Three years ago, I graduated from Hochschule Neubrandenburg with a master’s degree in landscape architecture and started working for my present firm in Berlin. I talked to Leap about my experience for their expert student series, which consists of Indians who have recently studied overseas and obtained employment, since I want to support others who aspire to make the same kind of professional leap that I did.
Germany as a study destination
My native state is Kerala. I completed my undergraduate studies with a Bachelor of Architecture, and the Indian employment market completely disappointed me. I was an architect for a year, however, there are many problems with low income and a lack of excellent positions.
Then it occurred to me, why don’t I take a step that will further my professional goals? I spoke with a buddy I knew who was already residing in Germany and found out that there is no tuition here.
It seemed like the greatest option because it required less funding than other foreign school programs. Additionally, most applications are submitted online, and you are accepted without the need for other bizarre procedures.
The admissions procedure
I sent applications to five colleges. Applying to German universities, for example, or any other international university, is always the best course of action if you want to increase your chances. I therefore applied to a few universities on my short list that I liked the look of (I applied to a landscape architecture thesis, which piqued my attention).
One of the two programs that I was accepted into was for landscape architecture.
The ways that Germany and India’s educational systems diverge
For example, we have to attend class every day at our Indian college. And when you study for a master’s degree here, that’s just not the case. For example, your class timetable, which is determined by your professor’s schedule, likely consists of three days.
Therefore, they post the date of your lesson the next week ahead of time on the internet. You can manage your time by doing other activities, like taking a part-time job, as you have a lot of spare time in between.
Additionally, spoon-feeding is not the nature of education or teaching itself. Since textbooks are not provided, you must literally start your studies there. Particularly in architecture, most of the work is done through presentations. In my course, there were no written tests at all. Most of the time, each semester we had design projects that you had to show. In that regard, it is quite comparable to India, although you have far more opportunities to socialize and learn about other viewpoints.
Thus, I would say that the global component of it was quite beneficial in that regard.
Weekends and free time spent in a foreign nation
I was taken to places by my roommates, and not many of them required admission. Such as a festival held at the city’s market, student club activities in the farmers market, or university events.
My college was located in Neubrandenburg. The city is situated rather near to a lake. Our university is located directly on the shore of a sizable lake. There is a minor boat race held every summer in which participants take a canoe and compete against one another in various groupings.
These things changed when I moved to Berlin, which is a more cosmopolitan city. There are gatherings, walking and jogging clubs, art classes, and much more.
My entire outlay
Since I attended a public university, there were no educational costs. After a year, my main costs were accommodation and food, totaling about 5,000 euros. I moved to Berlin in my second year, a larger city with more expensive rent, so I spent about 7,000 euros there while earning a meager income from an internship for four months and a student job for two months.
locating a part-time job that pays well
The one that most people visit, such as Amazon warehouses, is Amazon. You are able to pack and stack objects. That is the simplest job you can find, yet with just 20 hours a week of work, you may make between 1300 and 1500 euros in just two months.
After making this choice, life is lot better.
You might relocate to another country to earn more money, such as the US or the UK. However, there are many other elements that I would want to mention, such as how much I cherish the work-life balance that is a part of German society.
When this time is up, you are free to leave your office. Additionally, there is a greater sense of balance; for instance, if my supervisor asked me to work on a Saturday, I would politely decline. As I mentioned earlier, I have other intentions. And in India, that isn’t the case.
Here, I’m content.I have a regular job from nine to five, but after that, I’m free. Furthermore, I earn far more than I would in India.
Tips for locating a job
The two most crucial factors are as follows. Make solid contacts inside the university itself first. I was suggested for my internship by my teachers. I was spared the absurd effort of sending out 100 applications and then waiting for a response. In addition, you must submit numerous applications in order to be considered for a job in Germany. Additionally, since every organization has a unique format, it differs greatly from India. You mix your cover letter, portfolio, and resume that you have sent to other companies in their unique format.
It’s typical to occasionally have to wait three or four weeks to hear back. It’s normal to wait; try not to get impatient. It’s also typical to submit about 100 applications. Be at ease.
Learning the language is the second most crucial thing for any student. With English, you can make it through, but you can only go so far. After that, businesses like hiring someone who speaks German.
You have to visit the construction site, particularly in a service-oriented industry like architecture. You must converse with others. The employees need to be instructed on what to do, but they do not speak English.
Handling the emotional shift
Don’t do it if you’re the type of person who gets too worked up about stuff like language, which kind of translates to loneliness. Additionally, if you’re traveling here, avoid comparing your experience to others’. While some people pick up the language quickly, others don’t. Though it takes time, things ought to work out in the end.
