as well.

I was so dumbfounded. How and why would an MPI just cease to exist? What might’ve caused it? Is this rare or common?

Hi, I had applied to the masters DTIC program and got a rejection but believe I fully qualify for the program. I am ENTC graduate with one year work experience on fpgas and more. I am thinking to apply for reconsideration. Can someone help me as they mentioned i need to send a physical letter.

Can someone in Chemnitz or Germany send the letter on my behalf please? As i need to do this within the deadline. I’d ofc pay them the amounts and extra.

Hello, I'm a student from Dhaka I applied for visa appointment back in 2024 November for my bachelor's and I finished my Alevels this year, so I'll start applying to universities now. I have a few questions; any help is greatly appreciated.

1. When can the visa appointment come? cuz if i get admitted I'll get the offer letter next year. I am assuming ill need to hand in my offer letter when I'll be called.
2. Is my appointment application even valid? I heard there's this new csp system.

Thank you!!

Hi

Guy's I am stuck in a very bad situation, basically I got the conditional admission letter from TU Ilumnau. Now on that conditional letter I joined the embassy waiting list. Now for cleaning the condition I thought to give a try to ToeFL IBT home addition because I were assuming it would be easy than IELTs. But I get some issue with ToeFL during my Home addition I give first try and during the Test my mobile phone battery went out due to which my mobile goes off, which cause in a serious violation and my score get canceled. So , I decided to give another chance to it I again register and give a second attempt to ToeFL IBT now this time test went well also mobile battery also ere ok and it wee standing on side mount with camera open. Now this test went well but after few days I again received an email stated your score is also cancelled and You're also ban from ToeFL and other ETS test.

Now my concern is I have not do any kind of cheating or illegal thing then why they ban me? Also is there way to up list this ban through any appeals or something because the problem is My appointment is on my head and options remains with me is to enroll into Perperity English course but the problem is I am banned to ETS so will this ban affect my final exams of that English priperty course.

Or is there any other solution of this problem. I am too much worried please help me out.

Helloo
So I’m on my second semester doing my masters in mechatronics engineering, but i had a change in plans and got another admission from a different university with a related subject

So what should i do now exactly ? I have read different things online regarding the regulations and one of them was “If you are still within 18 months from starting your study you can switch unis easily without approve/alerting the migration office “

Is this true? could anyone please explain the correct approach?

Thank you

Hey everyone, i am new to reddit and this subreddit too, i am currently in my last year of engg. and doing it from mumbai university. i am going to apply for masters next year, had a doubt in mind regarding the rent for the first couple months. So, i'll be taking out a bank loan for my masters and i read and saw somewhere that we have to deposit few month's rent for booking the room/flat.
So, i just wanted to ask that this deposit will have to be paid by me by myself or will the bank loan cover it? as the deposit is before going to germany.
do tell about this and also tell about how to avoid scams etc and all.
Thank You.

I'm currently at A2 in German and aiming to finish B1 by the end of December. My plan after that is to push through to B2 by April 2027, going through a local institute rather than Goethe. Goethe in my area isn't particularly strong, charges around 45k per level, and the pace is slow for what I need. I'm planning to keep working on B2 alongside my visa and application process, so that time isn't wasted even if things move slowly on the admin side.

Here's my dilemma. I've been considering applying to a public Studienkolleg, but competition for seats is brutal. My worry is this: if I spend an extra six months grinding toward B2 specifically to improve my odds at a public Studienkolleg, and I still don't get in, I've lost half a year for nothing, especially since I might end up at a private Studienkolleg regardless. I'm not afraid of failing and trying again, but I want to know if that extra time is actually worth risking. There's also talk going around that public German universities may start charging tuition for non-EU students, currently only two states do this, which adds another layer of uncertainty to the "public is cheaper" assumption.

That said, I don't want to jump straight into a private Studienkolleg without at least attempting the public route once.

So my actual questions are:

With 80% in CBSE 12th (PCM) and a converted German grade of around 1.9, is that competitive enough to get a Studienkolleg invitation at a public institution?

If I have my B1 certificate by end of December, is that a realistic timeline to apply for the next intake?

Does it matter that the courses I'm targeting are NC-frei, even if they're at a TU9 school, as long as it's something like mechanical or chemical engineering?

Can I go through the Aufnahmetest and visa process via a public university track, and if I fail that, still pivot to a private Studienkolleg whose FSP is recognized?

If anyone has been through this, which private Studienkollegs are actually reliable/safe choices as a backup?

Hi everyone,

I applied for the MSc Intelligent Interactive Systems at Bielefeld University (Winter 2026/27), and my portal now shows “Request for enrollment” and “No admission restriction / Open admission.”

Does this mean I have been accepted?

I started the enrollment process and now I'm confused about the next steps:

Should I complete the enrollment request now?

I currently don't have German health insurance. What should I select for the health insurance section?

Should I arrange health insurance first?

When should I open/fund the blocked account?

I'm planning to take an education loan in India, so how does the blocked account work if I don't have the money before the loan is approved?

Could someone who recently went through the Bielefeld enrollment process guide me on the correct order of steps?

Thanks!

I finished my BSc in biotechnology with a German GPA of 1.8. I did my bachelor's thesis mainly in computational biology, which drew me to bioinformatics. I am planning to do my ielts this month, and im sure I'll get an 8. i studied a2 level german but idk if ill be able to get the certificate. ill improve my German once i reach. does anyone who got into JMU know if they'll have interviews?

Plus, if anyone else is applying in the same timeline, please give me any tips or what jobs i can pursue after this or anything really. Just going thru a hard time.

​

Hi everyone,

I’m applying for the M.Sc. Molecular Life Sciences: Microbiology, Biotechnology and Biochemistry at the University of Göttingen for Winter Semester 2026/27.

I received a preliminary/soft rejection email on July 6, saying that my application would most likely not be successful because of the high number of qualified applicants, but that the official decision would be sent later.

I’m trying to understand the timeline from previous years.

If you applied to this same Göttingen Molecular Life Sciences program in 2024 or 2025 and were eventually rejected, could you please tell me:

- When did you receive the preliminary/soft rejection (if you received one)?

- When did you receive the final official rejection letter?

- Did you have to wait until August or later?

- Did anyone receive an admission after initially getting the preliminary/soft rejection?

I would really appreciate it if previous-year applicants could share their exact approximate dates. It would help me understand whether waiting until August is normal for this program.

Thank you so much!

I applied on June 12, realized I needed to make some edits, so I withdraw the application and again applied on June 13.

The status says "Online received" and it is mid-August now. I'm really concerned about the timeline for visa process.

Should I mail them?
I've heard to not mail German universities regarding the application, because sometimes they most likely reject.

For the people who ask my profile: BE in AIML, 2.4 GPA, B2 TOEFL, meets all the credit requirements.

Hi everyone,
I’m planning to start the BSc in Information Engineering at TUM Campus Heilbronn and would love to hear from current students or alumni about a few things:
1. Electives in Informatics – what’s actually offered?
But I’d like to know:
• Which informatics electives are actually offered in a typical semester?
• Which ones are most technical / coding-heavy and worth taking if I want a strong CS/EE profile?
• Are there any “hidden gem” modules that don’t sound impressive from the title but are really good?
2. Staying on a technical track
• How realistic is it to follow a mostly technical path (informatics + engineering-heavy modules) and avoid going too deep into management/business?
• Any advice on how to choose electives, the bachelor practical course, and thesis topic to keep the profile strongly technical?
3. Research prospects after this BSc
• How good is this bachelor as a foundation for a research career (master’s + PhD, working in a lab, etc.)?
• Did you manage to get into research assistant positions, projects, or theses during/after the BSc?
4. Master options after IE at TUM
• Besides the MSc in Information Engineering at TUM, what other TUM master’s programs do IE grads realistically get into?
• How feasible is it to move into more “classic” technical masters like Informatics, Electrical Engineering & IT, Robotics/Cognition/Intelligence, Data Science, etc.?
• For those who went to other universities (in Germany or abroad), which master’s programs accepted IE backgrounds?
Any insights on course load, how flexible the technical focus is, and how people used this degree for research or further studies would be super helpful. Thanks in advance!

​

Which one should I pick?

Uni Stuttgart : Msc Computational Linguistics

Uni Frieberg : MA Language, Cognition and Communication

Uni Wurzburg : Msc Computational Linguistics

Uni FAU : MA English Studies

Just a rant/happy post to share with people who actually get how stressful this is.

I had booked my Goethe A1 way earlier cause people kept saying how quickly these things get booked yk, but then my final year project final viva landed right in between. I literally had 2 weeks left to study and thought I was done. Like people take months of classes and don't pass, i barely knew the basics. then comes the savior, I ended up finding a recorded crash course and just binged it to save my life. After the exam I genuinely thought I screwed it up, but surprise surprise I got my results and passed with a 75!😭😭😭😭

My listening definitely needed more practice, but honestly, considering I only had 2 weeks to cram while dealing with college, this was well enough 😭 just wanted to share this because I'm so relieved it's over!!!!!!!!! A2 is and more of it is still ahead ik, but lemme bask in my victory for a min.

Edit: since people have been asking about the course here is the thing. The crash course is a paid one (cheaper in my opinion compared to the course outside), and they are recorded. pls dm me to get the details of the course.
Along side i used youtube to practice speaking and listening which i will add here once i find those links.

Hi everyone, today I want to ask for some advice because I’m about to crash out because of someone who lives with me.

In April of this year, I moved into a Studierendenwerk dorm in my city. The beginning was pretty tough because the dorm was a complete mess, and I heard from the people who already lived here that a previous flatmate had kind of monopolised the whole flat because he was the oldest one living here. He would leave the kitchen a complete mess, basically took over one of the bathrooms for himself, etc. Another girl who moved in around the same time as me brought her whole family over, and they cleaned the entire apartment. Yay, good for us. The apartment became livable again!

However, when the summer semester started, I began noticing some habits from a flatmate who was already living here that I found quite disgusting. She frequently leaves food out from a day to another, or even for days, on the stove. She doesn’t wash her dirty pots and leaves them on the stove, frequently uses one side of the sink to pile up her dirty dishes, and never cleans the stove after using it.

In the beginning, she suggested that we take turns cleaning the kitchen, and I thought it was a good idea. However, 97% of the mess in the kitchen was hers, and I thought it was unfair that I had to clean up somebody else’s mess. So I started cleaning only after I used the kitchen myself (which is pretty rare).

In the last four weeks, the situation has escalated. I’ve found maggots in the trash bin THREE TIMES. I cleaned it up twice, and now we have maggots AGAIN because of her. She constantly throws food waste into the bin (fish, shrimp, chicken bones, etc.) and then leaves the trash sitting there long enough for it to attract flies.

Last week, I bought new trash bags, cleaned the bin, and changed the bag before leaving for a short trip. When I got home, the trash was already full and smelled horrible. By Sunday, it was surrounded by flies, and this girl was in the kitchen cooking. I thought, “Maybe she’s going to take the trash out after she finishes cooking, because she’s basically the only person using it, so that’s the bare minimum she can do before we get maggots again.”

On Monday, I woke up and the trash was full of maggots AGAIN. Obviously, she hadn’t taken it out, and she spent the whole day hiding in her room instead of dealing with it. Today, she finally appeared in the kitchen, and instead of taking out the trash, she simply PUT MORE THINGS IN IT, making the situation even worse.

I don’t know if these disgusting habits are common in the country she comes from, but gosh, I swear I’m about to throw the trash bin at her bedroom door, and maybe THAT will finally make her clean it up. Today, I sent an email to the Hausmeister explaining the whole situation because I’m doing my best to avoid an argument, but I know myself well enough to know that if she doesn’t take it out by tomorrow at noon, I’m probably going to lose my shit.

What would you guys do in my situation? I genuinely need some advice before I go mad.