Yayasan Telekom Malaysia Scholar, Shafiq from Malaysia, Shares His Journey of Studying Computer Science and Data Science in Germany

Hi! My name is Shafiq from Malaysia. So, my education journey in Germany starts I received a full scholarship from Yayasan Telekom Malaysia, which required me to pursue my tertiary education in IT-related fields. Hence, that was the reason I mainly chose to study Computer Science for my degree and Data Science for my master's.

Educational Background

For my degree program at FH Aachen, I managed to achieve a German GPA of 1.3, and for my master's program, 1.6.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences?

It was a long journey before I could start my education in Germany. After high school, I did a 1.5-year preparation program to learn German and pass the Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT) exam. During this time, I had 6 months of intensive German courses from A1 to B1. The other 1 year is dedicated to passing AUSMAT and completing german B2 exam.

Only after that, I flew from Malaysia to Germany for a 5-month intensive German class to sit for the C1 exam and an integration course at Carl-Duisburg Centren in Cologne. After passing the C1 exam, I managed to secure a spot at FH Aachen to pursue my degree in Computer Science

Were You Offered any Other Scholarships?

As mentioned, I received a scholarship from Yayasan Telekom Malaysia, which covers tuition fees and a monthly allowance for my preparation course and degree program. During my degree time, I was offered the Deutschlandstipendium, but due to already having a scholarship at hand, I didn’t proceed further.

What Drew You to Choose Germany to Pursue Your Degree?

Firstly, I chose Germany due to the advancement of technology that you can find there. By being there, I dreamed of extending my horizon and being at the centre of innovation.

Secondly, the ‘free tuition’ fee attracts me to explore Germany as well, as I think it gives me more freedom in exploring what I am interested in without being restricted to more expensive fees from other universities in other countries.

Lastly, to be on the other side of the world and be away from my home country seems interesting to me, since I like to explore new cultures and opportunities.

What Were Some of the Challenges You Faced as an International Student, Particularly Regarding Living Costs or Part-time Work Opportunities?

Looking back at my time in Germany, I can say that I am always outside of my comfort zone, regardless of whether I want it or not, especially when speaking German daily. What I did to overcome this was to challenge myself, for example, to be a tutor at university, to force myself not only to speak conversational German but also to explain stuff to people. Other than that, adapting to a completely different culture from two different sides of the world is no easy task. I can still remember being offended by brutally honest comments until it became a part of my character.

Cost of living may pose some challenges, especially if you don’t have strong financial backup. During my master's program, I was not offered any financial help via scholarships. Therefore, I take the initiative to work part-time as a working student at Siemens. This not only helps me to sustain my living there but also helps me to gain more experience in the real world.

Looking Back, Would You Recommend Studying in Germany for International Students Seeking Affordable Higher Education? Why or Why Not?

As the Germans also say “Jaein”. Yes and No. Nothing wrong in both situations.

Yes, if you are looking to constantly push your limits and be uncomfortable. By living in Germany, you are exposed to a different worldview, such as human rights, work-life balance, and freedom of thought and speech (where you wouldn’t see that much in other parts of the world). However, you are also vulnerable to cultural differences, loneliness, and bad weather (which I did underestimate before I came). If one manages to navigate through the difficult times, one will see a bright light at the end of the tunnel and enjoy living there!

No, if you are looking for stability. By stability, I mean being surrounded by your own people, culture, and the things that you are accustomed to. Also, no, if you don’t have the intention to learn German. Although Germany is quite English-friendly, I do honestly think you need German to survive.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or German?

Since I am in an IT-related course, there is a small portion of English

For my degree (German program), 90% German, 10% English

For my master's (English program), 40% German, 60% English

 Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Academically Not Knowing German?

I find it most difficult when dealing with government offices, as this is very important for your stay there. In Germany, government servants normally only speak German. Therefore, if you don’t speak German, you need to bring a translator, or there is a high chance that they will not entertain you accordingly.

Besides, you may not have access to plenty of jobs. In huge cities, there should be no problem surviving with just English, but outside the cities, there are also tons of job opportunities that you may not have access to if you don’t speak German.