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Study Abroad - Blog

Latest on the blog: Study Abroad, International Students, Study Abroad Because, Go Abroad, Scholarships Abroad, Success Stories, Visa, Blocked Account & Accommodation – stay up to date with news by clicking here.

Parsa Motamedi - Bachelor Student From Iran

Yana Immis

Meet Parsa Motamedi. He lived in Dubai & Barcelona, studied Music at Berklee and moved to Germany after. You can read his study in Germany success story here.

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Chapter 1: Dubai

Place of Birth Tehran, Iran
Nationality Iranian
Where did you live? Dubai (UAE), Barcelona (Spain)
Education Level Prior to Relocation International Baccalaureate (IB)
Reason for moving to Germany Bachelor Program
When did you move? 2017
How old were you? 20
Are you still in Germany? Yes
What is your current occupation? 2nd Year Bachelor Student
What is your future goal? Salesforce Administrator Licence, Start-Up Projects
Would you like to stay in Germany? Yes

I was born in Tehran, Iran. We moved to the United Arab Emirates when I was 4 or 5. My father wanted me and my sister to grow up in a safer environment. He believed we would have a better future there. When we moved to Dubai, the real estate industry was booming, the value was going up and due to the nature of my father's business, we could afford a good life there. Moreover, English was and is widely spoken - I felt very comfortable enunciating myself.

I finished my High School (International Baccalaureate (IB) at Dubai American Academy). I studied French all my life as a third language, but I haven't really learnt. Surprisingly to my family, my teachers and myself, during my 11th and 12th grades I chose Spanish as my 2nd language. A spontaneous decision would help me in the future (now I know that, but back then, I couldn't anticipate).

Computers were always a big part of my life. I taught myself basic HTML and coding. Outside of school, I made websites for people. I remember we had a web HTML class for beginners and I already knew everything – that made me very happy. Since then, I can basically do anything technical. I can learn it and I can do it. I do websites on Wordpress and other platforms, coding, user interface programming, automation.

Otherwise, I wasn't very active during my school time, as I mostly wasted my time. Like many people of my age do.

In High School, I began music production and I chose Hip Hop and Electronic as my dominating genres. I like other music as well. As an example, now I can listen for hours to Avishai Cohen.

When I was in grade 12 and we were choosing universities, I decided to pursue music for my Undergraduate studies. I applied to one and only Musical School - Berklee College of Music in Boston (USA) and to my surprise, I got in!

I could choose Israel, Greece or Spain for the Junior Year. It was without a question of which country I chose. Conveniently, I studied Spanish for 2 years. I hesitated between choosing music or computer science, but I chose Music and Barcelona and it was the time of my life.

Chapter 2: Barcelona

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I would have been studying audio production/audio engineering. I could have had the jobs not in the artistic field, but rather in the technical field. I could have worked at companies that host concerts, radio stations or in the movie industry…

… but the cost of studies was very high (40.000-50.000 $ per year).

I had a conversation with my father. He was always very supportive, but he couldn't shake off his conservative nature, so he was kind of saying: "I let you do what you want to do. But if you do it, I must sell a house, so think about it twice".

I didn't finish my music career.

I looked for alternatives and I found them. I started working to help my father at one of the companies and continued doing music myself. It didn't take long that business caught my attention. Not only have I switched my major from Music to Business Studies, but I also changed my country from Spain to Germany.

It was like an awakening moment: Barcelona is great, I thought, but it's too much fun, it really is. You just want to go out and spend time outside. I mentioned to my father, that I want to study in Germany, and he said: "I like Germany, move to Munich! It is the best place for you."

Chapter 3: Munich

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Initially, when I came to Germany it was horrible. On the surface, I can tell you that it was horrible because I didn't have friends. Every day was like a repetitive cycle, my room in the dorm was small, I kept finding problems and excuses.

A year and six months passed. I can't complain about my life at all any longer. Funny, but these problems don't bother me now. In fact, it only gets better and better every day.

Late last year I found a great group of Iranian friends - and that turned everything around. The majority of my friends are foreigners. I have one German friend; his name is Edward. Yes, I might not have a big budget to get a big apartment or a car yet, but my life is great: my friends, my school.

I started taking advantage of the opportunities presented in the location. I will finish my Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in one year. What will I do after I graduate? I would start a company. I am very interested in Salesforce.

I am working with a startup now setting up Salesforce for them and I'm searching for a Salesforce Administrator course to get myself certified. I will learn this platform first and then my goal is to surpass that, because this is the product to learn. But that's not what I plan to do all my life.

I haven’t forgotten about my passion - music. I am not just passively listening to music: I care for it. It is important for me to treat it according to my history and my memories. I realized that one day I could connect technical, business and musical aspects together, I just need to learn and to find the know-how. I have many ideas on my mind. There is one related to business and one related to music. These are projects that I want to set up myself.


In terms of business, I want to build my own Salesforce platform. Prospective customers would license the product for their CRM.

In terms of music, I want to build a program, which selects songs for you automatically by gathering data from your personal indicators.


The business idea is simple: there are certain tunes and rhythmic patterns that you want to hear according to your mood. If we talk about Spotify or platforms alike, you have to select the mood and you have your own bias that comes out.

Remove that and make it fully transparent! Imagine, there would be a program that knows exactly what you are willing to hear. So instead of playing the song with physical action, the stream starts itself and since it is connected to you it would know what you want to hear.

This is what makes my heart beat at the moment and I will be working hard to bring this project to life.

READ OTHER SUCCESS STORIES

Nitya Venkatesan - 8081 Km To Hamburg

Yana Immis

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Ms. Nitya Venkatesan will start her Master of Science in International Logistics & Supply Chain Management program at ISM Hochschule in Hamburg in November 2020

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I wish her the best of luck with her studies and ask her a few questions before her relocation from India to Germany!

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1. Why did you choose ISM Hochschule?

When you suggested me, I did my research & was happy to apply to one of the well networked universities of Germany.

2. Why did you choose Supply Chain & Logistics Major?

When I make an investment, I want it to be qualitative & quantitative. Accordingly, the program was suitable for my growth in the academic & professional front.

3. Why did you choose Germany out of so many options to study abroad?

The country is equipped with systematic infrastructure & scenic beauty all together.

4. What you plan to bring with you from India to Germany?

Very obediently, all my learning & experiences that I want to share.

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How To Study In Germany: 6 Short Steps From Idea To Admission

Yana Immis

This step-by-step guide to studying abroad will save you from the confusion 🤷‍♂️ and the overwhelming amount of information available on the internet. 🤩

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With its trendy cities and low tuition fees, it’s not hard to see why Germany remains at the top of the non-native English-speaking countries for international students.

If you want to study abroad and chose Germany as your destination, you are in the right place.

This step-by-step guide to studying in Germany will save you from the confusion and the overwhelming amount of information available on the internet. Simply follow these steps to secure yourself a timely admission to a university and prepare for your stress-free relocation.

Step 1: Budget Evaluation

When you are considering studying abroad, the first and the most important is to calculate your budget and the possibility of obtaining a scholarship or a loan.

The majority of universities in Germany do not provide accommodation, hence you need to calculate accommodation & blocked account costs separately from the budget you allocate to studies.

If you are aiming for low tuition or free of tuition fees courses at state universities, please refer to the Uni Assist website and proceed with your application accordingly. All the necessary information may be found there.

Step 2: Program Choice

This step is dedicated to deciding which course you are interested in, according to your budget, language knowledge and preferences. It is highly recommended to start this process not less than 3 months before decision making. According to the budget, you can aim for different programs:

1000 € - 3000 € annual budget

This is a sufficient budget for short- and mid-term German language lessons in Germany.

The majority of the University programs in Germany are in the German language, hence if you know the language, you can secure yourself admission in free programs after completion of the course.


3000 € - 6000 € annual budget

This is a sufficient budget for long-term German language lessons as well as Studienkolleg – 1-year preparatory course in the German language. There are no Studienkolleg in the English language.

Successful Feststellungsprüfung (exam after 1 year of Studienkolleg) guarantees your admission to a free university.


6000 € - 9000 € annual budget

This is a minimum budget for the Private University Foundation, Bachelor (B.A. / B.Sc.) and Master (M.A. / M.Sc) programs in the English or the German languages.


9000 € - 12000 € annual budget

This is a good budget for Private University or Business School Foundation, Bachelor (BBA / B.A. / B.Sc.) Master (M.A. / M.Sc) programs in the English or German languages.

It is also a minimum budget for MBA programs in the English language.


12000 € and above

This is a good budget for High-Ranked Private University or Business School Foundation, Bachelor (BBA / B.A. / B.Sc.) Master (M.A. / M.Sc) programs in the English or German languages.

It is also a good annual budget for the MBA programs in the English language.

Step 3: Documents Preparation

According to your budget and the selected direction, you need to evaluate the level of your education and language knowledge.

Recognition

To study in Germany you need to have a recognized Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (HZB) - a confirmation that your degree is accredited. You can see if you qualify for studies in Germany with your diplomas on Anabin (KMK) website. If you are allowed to take up higher education studies at a state-recognized university in your country, the possibility that your foreign diploma is recognized as an equivalent to German is high. However, you need to confirm it here.

If your school leaving certificate allows you to study in your home country, you should be able to secure a place to study in Germany as well. Make sure to check if your secondary school leaving certificate (High School Diploma, Matura, A-Levels, IB, American Diploma with or without SAT, Bachilerato, etc) is equivalent to the German Abitur. A-Level and IB have strict subject requirements. Contact me to find out more.

In the case when a diploma from your home country is not equivalent to a German diploma you will also learn on that website if you need to take further examinations to be granted access to German Higher Education (Studienkolleg).

How To Study In Germany: 6 Short Steps From Idea To Admission

In Studienkolleg, you will learn the German language as well as selected a list of subjects that are relevant for the chosen major. Students with qualifications from outside Europe may need to take Feststellungsprüfung entrance examination after attending a preparatory Studienkolleg. Exceptions apply. Contact me to see if you qualify for an exception.

If you already have a Bachelor Degree, you can apply for a Master program in Germany. With relevant work experience, you can also consider MBA programs.

If you have already completed a few semesters or years at an accredited university, your credits can be taken into consideration and you can apply as a transfer student.

Language

You’ll also need to check the language requirements. Would you like to study in English, German or both languages? How well can you speak, read and write?

One of the main prerequisites of the German visa is German language knowledge (A1 to C1 according to the situation). Should the university teach in English, you are required to submit confirmation of the English knowledge.

There is a myriad of language schools & preparatory courses in Germany, where you can take German language lessons from scratch (as an example online), learn the language while you are preparing for a visa. This way, when you arrive, you will have a minimum command of the German language.

Step 4: Research

Start researching at least 3 months before deciding. Mind the deadlines of the universities & make sure to read about the school & university system in Germany before you proceed.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has a database of almost 2000 programs available to search from, including 1,389 programs in English. There are a lot of mixed programs available as well (English and German).

Types of Programs by Visa Type:

  • German Language Courses:

    • Short-term (below 90 days with Schengen Visa)

      • You are not required to open the Blocked Account with this visa type

      • You need to go back to your country once you finish the course

      • You are not allowed to work with this visa

      • You cannot apply to universities or extend visa in Germany

    • Long-term (above 90 days with National Visa)

      • You must sign up with Studienkolleg / Master enrollment program

      • Language visa is not a stand-alone visa. You need to have an additional course or university admission plan in mind

      • You are required to open the Blocked Account with this visa type

      • You can stay in Germany to apply to universities with this visa (up to 2 years from the entry to Germany)

      • You are not allowed to work with this visa (exception: Christmas & Easter holidays only)


  • Preparatory Courses (Studienkolleg)

    • Long-term (above 90 days with National Visa)

      • You are required to open the Blocked Account with this visa type

      • You can stay in Germany to apply to universities with this visa (up to 2 years from the entry to Germany)

      • You are not allowed to work with this visa (exception: Christmas & Easter holidays only)


  • University Courses (Foundation, Bachelor, Bachelor, Master, MBA)

    • Long-term (above 90 days with National Visa Type D)

      • You are required to open the Blocked Account with this visa type

      • You can stay in Germany after graduation to search for a job (18 months)

      • You are allowed to work with this visa (20 hours / week – 240 days / year; 40 hours / week – 120 days / year)

      • Majority of Business Programs include an Internship (work semester) at a company

How To Study In Germany: 6 Short Steps From Idea To Admission 2

According to what plays the biggest role in your university selection, you need to research more on the topics of:

  1. Location

  2. Accreditation

  3. Ranking

  4. Major Choice

  5. Minimum Entry Requirements (GPA)

Step 5: University Choice and Application

Finding a university in Germany according to your major will not be a problem, because of the available opportunities. The amount of choices and quality is very high, the question rather is if you have a preferred city in mind.

I recommend to apply to several universities (up to 5) instead of counting on just one, this broadens your choices, escalates your success chances and you would not waste time if one university does not provide a positive answer. Finding a university and a study program may take time if you haven’t given much thought to this, please let me know if you need assistance in your search.

Consider university intakes and deadlines before making your application and make sure to have all documents in order. Strictly follow the admission process of an individual university or ask me for assistance.

Application Documents Overview:

Now that you have decided what university and what study program you want to attend you must collect your documents and organize them.

In Germany, you need to submit relevant to future studies education level proof. It means if you have a Bachelor and Master degrees already, but you are applying for a Master in Germany, you need to submit your Bachelor Degree.

Education proof

  • 11th or 12th grade result for Studienkolleg / Bachelor

  • Bachelor result for Master

  • Diplomas are generally not accepted

  • HND or community college is difficult to have recognized in Germany and to have them accepted towards bachelor studies etc

  • If you already have Master or MBA degree - make sure to have it ready for application as well

How To Study In Germany: 6 Short Steps From Idea To Admission 3

Language proof

  • English

    • IELTS

    • TOEFL

    • PTE

    • Waiver*

  • German

    • DSH

    • Test Daf

    • Goethe Zertifikat

    • TELC

    • Alternative

Additional Documents

Passport, motivation statement (very important)**, Application Form with Application Fee**, Financial Solvency***, CV (if relevant), work experience proof (if relevant).

Important Facts

  1. If all of your documents are in German it is a safe bet. Some universities also accept documents in English.

  2. Once you have gathered all the necessary documents for admission, go ahead and apply directly unless the requirements state to go through the Uni Assist.

* Generally studying in English medium previously is not enough unless university is British/American or alike. If English was used actively at work (and you have sufficient work experience to prove it - it might also work.

**To be prepared after university selection has been done.

**Some universities will ask you for proof you have sufficient funds to cover 1-year tuition fees. The blocked account might not be enough - be ready to submit additional proof.

Still unsure which blocked account option to choose? Choose Coracle! (The best option for international students in 2020-2024)

Some universities provide application fee & English test waiver as well as scholarship options. Contact me to find out more.

Step 6: Admission & Visa

Admission to private universities and language schools can take 1-3 weeks. Whereas state universities and Studienkolleg on average take 1-3 months to get back to the applicant with the admission decision.

Conditional (Provisional) Offer Letter

Once you have secured admission at a university or language school where fees apply, the school will send you a provisional (conditional offer letter).

-> You have 1 or 2 weeks’ time to consider other options and to finalize your decision.

  • This is the right time to

    • Apply for a Blocked Account opening

    • Schedule your visa appointment date

Provisional Acceptance letters cannot be used to apply for a visa, but can already be used to open your Blocked Account and to transfer the sum. It is highly recommended to start the Blocked Account procedure from the moment you have received the offer.

To avoid missing out on the visa appointment time & date, schedule it right away. It is easier to cancel it, should you not make it.

On average, the university gives you 10 days to pay a security deposit to save your seat in the program. To finalize your decision, the enrollment fees to secure place in the program are to be paid (from 1000 to 4000 Euro according to university choice).

Once the fees have been paid, you receive visa documents per post or per email.

How To Study In Germany: 6 Short Steps From Idea To Admission 4

Visa Application

Due to queues in the German embassies, make sure to make a timely application at the Consulate or the Embassy nearest to you. If you are living in a different from your home country, you can also apply for a German visa in the German embassy there.

Things to keep in mind:

  • Make sure to collect all the required documents in one file and to arrive on time for your visa appointment

  • Insurance & Accommodation confirmations are not required for visa application. Generally, applicants are asked to submit international insurance covering you for 90 days abroad when picking up the passport from the embassy (apply here for the best German Insurance)

    • I highly recommend you to start searching for accommodation 90 days prior to arrival in Germany.

  • If you have a large gap between previous studies and future studies in Germany, it is not a problem for the German embassy, as long as you can clarify it in your motivational statement and CV (Curriculum Vitae) – tell more about your work experiences and occupations

  • General National Visa Rule waiting times are 19 working days (1 month), but due to high queues in some countries, a decision may last up to 3 months.

    • In difficult cases (previous visa refusals to Germany or other countries), the decision may be up to 6 months.

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