Study and life at University of Freiburg

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

8.3(1 Reviews)

University of Stuttgart

7.9(28 Reviews)

Reason for choosing my college

• The University of Freiburg is a well-known, top university in Germany with high academic standards. The university provides excellent research facilities and opportunities to work in state-of-the-art labs.
• The university also has a diverse international student community, making it easier for international students. Freiburg is a student-friendly city with a pleasant climate in black forest region.

Ulm University

8.0(1 Reviews)

Technical University Munich

6.8(13 Reviews)

Reason for Rejection

• The minimum credit requirements for mathematics in bachelor's have not been reached. The specific requirements for individual subjects were not mentioned as the requirements during application but since the number of applications was high, they chose this as a secondary criterion for admission.

• A CV should be concise to highlight your academic and technical background. Clearly state how the master's program will support you in your plans. Share some ideas about projects that you would like to word during Masters program.

• Germany has become one of the top choices for international students. Reasons for choosing Germany (University of Freiburg):
  • Research infrastructure and world class education
  • Low tuition fees
  • Strong industry connections and innovation driven economy
  • Wide availability of English taught master's programmes
• Opportunities to stay and work after graduation (18-month study visa). The university of Freiburg is one of Germany's oldest and most prestigious universities, ranked consistently among the top research institutions in Europe.
• The location is very pleasant in the middle of black forest region close to France and Switzerland. Freiburg also has many companies related to solar energy, sensors, semiconductors, and 5 institutes of Fraunhofer. The overall experience at the university has been very good and friendly, with a lot to learn and explore.

• There are usually around 10 classes per week but it generally depends on how many subjects we take. The classes can be anywhere between 8:00 and 18:00 .
• The average strength of the class is around 35 students. 30% of the student strength are Indians. We generally need 2 - 4 hrs on a daily basis for assignments and self-study.

• The faculty-to-student ratio is around 1:10. The best faculties were during my 1st semester, who offers us a microsystem technology course; their way of teaching and structure really impressed me. Yes, the faculty are very helpful in supporting part-time work and references. Since there are constantly research projects ongoing.

• The college has around 2 campuses for the engineering department. One common library and one library for the department are available. There are a wide variety of sports and clubs, such as soft robotics and Tech expo.
• Extracurricular activities like dance, badminton, football and many other things are available.

• Indian students mostly prefer to work as RAs or TAs.  A little effort is required to be put into searching for these jobs, where you need to be very active to search online and apply for them. Average pay is around 13-16 euros/hr.
• Students can work for 120 full days or 240 half days according to visa rules of Germany.

• There are many research assistant and teaching assistant job opportunities available on campus. Generally around 10-20% of the students get into this opportunity. The typical pay is called mini job pay, which is around 500 euros per month.
• Hourly wages typically range from 13 to 16 euros/hr. Maximum number of hours allowed per week is 20 hrs.

• There is a wide range of job opportunities in and around the area. Typically 40-45% of students secure jobs within 6 months. Most of the students find jobs through online applications.
• The average starting salary would be around 50,000 euros per year for master's graduates. The highest and lowest salaries are approx. 65,000 - 42,000 euros per year

• Online platforms : I primarily used websites like WG-Gesucht.de, Studierendenwerk Freiburg (official student service), and Immobilienscout24. I have joined several Facebook groups like "WG Zimmer in Freiburg" and "Freiburg Housing/Accommodation", where people post available rooms. I also checked local WhatsApp groups and notice groups around the university and student cafes, which sometimes have postings for available rooms or roommates.
• Challenges Faced : There is a huge demand for housing, especially before the semester starts. Places get taken really quickly, and landlords often get 30-40 applications per room. Many listings are in German, and some landlords prefer German-speaking tenants. The Studierendenwerk housing is affordable but limited, so I ended up on a waiting list.
• Recommendations: Begin house search at least 2-3 months before the semester commences Early enrollment with Studierendenwerk Freiburg as their dorms are cheaper Create strong and polite profile in WG-Gesucht.de mentioning your lifestyle and hobbies Beware of scams Try considering Temporary options.