The Sweetness After Challenges: Judy’s Study-in-Germany Journal
Studying in Germany — these four words have lit a spark in many international students’ hearts, often mixed with jitters about the unknown. Today, let’s talk about Judy’s story. A mechanical-engineering graduate from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Taiwan, she gathered her courage and flew to pursue a Master’s in Computational Mechanics at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). It wasn’t just a plane ticket to Germany; it was a one-way pass to self-discovery. For those hesitating at the edge or simply curious about student life in Germany, her story may offer a bit of light and direction.
Why Choose Germany? From a High-School Dream to Cross-Border Action
Judy’s German dream began as her family’s gentle wish that she and her sister see more of the world. But to be honest, she was nervous at first. The idea of living alone for a long time in a faraway country—on top of not feeling fully confident in her English—created a sense of insecurity that many prospective international students will recognize.
Back in Taiwan, her university was less than two hours from home, and she could recharge every weekend. The thought of being away for so long felt like a big challenge! Later, seeing classmates who, despite less-than-perfect English, still went abroad on exchange and adapted well, a small seed inside her was watered: “Hmm… maybe I could try too?” That one thought nudged her step by step toward Germany.
Reflections from a Short Master’s Stint in Taiwan—and a New Drive to Learn
After graduating in mechanical engineering from NYCU, Judy briefly started a Master’s program at the same university. Still, her family hoped she would see the world, and after weighing her options, she hit pause on the Taiwan Master’s route and aimed straight for graduate school in Germany.
That short Taiwan Master’s phase became a breathing space for rethinking what kind of learning environment and style she truly wanted. She ultimately chose computational mechanics—a field rooted in mechanical engineering but neatly blending mechanics with programming. It scratched her itch for data analysis and coding and sparked a new fire for learning.
Weighing Finances and Career: Is Studying in Germany Worth It?
Why Germany? The reasons were practical. First — money. Studying in Germany is relatively affordable compared with many other destinations, easing the family’s financial burden. Second, as an engineering student, Germany’s industrial strength is legendary.
As a global industrial powerhouse — especially in mechanical and automotive engineering — Germany is a leader. For someone with her background, Germany offers a top-tier academic environment and broad career possibilities. Friendly costs plus a strong fit with her field made Germany feel like the right choice: “Yes—this is it!”
Facing Language and Culture Fears—How Did She Cope?
Judy’s story reflects what many international students feel: TUM offers many Master’s courses taught in English, which lowers the academic barrier. Some classmates even started with zero German and still succeeded, making Germany feel within reach. But the ease of academic English also highlights challenges in daily life — from everyday communication to cultural adaptation. The real test of resilience starts when you move from unfamiliar to familiar.
As she wrestled with bureaucratic steps and daily snags, she cultivated a habit of “jump in and learn as you swim.” Seeing others manage helped her think, “If they can do it, maybe I can too.” Adaptation often comes from solving one small life problem at a time.
Munich
The clock tower of the main building of the Technical University of Munich is illuminated by the afterglow of the setting sun, with blue and purple light shining through the window panes. The city skyline and chimney silhouettes in the distance are set against the sky.
How Do You Apply to Grad School in Germany? From Confusion to Targeting TUM
Applying to German universities is a story of its own. The process differs from Taiwan’s, and first-timers will have lots of question marks. During preparation, Judy also went through a phase of uncertainty and self-doubt.
She admits that before finding TaiGer, she didn’t have a clear sense of her competitiveness. She didn’t even dare put TUM—everyone’s dream school—on her list at first, worrying her undergrad grades weren’t good enough. Many readers may nod along. That confusion finally nudged her to seek help from TaiGer.
Anxiety and Information Overload During Preparation
Once she decided to go for it, she faced a torrent of information and procedural hurdles—enough to make anyone’s scalp tingle. She says candidly that without guidance, she would have taken many detours. German universities can be quite “particular” about documents; a wrong format can get you rejected on the spot.
The uncertainty around process—and not knowing how to present your strengths effectively—can keep you up at night. Her case had an extra twist: she had enrolled in a Master’s in Taiwan and then paused, leaving a six-month gap. How do you present that elegantly on paper? Thankfully, TaiGer came to the rescue—teaching her how to reframe the gap as a plus. What could have been a red flag became an advantage.
Working with TaiGer
Facing the fog of applications, Judy chose to work with TaiGer. Like many, she searched online first. At first, she was a bit wary, but after a deep conversation with TaiGer’s consultants, she thought, “That feels right — let’s try!”
With guidance, she tackled the application “boss fights” step by step and got those finicky documents in order. The biggest help, she feels, was being led down the right path with the right formats—making everything more efficient and much less stressful. On the study-abroad road, the right teammates can save you a lot of energy.
Application Steps and Document Timeline (Tests & English Proficiency Included)
The German process differs from Taiwan’s graduate admissions. In Germany, you often fill out a form mapping your undergraduate courses to the program’s required subject areas so the school can assess your fit. In Taiwan, you usually submit one consolidated package—motivation letter, CV, etc.—and it’s in friendly Chinese.
For Germany, everything must be in English (and formatted to their preferences). As for Taiwan’s GSAT or TOEFL/IELTS scores, her story doesn’t give hard numbers for TUM’s Computational Mechanics program, but it does note that courses are largely in English—and some classmates started with zero German. This implies English proof is essential.
How She Ultimately Chose TUM
Judy settled on TUM’s Computational Mechanics because it felt like, “This is exactly what I want!” The program’s blend—mechanics plus programming—perfectly matched her interests and background. Her undergraduate foundation in mechanics, thermofluids, control, and coding lined up beautifully with this interdisciplinary field.
TUM is a titan in German STEM, and computational mechanics is no exception. Although she was initially self-conscious about her grades and hesitant to apply, encouragement and careful analysis from TaiGer helped her realize, “Hey, I might actually be competitive.” In the end, she opened the door to her dream school and stepped into a program that fit her.
Grad School Differences: Germany vs. Taiwan—Systems, Learning Styles, and Pressure
Having experienced grad school in both places (albeit just one semester in Taiwan), she gained a direct feel for each system. In terms of teaching methods and course design, she felt the two weren’t wildly different—“actually pretty similar.”
But exam grading and the thesis timeline are another story, and those differences affect your study rhythm and where pressure comes from. If you’re headed to Germany, it helps to know these “gotchas” ahead of time.
Exams and Assessment: Which Is Tougher?
German courses often concentrate pressure on the final exam—very different from Taiwan’s more distributed approach of quizzes, assignments, and midterms. In Germany, that one final can decide your fate.
This demands strong self-management—steady learning across the semester to face that end-game boss. For those used to Taiwan’s small, frequent assessments, it may take time to adapt. The upside: you might gain deeper understanding rather than cramming for scattered tests.
Course Design Differences and TUM’s Flavor
While the overall teaching feel may be similar, TUM’s Computational Mechanics has its charms. As noted, it’s cross-disciplinary—mechanical fundamentals plus serious programming. The curriculum even includes applying AI to computational mechanics. For mech-background students who love data analysis and coding, that’s magnetic.
The program is very international-student-friendly— courses are in English. The cohort is small (around 30 students), and there’s an informal eye on nationality and gender balance, creating more diversity and richer classroom chemistry.
Why She Prefers the German Model: Balancing Practice and Scholarship
To be frank, she favors Germany’s Master’s structure. Typically, you spend the first three semesters building a strong course foundation, and only in the fourth semester do you focus on the thesis. This lets you absorb knowledge widely before narrowing your research. In Taiwan, students sometimes jump into a lab early and become the professor’s right-hand helper, with less time to explore breadth.
For her, Germany’s “build first, leap later” approach better accumulates knowledge and aligns with her current goal: “I want to study properly.”
What Is Daily Life Like in Germany? Surprises and Adjustment
Beyond textbooks, life itself is an adventure—sometimes delightful, sometimes hair-pulling. From bureaucracy to everyday interactions, you’ll have moments of “Wait—what?!” Her experiences paint the awkwardness of the early months while also showing Munich’s charm and the importance of finding a sense of belonging abroad.
Culture Shock and the Adjustment Period
One of the big bosses early on: paperwork. Phone plans, bank accounts, and—most importantly—the blocked account (Sperrkonto) you need for your residence permit, can trap you in loops like “bank needs a phone number; phone needs a bank account.” Exhausting, right?
She even ran into system glitches that dragged out the process. These interlocked, fussy procedures can be rough on newcomers. Sometimes there’s a wild card—like getting evacuated mid-errand due to a fire alarm. The stress of life in Germany felt heavier than in Taiwan—not just language and culture, but also navigating an unfamiliar administrative system.
Housing, Transport, and Real-World Costs
Housing matters—A LOT. She’s had roommate trouble: partners constantly visiting, parties in tiny kitchens and bathrooms, and the “cultural differences—you have to adapt” card when she tried to talk it out. Finding good roommates abroad can feel like winning the lottery. Thankfully, a recent move upgraded her quality of life.
On transport, Munich wins points. Living near the U-Bahn or S-Bahn makes the city feel like it has teleportation. But some things are pricey—especially repairs. When her iPad died, the labor and taxes were eye-watering. Her laptop also gave up the ghost, and she had to buy a new one in Germany. Ouch, wallet.
Next Stop: From “International Student” to “Soon-to-Be Professional”
Judy’s Munich diary isn’t done—
How did she turn the “one-final-decides-everything” system into a GPA comeback?
In a fully German internship interview, what tactics got her through HR’s rapid-fire questions?
How did she reframe a six-month gap into a résumé highlight?
All these turning points are in the next blog article: “From Student to Soon-to-Be Professional.”
