Learn More

Studying and working in Austria and Germany. What you need to know.

Thinking about studying in Austria or Germany?

You probably have lots of questions.

Is university really affordable? Do I need to learn German? Can I go after SPM or IGCSE? How much money do I need? Can I work after graduation? And most importantly, which country is right for me?

Here are some of the questions parents and students ask us most often.

If you’re looking for an overseas education, Austria and Germany are worth considering for a few reasons.

Both offer high-quality education, strong industries and the opportunity to gain international experience while living in Europe.

They can also be considerably more affordable than some traditional overseas destinations, particularly when it comes to university tuition.

And you’re not only getting a degree. You’re getting the chance to live independently, experience a different culture, build an international network and potentially start your career in Europe.

Yes, but you will need to complete an appropriate pre-university qualification first before starting your Bachelor’s degree.

Learn more here.

With STPM, A Level and IB, you have direct entry to an Austrian or German university, provided you have the right subject combination and good enough results.

Get the details here.

With Ausmat, SACE or WACE, you have direct entry to an Austrian or German university, provided you have the right subject combination and good enough results.

Get the details here.

Most Austrian and German universities do not recognise the UEC qualification.

However, you still have options.

Learn how you can study in Austria or Germany here.

Most Austrian and German universities do not recognise the Diploma qualification.

However, you still have options.

Learn how you can study in Austria or Germany here.

Most Austrian and German universities do not recognise the Foundation or MUFY qualifications.

However, you still have options.

Learn how you can study in Austria or Germany here.

You don’t need to.

It’s recommended that you get a pre-university qualification which is recognised by Austrian and German universities.

If you are looking for a focused pathway, you can consider the Express European Pathway instead.

It depends on your course.

German-taught courses require German proficiency, while English-taught courses require English proficiency.

Some English-taught courses do require basic German and that depends on the university.

However, learning German is still highly recommended if you plan to live and work there.

Yes, there are English-taught courses in both countries.

You may be able to enrol to an English-taught course without learning German.

But you’ll need to navigate everyday life. And being able to converse in German is useful for:

  • finding accommodation
  • dealing with government offices
  • shopping
  • seeing the doctor
  • part-time jobs
  • internships
  • employment after you graduate

It can be challenging at first.

But you don’t need to become fluent overnight.

The key is to practice consistently.

And if you are joining one of our preparation programmes, you will be learning German from scratch. Over 500 students have successfully completed their German classes with us and have went on to study at the university of their choice. And we have seen outstanding students who are fluent in German by the end of their preparation programme in every single batch!

You can manage many situations with English, especially in larger cities.

But your life will generally be easier if you can speak German.

And if you want to work in Austria or Germany after graduation, German can significantly expand your opportunities.

Generally, international students outside of Europe will have to pay tuition. It’s about €750 per semester, including the compulsory student union fee.

Therefore, it’s still very competitive price-wise.

Many public universities in Germany are tuition-free. You will only need to pay a semester contribution and your living expenses.

As a student, you will want to set aside about €1000 per month for your living expenses.

Bigger and popular cities are more expensive, and if you choose to study in cities like Vienna, Berlin or Munich, you want to budget at least €1300 to €1500 for your monthly expenses.

If you’re looking to save, smaller university towns are more affordable.

Of course, the overall cost of living depends on your lifestyle as well.

A blocked account is a special account used by many international students going to Germany to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds for their living expenses.

The money is yours, but you cannot withdraw any amount as you wish. Instead, you will receive a monthly portion from your blocked account.

No. Austria has different financial proof requirements.

You need to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds and it can be via your own savings account in your home country, as long as you have access to it.

We strongly recommend that you don’t.

You should have sufficient funds before you go overseas.

A part-time job can help with your expenses and give you useful work experience, but it shouldn’t be your main source of funds.

Austria and Germany offer a wide range of courses across engineering, technology, business, science and many other areas.

While there are no restrictions to the courses you can apply to, we don’t recommend students to study law, accounting or medicine in Austria or Germany. In addition, it’s also challenging to get a place to study music, as it depends on your performance during the audition.

A university of applied science focuses strongly on applying knowledge to real-world situations.

You’ll still be attending lectures, but there are many hands-on opportunities such as projects, lab works, assignments and internships.

Universities are academically and scientifically oriented.

Universities of applied sciences are more practice-oriented and the courses focus more on application than theory.

Therefore, you want to think about what you want to study and the kind of learning environment that suits you better.

Our study advisors will be happy to discuss this further with you.

Rankings can be useful but they are not everything.

Look at:

  • course content
  • teaching style
  • practical experience
  • industry connections
  • location
  • cost
  • career opportunities

The university with the highest ranking isn’t automatically the best choice for you.

It’s also good to know that universities of applied sciences do not participate in rankings like the QS ranking. So although you won’t find them there, they are still good options for many students.

You’ll probably have much more independence than you’re used to in Malaysia or your home country.

Possibly, especially near to exams.

That’s normal.

Moving overseas is a major life change.

The best way to adjust is to get involved, meet people and build a life outside your studies.

German Educare students should feel less lonely as you’ll be travelling to Austria and Germany together, and will be supported by a mentor and the German Educare community.

Yes. There are many international students in Austria and Germany and locals can speak in English.

But learning German makes it easier to connect with people as it is the common language for both locals and international students.

Both Austria and Germany have four seasons.

If this is your first time experiencing them, do be prepared with proper clothing so that you stay comfortable.

Yes, you can find most ingredients in the supermarket, but if not, you can visit the Asian supermarkets in the town you are studying.

On this topic, you may discover that learning to cook becomes one of your most useful overseas skills.

It’s compulsory to have health insurance if you are studying in Austria or Germany.

If you become ill, you have access to healthcare.

Yes. You can work up to 20 hours a week.

But do remember that your focus is to study and that part-time work shouldn’t affect your studies.

Sometimes.

There are English-speaking jobs, especially in international companies and certain universities environments.

But knowing German will significantly increase your options.

It can help, but you shouldn’t depend on it.

Make sure you have enough financial support before going overseas.

Some part-time jobs students can look out for are:

  • Student jobs at their university. Apart from being a librarian, students can be student helpers for their professors, where they will assist their professors with the projects they are working on. At higher semesters, students can also work as tutors.
  • Helping out at restaurants, cafes or hotels.
  • Summer jobs at factories.

We recommend students to first focus on their studies, making friends and adjusting to their university life. From the second year onwards, students can start to work at companies relevant to their studies. Students will earn while getting relevant working experience. In addition, they get to experience the working culture and if they make a good enough impression, it helps them get a job offer after graduating.

Yes, graduates can stay on for up to 12 months to look for a job.

And if your aim is to work in Austria, you will want to know that 99% of students from FH Upper Austria get a job right after graduating.

Yes, graduates can stay on for up to 18 months to look for a job.

Learn more about your opportunities here.

Yes, you can. Your qualification from Austria is recognised by all EU countries, and that includes Germany.

It works the other way round too. If you studied in Germany, you can apply to work in Austria or in another EU country.

If you can get a job there, of course. Your qualification from Austria or Germany is recognised by all EU countries.

That’s completely fine.

You are not bonded to Austria or Germany and are free to work where you want.

Your overseas degree and international experience can be valuable no matter where you choose to work.

No.

You can research universities and apply independently.

We are here for students and families who want structured preparation, guidance and support.

Going straight from school to university overseas is a big step.

A preparation programme can give you time to build your German, understand your university options and prepare for life overseas.

It can be particularly useful if you don’t want to figure everything out on your own.

Depending on the programme, we help with:

  • German language preparation
  • academic preparation
  • understanding admission requirements
  • choosing suitable pathways
  • university applications
  • visa application
  • pre-departure preparation
  • preparing for uni and life overseas

That depends on where you’re starting from and what you want to study.

Your qualification, intended course, preferred country, budget, German level and timeline matters.

Our study advisors will recommend a suitable pathway to you.

That’s completely okay.

Tell us about your qualification, what you want to study, your budget and what you hope to do after graduation.

We’ll help you compare the options.

Still have questions?

Ask us now
error: