As is known, the first university education system emerged in medieval Europe. Italy, France, and Germany were the forges of the Bologna system and gave the world outstanding thinkers, scholars, and creators. As for Germany, today it attracts tens of thousands of international students thanks to its unique approach to education.
Why do students love studying in Germany? AdmiGram.com will tell you in the words of the students themselves. They shared some very interesting and unusual facts about their life in this country. Now we know for sure that studying in Germany is extraordinary and fun!
10 facts about Germany through the eyes of students
© Technische Universität München via Instagram
In Germany, sniffing your nose is considered impolite, but blowing it loudly is perfectly acceptable. The situation where a professor loudly blows their nose into the microphone during a lecture is quite common. It looks very comical and helps in some situations. For example, to wake up those who accidentally dozed off during the lecture. Or to make students stop loudly chewing their lunch.
© Mensa an der Universität Augsburg via Instagram
Yes, indeed. You can eat during lectures. There is even takeout soup available in the cafeteria, so it’s not uncommon to have soup in the middle of the day during lectures. Lectures are large events (200–300 people), as the subject may not belong to just one specialty. Seminars, on the other hand, are divided into groups of 20–30 people.
© Mensa in der Universität Ulm via Instagram
The cheapest place to eat is the student cafeterias. Here, everything is almost free and in huge portions. So, if you don’t control yourself, after a couple of months, you might have to throw away all the clothes you brought with you. You simply won’t fit into your previous size.
© Fachschaft WiSo Uni Köln via Instagram
Germany – the land of beer. So, if your university has its own bar, that’s normal. After lectures, there are usually many people there (the atmosphere: homework + beer). The main thing is not to misbehave and be reasonable. There are even special types of beer for humanities or mathematicians.
© Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität via Instagram
Many students in Germany opt for shared living arrangements known as “Wohngemeinschaft” (WG). This is when several students share one apartment. It looks very amusing, especially if the residents are from completely different countries and cultures.
© Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität via Instagram
Preparing for Christmas starts almost from October. But by the end of November, the spirit of Christmas is everywhere. On December 5th, Nikolaustag, or Saint Nicholas Day, it’s customary to exchange gifts. Everyone gives each other various funny trinkets and souvenirs.
© Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität via Instagram
Education is mostly free in most universities: you just need to pay a small semester fee of around €200, which usually includes a transit pass valid for the entire federal state. Semesters at universities are shifted by about a month (or even more) compared to other countries. The academic year starts in October and April. The exam period is quite long – about one and a half months. So, one exam per week is normal. Therefore, studies end in March in winter and in August in summer.
© Technische Universität Berlin via Instagram
By the way, in most universities in Germany, there is a practice called “Freiversuch” or “second chance” for international students, meaning students are given a second chance to pass an exam if they couldn’t do it the first time. They might even allow retaking it a third time. However, failing an exam three times means bidding farewell to studies altogether. Not just at that university but throughout Germany.
© Freie Universität Berlin via Instagram
In Germany, there is a modular education system. This means it’s not necessary to take specific subjects at the end of the semester – the main thing is that they must all be passed when receiving the diploma. But when to take them and in what order is everyone’s personal business, although there is a rough plan to make planning easier. For this reason, studies can be extended by 2-3 years. Although the average duration of study (excluding master’s) is seven years instead of three (bachelor’s) or five (diploma). So, perpetual students here are considered normal.
© Freie Universität Berlin via Instagram
Germans take relaxation very seriously. Weekends are sacred. On Sundays, nothing works except cafes and other entertainment venues. So, if you don’t have homework, everyone goes to some themed parties organized by entire faculties.
image on top: Darya Tryfanava / Unsplash
