Better Place to Study – UK or Germany?

As you graduate, life blooms into a new flower you had only seen from a distance. You can now make your own decisions. You are, officially, an adult. But with great power comes great responsibilities. Choosing to study in a foreign country is one of them.

Deciding which country is the best fit for you is one of the decisions that defines how your life turns out. The UK and Germany, both, have a phenomenal quality of education that would be a floating white feather on your hat for the rest of your academic life. While the choice between them is more of a personal preference, here are some factors to consider while choosing a place to study.

Quality of Education

The quality of Education in the UK is infused with an academic heritage. Oxford University and Cambridge University, two of the oldest universities in the world, have led the world to knowledge empowerment from the UK. Most of the universities in the UK are globally recognised and ranked. Students from all parts of the world fly to the UK to pursue undergraduate, post-graduate and doctoral programs. Most of these courses are shorter in duration than in Germany, and factually, most of the world.

While Germany may not have a reputation and popularity among international students, it is at the forefront of the technological and innovation race in the West. Their state of art infrastructure supports the environment students require to gain knowledge and research. The education system in Germany allows you to choose between a Hochschule and a university. Hochschule is instituting an academic approach divided between practical experience and theoretical learning.

Admission Rate & Visa Processes

The enrollment rate in German universities is less than in the UK and for practical reasons. The UK has a larger number of universities, resulting in more acceptance. In addition, the public universities in Germany have initiated a no tuition fees practice that has led to a bigger number of applications against the same number of seats.

The visa process for both countries is pretty straightforward. Student Visa Requirements in the UK as well as in Germany check the same boxes. The documents required when applying to study in German are a bit more extensive, and the process, slower.

Life as a Student

The international student population in Germany is about 2.8 million. That’s a LOT, isn’t it? Well, the UK has even more – 30% more, to be precise. Both these overseas education destinations host a multi-cultured environment for students to share their ideologies, traditions, food and culture. Students can reside on campus in the Study Halls (the UK) and Studentenwohnheim (Germany) to make the most out of their connections. While food may not be available in a UK university, food and self-catering facilities are available in Germany. Besides these, several off-campus options are also available for international students.

Students can enrol in on-campus extracurricular activities and clubs like the Debating Society at Oxford to have a positive break from academia. German universities too have many events and festivals throughout the year.

Financial Aspects

Most public universities in Germany have a no-fee policy. Students are only required to pay about €200 to €1,500 to cover administrative, facilities and public transportation costs. This cost is per semester for UG courses. PG schools may charge minimal tuition fees ranging from 13,000 to about 42,000 euros. The education fees in British universities vary according to your choice of course, college, location and more. With Germany, it is no match. The cost of living in Germany, too, is lower than in the UK. It is stipulated that international students need at least €861 per month in Germany and £1,334 per month in the UK to sustain a decent lifestyle.

The mandated health insurance in Germany costs around €110 per month. When students travel to the UK, the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year is an obligation while paying for the visa. Numbeo, the world’s largest cost of living database, has the UK in the 18th and Germany in the 23rd rank in their Health Care Index 2024. Germany offers some of the most advanced healthcare treatment in Europe.

Life Outside the Campus

Both places have their own charm. They are safe, clean and lively. The crime rate, as a matter of fact, is higher in cities than in the countryside. Most of the quality universities in Germany are in or around large metropolitan cities whereas, the UK has them scattered. Germany shares its border with 11 fascinating countries. While this makes the UK slightly safer, the travel expense turns higher too. From Denmark in the north, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France in the west, Switzerland and Austria in the south and the Czech Republic and Poland in the east, students can explore a lot within a couple of weekend trips.

German, however, comes with a language barrier. Only 56% of the population speak English in their daily lives.

Work Opportunity

Students can work for up to 20 hours a week in the UK and 18 hours a week in Germany. Students can expect these jobs to pay £10.18 or 1075.14 per hour in the UK or €9 or 812.50 INR per hour in Germany.

After completing your studies, you get to the real world. You can stay up to 18 months in Germany and 24 months in the UK to look for a job. After graduation, you are required to switch to a Residence Permit (Germany) or Graduate Visa (UK). The wealth and opportunities in both of these countries are remarkable. Once you have found a job that suits your goals, you can apply for an employment visa. Your Graduate visa now needs to be switched to a Tier 2 Skilled Worker Visa and requires a sponsorship certificate from your employer.

Finding a paid job in the UK is a job on its own. Overworking is yet another issue raised often. If it helps, the salary is better.

Permanent Residence Opportunity

In Germany, 5 years of residency permit and/or a highly skilled job make you eligible for an EU Blue Card. The blue card is your ticket to EU PR that lets you work anywhere across the European lands. The pathway is the same for UK PR. Due to the recent changes in government and legal policies, however, getting permanent residency in the UK has turned cold.

Forbes India ranks the German passport as #1 and the UK passport as #3 in its World’s most powerful passport rankings (2024). A UK passport holder can travel to up to 154 countries while a German holder can to up to 161 countries.

Before you decide between Germany and the UK, maybe ask yourself what you need from this course. If you want a permanent residency, it is a no-brainer. It is, if, the wisdom you are chasing, think through. If you don’t know still, it is really okay. Connect with us for a FREE CONSULTATION to get a clearer picture of your future.