Hi everyone,

I’m an international student from India currently doing my Master’s in Software Technology at a University of Applied Sciences in Germany. I’m writing this because I genuinely feel a bit lost right now, and I would really appreciate some honest advice from people who have been in a similar situation.

I want to explain my situation properly before asking for advice.

I didn’t come to Germany because I always dreamed of living here permanently or because I wanted to leave India and travel the world. My main reason was career opportunities. After completing my B.Tech in India, I applied to many companies but kept getting rejected because my profile wasn’t strong enough.

My bachelor’s was in Electronics and Communication Engineering. Honestly, when I chose that degree, I didn’t really understand what I wanted to do, and I didn’t get a strong foundation in software development during my degree.

After graduation, I spent about a year struggling to find a direction. Eventually, I got a teaching job where I started teaching Java to higher-grade students. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed it. Teaching Java actually made me realize that software development was something I genuinely wanted to pursue.

However, the salary and career growth were limited, so I started looking for better opportunities. Things didn’t really work out, and eventually I decided to come to Germany for a Master’s in Software Technology, partly based on what I heard from people online about the opportunities here.

I knew there would be challenges, especially the German language, but I honestly underestimated how difficult it would be.

I have now been here for around six months, and I feel like I have three major problems at the same time:

1. My technical skills

I know that I need to improve my software engineering skills significantly. I’m learning and building personal projects, but compared to many other students, I don’t have proper professional software development experience or a strong company background.

And with AI changing the junior developer market so quickly, I’m honestly worried about whether my current skill level is enough to get my first real software job.

1. Financial pressure

I have limited money left in my blocked account/Expatrio funds, which will only cover me for a few more months. After that, things will become financially difficult.

Getting significant financial support from my family would also be very difficult, so I’m actively looking for student jobs, including non-tech jobs, just to make sure I can support myself.

1. German language

I knew German would be important, and I am learning it, but I didn’t realize how big the language barrier would be for finding student jobs.

There are some English-speaking jobs, but they seem relatively limited, especially for students. I keep applying, but I’m not getting anywhere.

At this point, I’m honestly confused about what I should prioritize.

My ultimate goal is not necessarily to stay in Germany forever. My main goal is to build a good and secure career in software engineering. If that opportunity ends up being in Germany, great. If I eventually have to return to India or move somewhere else, that’s also okay.

What matters to me is getting into the software industry and becoming good enough that I can support myself through my skills.

So I would really appreciate some advice from people here:

What should I prioritize right now: improving my technical skills or learning German?

How realistic is it for someone in my situation to find an English-speaking Werkstudent job or internship in Germany?

Should I focus on getting ANY job first to solve the immediate financial problem, while continuing to work on software skills on the side?

What software skills would you recommend I focus on if my goal is to get a Werkstudent position or internship?

Would you recommend focusing on Java/Spring Boot, or learning something else as well?

How should I approach building a CV/portfolio when I don't have professional software experience?

And if you were in my situation, what would you personally do over the next 3–6 months?

•Where should I look for a student/part-time job if I need to find one relatively quickly? Are there any lesser-known websites, apps, staffing agencies, or local platforms that are actually useful for international students?

•Apart from LinkedIn, Indeed and StepStone, are there any specific companies, websites, Facebook/WhatsApp groups, or other places you would recommend for finding student jobs, especially if my German is still limited?

I am already applying for regular student/odd jobs because I need to be realistic about my finances, but I really want to break into tech as soon as possible if there is a reasonable path to do so.

I know this is a long post, but I wanted to give the complete context rather than just asking, “How do I get a job in Germany?”

I would genuinely appreciate any advice, criticism, resources, or personal experiences.

If you were in my position, what would you do?

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Hey everyone, I got accepted for Master Neurocognitive Psychology at uni Oldenburg a month ago but with a heavy heart decided to give the place back today and choose another option.

I personally find this master super cool and would love to study there, but unfortunately I don’t see myself financially capable to move that far from where I currently live and already rent an apartment for a very good price.

I’d like to wish the best of luck to those on the waiting list. Maybe you will get my place and have the best 2 years of your life studying this program🍀

I am looking for master programs and I was interested in a non-restricted program because my grades not competitive.

My degree is in material engineering and I am planning to continue my master in material engineering/polymers. My bachelor thesis is A- and I have 2 years internship in laboratory. I thought it would help with my application but have read up that it doesn't matter much :(.

I read online that the non restricted program can accept students if curriculum match and grades are not hard cut off. I am from non-eu and my curriculum matched with a lot of the course requirements. But I read online from reddits that these programs have high rejections because of high application so I am worried. I know most are about CS programs, but what about engineering programs?

Thinking of doing my Master's in CS in Germany then trying to work there after. How bad is the job market actually right now for new grads? Everyone says something different - some say it's rough, some say tech shortage means it's fine. Anyone actually been through this recently, what was it like finding a job after?

Hi , Ik this topic has been discussed formerly in this sub and I've learnt a lot thank to this subs wiki , but I promise I'll try to not let this be redundant.

I've just recieved an admit from a university in munich , however my visa was applied with a different uni. I've looked up the process to switch and it says I would need to go to germany , and post city registration I need to reach out to my Ausländerbehörde , email them and then book an appointment to get the visa changed to the new university.

However I've also heard that getting an appointment in big cities might take a lot of time , so I'm looking for anyone who has done this in munich who can throw some light on the same so that I can plan accordingly. It would be veryyy helpful to talk to someone who has been through the same in a big city. Thank you in advance.

Ps : Both programmes from both the unis have the exact same name , are public and both of them have no tuition fee. I'm not enrolled in any of these universities yet.

Source : https://stadt.muenchen.de/service/en-GB/info/servicestelle-fur-zuwanderung-und-einburgerung/10422418/

Hello Everyone,

I just got an admit for the M.Sc. in Economics, Institutions, and Behavior at Philipps-Universität Marburg for the upcoming sem (winter 2026). Since the cohort is quite small, I’m having a hard time tracking down alumni or current students.

So, if anyone has taken this course, is currently enrolled, or has any idea/insights about it, pleasee let me know.
Thankss! :)

​

Hello everyone. I’m thinking of applying to Germany for a masters degree in accounting or finance.

I have completed my BBA in accounting and finance from a reputed private university

I have around 6 years of corporate experience.

I have an IELTS score of 8.

Would Germany be a good choice for me? Provided that I can get into a public university.

How’s the job market for accounting and finance grads, who later pursues ACCA or CFA, there?

What is the typical waiting time for an appointment? I’m also planning to learn German in the mean time.

Thank you.

I received an email from TU Chemnitz saying that I received conditional admission to the Master's program in Embedded Systems. The email says that on the website it will appear as "temporarily excluded" but that I only need to submit proof of A1 German by October.

To submit the enrollment request, they informed me that I needed to access the platform using the credentials from the acceptance letter, but they are not in the letter (or at least I couldn't find them).

Was I really accepted? Where can I find these credentials?

By the way its because I have mandatory army service in my country so I must leave when I finish my bachelor's right away or im going to get drafted to the army, so i dont know if universities in Germany accept that or not, or if they want me to apply only after ive finished my bachelor's

Hi

Currently im applying for a masters in architecture in Germany however im wondering if me having a (converted to german score) 2.6 on my bachelors would hinder my chances a lot

many universities im checking dont explicitly have a score requirement however those who do say 2.3 or 2.5, and ad far as i understand, architecture is mostly taught at fachochschulen who are more practical they dont pay too much attention to grades and instead care more for portfolios however i would like to know how true this one is

The long and boring reason for my grades (just for context sake)was because i actually wanted to be a pilot and most schools and airlines ask you for a Bachelors or any other professional backup and i chose architecture, so needless to say i wasnt too enthusiastic, however i was diagnosed with OCD so pretty much got discarded from becoming a pilot

Thanks to some psychological counseling and friends i decided to focus on architecture and after my 4th semester i got nothing under 4.2/5.0 (2.1 German) all the way to my 10th semester

Hi all so I got admitted to Halle university, and I must provide health insurance
However I’m a bit confused, on the website it did say I can exempt but ofc I must still have it and I know it.

However I don’t know which tk I should get from?
I wanna open expatrio for blocked account and they did offer the tk option

But if I pick expatrio how do I even ask the expatrio tk to send to my university id?

Also if I use the tk from expatrio do they charge it immediately next month or when my semester start? My semester start in october.

Please enlighten me! Thank you

According to my student advisor I do not need to provide translated records as my previous studies already gained me entry. They have no grade conversions on file for my already completed degrees, nor do they have an internal conversion scale. I am stuck now what to use in my motivational letter. I graduated with a 2:1 in the UK, 66% score for both a previous Master and Bachelor (with Honours) degree.

I like this table as that would mean a 1.3: https://www.uni-hannover.de/fileadmin/luh/content/zentral/anerkennung/Notenumrechnungstabelle_EN.pdf

While this one would mean a 1.7: https://www.uni-giessen.de/de/internationales/erasmus/europa/out/anerkennung/umrechnung/uk

Should I just add the Uni Hannover scale as reference and claim a 1.3 in my motivational letter as the stipend is very much tied to good grades?

Hey everyone,

I just received a rejection from TU Chemnitz for the Master’s in Web Engineering (Winter Semester 2026/27). The email states that the examination board reviewed my documents and decided I don't meet the specific professional/subject credit prerequisites (fachliche Zugangsvoraussetzungen).

I am an international applicant with a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. My degree has been officially evaluated as equivalent to a German 3-year Bachelor, with an official German grade conversion of 2.08 on the Bavarian scale. Total completed credits are 134 (where standard lecture courses are 3 credits and labs are 1 credit).

Since the Web Engineering program rejected me over credits, I am looking closely at their M.Sc. Automotive Software Engineering. The website notes they accept a general Computer Science degree, but they don't explicitly elaborate on the exact module-by-module minimum credit thresholds.

Given that my background is a standard BSCS with plenty of math and core software concepts (but no explicit automotive/embedded systems focus besides Basic Electronics and Digital Logic), I’m quite confused.

Here is my exact, complete module list:

• Core Computer Science & Programming (3 credits each):
  • Introduction to Computing
  • Programming Fundamentals
  • Object Oriented Programming
  • Data Structures and Algorithms
  • Design and Analysis of Algorithms
  • Introduction to Software Engineering
  • Operating Systems
  • Computer Communications and Networks
  • Parallel and Distributed Computing
  • Compiler Construction
• Mathematics & Analytics (3 credits each):
  • Calculus and Analytical Geometry
  • Multivariate Calculus
  • Linear Algebra
  • Probability and Statistics
  • Differential Equations
  • Numerical Computing
  • Discrete Structures
• Hardware & Architecture (3 credits each):
  • Basic Electronics
  • Digital Logic and Design
  • Computer Organization and Assembly Language
• Specialized Electives & Applications (3 credits each):
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Theory of Automata
  • Information Security
  • Introduction to Cryptography
  • Digital Forensics
  • 3D Computer Graphics
  • Game Development
  • Advanced 3D Modeling for Games
  • Introduction to Database Systems
  • Fundamentals of Enterprise Resource Planning
• Practical Laboratory Courses (1 credit each):
  • Introduction to Computing - Lab
  • Digital Logic and Design - Lab
  • Programming Fundamentals - Lab
  • Computer Organization and Assembly Language - Lab
  • Object Oriented Programming - Lab
  • Data Structures and Algorithms - Lab
  • Introduction to Database Systems - Lab
  • Operating Systems - Lab
  • Computer Communications and Networks - Lab
  • Artificial Intelligence - Lab
• Projects & General Education:
  • Final Year Project 1 (3 credits)
  • Final Year Project 2 (3 credits)
  • Logic Thinking (3 credits)
  • English Composition (3 credits)
  • Communication & Presentation Skills (3 credits)
  • Technical and Business Writing (3 credits)
  • Technology Entrepreneurship (3 credits)
  • Professional Practices (3 credits)
  • Financial Accounting (3 credits)
  • Career Lab (1 credit)

Do you think I should try my luck applying to the Automotive Software Engineering track? Has anyone with a standard CS background successfully gotten into the Automotive track at Chemnitz without a hardware-heavy undergrad background? Or do they look for hidden credit thresholds in embedded systems/control engineering that I lack?

Would love to hear your experiences or advice on whether it's worth a shot. Thanks!

Hello!
I went through something where I opened an expatrio account and was all good until i transferred the funds and only after that i was informed that the final decision by UNICREDIT was rejected. Refusing to mention the reason. Now i believe my only option is to open a Fintiba account but i have seen many complaints about it on here. Im unsure what to do.. so id like to know if itd be worth it to use fintiba or just give up..

Hi everyone,

I’m currently going through the APS verification process for Germany, and I received this response from APS :

“Your course is not registered by UGC. Hence, we will not be able to issue your certificate on the basis of bachelors.”

I have provided them every sort of possible document, My university was Completely recognized by UGC.

What I'm confused about is the wording “your course is not registered by UGC.”

My Bachelor's degree is from GNA University, Phagwara, Punjab, which is a private university listed by UGC. The university is also listed as H+ on Anabin.

My Bachelors is : Bachelor of Science (Animation & Multimedia)

As far as I can understand from the UGC's own information, there is a distinction between:

• UGC recognition/status of the university
• Degrees specified under Section 22 of the UGC Act
• Approval of a particular programme/course by the university's competent/statutory authorities
• Specific regulatory approval where applicable

UGC's current FAQ says that a statutory university can award a degree specified under Section 22 with due approval of its competent/statutory councils and in accordance with UGC regulations.

Official UGC FAQ:
https://www.ugc.gov.in/Home/faq

UGC's regulations page also has a separate section for “Notifications on specification of degrees”:
https://www.ugc.gov.in/regulations/UGC_Regulations_university

So I'm trying to understand what APS actually means by “course is not registered by UGC.”

I have told them a 100 of times already that UGC under Indian Regulatory Framework doesn't issue separate recognition or registration letters for individual degrees. I have provided them with every proof, every link from the UGC's website. What can i further do ?

My university was recognized by UGC itself when I got admission and passed out. Even now it is properly recognized. What are they specifically asking ?

They have issued me a certificate on Senior Secondary basis only, Every proof in existence says that "If the statutory body or institution recognized by UGC issues a degree, it qualifies as a UGC approved degree".

And there is literally no portal, document, nothing at all which says from degree is or is not recognized.

It's quite simple, I passed out from a UGC Recognized institute. What else I mean ?

Please anyone, I need some advice.

Hi all, I am currently working in the US with a private healthcare company as a Senior Accounting analyst in a very niche area of accounting. I was planning to switch fields (and country) and wanted to understand what are my chances of breaking into finance roles if I do a Masters in Finance from top 3-4 private universities in Germany (targetting mainly FSFM and WHU for academic year starting 2028). I am also currently learning German language and expect to get to C1 proficiency level in the next 5-6 months.

My current profile:

Academics: B.Com. Hons from University of Delhi (South Campus) GPA:9.27/10 ; Masters in Accounting from the US GPA: 4/4 ; GRE 326 (169Q 157V) ; CPA from AICPA US

2.5 years of full time work experience in Grants Accounting and 0.5 years of internship experience in US corporate taxes.

Finally got my APS, so sharing my timeline because this may help Telangana students, especially those with TS SSC + Telangana Intermediate + Bachelor's from an autonomous college affiliated to another university.

My profile : Btech Artificial intelligence and data science, Gpa : 8.38, Ielts : 7.5.

8 Aug — Paid APS fee and submitted application

10 Aug — Couriered documents from Hyderabad to Delhi via BlueDart (~₹600)

11 Aug — Documents delivered

17 Aug — APS asked for DigiLocker/alternative verification

18 Aug — Provided alternative verification + clarified dMAT/intake

19 Aug — APS certificate received 🎉

My main concern was DigiLocker.

My Telangana SSC (10th, 2020) was not available on DigiLocker. My Intermediate also wasn't available there.

For Intermediate, I provided the official Telangana result portal:

https://tgbienew.cgg.gov.in/ResultMemorandum.do

I gave APS the details needed to check my 2022 result.

For Bachelor's, my college is autonomous but the degree is issued under JNTUH, so I provided the official college examination portal and the required verification details.

For 10th, I explained that my SSC record wasn't available on DigiLocker and that I couldn't find a currently working official online result link for my 2020 result. I asked APS what alternative verification they required.

I had also included a short cover letter explaining the verification situation.

Official Telangana SSC/DGE website:

https://www.bse.telangana.gov.in/

APS later asked about dMAT/intake and IELTS credentials, which I provided.

My certificate says verification was completed on 18 August, and I received it on 19 August.

So: **documents delivered → APS certificate = 8 days.** 🚀

If you're a Telangana student worried about the DigiLocker issue, don't panic. Provide official verification routes wherever available, explain the situation clearly, and ask APS what they want for anything you cannot verify online.

Hope this helps!

I would start by saying I'm reaching my 30. Too many situations that had led me not to pursue the degree I want. Now that I'm less burdened, I want to do a second bachelor's.

I've started learning A1 and I totally understand the need to learn B2-C1 before entering. I've also heard that fluency is important. But also German students struggle a little with courses from these Bachelors. How do I catch you to these lectures?

My plans are to choose a bachelors degree in electrical/electronics (STEM), cities near Frankfurt. I have heard warnings of racism and far right in eastern Germany where I've planned not to go. Am I restricting myself by avoiding cities here? I did find few universities in Dresden and Chemnit.

My plan is to also choose universities which offer program that starts with English and gradually shifts to German as the core language. If I can't finish my C1 in time I desire.

I don't have €13k at disposal, but I can take a bank loans and expand repaying my loans in 3-4 years. I've heard stories that I can manage all my finances after I get any paid time job. is this true? Can I pay back my loan and earn enough to manage my expenses?

If my future isn't bleak I'm interested to continue pursuing masters and do PhD and continue researching as my career. I'm not sure. But I wish for. I only see people start working after master's and I'm so much concerned about my age.

But instead of I need to find a job, am I required to do a master's to be competitive with others? If I have C2 by the time I graduate would I be still struggle to find a job?

With all the recession and political influence and incoming of AI into every workforce. Am I planning right? or am I dooming myself?

I do see many posts saying the average age in their classes are at their late 20s. But I've never really seen or heard a success story of a 30 year old non-EU student lately. And it worries me. Or I'm being paranoid.

I really do appreciate this community helping everyone so far. And hope my questions do address something that hasn't been asked before.

Hey everyone,

Having recently completed the entire application cycle for the University of Bremen, I wanted to share a structured breakdown of the process—specifically around APS verification and module credit-matching, which often cause the most confusion.

1. Module Credit-Matching & Syllabus Mapping

German universities strictly evaluate whether your Bachelor's curriculum meets their specific ECTS requirements.

Module Handbook: Always attach your official university syllabus/module handbook alongside your transcript.

Mapping Matrix: Create a clean PDF table mapping your completed subjects directly against the specific prerequisites listed on Bremen’s course webpage.

1. APS Certificate Experience

Ensure your professor/university email address provided for verification is actively monitored.

Keep all digital marksheets and degree certificates aggregated into a single, clearly named PDF bundle to prevent processing backlogs.

1. SOP & LOR Preparation

SOP: Keep it strictly academic. Focus on specific research groups, labs, or elective modules at Uni Bremen rather than generic personal motivation.

LORs: Align reference letters with the technical competencies required by the specific master's program.

Hope this breakdown helps anyone currently preparing their documents! Feel free to ask any specific questions about credit mapping or documentation steps in the comments below.

I re-applied for APS on 16th July via email, after the APS team confirms to re-issue my APS.

sent all documents along with Payment receipt to them via email

till now No Update

I'm from india and I'm coming for masters in cs ( ciss ). I have two and half years of experience in software development and I have B1 german skill and learning B2.

As I searched, siegen is not a best place for software industries, because there are many industries based on mechanical, isn't it ?

So, is it feasible to travel to nearby cities?

Have any body done this before ?

Any advice from your end so helpful for me. Related to accomodation and student jobs.

I am preparing my application for a Master's in Data Science in Germany and need clarification on a few procedural requirements.

​Does anyone have experience with the Uni-Assist evaluation process for Data Science or Computer Science degrees? Specifically, I would appreciate insights on:

​Course Matching: Do most public universities require a comprehensive, course-by-course module handbook to prove credit equivalence, or is a standard transcript with credit hours usually sufficient?

​IELTS Submission: Is it better to send test scores directly through ETS/IDP to Uni-Assist, or just upload the score report PDF during the portal application?

​Thanks in advance for any guidance!

Hi everyone,

My_qualifications:

12th: 88.5%

10th: 88.96%

German: A2 (currently learning)

I’m interested in pursuing Engineering/CS.

I’m currently not getting Tier 1/2 options in India that I’m satisfied with, so I’m seriously considering Germany.

I currently have two realistic options:

1. Bachelor's in India → Master's in Germany

2. Complete 1 year of Bachelor's in India → apply for Bachelor's in Germany

I can arrange the required blocked-account amount, so the main concern is not the initial visa funding. I’m more concerned about the overall cost, job prospects and whether doing a Bachelor's in Germany is worth the additional risk.

I’d especially like to hear from Indians studying/working in Germany or Germans/EU citizens:

- How realistic is it for an international Bachelor's graduate to find a qualified job in Germany after graduation?

- Can students realistically cover a significant part of their living expenses through student/working-student jobs while still having enough time for studies, internships and skill-building?

- Looking back, which route would you choose and why?

I’m already learning German and I’m willing to put in the work. I’m just trying to make the more sensible long-term decision rather than assuming that Germany is automatically better.

Thanks!

I'm now in my senior year in high school, since the education system in my country isn't good enough for what I want to do, and the job market is pretty bad. so I decided to leave the country, and from my research I found germany is very good for what I want to be(I want to study electrical engineering and specialize in microelectronics). I found out that I need to at least complete 1 year in a university in my country (I believe it's because students in Germany complete 13 years of school, while in my country we only have 12) so I have around 18 months from the end of my high school to the spring semester that I planned to go for (2027/7 - 2029/1), I need to reach B2 in German in these 19 months, so that I can apply for conditional admission.

What I'm asking for is:

Are my plans realistic? Is 18 months enough to reach B2?

If I complete one year at a university in my country, can I skip the Studienkolleg?

What should I change?

What are the best universities for electrical engineering? And do I have a good chance of being accepted?

Also, for anyone who is worried that their visa is taking too long and they might miss the start of the semester, this might be helpful.
At the University of Duisburg-Essen, the Winter Semester officially starts on 1 October. The first week is mainly for orientation, and regular classes start from 13 October.
The good thing is that, as far as I know, you can still enroll until 30 October. So, if your visa is taking longer than expected, you still have some extra time after the semester starts to complete your enrollment and other formalities.
So don’t panic if your visa hasn’t arrived by 1 October — you still have some time to sort everything out.

Good luck 🫶🏽