Are you considering moving to Germany? Here is all you need to know about the country to make your decision.
First things first, let’s talk about the country’s geographic location. Germany, officially known as the Federal Republic of Germany is a western European country sharing its border with 9 other countries namely: Belgium, France, Switzerland, Denmark, Poland, Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, and the Czech Republic.
It’s the 7th largest country in Europe with an area of 357,022 km² (1) with 16 states. Along with beautiful places to visit and keep up with, Germany is full of rich history and culture.
The weather in Germany has five seasons including, spring, summer, fall, winter, and Fasching. With it being a year-round destination with warm summers and relatively cold winters, an individual gets to experience various kinds of seasons in the country. Rain is like the country’s best friend.
The official language of the country is German and is spoken by 95% of the population. Other languages spoken in Germany by minorities are Sorbian and North Frisian. The common modes of transportation in Germany are Buses, Regional trains, Subway, and trams. The commute expenses are quite affordable and an individual has the facility to get monthly transportation cards made for around €80-€90.
Not to overlook, the safety and comfort all the transport modes provide.
In conclusion, the country is full of good food, vibes, and people.
Why should you choose Germany?
After reading about the life people have in Germany, you would have probably made your decision. If not, here are 10 crazy and mind blowing facts you cannot miss to know about the country to get rid of all second thoughts.
- Public universities in Germany are free for german and international students.
- It’s not quite necessary to learn German to move to the country. There are so many courses and jobs available in the English language.
- The country is famous for cars and that’s the reason it’s one of the largest car producers in the world with 246464 units by the end of this quarter. (October, 2022) (3)
- Being the largest EU economy, Germany lies in fourth place in the world after the US, China, and Japan with 3.73 trillion USD. (2)
- 5. The Christmas tree tradition which is now followed worldwide initiated in Germany. There are seasonal christamas markets known as Weihnachtsmarkt organized around Christmas. There are numerous stalls selling handmade products and art.
- According to the latest official statistics, Germany is ranked as the top country to pursue education with over 3,57,000 foreign students already there.
- A german degree is quite precious and highly respected around the world. If you wish to work in any corner of the world, you would have an edge over others with a qualification degree from Germany.
- In comparison to other European countries like Paris or Luxembourg, Germany is quite affordable when it comes to living costs for foreign students to settle and manage their own expenses.
- Germany is most famous for beer, football, bread & sausages, and cars.
- With 94,000 titles being published each year, Germany is one of the world’s leading book nations. And evidently provides the best education facilities.
Why is Germany the best for you to study?
Being already said, the public universities in Germany offer free education in Europe with 0 tuition fee. In addition to that, the country has top-listed universities having the best faculty and learning opportunities.
Regarding the country, Germany is the safest place for an international student to stay alone and study. It is also the most stable country in terms of economy and politics. It’s always good to think of a secure future and options after studies.
Universities in Germany are most welcoming and full of diverse cultures giving the students a sigh of relief. Free from all the discrimination and bullying, there is a wide range of courses available in whatever field you wish to pursue.
You also get an option to get financial aid in the form of scholarships from both public and private universities. Furthermore, you can work while you study making some extra Eurosbucks for your expenses.
With your student visa, you get permission to travel visa-free around the whole Schengen area and apply for German PR that lasts until well after you graduate.
Wouldn’t you want to leverage the advantage of all these benefits from a country you move to?
Why should Germany be the place you call “Home”?
We understand, moving to a different country with your entire family is a huge decision to make, but Germany is for sure worth it. Here’s why we believe so:
A 2020 case study by Asher & Lyric (4) states that Germany is the seventh-best country in the entire world to raise a family. The result was based on six vital factors, Safety, Happiness, Cost, Health, Education, and Time.
One of the major highlights of moving to Germany includes the parenting style. It encourages children to be self-reliant throughout their childhood to make them independent early in their adult years. Children’s individuality and aspirations are heard and respected, treating them as an equal individuals in a family.
One of the major concerns parents have while moving out is whether their kids will adjust and be happy in the new place. Quite fortunately, there are several fun things and family attractions to keep the kids engaged and content. (5)
Germany has several popular theme parks which offer a variety of rides, attractions, and shows to spend a good weekend time with your entire family. In addition, it is a place of history and culture and has a huge array of museums, many of which are specifically designed for kids. For example, Haribo Factory Outlet, The Chocolate Museu, and Cologne in Hamburg are the top favorite ones.
Other than parks and museums, a great spot for spending time with family in Germany is the fairy tale castles. The most famous and visited is, Neuschwanstein Castle is inspired by Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty castle.
Apart from all these places, Germany as a whole offers various international family gatherings and communities to make people feel at home.
Therefore, without any second thought, you should start thinking about the next step for your family.
The journey of Education to availing Job Opportunities in Germany
The German Education system is another eye candy to move to Germany. It consists of numerous local as well as private and international schools to provide education. Local schools in Germany offer free education where a lot of german and non-german children study.
You are free to choose an institute based on your financial stability for your children, but Germany ensures to offer you a number of options.
If you are settled in the country for a long time, you would already have a PR of Germany which allows you to find a job without any specific visa. But if you moved to Germany for your master’s and wish to apply for a job, you will have to get your student visa updated to a work visa.
Moving forward, Germany provides a pool of work opportunities to foreigners in almost all sectors of jobs. You must ensure to at least learn conversational level German for your interviews with natives.
Germany’s work ethics are talked about worldwide. It is adopted by many famous industries giving the nation an edge when it comes to company success. One of the strongest components of german work culture is the hierarchical setup.
Businesses in Germany follow a well-defined and respected hierarchy with clearly segregated roles and responsibilities to ensure results are efficient. The importance of work-life balance and high salaries is also paid attention to.
Not to overlook the government support facilities that are available once you lose your job and are unemployed, the government provides 60% of monthly support according to your last salary.
If you are a working student or graduate or looking out for an internship, there are specific websites designed which can help you land awesome opportunities.
Absolventa (6) and JobTeaser (7) are two websites for your reference. There are opportunities available for English speakers as well. With all your legal documents sorted, you can easily settle for a good job in Germany.
Talking about legalities, once you secure a job in Germany, it’s quite obvious you will be eligible for filing taxes according to the German tax system.
Additional benefits of staying in Germany
- Healthcare in Germany is based on four basic principles:
> Compulsory Insurance
> Funding through insurance premiums
> Principle of solidarity
> Principle of self-governance
This system ensures a smooth procedure of keeping your health intact and provides instant benefits when in need.
- Grand celebrations in Germany
Germany is a place known for organizing huge festivals and events worldwide. A very recent event that took place in Germany was the October fest, called “Oktoberfest”, which was a big Beer fest. It is a 2-week-long celebration of Bavarian culture, and people from around the world travel to attend this event.
- Security and Peace
The country is ranked for its stability in terms of standard of living and politics which makes Germany the safest place to stay in. With numerous communities and festivals celebrated, the people are well-mingling and welcoming making you feel closer to home.
To sum up, your life in Germany would be a definite shot from education, to a good living style, to earning and finally settling. If you are one step away from your final decision, we hope this article cleared all your doubts and you’re all set to book your flight tickets and experience life in Germany.
