Studying in Germany - A Survey

Objective: As I got more and more queries about different universities in Germany, I realised that my perspective was necessarily restricted by my experience and that of my friends, most of whom belong to University of Stuttgart and RWTH Aachen. So I decided to create a survey form and send it to common forums to get some general feedback from people in different courses, living in different states.

Scope: The survey was designed w.r.t prospective students in mind and the questions they often ask - types of universities, application pre-requisites, course expenses, career prospects after graduation etc. The participants of the survey can choose to be anonymous and in keeping with this policy, no effort was made to verify the information they provided.

Design: The survey used Google forms and the questionnaire can be found here. Although google forms offers to generate the summary of responses, in cases of multiple options being available, the tool is not suitable and hence excel was used for certain calculations.

Statistical Significance: The results here are from 87 responses. Every effort was made to ensure that the distribution is not biased w.r.t the two universities listed above.

Summary of responses:

Since Europe in general (leaving out UK) and Germany, in particular, has become a popular destination for higher studies only in the last few years, it is of interest to know....how many people chose Germany as their first option, why and for what.

Application and Visa

Course Duration and Details
In general, a masters course will be 2 yrs or 4 semesters long. Some students take 2.5 years or 5 semesters to complete (based on intership and master thesis requirements). The survey confirms this fact since 80% of the participants completed the course in 2 years and 9% in 2.5 years.

Career Prospects after Graduation

The responses in the category "other" refer to those that are still studying. 5 participants answered this question with 'Don't know'. These responses were excluded from the statistics.

Living - Most popular states

For various reasons, Western Germany is generally preferred to Eastern Germany with Berlin being an exception (hasn't it always been one ?)

Studying Experience in Germany

Different questions were posed in this category. To avoid listing each of them, here is a summary of the salient points.

• 83-87% of the participants agree that universities are well-equipped (infrastructure, research, lab etc.) and courses offered are well-planned (content, teaching etc.)
• 69% of the people believe that cultural integration is a challenge while the remaining do not see it as one.
• 79% agree that universities offer help in settling down (official formalities, accommodation etc.)
• 87% believe that knowing German is important for studying in Germany.
• Only 53% agree that getting visa extensions during the course of study is easy.

Job Market/Work Culture in Germany

As in the previous category, only the salient points are summarised.

• 79-84% agree that job prospects in Germany are location-based (certain cities are better than other) and industry-based. They also agree that the work culture in Germany is good (colleagues, flexible working hours, vacation etc.)
• 47% believe that the job market in Germany is stable
• 66% agree that secure employment in Germany is a perk (clear contractual terms w.r.t working hours, notice period etc. , unemployment benefits)
• 88% believe that knowing German is important to work in Germany.

Other comments:

I had asked participants to jot down any comments or suggestions that come to mind and below given is a summarised list.

• When a student applies from India he/she does not know the difference between FH and TU. The former is called University of applied sciences and the latter is called Technical university or simply university. Only after studying in Germany one would realise that TU is more advanced in terms of academic research. After completing graduation in FH, if one wants to do a PhD in Germany he/she has to pass a lot of exams at that corresponding University to get an admission to PhD research.
• Knowing German is even more important when working for consultants because of the documentation in German.

My comments:

• In general, the results of the survey are as I expected. The only result that surprises me is that only 87-88% believe that knowing German is important. I was expecting it to be in the 95 plus scale.
• W.r.t job market and financial stability, I believe Germany, Netherlands and France are reliable but since they often go to the rescue of other EU countries, their inland capital markets may suffer, albeit not to a disastrous extent, since they always have contingency measures to protect the common man.
• Unemployment benefits are a boon, true. But one can avail them only on fulfilling certain conditions. For example, I should have worked for at least a year before I became unemployed and should have registered at the Arbeitsamt with all the necessary forms on or before the first day of my unemployment (In that case, one can get 60% of his/her net salary as an unemployment benefit. The period will be determined by how long one worked. More details here)

Above all, this survey is intended only to give an idea about what is more common and does not necessarily dictate the terms for everyone's tenure in Germany. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, keep an open mind, take initiative, learn German and not much can go wrong; if it does, it becomes a learning experience or at the least a blog post ;)

Acknowledgement:

I want to thank all the participants for taking time to complete the survey. I especially want to thank SK, a fellow blogger in Germany, who provided valuable input in creating the questionnaire.

German Student Visa

When I finished this series of articles , I thought I was done but I am afraid this is going to be an ongoing process. I recently have been getting queries about visa experiences and so decided to add one about it to the series.

First of all, the good news is the getting a student visa for Germany is a lot easier and a lot less complicated than that of the US mainly because of the huge difference in tuition fee. To date, I personally do not know anyone who has had their German Student Visa rejected.

Before I go on to my experience, here are a few pointers:

• Be on time: This is so basic that you would expect people should know this but no, there is always someone who comes in saying traffic jam (is this your first day in India ?!). If you are not from the city where the embassy is, try to figure out the day before, where it is located in and how you can get there. Do not let your life depend on an auto-rickshaw driver ! At the same time, there is no reason why you should sleep in front of the embassy; one is usually given an appointment or a time slot.

• Dress normally: Don't be surprised if you hear a whole set of weird stories of how someone's visa got rejected because he was dressed in western clothes (apparently they assumed he will not want to come back to India) and how someone got it immediately just because she had sindoor ! Wear something you are comfortable in - be it a salwar or a formal shirt with slacks. There is no need to be attired in a suit but please avoid wearing faded and torn jeans !

• Pay attention to detail: Take utmost care when you fill in forms. Ask someone to check it for you. Avoid spelling mistakes. Although a person in the VFS centre might check your documents he/she will not take interest in it like YOU will. Any mistakes are only going to affect you. Remember that !

• Take ALL documents: Here is a list of documents you are asked to bring. If you read the document properly, you would have noticed - ''Please note that the German Consulate General reserves the right to ask for additional documents in single cases.'' All consulates have this in bold. This means you should be prepared with additional documents. Some examples could include your school leaving certificates, reference letters, any achievements (like a school or college scholarship), any correspondence with your professor in Germany offering you a research assistant (HiWi) position etc. You need not submit these documents but you can have them handy if they are needed during the interview.

• Be prepared for obvious questions: why Germany, why a particular university or course, plans after studies, career plans, interest in getting settled in Germany etc. It would obviously be wise to know a bit about Germany and the city you are planning on going to. I heard a funny story of how someone said he likes Frankfurt because it is the capital city !

• Learn German: Obviously you have a certificate but only YOU know how you got it. Try and brush up the basic German you have (hopefully) learnt. The interviewer knows you are a beginner, so he/she is not going to ask you questions that Angela Merkel should answer. You should be able to introduce yourself and answer simple questions like what university/city you are going to, where you live etc.

• No electronics: Most consulates have a security check and make a fuss about electronic items, so avoid carrying anything other than what's absolutely required. No laptops, or cameras.

• Don't panic: A visa reject is not going to end your life. Having this kind of attitude (don't push it to the extent of inefficiency though !) will help. Be confident in your approach and stay calm, this will help you think on your feet even when you are confronted with a tricky question.

I applied for my visa in December 2002 (this time limit should warn you of taking the information as-is) through a centre called TTS (I believe) that was officially handling visa applications. They checked my documents and gave me an appointment. My interview lasted 10 minutes. 4 weeks later, I got a letter saying I should come in with a DD of 7700 euro and my passport (this obviously means visa approved but they don't say so in the letter). I went in to submit my passport and DD. I got my passport 3 days later with my visa (valid for 3 months from the date of travel).

My Interview: I will do a Manirathnam style Q&A, from what I remember

Q: Why Germany ?

A: Sound educational system, affordable, love Europe

Q: Why Stuttgart ?

A: Industrial city, famous university - lots of cutting edge research

Q:Why INFOTECH ?

A: interested in electronics (I had'nt chosen a major then)

Q: Financial support ?

A: Bank loan, parents

Q: After Studies?

A: Will work in R&D

Q: Will you come back?

A: Most definitely

Q: How so?

A: My family is here, will work for a few years in Germany and return to my family (this is obviously something everyone says, but say it with conviction and not just because they expect to hear it)

Q: Any relatives in Germany ?

A: No (If you have a sibling in Germany that shares your last name, it will be prudent to tell them the truth. A very simple search will bring up your sibling's visa application)

Q:Have you learnt German?

A: yes

Q: Wo wohnen Sie ?

A: In Mandaveli (that's right, I had a german question :D)

...and that was it, nothing to worry about...! May yours be as simple, if not, you will just have a new visa experience to share :)

Educational Loan - FAQs

As a part of the series of articles about higher studies, here is one with some information on educational loans.

Educational loans are available for higher education (full-time graduate or post-graduate course) in technology, engineering, architecture, medicine, management and applied or pure sciences, including mathematics and statistics. It is best to check with the bank you are interested in getting the loan from, if the course you are going in for is covered under their educational loans.

Who gives out such loans?
Most of the financial institutions and banks give out educational loans. However, it is the public sector banks that are at the forefront of such loans.

Who is eligible for the loan?
Only the individual opting for higher studies can go in for the loan.

What is covered under the loan?
• Tuition fees payable to college/school
• Examination / library / hostel charges
• Travel expenses
• Purchase of books /equipment /uniform
• Cost of two-wheelers (optional)

What is the maximum amount lent by the bank?
The amounts given by different banks vary. Typically, for studies within India, the maximum amount is between Rs. 7.5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh. For education abroad, the maximum loan amount is Rs. 15 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh.
However, many banks cap the maximum amount at Rs. 20 lakh.

What is the interest applicable on Educational loans?
Again, the interest rates vary from bank to bank and depend on the amount of the loan taken. Typically, interest rates on educational loans range between 11.25% and 13.5%.

Are there any other fees applicable while taking this loan?
Banks charge you processing fees for approving the loan and basically doing all the paperwork. These fees range between 2.25% and 2.50%.

Another charge or more appropriately expense that you would most probably need to bear is the margin amount. Normally, banks do not approve the loan that would cover the entire cost of your education. For example, for a loan of Rs. 10 lakh, the bank would approve only 80% or Rs. 8 lakh. The additional Rs. 2 lakh that you would have to raise from your own sources is called the margin amount.

What are the documents required while applying for the loan?
The required list of documents may vary from bank to bank.

The most common documents would be:
• Proof of admission (educational loan cannot be applied without proof that admission has been secured in the selected institution)
• Schedule of fees from the institution
• Mark sheet of the last qualifying examination
• Photographs

If the applicant is earning then:
• Bank account statement
• Income tax assessment order of last 2 years
• Proof of income
• Brief statement of assets/liabilities

Is there need to provide a guarantor or any other kind of security?
For smaller amounts of loans (amounts upto Rs. 4 lakh) banks do not ask for any guarantor or security. However, most banks ask for either a guarantor or for some kind of security such government securities, gold, shares, other investments etc.


When does an individual start repaying the loan, and how much time does he have to do it?
Most banks ask you to start paying off the loan either six months or one year (varies from bank to bank) after you complete the course or six months after you have secured a job, whichever happens first.

Again, depending on the bank, you get around 10 to 15 years to pay off the loan. It is important to remember that the higher the amount, the longer you get to repay. Of course it also depends on your income and how much you are willing to shell out towards this debt on a monthly basis.

Are there any tax benefits for educational loans?
Under Section 80 E of the Income Tax Act, you are eligible for rebate on the interest (not on the principal) you have paid on the loan. Moreover, the best part is that there is no limit to this amount. This deduction once applied only for self-education, but now this facility is extended for the education of relatives; relatives include only one's spouse and children.

This deduction is allowed for 7 years and the loan must be taken for higher education purposes only. Moreover, the loan has to be from a financial institution or a government approved charitable institution.

Germany-specific:
In the past, a DD of 7700 euro for covering living expenses was compulsory to get one's visa. Now with the introduction of tuition fees (500-600 euro per semester), the procedure is slightly different. More information at http://www.vfs-germany.co.in/

You will need the visa requirements and some additional information from the University's website about living expenses (cost of accommodation, standard of living etc.) when you apply for a loan. For example, if you are going to the University of Stuttgart, printing this page http://www.ia.uni-stuttgart.de/internat/practical/living/expenses/index.en.html would be a good idea.

Some tips:

• It is easier to get a loan from the bank where you have had an account for years. In this case, the bank has an idea about your financial status and credibility
• Hardly any bank would part with 4 lakhs without having a guarantor or showing proof of other investments. Start preparing for this as soon as you start applying.
• Choosing Nationalised banks would prove beneficial to you in the long run w.r.t the interest rates. But be aware there is a lot of red tape involved and the process is slower than a snail. Start as soon as you get your admission letter.

About the Source:
This article is from the monthly newsletter (Vol 2, Issue 9) I receive from http://tkbalajilic.com/. Mr.Balaji is a development officer at LIC and I personally know him because of a few of my financial transactions with him. My only contribution to this post was the the Germany-specific information.

Disclaimer: Neither Mr.Balaji nor I can be held responsible if you do not do your homework. Like with all financial transactions, the more you know the better. So take this as a template and find out as much as you can from the bank before you proceed to transact.

Studying in Germany - After

You have your masters degree from a University in Germany, so what next ? There are obviously 2 options - doing a PhD or getting a job. There are a numbers of things that change depending on which one of these choices you make.

Before anything, this article says ''after'', so obviously there were earlier articles and they can be found here. All disclaimers stated in those articles are still good and valid

Obviously you would have thought about your career during the course of your studies. Here are a few steps that would help you get a kick start, besides taking an interest in what you study ofcourse :D !

German: By this time, you should have learnt german to an extent that you can maintain a reasonable conversation. Remember, noone really cares about the grammar mistakes and accent (ofcourse mastering them is an added bonus) as long as you attempt to learn and use the language. You can work in a team only if you are reasonably comfortable with the language even in a MNC. Nobody is going to conduct team meetings in english just for your sake !

Contacts: It is always easy for a company to process an application when it is referred to them through a professor or employee. So make contacts through your lecturers, professors, places where you work part-time as research student. Attend career fairs, conferences and related seminars offered/conducted at the University. These contacts can help you get an internship and/or master thesis and can also serve as references. The easiest way to get a job is to continue your tenure as an employee in the same company where you have been an intern. The team already knows you and your capabilities, so the hiring process is made very simple for them.

Time: Start applying atleast 6 months in advance. Remember there is a lot of paperwork, in getting your visa even after you get a job. So the sooner you start the better. Also many companies have a 2-3 stage interview process and all this takes time, precious time.

Application: You need a concise resume (max. of 2 pages) and a covering letter (this should be altered w.r.t the job position you are applying for) and both in GERMAN (this is Germany, remember ?). You can find tips on how to create a good resume online. Here are a few tips for applications.

• In Germany, a resume should always have a photo, personal details , your studies/job experience in descending chronological order (most recent one should be first) and a couple of references. Remember, noone is interested in knowing that you were the cricket team captain in class X => Exercise discretion when listing your accomplishments.
• References are really important and ONLY list people who know you well and will provide a good reference. All companies will contact your references before offering you a job.
• Register in a job search engine like monster.de and have a detailed profile. All companies use such job search engines to find people.
• Register in an business networking site like LinkedIn and have a detailed profile
• Always follow up with a phone call a few days after sending in your application. The phone call (in German) can help them understand your interest, your language skills and will make them look up your application, if they haven't already done so.

Here is some information on the preliminary work one has to do before graduation.

Visa: The student visa is always bound to the degree you pursue, which means you cannot use the visa for long once you have graduated. In principle, you can stay in Germany for a year after you graduate with this visa, to look for a job. However you will have to show that you have funds or a student job to support your living costs.

Student Apartment: Obviously one can use it only when one is a student. The contract will most likely expire at the end of the semester you graduate. If you still have not found a place to move in to, you can apply for an extension. Depending on the availability, this may or may not be granted and so apply for an extension as early as possible.

Exmatrikulation: Just like registering at the University, this is more or less giving back your student id. Do not forget to do this because along with this process, you will also be included in the student alumni and you will probably also get free passes to career fairs. It would be smart to do this at the end of the semester even if you have graduated (If this option is available) since you can continue to enjoy student discounts everywhere until the end of the semester.

Now, let me go over the 2 career options one by one.

Doing a PhD

There are mainly 2 kinds of doctoral positions - part-time or full-time. In case of a part-time PhD, you are considered an employee of the University and hence you also have other duties besides you research, like tutoring master students, supervising master thesis and other administrative tasks. Usually this takes 5-6 years in Germany and the gross annual income will be around 40000 euro. After 45% taxes, your take-home pay will be between 1600-1800 euro. These figures obviously vary depending on your Univeristy, research topic and above all, sponsors.

In case of a full-time PhD, you do only research work and hence the duration is 3-4 years. You are considered a doctoral student and your take-home pay will be between 800-1200 euro.

Some universities also offer a third kind, where the pay scale and the time limit is between the 2 choices, given above. The information here is Germany-specific. But there a lot of students who do a PhD in countries like the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland.

Before choosing one of these options, you need to consider the following:

• Can you deal with the PhD being less lucrative than a job for a few years ? If you have immediate finanical responsibilities, this is probably not the way to go.
• How long can you spend on a PhD ?
• Do you have interest in tutoring master students ? The answer to this question and the previous one will help you decide which kind of PhD you want to pursue.
• It is my belief that to do a PhD, one needs a vision because it is research that may lead to expected or unexpected results and one should be highly committed. Do you have a vision and can you stick to it ?

Jobs

Job contracts are highly regulated in Germany. Job contracts (for engineers that is) are usually 40 hour per week (can be 35 hr/week in some cases) and come with a 30 day vacation package (add to this 8-10 public holidays, I am so glad Germans take their vacation seriously :D). For a fresher with a masters degree, an annual gross income of 50,000 euro is considered an extremely good salary. Needless to say, salaries and perks are both individual and company dependent.

• When you have an interview, do your homework and thoroughly learn about the company.
• Have this information handy: starting date, expected salary and any other requirements related to the job (for example, travel perks, training etc.)

Once you have chosen your career path, life suddenly changes, for the better and inspite of that you will probably miss your student life like I did...oh..well...there are memories, really fond memories ! As always, leave your questions as comments, will do what I can, Good luck !

Studying in Germany - During

Disclaimers: If you have read the previous posts in this category, then you will know what I mean. All disclaimers stated there are applicable here too.

Now that you have arrived and successfully enrolled, what are you expected to do ? Study and be a model student....oh...well...easier said than done, eh ? well, here are some pointers, and examples in all cases refer to the University of Stuttgart.

Lectures and Lab: Your would be required to complete some credits to earn your degree. You can choose the subjects you want to earn these credits. However, depending on your major there might be a couple of mandatory courses and labwork.

Professors/Lecturers will not usually worry about your attendance, it is upto you to do that. Assignments are usually not graded. You would be well advised to solve the assignments not just to do well in the exam but also to understand the subject.

Labwork will usually involve some preparation before hand - learning about the equipment, its usage etc. In some cases, you might be asked to take a short test to verify that you are really prepared to handle the expensive equipment.

Exams and Grading: Written exams usually last 45 min to 1.5 hours. In some cases, Professors may offer oral exams which will also last as long.

Plan your coursework in such a way that you are not overloaded (3-4 subjects a semester is a good rule of thumb). If you take 3 subjects, try to write the corresponding exams in the same semester, even if you have the option of taking the exam in the next semester. Your preparation will be so much easy when you finish the exams along with the lectures. Note: Some subjects may be available only in the summer or winter semester. Be careful to choose them correctly to avoid waiting an extra semester.

Grading system in Germany is usually on a 4 point scale with 1 being best and 5 being fail (This is completely opposite to the system in the US). Finishing your course with any grade less than 2 is considered really good. Note: Many exams will also have relative grading where the highest scorer will get 1 and the others will be graded relative to his/her score; the highest scorer could have scored 90/100 or 50/100.

HiWi: Working as Research Assistants is a good way to learn, have something useful listed in your resume and finally to make contacts with Professors. Even if there are no HiWi Ads in the website you can contact lecturers in the department of your choice and ask them for a position. An email with a brief resume (2 pages utmost) would suffice. Note: Send an email to the lecturers, not to Professors - they have no time for applicants.

If you have worked as a HiWi for a long time on a project, your supervisor will know your capabilities well enough to get you some contacts in the Industry for an internship or maybe even for a job.

Internship and Master thesis: Most courses ask for a 3 month internship as a requirement. Internships are a win-win situation since companies get a cheaper workforce and students get training on-the-job. So getting an internship is relatively easy if you apply right and can speak some German. Most companies pay somewhere between 500-800 euro per month for an internship and students often end up doing a 6 month internship.

Most course also require the students to do a 6-month master thesis. The topic should be approved by your Professor. Usually Universities prefer that the students do the thesis in one of their departments. Students choose to do it in a company because they want to get paid for the thesis.

If the University has no rules about the master thesis being done in a company, then the internship tenure can continue on to a 6-month master thesis in the same company. Note: Since the company has had a year to observe your competencies, getting a job in the same company would be a strong possibility. So do well and make more contacts (always needed !)

Extracurricular Activities: Being a student, you should take advantage of the various extra curricular activities the university offers either for free or for really subisdised rates. These activities would involve everything from swimming to dance lessons to language courses. These places are also great to make new friends.

That being said, there are a few things you must take utmost care about

Personal Hygiene: You could have been a pampered child at home where your mom washed, pressed and even handed your clothes to you but now that you are on your own, its time you learnt to take care of these things.

Because of the weather, Germans may skip a shower or two and when you are tempted to do the same, remember that your sweat glands are a lot more active than theirs. Using a mild deo or perfume would also be a good idea. One does not have to smell ''nice'', one just shouldn't smell, catch my point ? Along the same lines, it makes sense to wash the jackets once in a while even if you wear mutliple layers of clothing inside.

The same rules apply to one's breath. If you have had garlic or onions for lunch, have some pity on your lab partner and chew some mint !

Health: If you have never cooked in your life before, never mind, now is the time to learn. Google can help you find the simplest recipes. The key is to eat healthy food. So unless you can manage all the time with cereal, salad, milk and fruit, its about time you start cooking at home.

Many students make the mistake of eating junk food since its cheap and pay the price, in the long run in the form of over-weight and/or deficiency problems.

Do not use your course as an exercise to sit in front of the laptop all the time. Take some exercise. If you have time to chat, watch movies, gossip, then you also have time to go for a run. Another good way to get some exercise and have some fun, would be to get a bicycle (second-hand ones can be purchased in flea markets for reasonable prices)

Home country's Image: The moment you step outside India and come to live in another country, you are an Indian ambassador ! Anything and everything you do will not trace back to you but to your country. If you are late for a couple of meetings, the consensus would be ''Indians are never punctual''. If you get caught without a ticket in a train, the ticket collector will pay extra attention to ''Indians'' the next time.

Its human nature to generalise and create prototypes. If we saw a couple of Germans walk into a temple with their shoes on, we would immediately complain ''Germans do not respect our culture''....see what I mean ?

Even if one is not extraordinary and bringing India glory, the least one can do is be ordinary and not stick out as a rule-breaker !

What you must do

Travel: If you are a student living in Europe and are not traveling, you are missing out on one of the greatest opporutunities in life. Many people say that the only way to experience Europe is by living in it for a couple of years. When you already have the chance, use it, use it, use it !!

It is so nice to travel to different countries - trying to figure out the language, trying to get by with a few phrases that one learns from the internet, tasting a new cuisine, listening to new music...the list is endless. With every trip, you will grow and learn and whats more you will have a lot of fun in doing so !

Learn something new: Choose a hobby - something you will only get to learn to Europe - and pursue it, you will surprised at what you are capable of doing. This would be the best time to do it, before you join the rat race and start running behind projects and deadlines.

Some examples would be

- Learning a european language: learning French and going to Paris to try it out on the French is more fun than just learning French

- Taking dance lessons: Imagine dancing along in a Flamenco show in Spain

- Diving, Skiing, Tandem biking etc..etc..etc...manam irundhal margabandhu :D !

Use your time here wisely ! Have Fun !

Germany - there is more to it than Beer !

Yes, Germans like their Beer and yeah, Germany has the auto-bahn, which has some sections with no speed limits, but there is definitely a lot more to Germany than that.

Disclaimers: The intention of the article is not to typecast Germans but to make it easy for foreigners who come to Germany to understand their culture and them better. The article purely reflects my views based on my experiences (in italics throughout this blog) and finally, remember there are always examples and exceptions.

Punctuality and Time: Germans are extremely punctual. If you walk into a 5pm meeting at 5:01, you would have missed the first part of the introduction for sure ! If this is a technical meeting involving demos, then you would see them getting ready for it from 4:30 onwards (or much earlier) because starting at 5 ALWAYS means EXACTLY starting at 5.

Germans value time a lot, in the sense that they would not prefer small talk when they are working. They pretty much stick to 'work while you work and play while you play'. If it is a 8 hour work day, they will work exactly for 8 hours (not counting the lunch and coffee breaks) and then leave. This might be difficult for desis who are used to 11 or 12 hour work days, of which probably a few hours are spent in chit-chat and/or browsing. So if a German colleague is not willing to talk to you during work hours, it is not personal, it is simply the work culture.

My experience: I walk to a bus-stop and notice an old lady complaining to her friend that she is fed up of the public transport system and that things are not as they used to be. While I am wondering, why she feels that way (since I totally love the public transport here), the bus arrived and I almost choked with laughter when I heard her say "There comes the bus and it is 2 minutes late today too". In my mind, I was thinking of the times I stood in some bus-stop in Chennai without a clue as to when the bus would come and if it would actually come ! I am not trying to demean PTC (I love Pallavan - have fond memories in 21, 21G and 5B :D) but I was thinking about how pampered the old lady was and how she still did not realise it !

Trust and Reliability: Germans usually say 'Yes' or 'No'. They do not prefer 'maybe' responses. Sometimes when they are so frank, it might seem impolite but the truth is they are only going by facts. If you get a 'yes' for a task, you can be sure that it will be complete, come what may....ergo, Yes means yes and no means no. The tricky part is when desis say 'yes' to be polite, even when the task is ambitious, Germans believe it is 'doable' and this will naturally lead to a misunderstanding.

Germans are truthful, even when the truth is bitter. They have no problem in accepting that they do not know something, even in an interview. Conversely, they also believe that the other person is saying the truth and there is no need for verification. Interviews here, for example, will not have technical exams but more or less a discussion on what you claim to know in your resume.

My experience(s): I had an interview for an internship that my professor had set up for me. It lasted 5 minutes, seriously ! They had already looked at my resume. They first asked me if I had read the project description and if I was interested in the internship offer. When I said yes, they gave me the contract. Nobody had ever placed so much trust in me professionally !

I was invited to coffee and when my host asked me if I would like a piece of cake, I politely refused although I was really hungry. I was being the total desi, who refuses the first time and and agrees the second time....only there was no second time because Germans read a no as a ''no''. If you are hungry, say so and eat :D

Adherence to Rules: Rules mean everything to them irrespective of how much time, money and effort will be spent in doing so. Sometimes it is frustrating, at other times it seems the most logical way of doing things.

My Experience(s): I was getting my passport by post from an embassy. I had to go to the post office to collect this parcel. The parcel required showing a govt. id and given that I did not have my license then, I was in a catch 22 situation. I explained to the lady in the counter that the parcel contained my passport but she would not take my word and open the packet ''unauthorised''. Parcels can also be picked up by people who have an authorisation letter from the recipient. So I asked her if I can authorise her to ''pick up'' the parcel for me and as a post office employee, she is apparently not supposed to do that. In the end, I authorised a colleague of mine, who showed his id, and got me the parcel. I only wonder how they allowed me to ''authorise'' someone when I couldn't prove my own identity ?! I was afraid that asking this question would mean more rules, so I simply shut up !!

It was October fest (the world famous beer festival in Munich) and I noticed a totally drunk chap swaying to and fro in the road. He was walking before me and when he entered the subway to catch the train, I was worried he was going to fall into the track. Suddenly he made a sharp movement and while I was still in shock he moved to a ticket machine and bought a ticket !!! I was open mouthed and I was even more shocked when he got the ticket punched (at a validating machine) so that it was validated before he boarded the train. I couldn't get over how the buying and validating a ticket before boarding the train was so much an integral part of him that he remembered to do it even in that drunken stupor !! He is the first drunk man to have impressed me in a good way.

Efficiency: The word ''German efficiency'' is common and true to this word, efficiency is the watchword here. There are lots of meetings, discussions, plans and one would think this is taking a lot of time but only at the end of project comes the realisation that not only is the project on time and in budget, but every contigency is also accounted for. The ''attention to detail'' is a trait they are most likely born with !

My experience: I was in the BMW museum and I came across one of their first bicycles and right next to it is a detalied LOE (Level of Effort) that would put today's excel worksheet to shame ! This LOE describes man-hours and other costs for every part with detailed description on what might cause delays.

Privacy and Personal space: Germans value their privacy and personal space so much that if you are ever invited to someone's home, you can assume that he/she considers you a great friend.

My experience: I had gone ballroom dancing with a few German dance classmates and had forgotten my house keys at work and getting into the office building at night would require a special access card that I did not have. When I realised this, it was already 11pm and I was frantically making calls to get hold of someone who could let me into the office. Although all my classmates were sympathetic, none of them invited me to spend the night in their homes. They would have gladly lent me money to check into a hotel (thankfully I had my credit card for that) but inviting an acquaintance home is something they would not do. They have nothing against me but they are not comfortable in sharing their personal space with someone that is not a spouse or a partner. I actually spent the night with a Punjabi family who owns a restaurant close to my house. The restaurant owner saw me making calls and asked me what was up. Even before I completed my sentence, he said that I could stay with him and his wife - Desi hospitality is unbeatable !

Independence: The social system is in such a way that they are anything but dependent. You will often see a 80-yr old using one of these walking assist devices and doing her own shopping. Even while traveling in Europe, you will often come across tourists reading maps and you will surprised to note that hardly anyone is asking for directions.

My experience: It was my second day in Germany and I was trying to figure out where the lecture hall, where my german classes would take place, was. I asked a German that walked past me and he made me walk a few steps with him, pointed me to a map, showed me where I was standing, smiled and left ! I thought he was messing with me and then gradually I understood he was giving me the tool to figure out the answer rather than giving me the answer itself and why - because thats what he would do, if he was lost he would look for a map and not for directions, he would figure that out himself !

Level of Affability: Germans are not extroverts. They are not openly friendly and they do not go around smiling at everyone but once you know them, they can be very warm.

My experience(s): During my first year on the job, I did not even know if my colleague (who I worked with in most projects) was married but now that we are friends, we know each other's childhood stories.
One of my German friends came all the way to India for my wedding even though he did not have enough time and money to travel in India. He attended my wedding, just spent a week in Kerala and came back....needless to say, I was really touched.

Environment: Germans care a lot about keeping everything clean and green. They seriously take care of energy conservation. Most people take the public transport to work for this purpose. Lighting in most public places are built in with sensors so that they can be automatically switched off if no human presence/movement is detected.

Noise pollution is one of the most hated words here. Using a horn while driving is considered taboo and is actually illegal within the city. If you are having a loud party on a weekday without informing your neighbours you can be sure that cops will become party-crashers !

My experience: When I first landed in Stuttgart, my expectation of seeing a city with skyscrapers was erased and everywhere I saw it was green. This was amazing given that Stuttgart is one of the most industrialized cities in Germany ! It was so silent in my dorm on the first day, especially since I had arrived much earlier than most people that I had trouble sleeping !!

Loyalty: Germans are extremely loyal to the place they grew up in. They generally would not even consider moving from one state to another.

My experience: When I was working in Stuttgart, all my colleagues had studied in Stuttgart, graduated from the University of Stuttgart and except for a brief stint in a foreign country for an internship or exchange program, all of them had always been in Stuttgart.

Vacation: Germans love their vacation and enjoy it to the fullest. Most jobs come with a 30 day vacation package and add to it 8-10 public holidays. They make really good use of the 40 days. They are great travelers and are extremely interested in knowing/experiencing other cultures and cuisines. These vacations are well planned and during one of these, they fall off the radar completely as in they will not be reachable.

My experience: All my German friends have atleast been to 5 Non-european countries for vacation in the last few years I have known them.

Sports and Entertainment: Germans love watching sport - football and doing sport - swimming, cycling, skiing, trekking (you name it !). Germans are also voracious readers. German is the second most used language in writing books and this is impressive when one considers the number of german speakers in comparison to the rest of the world.

Germans are not television or movie friendly. Believe me when I say most of my colleagues do not even have a TV at home (reminds me of Joey's question from Friends: If you don't have a TV, whats all your furniture pointing at ?! ROFL !!). It is true though. You will find only foreigners and youngsters (since the movie craze is slowly catching on here too) in theatres. I know people who have never heard of Pirates of the Caribbean !!

My experience: The first time I saw my professor, a 50 year old man, coming to the University in a suit but on a bicycle I laughed. But when I realised he cycles 15kms to and fro everyday, the laugh was on me because at my age, I do not believe I can do it and still spend a whole day at the university...I would be exhausted ! And this is the man who owns a Porsche !!

That was a lot of blah...blah...I got carried away, here is a time-saving (and probably less interesting) version of it (dos and donts, if you will)

• Every country has its own history, culture and practices. You don't have to like them all but learn to respect them and to be tolerant. I assure you, they will do the same - I still remain a vegetarian and Germans respect that.
• Multi-cultural interactions are always tricky. So give people the benefit of doubt - is the only way to grow.
• Give people some time to get used to you - do not ask people about their marital status, income and age (especially in case of women)
• Give people some space - do not barge in without appointments or drop by without making a call
• To the most part, I agree with ''Be a Roman in Rome'' but there is no need to lose your identity just because you are in a foreign country - I wear salwars to work in summer when the weather permits it and I wore a sari to the christmas party and everyone loved it.
• Be ready to learn, to face challenges, to have fun !

If you are here already, be ready for an interesting and exciting life !

Studying in Germany - Arrival

Disclaimers: I graduated from the University of Stuttgart in October 2005. A lot of things have/could have changed since then. Most of the information is obviously from my own experience in Stuttgart and from my current stay in Munich. Although other cities in Germany are not drastically different, there could be a lot of city-specific information that I am missing. In short, please google for detailed information. Here is one such link I found - http://www.justlanded.com/english/Germany/Germany-Guide

If this is 'arrival', then obviously there is an article before this and you can read it here.

The first step would be to check your university website for A-Z FAQs. You might be able to find even email ids of senior students who can give you up-to-date information. Here is an example: http://www.ia.uni-stuttgart.de/internat/services/index.en.html

Below given is a list of things you would have to do once you get here. Since many Universities have an orientation program that begins a month before semester begins, to help international students settle down, learn the language and get comfortable with their surroundings. Do not miss this orientation, its a lot of fun and it makes life a lot easier when you are running from lecture to lab to shopping to cafeteria if you atleast know where everything is !

Weather: If you are from a place where the coldest it gets is 20 deg C, then the weather in Germany will surprise you. There are 4 seasons and hence 4 different sets of jackets, clothing and shoes that go with them ! Do not try and buy everything in India, just have a couple of sweaters, a jacket (do not buy a leather one, is very difficult to maintain especially in rain and snow), some thermal undergarments and you can buy the rest here.

Airport to University: Check if the universities have an airport pick-up service. If there is none available, do not panic. All airports in Germany are well connected to cities by means of railway networks and/or public transport. The airport website will have detailed information about it. Here is one example - www.munich-airport.de/EN/ . The 'getting to the airport' section will give you clear information. Besides this, there are always 'Information Counters' in any airport or railway station marked by an "i", also known as "i-punkt".

If you are arriving in Frankfurt and are catching a train to another city, there is a railway station right at the airport. The train availability and price can be obtained from http://www.bahn.de/ . You can also book a ticket online. Note: Please allow a couple of hours for customs, immigration, baggage claim while booking the ticket. Since trains from the airport are always full, getting 'seat reservation' will be a smart idea. Seat reservation can be done at an extra cost of 3 euro per train.

If you have already reserved for accommodation, make sure you know where to pick up the keys from. Send an email with your time of arrival to the concerned person.

Avoid arriving on a weekend since all offices are closed from friday afternoon to monday morning. NO SHOPS ARE OPEN ON A SUNDAY ! All shops close at 8 pm on working days and much earlier on a saturday depending on where you live.

Here is a link to the welcoming service offered by the University of Stuttgart - http://www.ia.uni-stuttgart.de/internat/services/welcoming/index.en.html

Accommodation: As soon as you get your admission letter, start hunting for accommodation information. Most Universities will have student apartments on campus known as 'Studentenwohnheim'. These are usually studio apartments or WG (Wohngemeinschaft). In case of a WG, 3 or more students will share a huge apartment. While the living room, kitchen and bathroom are shared, each student will have his/her own bedroom. Note: Europeans are very touchy about their personal space, so forget the concept of sharing your bedroom with someone.

The 'Studentenwohnheim' is generally reasonably priced. It would save you time in commuting to and from the campus plus it is always a 'happening' place where there is always something going on, to get rid of your loneliness. Even if you decide on staying elsewhere, do so only if you already know someone who can help you find a place or after a few months of staying in Germany, when you have had enough time to settle down.

Formalities: You will get a list of things that should be completed on your arrival in Germany. Your program co-ordinators will offer help to do this. Here is a brief description of those formalities

• Anmeldung: Roughly translated as ‘Registration’. You go to the cityhall (Rathaus or Bürgerbüro), show them a copy of your lease and register yourself as a resident of that city. This address will then be used for all official correspondence you get – welcoming package, tax information etc. This will also be the right time to get your Lohnsteuerkarte (Tax cards). Students pay taxes too, but very little compared to the regular tax system in Germany and for this you need to submit your tax card to your employer. Note: This ‘Anmeldung’ will be regarded as a proof of your address when you try to open a bank account or get your visa extended. So keep this safely until you move to a different place.
• Bank Account: The easiest option is to open a bank account in a bank closest to the University. However you might want to consider a bank that has branches all over Germany. For example, LBBW (Landesbank Baden Württemberg) has branches only in the state BW (Baden Württemberg). Unless you want to do everything online, this bank account will not work if you move out of this state after your studies. Also, choose online banking (and telephone banking) while you open the account. Except cash withdrawal (duh!?), everything can be done online - money transfers locally and internationally, checking account balance, applying for a loan etc. This will save you a lot of time and trouble since Banks are open exactly during your lecture hours ! Note: Do not forget to deposit the DD and travelers cheques you brought with you. Also keep some cash with you for some intial expenses. Thereafter, you can pay for most things using a debit card (NOT credit card), also commonly known as EC Karte.
• Immatrikulation: Now that you have a bank account, you can finally start paying ! Naturally the first thing you pay is the semester fee and you have to enrol at the University and get your student id. This is called Immatrikulation. You have to fill in some forms, submit your documents along with the fee receipt to do this. Beside the student id, you will also get what is known as ''Studienbescheinigung''. This is a small slip of paper indicating your name, student id number and the semester. This would be asked for in a number of places where you have to prove that you are a student. While the student id is valid for 2 years, these slips are issued anew every semester. Note: Remember, the student id is your golden card for discounts everywhere. So never go anywhere without it !!
• Krankenversicherung: Health Insurance (or Krankenversicherung) is mandatory for every resident in Germany. As a student, you have really subsidised rates, around 60-70 euro per month and some of the common Insurance providers are TK, AOK. Again, students usually choose the closest one ! All you would need is your passport, student id and proof of address.
• Visa Extension: The student visa obtained before arriving in Germany will usually be valid for 3 months. Before it expires, you have to go to the Ausländerbehörde (International Office), fill in a form, show your documents - enrolment, address proof, health insurance and pay a fee of 40-60 euro to get your visa extended. usually the visa is given for a year at the end of which you have to do this process again. this is done to ensure that you are indeed still a student and that you are actually studying at the University like you claimed before. Note: Be warned that there is a lot of paperwork in the first 2 weeks and it might be frustrating but once its done, everything else will go on like clockwork !

Food and Shopping: Saturday is called Einkaufstag (Shopping day) since all stores remain closed on sunday (its God's day and you are supposed to pray !). Students usually hit stores like Lidl, Penny Markt and Aldi that offer groceries at subsidised rates (more or less like Walmart) for regular supplies like cereal, milk, yoghurt, frozen vegetables (Fresh vegetables are not available all the time in these stores), fruits etc. and then go once a month or fortnight to the Indian stores for supplies like Dal, Rice, Masala. Your seniors will be able to tell you where these stores are located, which of them is cheaper (Srilankan, Bangladeshi, Pakistani stores are all there in many places and they interestingly always have desi names and sell desi items).

Shopping for electronics in Germany is not a great idea because of the 19% sales tax. If you must have a laptop, then bring one from India or ask your friend/cousin to get one from Singapore or the States. However, you can find deals online or sometimes within your university where there are always special offers for students.

Communication: With developments in technology, this is really not as challenging or as expensive as it used to be. The cheapest option is naturally the various VoIP services available where PC to phone calls are free or costs 3-5 cents per minute. Check out justvoip.com or nonoh.net for more information. This obviously means you need an internet connection or actually a computer to begin with. It is pretty easy to find second hand computer deals from students who are graduating or rising to the level of owning a laptop :D.

• Internet: All universities will have WiFi in public areas - mostly everywhere in the campus and in some case in libraries, cafeteria and classrooms. Also, you will have computer centres where you can go and browse, print etc. Student dormitories will have cheap internet connections that cost 10-15 euro per month.

• Mobile and SIM: Getting a post-paid SIM on a 2 year contract will probably be the cheapest option. In such a contract you can virtually get a mobile phone for free (obviously not the iphone 3G !! asai dosai appalam vadai !!). Pre-paid cards are far too expensive and is an option only if you have a landline number and you want to use your mobile as a ''for-emergencies'' device.

Germany's mobile network o2 has this cool option where your mobile phone will also be assigned a ''local'' number similar to a landline within your home zone (this is a 5km radius with your home address being the centre). In this zone, all calls from and to your phone are billed at the same rate as that of a landline. Note: There are multiple flat-rate options available, so google and ask around before you decide on a plan.

• Calling cards: Calling cards are really outdated now and I have not used one in the last 2 years but this could still be a mode of communication when the internet fails you. You can usually buy them in the desi stores. Trial and error will tell you which ones are good but it usually costs 4 euro for a 1 hr calling card (that usually lasts 40 min and even less if you make multiple calls using the same card).

Traveling: This is probably the best part of being in Europe, you take a wrong turn and you are in a different country. A schengan visa allows you to go to 14 countries (or more, the list keeps growing) and since you have a residence in a schengan country you are allowed to visit Switzerland as well. As a student, you get discounts in train tickets, tourist places entrances etc and you can stay in youth hostels that cost 30 euro a night and visit places you have only heard of in books or seen in Bond movies.

The public transport system in Germany is one of the best and you can reach any nook or corner of Germany without a car. Semester tickets are available for students. Even otherwise, weekend tickets, group tickets (where 5 people can travel with 1 ticket) make traveling pretty cheap.

Driving: If you get an international license, you can drive here for the first 3 months and then you need to get a license here. Getting a license can be very expensive (around 800-1000 euro) and so students never get a license until they graduate and find a job. If you already have a license in India, then you can ''change'' it to a german license within the first 3 years. This 'conversion' process also requires you to take a theory and a practical driving test but you will not be required to practice for a specified number of hours. Beginners should complete atleast 9 hours in the Auto-bahn (highways with no speed limits in select areas) with a driving school before registering for the driving test. Each hour costs 45 euro and hence you can save a minimum of 400 euro if you already know how to drive. Note: If you have time before leaving, learn driving and get a license.

I jotted down information that I think would be useful. If you have any specific questions, leave a comment.

Welcome to Germany and Do India proud ! Good Luck !

Studying in Germany - Before

Disclaimers: I graduated from the University of Stuttgart in October 2005. A lot of things have/could have changed since then. Also, the views in this and any follow up article are purely my own. So the information might not necessarily be ''as-is''. Please check the university websites for detailed information.

The article refers only to Masters in Engineering and related branches as well as Universities. I have no information pertaining to MBA or other non-engineering degrees.

Types of Universities: There are two kinds - University (generally referred to as Universität, Technische Hochschule) and University of Applied Sciences (FH - Fachhochschule). When compared to the education system in India, the former is like an engineering college or university while the latter is like a Polytechnic. FH degrees are recognised as well but the payscale for FH is lower than a University. While Universities are more research oriented, the FH prepares you for a practical application of your skills on the job. If your career goal is to get a PhD or be involved in the state-of-the-art research then a University is the right place for you.

Ranking: Unlike US universities, there is no official ranking list for Universities in Germany. DAAD (http://www.daad.de) might have some related information. However, here is a list of some really good universities (in no particular order) - Uni Stuttgart, TUHH, RWTH Aachen, TU Karlsruhe, TU Darmstadt, TU Munich etc.

Fee Structure: One of the main reasons behind me choosing Germany was because of the golden words ''no tuition fees''. When I was a student I paid 120 euro per semester and this was cheaper than school fees in India ! However things have changed and in the last 2 years, many universities have started charging somewhere between 400-600 euro per semester. This, I believe, is still reasonable considering the quality of the education you get.

Courses: Most Universities offer international programs in English however some also offer bilingual courses where the last semester is in German. The normal course duration for a masters degree is 2 yrs. This will comprise of 2 semesters of classes and labwork, 1 semester of internship and 1 semester of master thesis. Many students however take 5 semesters to finish a course since they spread the coursework over 3 semesters and/or do an internship for a longer time.

Requirements: The basic requirements are bachelors degree and a TOEFL score. However some Universities also make an exception w.r.t the latter if your medium of instruction has been english for your undergraduate degree (Some universities also accept IELTS score in place of TOEFL. If you already taken the IELTS exam, you can write an email to the university and ask them if it is acceptable. It will be, in most cases).The additional requirements are university-specific and may range from a statement of purpose (SOP) to a prepatory exam.

Application: The application process may have 2 steps, an online part which is used for screening following which you send the remaining documents by post. TOEFL gives you the option of sending your scores free of cost to a couple of Universities but atleast when I applied this option was not available for German Universities and they generally accept a photocopy of the TOEFL score. In most cases, there is no application fee.

Visa: Because of the low tuition fees, getting a study visa to enter Germany is not really a nightmare as the US visa. Usually a DD for 7700 euro (amount can vary) should be shown during the interview and this would grant a 3 month visa. One should take this DD to Germany along with the admission letter, go to the international office and get one's visa extended to cover the period of study. More information at http://www.vfs-germany.co.in/

Learning German: Germans speak german...duh ?!....and English is not enough to get by in Germany if you want to live, study and work here. You have to learn German. Most universities offer language classes especially for students. All you need is initiative to learn the language. It is not mandatory to finish multiple levels before arriving here but knowing some basic German would definitely be helpful.

Racism: Germans are NOT racists. They are mostly reserved and are not openly friendly. You need to spend some time to break the ice but once they become friends, they are friends foreever. Like in any country, there are always a bunch of trouble makers here and there but I can confidently say that in all the time I have lived here, my safety has never once been threatened !

Living Conditions: Living in Europe is a very enjoyable experience and more so in Germany where everything more or less is like clockwork. The cost of living obviously depends on where one lives in Germany with cities like Munich, Stuttgart being a lot more expensive than small towns like Aachen. Living costs can be around 600 euro per month and most students work as research assistants (wissentschaftliche Hilfskraft - HiWi) or outside the University to support themselves.

Job Opportunities: During the course of study, getting a HiWi is not challenging. This obviously depends on your resume and your ability to learn German. The key is to be on the lookout for HiWi ads (usually in department websites and bulletin boards) and have the initiative to learn. As a student, nobody expects you to be an expert. If you can work hard and learn, then you will make a good HiWi.

The story is a little different when you graduate. Having been in Germany for atleast 2 years now, employers start expecting you to have a good grasp of German although they realise you are not a native speaker. This is natural since employers would expect the same (w.r.t learning Hindi) even if we travel from the south to the North within India. Also, working as a team is impossible if you are hampered by a language. So, if you have a good resume and a reasonable command over German, you are sure to get a job

Take a course you like and not a course you believe will get you a job because the market, technology, economy and trends keep changing all the time and by the time you graduate, everything could be the stark opposite of what it was when you began studying. The key is to like what you do because it is pretty much something you are going to do for the next 20-30 years and the only way you are going to be good at it is when you are interested in what you are doing !

Germany Vs USA: Many students make the obvious mistake of comparing Germany to the US. Neither is this comparison valid and nor will it make any sense given that the philosophies are entirely different and the only thing common between them is that they are both developed countries. There is quite a difference in the culture, the University environment, people, food, weather, work culture, payscale and obviously the time zones ! One thing that surprises most students is how few desis live here as compared to the States. Please do not expect a dosa corner and a temple in every city.

If you have specific questions, leave me a comment and I will try and answer it to the best of my knowledge and experience. Good Luck !

First time flyer ?

With Air travel being so common these days, most of us or atleast I take numerous things for granted. I realised how some things are just air traffic-specific when I mentioned ''baggage tag'' to a person and he did not have a clue as to what that actually meant.

With numerous aspiring students coming to me for help with regards to studying abroad, I decided to write a bunch of related articles with some tips and here is the first of them.

With umpteen things to remember coupled with a mish-mash of feelings - anxiety of going to a totally new environment, excitement with a touch of trepidation of suddenly being on one's own, worry about leaving near and dear ones, the day when one flies out can be quite overwhelming and you dont want to add the nittygritties of air travel to it.

Here a few tips to make it easier for you. Let me first begin with the well-known (and sometimes ignored) rules of thumb

1. Be on time: Get to the airport atleast 2 hours in advance. If you live far away from the airport and if you are going to reach the airport in peak hours, please take the traffic conditions into account and start early !
2. Documents: Have your passport and ticket handy. You might be required to show it multiple times and fishing for them in your suitcase everytime is obviously not the best way.
3. Check the airline website: It is a good idea to take a look at the airline website to make a note of the facilities that are available and those that are not. Plus any security instructions or flight information will also be regularly updated here.
4. Dress comfortably: Remember the altitude (and the temperature) and the lack of personal space ! All international flights maintain good cabin temperatures and supply blankets as well as small pillows. However it would make sense to not wear boots (and end up with cramped legs) or hawaii slippers (and end up feeling cold).
5. Eat right: Given that you need atleast a couple of hours for all the formalities and that you will not be served anything on board during the first hour, eat something when you leave home unless you want to pay exhorbitantly for a godawful sandwich inside the airport ! Also, airtravel might not agree with everyone's digestive system, so stay away from sweets and fried items and have something light.

Let me move on to specifics.

Check-in: Check-in is the process where you show your air ticket and visa for the destination you intend to travel and get your ''boarding pass''. Like the name says, this document is MANDATORY for boarding the aircraft. The document has your seat number, your boarding gate number. If you lose your boarding pass, a duplicate one should be obtained by paying a fee (usually a heavy one!) and is the only document that is accepted (not even showing a copy of your ticket will help!).

Nowadays, most airlines allow you to check-in ''online'' where you enter your passport details online, choose your seat number and get the boarding pass in the form of a .pdf. Online check in can be done anytime starting 24 hours before flight departure. Note: This is highly recommended since you can save yourself the trouble of standing in a long queue in the airport.

Baggage drop-off: The next step is checking-in your baggage. Every airline has rules about the check-in baggage both w.r.t dimensions and maximum weight. Usually this varies between 20-40 kilos. Depending on the airport, you might be required to have this checked through a x-ray screener at the end of which a ''checked'' stamp will be made on your luggage. Note: Weighing the luggage at home and making sure you are within limits will save a lot of time and trouble.

Every baggage that is checked in will get a baggage tag with details of passenger, destination and a unique identification number. While one will pasted on the suitcase, the other copy will be given to you. Note: Please retain this until you get the luggage at the destination since this will be used to track your baggage if it gets lost. Another helpful way would be to have a printed paper with your name and address inside the suitcase for identification if and when, the luggage gets misplaced. Saying you have blue jeans and red t-shirt on top does not help given that millions of those are manufactured and sold every year !

Luggage allowed on board the aircraft is called cabin baggage or carry-on. Normally this is 5-7 kilos and in addition to this, a small backpack or a laptop or a handbag can be carried on board. Note: Please carry all your valuables - travellers cheques, cash, original documents (degree certificates, marksheets) needed to enroll at the univeristy), watch and any other expensive items you might have. Avoid carrying any food items or liquids in it. You can have a small toilet kit but make sure you do not have any perfume or deo or any other liquid bottle that exceeds 100ml in volume. Reference: http://www.airsafe.com/danger.htm

Emigration: You can look up the dictionary for a definition but in essence this is leaving a country. This will be recorded in your passport as a stamp with the date of departure and you will have to to fill in a form with details of your passport, flight number and destination. Note: Please carry a pen to do all these formalities. It is amazing how many people go around asking for pens in airports !!

Security Check: This is where your carry-on baggage and you are screened and checked. You are made to walk through a screener which is more-or-less a metal detector and in most cases, it will beep either because of your belts, buttons or buckles. In that case, a personal examination will follow where men are examined by men and women by other women.

Boarding Gate: The number of the gate will be mentioned in your boarding pass along with the time you have to be there. Usually passengers will start boarding 30 min to an hour before the departure time, depending on the airport and the airline. You will be required to show a photo identification (usually your passport) along with boarding pass while boarding the aircraft. Note: While waiting at the boarding gate, do not leave you luggage unattended if you have to go to the restroom.

On-board: If anything is not clear, ask the cabin attendants (the airhostesses). They are usually very polite and helpful. Find your seat, put the luggage in the overhead cabin and keep only those things you need (like your ipod, a book etc.) in your place. The less items you have, the better since you avoid the risk of leaving them behind when you land and you dont overcrowd your already limited space.

Drinks will be served only after an hour after departure, usually after reaching the flying altitude. Meals will be served atleast half an hour after that followed by coffee/tea. Note: Just because you have alcoholic drinks to choose from, does not mean you have to get drunk ! Exercise caution !

Quality of in-flight entertainment depends on the airline (usually described in detail in the airlines website). So be prepared to fight boredom and have pity on your co-passenger(s) who is(are) asleep !

Transit: You are said to be in transit when you change planes at one or more airports enroute to your destination. Your check-in baggage will be routed automatically (your baggage tags will also have details of transit airports in it). You only have to take care of your carry-on items. Also, you will have a boarding pass for every flight you take. Lets say you go to Germany via Dubai from Chennai. This trip means there are 2 boarding passes - one for chennai-dubai and the other for Dubai-Germany.

Most places do not ask for a transit visa but it is better to check the visa requirements beforehand. Note: During transit you will be asked to go through security check again, so remember the no-liquids (over 100 ml) rules, especially if you visit the duty free stores. Although duty free stores will give you items in a special package to allow it to pass through secuity check, additional restrictions may force you to give up the package.

Immigration: You have now landed and are ready to enter the new country - that will most likely be your home for the next few years or more. Immigration will involve a couple of uniformed people examining your passport, visa and asking you a few questions as to why you are there, where you will be staying, for how long etc. Depending on the country, you might also have to fill in a form. Note: Have your admission letter, address of where you intend to stay and other details handy.

Baggage claim: Figure out from the display where your airline is off-loading its luggage and find yours from the conveyor belt. Most airports will have a baggage cart either for free or for a couple of dollars. Try to get one to load your luggage (you will not find any porters once you areoutisde India and in a developed country), especially if you have more than one large suitcase. Note: If you have a common brand black or blue suitcase, it is quite likely for you to choose the wrong one, so be on the safer side and check the baggage tag.

Customs: If you do not want to ruefully see all the home-made pickles and sweets go into a trash can, then do some digging w.r.t how strict the customs in the country is. From my experience, there is hardly any problem in bringing such eatables into Germany unlike in Australia where apparently every suitcase is checked and only those edibles with expriy date and ingredient description are allowed into the country. Note: Please do not carry fruits or vegetables or plants with you. These are not allowed into any country !

Do not judge the difficulty of air travel by the length of this article. It is really not as complicated as it sounds. The key is to do your homework, be vigilant and street smart ! Good luck !