Berlin or Munich?

Question

Hello!

I'm planning to study engineering in Germany next two years

Which city is the most student friendly city?

Like for instance the accommodation, leisure, cost of living, school fees, the city's attitude etc.

Please, I need some comparison. I cannot decide between the two.

Answer 1

Well I would choose the better school  .... I suggest TU Harburg in Hamburg, and TU Aachen .... best schools in Germany.

Berlin is a very xenophobic city - Munich is much nicer. My favorite is Hamburg though; party capital of Europe.

Answer 2

I lived in Germany for a bit, and I only visited Munich once because the people were not friendly at all.  I was disappointed.  I really like Berlin, I go back as often as I can.

Answer 3

I have never been to Berlin so I probably shouldn't even put my answer here but I spent time in Munich for a while and I completely fell in love with it. If I had the choice to visit Berlin or re-visit Munich, I'd pick Munich again.

I have no idea about the cost of living there or anything but I was there with abou 20 other students (I was one too) and it was student friendly to me!

Answer 4

Well, trying to be short.:

Munich is better for a shopping spree, especially if you have ****-loads full of money. It is also the more beautiful city, with a nicer feel to it, a slightly nicer climate, nicer day-trip options, more traditional opera/theatre options, etc.

Berlin is certainly the more vibrant and youthful city, with more modern art & entertainment, and stuff for young people, etc.

The "natives" in Berlin are certainly more unfriendly than the people in Munich, but you won't find many of them among the student population you'll be mostly around - I am more talking bus and taxi-drivers, musem wardens and supermarket workers, etc.

If it was me, and I had an unlimited amount of money at my disposal, I would probably chose Munich. But when asked, I would probably advise people to go to Berlin, mainly for two reasons:

- Living in Berlin is MUCH CHEAPER than living in Munich - Munich is the most expensive city in Germany. Especially renting a flat is much cheaper in Berlin.

- For you as a non-native speaker, presumable speaking some German, or trying to learn some, Berlin is far better, because, over-all, people will be easier to understand then  the Bavarians.

Answer 5

Berlin is very student friendly. I cannot really make the comparison to Munich in terms of how friendly the locals are (I would imagine that about the same), but Berlin is much more affordable for a student to live in.

In addition, Bavaria has recently introduced tuition fees, and these do not exist in Berlin.

If your native language is not German, it might be easier to learn the language in Berlin, since they talk in Bavarian dialect in Munich.

The advantage of Munich might be found in finding a job throughout your degree and later - Berlin has a higher (read: much higher) unemployment rate.

Both the TU in Berlin and the universities in Munich are ranked high for engineering (do not notice Shlomo's comment - he's sending you to Fachhochschule, which are have in principle lower ranking in the world, and this might be important in finding a job later; on the other hand, he's also talking rubbish about racism in Berlin vs. Munich, so don't mind him at all).

Answer 6

I have been to both but find Munich the better choice. Berlin is to big. Both are very expensve places to live in irregradless but both bo allot for students. I friend of mine studied Engineering in Munich and prefered it to Berlin.

I did not like the part of Berlin I was in and could not imagine having to live their for a period of time. Howver I have been to Munich serveral times and have really enjoyed it. I know only a few students that have been to both, the ones I have meet like Munich better, but that is mostly because they found jobs where they can work in the feilds of study.

But take a few weeks off and fly to both of them and make your own opinion.

Answer 7

I don´t know about Berlin, but I´m an engineering student in Munich and it´s definitely a student-friendly city, I would also say i´t´s a "people-friendly" city. It´s not so big you fee lost, but it has teh advantages of a big city- there´s a lot to do, and always something going on, whatever you interests are.

The university (TU) also has a very good reputation.

On the other hand, the cost of living is generally high, and you have to start looking early to find an accomodation. And yes, there are school fees; for engineering it´s about 500-600€ per semester. Personally I would still go for Munich though, but I guess I´m biased;)

hope that helps!

Answer 8

without a doubt: berlin. much cheaper than munich (only about 60% of munich flat rents for example), more interesting, more nightlife.

Answer 9

Cannot tell you anything about Berlin, but Munich is VERY EXPENSIVE.  If you have transportation, stay OUT of town as housing, etc. is not student friendly.