Latest News from Local Germany
Local Germany
11 hours ago
- Business
- Local Germany
What to study in Germany to land a high-paying career
Most German universities offer high quality teaching, world-class facilities, courses in English, and internationally recognised degrees. Tuition is also state funded at Germany's public universities and colleges. The only additional charge for non-EU/EEA international students is a small 'semester fee' of between €100 and €300. That is except in the state of Baden-Württemberg -- home to Heidelberg University -- which levies a fee of €1,500 per semester on non-EU/EEA students. But which courses, and universities, offer the best prospect of a high-flying career? It's no big secret that to land a high-paying job in Germany, you'd be well advised to study something in the field of engineering or IT. In an effort to advise the next generation of skilled workers who may want to emigrate to Germany, the Nigerian newspaper Vanguard recently compiled a list of the top courses to study with high employment opportunities in the country. Unsurprisingly, six out of ten of those subjects fell into the IT or engineering fields. But arguably as important as picking the right subject to study is picking the right university. After all, the school you enrol in determines the quality of your courses as well as the peers you're exposed to, and often also the opportunities you'll get upon graduation. With all of that in mind, here's The Local's guide to the subjects that are ideal for those looking to secure a well-paid job in Germany after their studies -- and a few of the top German institutions for studying them. READ ALSO: The best-paid jobs you can get without a university degree in Germany Note that the institutions listed here are internationally recognised in the fields indicated, but they're only the tip of the iceberg. With roughly 400 universities and technical colleges, Germany has something to offer everyone. Visit the DAAD website for a comprehensive overview. All salary estimates are from Payscale . Engineering A recognised global centre of excellence for all things engineering, Germany is home to industrial giants including Siemens, Bosch, Volkswagen, and BMW. Graduates in engineering from universities including the Technical University (TU) of Munich, RWTH Aachen University, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology are at the heart of Germany's energy transition, as well as numerous new developments in automation. Advertisement Courses in mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, automotive engineering and environmental engineering place a strong emphasis on research, design, and real-world applications. An engineer works in the clean room of the pilot production plant for SOEC electrolyzers of Thyssenkrupp. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Martin Schutt According to Payscale, the average salary for an engineer in Germany in 2025 ranges from €44,000 for an environmental engineer to €57,000 for an automotive engineer. TU Berlin, the University of Erlangen Nuremberg, and TU Dresden are particularly well-regarded for electrical engineering. For budding automotive engineers, TU Munich, the University of Stuttgart, and Wolfsburg University of Applied Sciences have strong connections with BMW, Mercedes Benz, and VW respectively – offering access to potential internships and entry-level positions. READ ALSO: Weimar to Heidelberg - The best German university towns for foreign students Computer science, IT, and machine learning Advertisement Like engineering, computer science is a catch-all term covering a range of university courses and an even greater variety of career opportunities, from IT and AI to cybersecurity and software development. Germany is currently investing heavily in digitalisation and AI across sectors including finance, logistics and health – and leading universities typically partner with start-ups and multinationals to provide hands on experience as well as pathways into rewarding tech roles. According to Payscale, the average salary for a computer scientist in Germany is currently €55,000. According to the Study in Germany website, TU Munich, TU Berlin, RWTH Aachen University, the University of Munich, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology are the top five institutions in Germany for a degree in computer science. Architecture There are times when it feels as if all of Germany is a building site. With ambitious plans to add to the country's housing stock, as well as to modernise and re-purpose existing buildings, there are numerous opportunities for ambitious young architects. Graduates who want to work abroad will also benefit from the focus at German universities on green design, urban planning, and energy efficiency. Arch20 has a useful list of the top ten architecture schools in Germany, featuring Weimar University, Brandenburg University, and Wuppertal University. The average salary for an architect in Germany is €39,000. Business Administration & Management As with engineering and computer science, German universities offering business administration courses make a point of encouraging students to gain as much hands-on experience as possible. Advertisement Courses typically begin by covering the basics of economics, marketing, and accounting, before offering students an opportunity to focus on a specific area. The University of Mannheim, the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, and the School of Business & Economics at Berlin's Free University are all renowned for their business administration courses. Payscale estimates that the average salary for business administration graduates in Germany is €55,000 – but, as with many of the jobs listed here, the sky's the limit. Medicine, Healthcare & Psychology Germany is currently suffering from a well-publicised and acute shortage of doctors and healthcare professionals. A strong command of German is required to study many of these subjects in Germany (more so than for subjects such as engineering or computer science), but international students willing and able to make the effort are almost guaranteed to walk into a secure position on graduation. Psychology is currently one of the most popular fields of study in Germany. Photo by Alex Green from Pexels While psychology is currently one of the most popular fields of study in Germany, the number of graduates does not seem to be slowing demand in the workplace. Depending on the area students choose to focus on, a degree in psychology can lead to opportunities across a range of different fields – including healthcare and counselling, as well as jobs in the private sector such as human resources, market research, and marketing. The average wage for psychology graduates varies wildly depending on the chosen career path. As a general rule, however, a career in business tends to attract the highest salary. There are many renowned medical schools in Germany, including Heidelberg University, the Charité in Berlin, and the University of Lübeck. Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich, Humboldt University in Berlin, and the University of Mannheim enjoy similarly stellar reputations for psychology. RANKED: The 'best' universities in Germany for 2025
Local Germany
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Local Germany
TELL US: Are you affected by Germany's plan to scrap fast-track citizenship process?
The law change would basically end the possibility that highly integrated foreigners can naturalise as German after just three years - instead of the standard five. The conservative Christian Union parties (CDU/CSU) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) had already agreed the reform in their coalition deal. The three-year track for well-integrated immigrants was introduced in mid-2024 as part of a sweeping reform of Germany's citizenship rules. Those reforms also introduced the possibility for non-EU nationals to get German citizenship and become dual nationals - previously this was only available to those with an EU nationality. So tell us how you feel about the change and if you'll be affected in this quick questionnaire below. If it does not appear click here .
Local Germany
14 hours ago
- Business
- Local Germany
'Tax justice': Germany considers 10 percent levy on internet giants
"This is a question of tax justice," parliamentary state secretary in the digital ministry Philip Amthor told Die Welt newspaper. "Large digital corporations in particular are cleverly engaging in tax avoidance" while German businesses are "treated with no mercy, everything is taxed." "A fairer system must be created here so that this tax avoidance is addressed," he said about the plan to tax advertising revenue from platforms such as Meta's Instagram and Facebook. Germany's media and culture commissioner Wolfram Weimer said earlier the government was drafting a proposal for such a digital tax but would first invite Google and other big tech companies for talks. Weimer -- the former editor of Die Welt and other media -- on Thursday told Stern magazine that "the large American digital platforms like Alphabet/Google, Meta and others are on my agenda". He said he had "invited Google management and key industry representatives to meetings at the chancellery to examine alternatives, including possible voluntary commitments". Advertisement "At the same time, we are preparing a concrete legislative proposal," Weimer added. This could be based on the model in Austria, which has a five percent tax, he said, adding that in Germany "we consider a 10 percent tax rate to be moderate and legitimate". He said that "monopoly-like structures have emerged that not only restrict competition but also over-concentrate media power. This puts media diversity at risk". "On the other hand, corporations in Germany are doing billion-dollar business with very high margins and have profited enormously from our country's media and cultural output as well as its infrastructure. "But they hardly pay any taxes, invest too little, and give far too little back to society." Weimer stressed that "something has to change now. Germany is becoming alarmingly dependent on the American technological infrastructure."
Local Germany
16 hours ago
- Business
- Local Germany
How Germany's electricity tariff rules are changing from June
From June 6th, customers who change electricity providers in Germany will their supply switched over within 24 hours. This comes as the result of a change to the EU's Energy Industry Act, and it's intended to increase competition in the market and protect consumers, according to the Lower Saxony Consumer Advice Centre. Here's what the change means for you: Following the rule change on June 6th, if you change electricity tariffs, the switch must be carried out within 24 hours (excluding Sundays). For household consumers this means that if you switch from one provider to another, you can expect your new provider to start delivering your energy almost immediately. However, the new legislation does not allow you to unilaterally terminate or shorten an existing contract with an electricity provider. How does a faster switch support consumers? According to the Federal Network Agency, until now making such a switch took eight or nine days on average, and sometimes as long as three weeks. During the interim period before a new tariff kicks in, consumers were often left paying a higher price for 'basic supply' electricity. (The basic supply ( Grundversorgung) tariff is intended to make sure no one is left without energy if they fail to secure a contract with a supplier, but it tends to cost far more than the prices set in one- or two-year contracts arranged with electricity providers.) READ ALSO: How to reduce your household electricity bill in Germany this year Shortening the period that customers are left consuming basic supply energy will therefore save them some money. Advertisement What are the disadvantages for consumers? In addition to mandating a 24 hour changeover, the new rules are set to end the possibility of retroactive registration and deregistration. So going forward you must plan your energy contract changeovers in advance, and set them up for a future date. This may cause inconveniences for anyone moving house who forgets to deregister in good time. READ ALSO: Everything that changes in Germany in June 2025 Also, Elisabeth Aßmann of the Lower Saxony Consumer Advice Centre warns that with the new rules in place consumers should be more cautious when offered a new electricity contract at their front door or over the phone: 'If the change of supplier has to be completed within 24 hours … an unwanted contract will also take effect more quickly.' Bear in mind, however, that consumers will continue to have the right to cancel contracts concluded in this way up to 14 days after signing. According to EU rules, all member states need to enact these changes to there electricity supply regulations by January 1st, 2026. Germany's Federal Network Agency hopes that implementing the directive ahead of time will give electricity providers in the country enough time to put the necessary processes in place so that demand wont be disrupted. With reporting by DPA.
Local Germany
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Local Germany
OPINION: If Germany is to thrive it must help foreigners feel they belong here
What felt personal at first, we came to understand as part of something much deeper. Despite our earnest efforts to battle through German grammar, to enjoy woody white asparagus and to watch Tatort (still hoping and waiting for a good episode), the feeling of belonging here in our adopted homeland remained elusive. We've been here for more than three decades combined, and as journalists our job is to get to know the country – in many cases better than natives. In some ways, we have been eingedeutscht (Germanised): drinking Radler and sparkling water, and occasionally reporting cars for false parking (this is indeed one of Chris's pastimes). We have kids here and so have learned about Germany also through the experience of Hebammen, Kitas , and other parents. READ ALSO: 'Weeks of wild uncertainty' - The stress of choosing the right school in Germany But the feeling of being a guest – or as Germans might say a Fremdkörper (foreign object) – persists, despite the country's claims of offering a Willkommenskultur. When we started writing a book about Germany, we realised it's not just a subjective personal experience. It points to a deeper void at the heart of modern Germany. The initial goal of writing " Broken Republik " was to cover the cracks in the German economy, but that quickly expanded to political fragmentation and then internal divisions and racism. And we concluded that the red thread that ran through these issues was a national identity still unresolved. Postwar Germany is supported mainly by two pillars: shared prosperity ( Wohlstand für alle ) and the self-righteousness of having overcome Nazism. For decades, the formula held up well enough. Germany became a global industrial power on the back of sleek cars, and instead of parades and fireworks, it showcased Holocaust guilt. But the structure is showing foreboding cracks. Advertisement The economy has contracted two years in a row, inequality is worse than almost anywhere else in Europe, and the social safety net is fraying. With living standards at risk, trust in mainstream parties is falling and support for the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) and its ethno-nationalist vision of Germany is rising (on par with Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative bloc, which has also adopted anti-migrant rhetoric). READ ALSO: How is Germany's future government planning to shake up immigration? That leaves the country vulnerable. Without a robust and inclusive civic identity, 'blood and soil' concepts re-emerge and fill the void. That process has started, but it doesn't have to continue. Despite all of its issues, Germany still functions and has a strong foundation. It's still the third-largest economy in the world. Its cities hum with energy, creativity, and layered history. From the North Sea coast to Alpine peaks, its landscapes offer stillness and awe. Advertisement Life here can be rich and full: walking home through tree-lined streets, swimming in a lake on a summer evening, sharing food and language in unexpected places. The culture stretches across centuries and continents — from Bach to Berlin club nights, Bauhaus to Turkish-German poetry, Syrian bakeries to Vietnamese corner shops. READ ALSO: Seven unmissable events happening around Germany in June 2025 This is a place where people can build lives, raise children and grow old. But belonging is still too often conditional. People walk along the river banks in Frankfurt. Why can't long-term residents in Germany vote? Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Andreas Arnold Germany makes it hard for newcomers. And if your skin colour is dark or you struggle with der, die, das, your pathways to belonging are even rockier. Even then, it's an either/or process. You are either all German or you're an Ausländer . And even then, it can be capricious. Members of the 2014 World Cup-winning squad, like Mesut Özil, have voiced this frustration: German when they win, foreign when they lose. The migration-background victims of the Hanau far-right shooting in 2020 struggled for official recognition and national mourning. These moments reveal a painful truth — that for millions, full belonging remains elusive, even in life and death. That has to change — not out of charity, but because the country's future depends on it. A society where millions feel unseen cannot remain cohesive. A democracy that excludes cannot stay strong. If Germany wants to thrive — economically, culturally, politically — it needs to open up not just its labour market or borders, but its idea of who truly belongs. Advertisement We've discovered that this is a foreign concept for Germans. They struggle to understand the alienation that the country produces because they don't know it any other way. But Wahldeutsche do. We have an important role to play here. We are part of the story but come with a different perspective. We don't need to just adapt and integrate. We can also form and shape. In a moment when the far right seeks to define who matters, silence is no longer a neutral act — it's surrender. Postwar Germany may have been unable to face these issues, but a new era is dawning. And the country's greatest challenge may also be its greatest chance: a new German nationhood built on inclusion. Because a Germany that sees identity as a layered yet cohesive whole – like a Black Forest cake – might yet become a homeland for all, and more dynamic than ever. Chris Reiter, originally from the US, is a senior editor at Bloomberg News in Berlin . Will Wilkes, originally from the UK, is automotive and industrial correspondent for Bloomberg News in Frankfurt. Follow these links to get more information about Broken Republik (Bloomsbury) and to purchase a copy. For information in German: Totally Kaputt (Piper Verlag).
