Free Education, Real Challenges: Indian Student Shares His Financial Strategy For Studying In Germany

My decision to choose Germany was driven by two compelling factors that made it an irresistible destination for my electrical and microsystem engineering studies. First, Germany is truly an engineering marvel – this country has consistently been at the forefront of technological innovation, from precision automotive engineering.

Second, Germany's free education system was a game-changer for me and my family's financial planning. The fact that I could access this engineering marvel of a country and its world-class education without the crushing burden of tuition fees that other countries demand was simply incredible. This unique combination of being able to learn from the best engineering minds in the world while maintaining financial stability makes Germany the first choice for engineering.

Admission process and visa process

The admission and visa process was definitely one of the most stressful parts of my journey to Germany, filled with paperwork, waiting periods, and several unexpected challenges. For the admission process, I had to get my Indian academic documents translated and verified through uni-assist, which took longer than expected and required multiple back-and-forth communications to ensure everything met German standards.

Having basic German knowledge helped me understand some of the administrative requirements and communicate with university staff, though the programme itself is taught in English. The visa process is not that much more difficult for me, as I follow the terms and rules.

So it was bare difficult thing for me. My basic German skills came in handy when filling out some of the visa forms and understanding certain requirements that weren't clearly explained in English. The most frustrating part was the uncertainty – you submit everything and then wait for months without knowing if there are any issues with your application. However, I got the visa in just 8 days, so it was a good experience for me.

Experienced homesickness and strategies

To cope with the homesickness, I developed several strategies that have been incredibly effective –

Scheduled regular video calls with family – weekly weekend calls gave me emotional comfort and something to look forward to.

Documented my journey – I started taking photos and journaling to shift my focus from what I missed to how much I was learning and growing.

Accepted homesickness as normal – Instead of fighting it, I embraced it as a natural part of studying abroad and a sign of how much I value home.

Used cultural nostalgia as motivation – Missing festivals like Diwali and Holi reminded me of my roots and encouraged me to build new traditions while staying connected to old ones.

Focused on making the most of my time abroad – I reminded myself that this experience is temporary and precious, which helped me stay present and positive.

Day-to-day challenges  

For food:

Living in Germany has presented several practical challenges, with being vegetarian creating the biggest hurdle in my first 1-2 months, as finding suitable ingredients and understanding German food labels was incredibly difficult when everything seemed to contain meat or animal products. My go-to dish that I cook very frequently is dal rice with simple vegetables, but it was still challenging initially because I deeply missed the authentic Indian food taste and spices that simply weren't available in regular supermarkets. Day by day, I became more aware of where to shop and how to adapt my cooking.

For accommodation:

Accommodation was the biggest challenging part in Germany due to the household crisis, especially in my city, where there are more students and professional workers competing for limited housing, making it a complete nightmare for me initially. However, I managed to find a place with the help of friends and some applications that helped me more in finding suitable accommodation.

Advice for prospective students to manage their finances

Create a monthly budget before arrival – Include all essentials like rent, food, health insurance, and transport, and keep a buffer for surprise expenses like winter gear or travel.

Stick to the budget – Be disciplined; tracking your spending helps avoid end-of-the-month stress.

Use your student ID everywhere – It unlocks discounts on transport, groceries, museums, and more.

Choose affordable housing – Student dorms or shared flats (WGs) are cheaper than private studios and help you make friends.

Cook at home – Homemade meals (like my go-to dal rice) save money and are healthier than eating out.

Find part-time jobs – Look for “Werkstudent” roles or university assistant positions for both income and relevant experience.

Open a local bank account – Avoid international transaction fees and get access to student credit cards for better money management.

Use budget-friendly apps and stores – Try apps like Too Good To Go, shop at Aldi/Lidl, and buy second-hand whenever possible.

Ask for help when needed – Use your university’s financial counselling services and talk to fellow students for practical tips.

So, overall, my advice is to make a connection as much as possible, do your work in a consistent manner, adapt to the German culture, give time to yourself for transit your, and do not take any immediate decision.

The author is pursuing Electrical and Microsystems Engineering from Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule (OTH) Regensburg, Germany