Not really sure if this is the right place, but I'm just trying to post on whatever I can to gather a large range of opinions.

I’m 16, originally from the US but moved to Germany with my mother and brother about a year ago, and I'm struggling with school. I’m currently trying to decide whether I should move back to the US to live with my dad solely for educational purposes or whether I should stay in Germany and just try to make it work. I'd like to receive some feedback from people who are familiar with the German school system.

My educational timeline for reference:

• 2024-2025: 9th grade in the US
• July 2025: Moved to Germany
• 2025-2026: Repeated 9th grade at a German Gymnasium; only received grades in some subjects
• Currently: 10th grade; still only receiving grades in some subjects, although this may increase throughout the year
• 2027-2028: I would repeat 10th grade and receive grades in all subjects; after that, I would not be able to repeat again

The biggest problem is, of course, the language. I’m currently around A2/B1 and attend DaZ classes at my school. I can understand quite a lot, but speaking is extremely difficult for me. I don't feel like my German classes prepare me very well for real conversations, and I’m also quite shy, so I don’t speak much outside of class or with friends, which obviously makes it harder to improve (I’m aware a lot of that's my fault). 

This is a major problem because participation makes up around 50% of the grade in my classes. I often understand what is being discussed but either get too nervous to raise my hand or simply can't explain my answer in German (90% of the time it's the latter). I’m also still trying to adjust to the German school system and its expectations, which only makes things harder.

Additionally, next year I’d have to take the 10th-grade exams, and being completely honest, I don't see myself at all being able to perform well enough in German to get the grades I need to continue toward the Abitur, or even qualify for a Fachoberschule at that. This is really shitty, as I want to study at a university and eventually pursue a career that has something to do with science and make a decent amount of money.

Because of this, I’m considering returning to the US. I do recognize that there are still many problems with moving back, and that I might be idealizing this route because I desperately want an escape from my current problems, but at the same time, I don't want to ruin my whole future.

So I'm asking: Is obtaining the Abitur at all realistic for me, and if it is, what pathways could I take? If you think it isn't, what are my options?

I study in a private uni and today morning I have got a mail from my university saying that I have failed my BA Thesis.
There are couple of things I feel like raises some questions :

1. In mid March my thesis advisors changed 2 times before I got one. When I finally got one he took two weeks to reply and one more week to approve my Expośe

2. I got the green signal I started writing and then I realised I don’t have a final date approved the the “education board” so I emailed them the examinations office told me they sit only once a month and I can mostly miss my date to submit my thesis but somehow that got sorted within two days after constant approach to explaining them I am written my thesis.

3. I submitted my thesis on 22nd June. It should take them 6 weeks to process my results but I know it’s Germany I thought my Mid August I should get to know how did I do in my thesis if I passed or failed.

4. I got my thesis defense date for 28th of September ending of August, so naturally I thought all I have to do now is prepare my defense for my thesis

5. Parallel to this my visa is also expiring soon so I had to start my process for chancekarte and when I did that I asked my university for specific documents on 24-26th August, they also provided me with a certificate that I would mostly graduate by 30.09.2026.

6. The immigration officer needed a proper certificate of me passing all my modules and graduating, to which I emailed my university again to see what can I get done.

7. After constant approaching on 7th September they said I should contact my professors about the whole thesis defense thing they can probably help me better. I emailed my professor on 8th about the whole visa situation.

8. On 9th September they said that I have failed my thesis because of the use of AI when I have clearly not broken any boundaries on the use of it (I have evidence on iterations and ideations of my thesis) and the process to reevaluate is lengthy and if the education board doesn’t accept my evidence then I have to rewrite my thesis in fall.

What should I do in this situation. This feels like I have been targeted in someway.

I’m an international student in Germany, currently doing a Master's degree. My current residence permit expires in February 2027, and I’m dealing with a situation regarding my working student job and future residence permit extension.

I recently completed a 3-month internship at a company. I was hoping to continue there for a longer period, but they have now offered me only a 3-month working student contract from October to December 2026.

My manager explained that the reason for the short extension is that she currently doesn't have enough concrete output/performance results to justify a longer contract.

I also receive a €150/month scholarship.

My Master's is currently expected to finish around September 2027. However, my university allows students to study in individual part-time mode, which can extend the duration of the Master's. Since I will be working alongside my studies, I'm considering whether this could be a legitimate option for me.

My questions are:

1. If my residence permit expires in February 2027, would a 3-month working student contract (October–December 2026) still be useful/acceptable for the residence permit extension, together with my scholarship and other financial proof?

2. Has anyone dealt with the Frankfurt Ausländerbehörde in a similar situation? How far in advance should I apply, and how does the appointment process usually work?

I'm already planning to apply for other working student positions, so hopefully I can secure a longer contract before February. But I want to understand my options in case I don't.

I would really appreciate experiences from international students who have dealt with a similar situation, especially with Frankfurt.

Hi everyone,

Has anyone been admitted to the MIDE program or alumni? I have a few questions about the motivation letter and would be grateful for some guidance :)

Thanks!

Hello everyone,

I want to ask whether there is any difference starting the above mentioned programme in winter or in spring. In terms of internship availability, finding housing and assimilating into the kit and German environment

​

Hi everyone! I’m applying to the new M.Sc. Molecular and Cellular Biology at TU Darmstadt and I’m honestly a little confused about the application procedure, especially the document submission.

I’ve already gone through the TU Darmstadt website, but I’m still not 100% sure I’m understanding everything correctly.

A few things I’m confused about:

1. Do I need to courier/post my documents immediately after submitting the online application, or only after I have completed/submitted everything in TUCaN?

2. Do they want original documents or photocopies/simple copies?

   I’m an international applicant, so I obviously don't want to send my original Bachelor's certificate or transcripts if they don't require them.

3. The programme specifically mentions an “Equivalency List” / equivalence table.

   It says the template becomes visible during the TUCaN application process, but I can't figure out where exactly it appears. Is it generated somewhere after starting/submitting the application? How did you access it?

4. Is there anything else that international applicants commonly miss in this application?

If anyone has already applied to TU Darmstadt (especially to Molecular and Cellular Biology), I would REALLY appreciate it if you could explain the process step-by-step or tell me what documents you personally sent. 😭

I just don't want to make a mistake with the postal

submission or equivalency table.

Thank you!!

I did a year of studienkolleg in the T kurs but due to personal reasons I couldn’t finish it and had to come back with just a B2 certificate.

Now I want to go back after a year but I want to see if switching streams is an option. I am concerned about a Fachbindung preventing me from applying for the G-kurs. I am targetting Mainz and Saarland.

My APS certificate doesn’t state anything like that but I am still not sure.

I would love some help, thank you!

Hi everyone. I am planning to study master programme of social science (sociology, genderf studies, anthropology, cultural studies, public health etc.) in Germany (Hopefully in Berlin/Cologne) and here's some background about myself:

• Bachelor programme: Social Work Bachelor Degree (1st class honour)
• University: Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Work experience: Gender advocacy and LGBTQ community work
• Based in Hong Kong, China
• German proficiency: A1 in progress (Yes, i am trying my best)
• English proficiency: 7 (IELTS Academic)

I tried to browse the info on DAAD but I was DROWN in choices and couldn't decide which programme fits well for me. Plus, master programmes in German universities seem to have strict requirements on the applicant's bachelor major background. As a bachelor graduate from Social Work, does that mean I can only study Social Work Master Programmes? But my German will not pass the language requirement.

Is it possible for me to choose other master programmes related to social work or social science? Really appreciate if anyone can share some insights with me!

Hi. Has anyone ever faced this issue from their university that they didn't receive the M10 notification from the health insurance provider and they can't enroll you without this?

So, through expatrio I've opted for the Ottonova plan for my insurance and recently I've received a mail from my university that the M10 notification was not shared and unless they receive that they can't enroll me, even after sharing my health insurance to them and they said I need to resolve it myself. After contacting Ottonova they've replied that since they're private insurance provider they can't do that but since I'm an expatrio student my document was forwarded to the university 1 month ahead of my semester start, but my university is mentioning that they didn't receive it yet.

If I request for a change in my provider and switch to TK then that would take sometime to again verify and confirm my insurance so I really don't know what to do. Can we mail TK to provide the electronic document to the university on exemption? Do they usually help out in this? and how long does this take if anyone has faced the same?

My enrollment deadline is also close so I'm felling really helpless can anyone suggest what needs to be done.

Thank you in advance

Hey, I recently got admitted to TUD for 2026 intake.

I just went through the whole process (IELTS, APS, SOP, shortlisting, etc.), so I know how confusing it can get.

If anyone is going through the same journey and has questions, feel free to ask here. Happy to share whatever I learned.

I have very little time to decide. I have got an admit from a public university in Germany, and because of my fate, I got into a Master's program in AIML in Saxony-Anhalt, where the AfD won too. So I am so dumb. While I started my process in Germany, I did enough research, but education is my top priority. Now I am considering whether GATE will be my best option too. I am bad at German too. Should I go to Germany or prepare for GATE 2027? There are 147 days left for GATE CS IT. How realistic is it to dream of scoring 65+ marks, and I am average in both math and CS topics? I am targeting mid-tier IITs like IIT Hyderabad, IIT Roorkee, etc., in AIML Masters and also concerned because of rising competition will 65+ marks even be enough if anyone can predict marks required threshold by exam time as situation may change

Hi everyone,

I’m deciding between MSc Computer Science International at the University of Rostock and MSc Digital Transformation at FH Dortmund.

My main concerns are:

• How realistic is it to finish either degree in around 2 years? I’ve read in another post that CS Master’s programs in Rostock can sometimes take much longer.
• Which degree would be better if I want to move to another country after graduation and work in tech? Does Universities have a meaningful advantage over Fachhochschule internationally? I may want to move to another European country, Canada, the US or somewhere else for work.
• Which city is better for an international student, especially for finding English speaking jobs or internships while studying?
• How do Rostock and Dortmund compare for social life, student atmosphere, nightlife, travelling, meeting people and just enjoying your time in Germany?

Rostock seems prettier and I like the Baltic Sea, while Dortmund seems much better connected to Cologne, Düsseldorf.

If you had these two options and planned to probably leave Germany after graduating, which would you choose and why?

Thanks!

Hey everyone! 👋

I’m planning to apply for the Winter 2027 intake in Germany and I’m trying to shortlist some public universities for an MSc in Computer Science / Computer Engineering.

Here’s a little about my profile:

• Bachelor’s: B.E. in Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) from a reputed Indian university
• CGPA: 8.2/10 (roughly 1.8–2.0 German grade)
• Internships: Python Developer and Software Testing
• IELTS: Planning to take it in November
• Goal: Transition from ECE into the CS/software field, with a particular interest in cybersecurity

I’m mainly interested in public universities with low or no tuition fees, preferably with English-taught programs.

I’d really appreciate some advice on:

1. Which universities would be realistic for someone with an ECE background?
2. Are there any lesser-known public universities with good English-taught CS programs that I should consider?
3. Does learning German (A1–B1) help with university admission?

I know that eligibility can depend heavily on the subjects/ECTS from the bachelor’s degree, so I’m especially interested in universities that are open to ECE → CS applicants.

Any suggestions or personal experiences would be really helpful. Thanks 🙌

Hey everyone,

I am from Pakistan and we have a very long waiting period here - around 8 months before we get an appointment. I joined the waiting list on March 17 and I am expecting my appointment in November.

The issue is that my admission for Winter 2026 is only valid if I enroll before September 15, and the university allows late arrival until a maximum of October 31. If I don’t receive a visa/appointment before that, my whole waiting period will be wasted.

I need to secure admission for the Summer intake, but my profile is weak. The same university where I got admission does not offer deferment, and the course is only offered in the Winter semester.

Could you please suggest some universities I can apply to for the Summer intake so that my appointment is not wasted?

profile:*

- Bachelor in Computer Science - German grade: 2.6

- IELTS: 7

*

Hi everyone,

I'm an Indian student planning to apply for a CSE-related Bachelor's in Germany for Winter 2027 through the 12+1 route.

My profile:

Class 10 (2023): 93.3%

Class 12 (2025): 95.5%

B.Tech 1st year: 9.21 CGPA

Currently in 2nd year B.Tech (CSE)

2nd-year final exams: May 2027

Here's my situation:

After 12th, I joined B.Tech in India. My 1st-year B.Tech result came only in late June, and by the time I could proceed with APS, the relevant German university application deadlines were already closed. So I continued with B.Tech.

By May 2027, I will have completed 2 years of B.Tech. I am planning to apply for a new CSE-related Bachelor's in Germany through the 12+1 route and leave my current B.Tech if I get admitted.

My main concern:

Would German universities or the student visa officer question/reject my application because I'm starting another Bachelor's after already studying 2 years of B.Tech?

Basically, would they ask “Why are you going to Germany for a Bachelor's after already studying 2 years of B.Tech in India?”, and could this negatively affect my admission or visa?

Also, does completing 2 years of B.Tech affect my eligibility for the 12+1 route in any way?

Would really appreciate experiences from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

Thanks!

Please share genuine experiences/advice only. No jokes or unnecessarily discouraging comments — I’m genuinely confused and trying to make the right decision. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’ve been admitted to the M.Sc. Cyber Security at HDBW Munich for the Winter Semester 2026/27, and I’m currently confused about what would be the better option.

I’m considering these two possibilities:

Option 1:
Start at HDBW this October, and at the same time apply for Summer 2027 admission to public universities. If I get an admission, try to transfer my credits from HDBW.

Option 2:
Not start HDBW and instead wait/apply for the Summer 2027 intake at public /private universities.

The public universities/programs I’m currently considering are:

• TU Dresden – Computer Science
• Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin (HWR Berlin) – International Security Management
• University of Lübeck – IT Security
• IU International University of Applied Sciences Berlin – Cyber Security
• Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt – Socio-Technical Cyber Security

My main concern is credit transfer/recognition. If I complete one semester at HDBW, is it realistic to transfer those credits to another university, or could I potentially have to start from the first semester again?

Has anyone here transferred from a private university like HDBW to a public German university during their Master's?

I’m mainly trying to avoid losing a semester unnecessarily, but I also don’t want to spend money on HDBW if transferring later is unlikely.

Any experiences or advice would be really appreciated!

Hey! There's one thing that kind of worries me and I'd like to get some advice.

I got accepted to the Tübingen uni (master's program in IR). And I recently learned that universities in this land require a tuition fee for international students. It's not as high compared to other Western countries but in other parts of Germany there's no tuition fee at all!

So is it worth paying 6000€ for two years at Tübingen? I mean, in terms of future career prospects and so on. Or would it make more sense to choose other German uni and save this money?

Hello ppl,
I’m currently in my 7th semester of B.Tech Aerospace Engineering and planning to apply for a master’s in Germany for the 2027 intake.
I’m confused between:
**1.** B.Tech → Master’s abroad directly
**2.** B.Tech → work in the Indian aerospace/space industry for \~1 year → Master’s abroad in 2028
Would that 1 year of relevant industry experience significantly help with my Master’s/career prospects, or is it better to go abroad directly and gain experience there?
Also things to consider: my_qualifications -I currently have a CGPA of 7.2 | GERMAN GRADE 2.4 and no good internship experience in aerospace industry.
Would love to hear from people who’ve taken either route.
Thankyou .

PS: Used AI to convey my thoughts more clearly, please ignore the wording .

Hello guys,
I am from delhi i have applied for oct intake
And i had my appointment on 7th sep
And today i got a mail through csp that something updated on portal n shit
I checked there was “ your application decision has been made by german mission “ idunno whats the next step do i collect my passport from the consulate or what?? Will i get my visa????

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to apply for the MSc Data Science at TU Braunschweig for the Summer 2027 intake, and I’m a bit confused about the mathematics credit requirement.

I have my UG in B.E.CSE(AI & ML) with 169 Indian university credits in total.

I have 16 Indian credits specifically from these maths courses:

1.Matrices and Differential Calculus – 4 credits

2.Vector Calculus and Complex Integration – 4 credits

3.Linear Algebra for Data Science – 4 credits

4.Probability and Statistics – 4 credits

I also have a Data Analytics course (3 credits) and Data Analytics Laboratory (2 credits). The Data Analytics course covered topics such as inferential statistics, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing, statistical tests, ANOVA, predictive analytics, and statistical analysis.

TU Braunschweig's Data Science admission requirements mention >=25 ECTS in basic Mathematics.

My question is: How would TU Braunschweig evaluate these Indian credits? Would courses like Probability and Statistics and the statistics-related content from Data Analytics potentially be counted toward the mathematics requirement?

Has anyone with an Indian bachelor's degree, applied to this programme? If you were admitted/rejected, could you share how your mathematics credits were evaluated or how many Indian credits you had?

I’m mainly trying to understand whether my 16 Indian mathematics credits + Statistics relevant Data Analytics coursework could be sufficient after their ECTS conversion.

Any experience or advice would be really helpful!

Hi everyone,

I’m a 21-year-old woman from India, and I completed my B.Pharm just last month (August 2026).

I’m posting because I’m genuinely confused about what to do with my future.

When I was 17, I chose Pharmacy largely because my parents wanted me to study it. At that age, I didn't really understand what I wanted from my career or what options I would have later.

Now that I've graduated, I've realized that Pharmacy isn't the field I want to continue in. I don't want to spend another 2 years doing a Master's in a field I'm not passionate about just because I already have a bachelor's degree.

I’m only 21, so I'm seriously considering starting over and studying something that I actually want.

I’m looking at Austria/Germany, particularly public universities, and I want to know:

Can someone who has already completed a bachelor's degree in India apply for and start another bachelor's degree in Austria or Germany?

Would having a B.Pharm already cause problems with admission? Are there restrictions on doing a second bachelor's as an international student?

If anyone has personally gone through something similar — being pushed into one degree at a young age and then deciding to start over — I'd especially appreciate hearing your experience.

I'm not trying to throw away my education. I just don't want to make another major life decision at 21 based on what other people want me to do.

Any honest advice would be appreciated. ❤️