Studying technical courses in Freiburg

University of Siegen

7.0(3 Reviews)

Reason for choosing my college

• I worked in an automobile-based company and wished to improve my horizons in the embedded systems sector. The University of Freiburg is one of the top 10 universities in Germany, and since I got the intended course, I selected it.

Technical University Munich

6.8(13 Reviews)

Technical University Dresden

7.1(23 Reviews)

Reason for Rejection

• The exact reason for what went wrong was not told properly. I had a 1.35 CGPA in my bachelor's; thus, I feel that CGPA should not have been an issue. Mostly it was because the number of credits to be completed in my bachelor's was not sufficient.

• Write a strong SOP highlighting all the notable works that led to you taking up this course. It can start in a story format that reflects how you got an interest in this domain. Also, highlight all key skills and experiences that align with the course.
• Try to include content that shows that you have researched the college. It can be regarding any course that interests you the most or regarding the work of any specific professor that you might want to contribute to.
• For LOR, it would be good to get 2 from professors at the college where you did your bachelor's. In case you worked, 1 LOR can be obtained from any senior in your office who is closely related to your work.

• I chose Germany, as it is well known for its automobile sectors and would provide education at a lower cost than other countries like the USA or the UK. The University of Freiburg was one of the top 10 colleges in Germany and has a good reputation for its Embedded Systems course. The 4 main master's programmes in the Technical Faculty of the University of Freiburg are Computer Science, Embedded Systems, Microsystems and Sustainable Systems. It is located in Freiburg, which is in the south of Germany. It is very close to the borders of France and Switzerland.
• Based on the course taken, there are career opportunities in Circuits and Systems, Artificial intelligence, Cyber Security Systems, Biomedical, Materials and Fabrication domains. Sectors like electronics manufacturing, automobiles, Artificial intelligence, healthcare, and renewables are more relevant for this course. Experience with academics is good.
• Professors are highly qualified and work on real-time projects where we have opportunities to contribute. There is flexibility to choose our subjects and pace. There is scope for extracurricular activities and they also provide opportunities for free German courses for international students. Student life can be hectic in terms of accommodation and adaptation, but making contacts and senior interaction makes it easier. Also, the university provides a guide to help us with any academic issues.

• Number of classes depends on the number of classes an individual takes. Everything is flexible. Each class duration is 1.5 hours. Classes can start at 8 AM and end at 6 PM. The whole duration may not contain classes. It depends on what class a student has taken.
• Class strength depends on the niche of the subject. Common subjects can have around 60 students, while specific subjects can just have around 10 students. Around 40 students are Indians in my batch. On a daily basis, 2-3 hours are spent on assignments and self-study.

• Appointments are required to meet the faculty but they are friendly to approach and talk to. The best faculty are Prof. Woais, Prof. Moritz Diehl and Prof. Bastian Rapp. They are experts in their domains, teach really sincerely and work on many real-time important projects.
• If we join as a research assistant under them, there is lots to learn. If we have certain skills that can complement a project or help in solving any issues in a project, we can directly approach the professor. If we are a suitable candidate, we can work as a research assistant part-time.

• There is a team called Fachschaft that conducts extracurricular activities. There are events with music and food. Also, there are many technical events held to make students aware of the current market, trends and projects.
• There are two groups, ICM and APIS, that engage international students with different free events like hikes, knowing different cities and other fun events. APIS also provides free German courses.

• As a student, we can work only for 100 hours per month. Indian students prefer working in companies like Fraunhofer, Hahnschikard, Bosch, Tesla, etc., around Freiburg. They also opt for university jobs like in IMTEK, INATECH, etc., to gain better practical experience with better thesis opportunities. On average, 16.5 euros. The process to apply is to visit company websites, check their postings and apply in case any topic matches your interest. A CV and cover letter are necessarily needed to apply.
• For jobs in universities, the professor or PhD students can be mailed regarding their interest along with a CV and Cover letter. There is also a "Master lab" opening where each chair posts their available positions every semester that students can apply to. Jobs are difficult to get, especially in the current job market. Persistently applying with good cover letters will help.

• There are student assistant/HiWi jobs available but a lot of CVs and Cover letters need to be submitted to finally get a call for interviews. According to current rules, we can work for 100 hours per month. Along with studies, it is practical to work only for 40-60 hours.
• A part-time job at a university can be found by approaching professors or PhD students with a CV and cover letter stating how you can contribute to their project. At university, HiWi pays around 14.8 Euros per hour. Other companies like Fraunhofer, Hahnschikard, Bosch, etc., can be approached. An average of 16.5 euros per hour can be expected here.

• 90% land up in jobs after Masters after 6 months of Master completion. The average starting salary is around 4500 euros per month. Students find jobs via job postings on company websites and information from technical events. Technical events give us information regarding the current projects and give us contacts of people from companies who we can approach for jobs.
• Also, there are bulletin boards in the university where jobs are posted. Seniors also help in getting jobs and giving out referrals.

• Apply to SWFR housing, which provides student dorms, first. In case this does not work out, we need to check postings on online platforms like WG Gesucht and apply for them. There are a few dormitories that can be applied to individually.
• An accommodation crisis exists and in case we don't get proper accommodation, people have to resort to costly private housing or cheaper housing on the outskirts of the city. Each dorm is given for 6 months to 1 year, after which extension is based on luck. So house finding can be a bit stressful, especially around exams. Suggestions. Be active and send emails to all possible dorms. Check genuine WhatsApp or Instagram groups that provide sublets until a permanent accommodation is obtained.