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.
Will you actually get a job after your German master's?
Talk to a counsellor about real outcomes, salaries and which courses employers hire from.
More Post-study work questions
- Is Germany the best first priority country for my course and career scope for a Master's?
- What are the career prospects in Singapore after completing an MPH at NUS as an Indian student?
- Which Master's programs in Europe would be most suitable for someone with a B.Com (69%) and MBA (70%), given my interest in management-focused roles and lack of extensive work experience?
- Which master's course suits a Supply Chain Management graduate planning to study in Canada?
- Which is more suitable for my son's master's education: Dubai or the USA, considering cost, location, program variety, post-study work options, and pathways to permanent residency?
- Which country is more suitable for a Computer Science master's student who prioritizes lower costs and a strong job market, Germany or Ireland?
- After completing my studies, can I stay back in Ireland and apply for permanent residency for a Master's/Bachelor's?
- Can an Indian student get a job in Germany after a master's without prior work experience, especially with good German skills?
More Germany questions
- Other than Canada and Netherlands, are there better countries to study science and technology in Germany/Singapore?
- What are some effective online German language classes for Indian students preparing to study in Germany?
- Why is the dMAT subject module called Battery Science and Technology in Engineering?
- Is it better to spend 12 lakhs in India or go abroad for higher studies in Germany for a Master's?
- Can I target Germany, Italy, or the Netherlands for a master's in computer science without a computer science background?
- Is it possible to get a fully funded scholarship if he scores seven or above (seventy percent) in the third year in Germany?
- Does my 12th grade percentage affect my master's application in Germany/France for a Bachelor's?
- Would you suggest me to give IELTS first before starting the application process in Germany/Italy for a Master's?