How Hard is it to Study Abroad in Germany?

Before I begin, I want to say that I encourage everyone to study abroad. What you learn in those years is incomparable. I can only recommend this once-in-a-lifetime experience to everyone – but it is certainly not a path for the faint of heart.

Recently a German friend of mine was asked on Facebook from the person who she lived with for a few months while attending high school in the US whether it was true that universities in Germany don’t cost anything, most classes are taught in English, and if Americans could go to study abroad in Germany. She replied that it was all true and she knew of an American (me) who was currently studying alongside her.

When I read this, I wanted to post that while this was all true, it’s also true to say that studying in Germany is no easy task. And let’s not forget, my parents are German and I spoke nearly perfect German before I moved from the US to study abroad in Germany. Yet still, it has been one of the more difficult things I have done in my life. So let’s talk about some of the challenges you’re likely to encounter if you study abroad in Germany, or anywhere else.

German is an incredibly difficult language to learn, with a very different grammatical structure than English. But worse still, you cannot write the way you speak in German. There is a very particular rhythm to writing in German, and it is hard to learn that if you did not grow up writing the language. “So what if the language is difficult?” – you might say – “I can speak English, and so can everyone in Germany.” Well, you might be able to get yourself through the day with other people’s English, but it will have a huge social cost, and you may not be able to have the university life you have always wanted. Many Germans (especially German university students) actually really want to practice their English, but it is a weird thought to have: “Is this person only meeting me to improve their English?”