<p>I'm set to start applying to colleges this Summer, and I've been hearing a lot about how great colleges are in Germany? It's something that hugely interests me, mostly/especially Berlin. I currently live in Massachusetts, and as I understand it German universities are of good quality and essentially free, and English speaking is widespread. </p>
<p>I am hoping to pursue an economics/political science/english, maybe major. </p>
<p>If anyone could give me any advice in this respect I would be hugely appreciative.</p>
<p>You are right. Almost no public university charges tuition and if they do, its usually very inexpensive. The only thing you have to pay for is your living expenses and for a place to live. There are college dorms for most universities, but they are a lot different to the ones in America. </p>
<p>Even though English is widespread in Germany, most of the courses are taught in German. Of course, there are exceptions. The main difference between universities here and in the States is that you are responsible for a lot more things than in America. Most exchange students who come over here, have problems at first because they are on their own and nobody is taking them by their hand to lead them. You are expected to be very well organized and self-relient to find yourself a place to live, matriculate, organize your schedule etc. There will definitely be a contact persons but its a lot more self-dependent lifestyle, when having to adjust to a new environment. Finding friends will be easy though, because we have orientation week and stuff like that as well. Just be prepared to actively go out and get the information you need. Be initiative taking and don’t wait for other people to come to you.</p>
<p>Oh another thing, in Germany you pick your major from day ONE. So you have to have a clear understanding what you want to study. I would carefully look into what you want to study. For example, studying Englisch here as an American might not be challenging at all and not on the same level as American coursework. </p>
<p>So my best advice is to look into it and don’t get discouraged. There are definitely great opportunities out there.</p>
<p>My response may be very late; however, if you’re interested in studying in Germany, bachelors’ programs are usually taught in English while the masters’ programs can be offered in English. I’m not sure about the universities in Berlin, but where I live in Heidelberg, the University of Heidelberg’s bachelors’ programs are only taught in German, and for international students, one requirement for entry is to take the Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH) exam, a German proficiency test. The catch is, in order to take this exam, applicants are required to have “at least 1000-1200 hours of German language instruction at a recognised institution”. That’s probably one problem unless you took/taking German at your high school and you can prove through your transcript that you learned German through your school.</p>
<p>Now I don’t know if all German universities are like Heidelberg’s (no need to exaggerate but the University of Heidelberg is probably one of Germany’s finest universities) regarding an international student’s German language proficiency and the required exam they must take; I’ve heard stories where many people come to Germany speaking “broken” German or barely any and they still got accepted. </p>
<p>Listen to Beetoo22’s advice concerning your choice on a major as well as doing your research on where in Germany you want to study. You brought up Berlin and Berlin has a couple of good universities (Humboldt and Freie). Also, with German universities, tuition is cheap if not free (Heidelberg’s tuition is free as of 2012). Thinking of the costs, you would have to worry about boarding, books, etc. I would advise learning the language even if you find a university not requiring a DSH exam or the like. Germans, mostly the younger generation, know English since they learn the language since elementary, no lie, so I wouldn’t think you would have a difficult time communication-wise. </p>
<p>Just like Beetoo22 said, “there are great opportunities out there”; don’t just consider the U.S. your only option.</p>