How important is it to seriously learn German before moving there for a degree in order to find a job afterward?
It is highly important, since over 80 percent of German job openings require fluent German and fields like engineering and finance demand B2 to C1 levels. You can study an English taught degree without it, but your post study visa window is not long enough to learn from scratch afterward.
You should treat German as seriously as your coursework if your real goal is a job after graduation. You can survive and even finish an English taught degree without it, but the local labour market runs overwhelmingly in German, and your post study visa window is not long enough to learn from scratch afterward.
How Much German Your Field Actually Needs
| Sector | Minimum Level |
|---|---|
| Tech, IT, software | B1 to B2 |
| Engineering | B2 to C1 |
| Finance, consulting, marketing | C1 |
| Healthcare, biotech, pharma | C1 plus technical vocabulary |
Avoid the Common University Trap
- Do not assume you will pick up German by osmosis while living there
- Enroll in your university's free or subsidised German courses in week one
- Take a Werkstudent job specifically to practice workplace German
My Advice
Get to at least A2 or B1 before your first semester begins, and set yourself a target of C1 by the time you submit your thesis. Booking a TestDaF or Goethe exam date early in your programme will keep you accountable instead of letting language study slide during academic pressure.
Looking for a specific course in Germany?
We will find the universities that offer it, and whether you will get in.
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