Step 4: Choose a Good Location

Time for a little bit of history. In case you did exactly what we did in our history classes (sleep that is) then chances are high you missed some of the lectures on Europe. Well here is a quick recap:

Germany was divided between east and west for a number of years before reuniting in July 1990. And some lines from Wikipedia: To this day, there remain vast differences between the former East Germany and West Germany (for example, in lifestyle, wealth, political beliefs and other matters) and thus it is still common to speak of eastern and western Germany distinctly. The eastern German economy has struggled since unification, and large subsidies are still transferred from west to east.

That means economic condition in the west is much better than the east, and the westerners have to pay a good amount of “east Germany development taxes” in order to help to sync the two parts back together. Another point worth mentioning is the still prevalent strong Russian influence in the culture and language of the east which is a tad uncomfortable (read unwelcome) toward foreigners. Although the situation is changing drastically and the gap is closing fast, but we doubt you would like to be the first guinea pigs! We, however, know many friends living in the east and they are doing pretty good, but the point we want to sell here is that, western Germany is still favourable to foreign students.

While choosing your university, put your first preferences to courses offered by universities located at north-, south-western part of Germany unless you are compelled to do otherwise.

STEP 5

BACK TO STEP 3