#courses in germany for international students

[abroadstudiesoutlook]

Abroad Studies Outlook

www.abroadstudiesedu.com

[strangebiology]

Science Journalism / Writing / Communication Master's Programs 2025 Guide

I did an MS in Science Journalism, and I did a lot of research into them, so here is an updated basic guide. If you're interested, check them out and put their application dates on your calendar. Apply to multiple so you can play their scholarships against each other. That's very important--it could mean the difference between a lifetime of intense financial pressure under building compound interest, and being wealthy enough to own a house! Just for a few emails of negotiations!

Green=FREE! Free ≠ easy or standardless! In fact, free programs can be even harder to get into!

Science Communication MS *NEW!* Location: Hochschule Ansbach in Germany (All classes in English) Price: Tuition-Free! Even for International students! Length: 3 semesters

Science Writing Master's *BEST IMO!* Location: MIT in Cambridge (near Boston) Price: They PAY YOU to go! I've heard the average student profits $40k by going! (Which, of course, will go to living expenses for the year.) Length: 2 semesters (Full disclosure: I didn't go here, but you could say I'm biased in favor of MIT because they're publishing my book. That said, I already believed this was the best program when I saw they pay you to go. Also, MIT is a pretty respectable institution.)

Science Communication Master's Location: UCSC in California Price: $15k for CA residents, $30k for out-of-state. Might be worth living in CA for a year or establishing residence some other way for the discount. (More details) Length: 3 quarters (similar to 2 semesters, roughly a school year)

Science Journalism Master Classes (non-credit) Location: Remote online Price: Free! Thanks to the Kavli Foundation Length: Flexible Note: This one is without any sort of application process, so yes you can do it without experience or quitting your job or moving! The rest are full-time, selective, more traditional mostly in-person programs.

Science Writing MA Location: Remote online via Johns Hopkins University Price: They won't say Length: 16-36 months

Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Location: NYU in New York Price: They won't say, but I think something like $50k-$100k Length: 3 semesters

Science Journalism MS Location: Boston University Price: $65k Length: 1 Year (Doesn't matter, it doesn't exist anymore. This is the one I attended.) More that I haven't looked into! NOTE: All of these have scholarship options so their prices may actually differ. That's why you should apply to more than one. However I really appreciate that some are free for all students that get in, so you don't have to worry.

[mariacallous]

In the 1990s, the feel-good first decade after communism’s implosion, headlines in Central Europe were dominated by the likes of Vaclav Havel, the charming playwright-turned-Czech president who championed civic democracy. Yet, from the start, extreme-right rabble-rousers and brooding nativists lurked in the margins. Decades of Soviet rule had reinforced illiberal attitudes that surfaced in my discussions with ordinary people as I crisscrossed the region as a young correspondent, eventually writing a book about the far right in post-communist Central Europe.

At the time, I believed that Central Europe’s entry into the European Union, which was still far off and uncertain, would nullify the region’s most destructive tendencies. After all, the bloc had accomplished this for postwar Germany, Greece, Portugal, and Spain—all of which had emerged from radical dictatorships to become healthy democracies. Countries didn’t revert to despotism after acceding to the EU. Right?

But in Hungary the unthinkable happened: A state that jumped through all of the hoops to join the EU in 2004 commenced a rapid decline into authoritarianism just six years later. Other member states have endured stretches of democratic backsliding, including Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, and, notably, Poland during the 2015 to 2023 Law and Justice government. But their political systems and societies were resilient enough to fight back and depose strongmen. Hungary did not rise from the mat.

Two new books grant us vivid insight into Hungary’s descent into dictatorship—a feat pulled off so skillfully by Prime Minister Viktor Orban that it inspires awe—and uncover the mechanisms that made the regime’s rise possible, even as the undemocratic country has remained in a bloc designed to promote and deepen the liberal character of its members.

In Embedded Autocracy: Hungary in the European Union, Hungarian political scientists Andras Bozoki and Zoltan Fleck dissect the many-headed hydra of the Orban regime. Orban’s Hungary isn’t an old-school dictatorship that snatched power by a coup or jails opposition figures. As this astute book details, it possesses all the trappings of democracy, including regular, monitored elections; a multiparty opposition; and thus far, the peaceful transfer of power. Today, non-Fidesz mayors rule in the largest, western-most cities such as Budapest, Szeged, Pecs, and Gyor. For most Hungarians, this is evidence enough that their country is a democracy, regardless of the diagnosis of political scientists. This achievement is Orban’s magic, which relies not on spells but rather on the ruthless application of power.

Born in rural Hungary in 1963, Orban—a self-proclaimed “illiberal” politician—was once a liberal activist. He became an anti-communist student leader in the 1980s while studying law in Budapest and even took up a research fellowship at Oxford University on George Soros’s dime. Along with other activists, he founded the Alliance of Young Democrats (Fidesz) in 1988 as a Western-minded movement to promote freedom and democracy. (Bozóki was formerly a member of Fidesz but left the party in 1993.)

Orban has orchestrated every Fidesz twist and turn since, his keen populist instincts charting the course rather than any ideology. Between 1993 and 1994, he jerked the rudder to the right, and in 1998, Orban and Fidesz took the country’s highest office for the first time at the head of a center-right coalition. The Orban government, offering a taste of what the future held, stretched propriety to the limit by rallying the media to its cause, promoting loyalists in the state apparatus, and ingratiating itself with deep-pocketed bankers and industrialists.

In 2002, Orban committed a rare gaffe that resulted in defeat: playing more forcefully to the emerging middle class than to the much larger pool of older, uneducated, poor, rural voters—those ravaged by International Monetary Fund (IMF) and EU-driven market reforms. This group either shied from the polls or voted socialist left. It was not a mistake Orban would make twice.

Fidesz was out of office for the next eight years, and by the late aughts, Orban had transformed it from a conservative party to a populist vehicle that appealed not to a class but to a nation. He purged Fidesz of critical minds, centralized it around himself, and polarized Hungary’s discourse by casting political opponents as the nation’s enemies.

By 2010—six years after Hungary secured EU membership—Orban was raring to pounce. Bozoki and Fleck, though critical of Fidesz’s first turn at governance, argue that the descent into autocracy fell into place that year when Fidesz staged a spectacular comeback with a supermajority in parliament. Orban wasted no time in employing this mandate to hollow out the judiciary, rewrite Hungary’s legal code, and promulgate a new constitution. New laws made it harder for upstart parties to win seats and even easier for a large party, like Fidesz, to capture a legislative supermajority with less of the vote. And the refashioned legal code saw to it that Fidesz’s cronyism and subsequent amassing of power fell close enough within the law that it would not be sanctioned domestically.

Today, Hungary is a flourishing dictatorship. The regime has curtailed press freedom, marginalized the opposition, dismantled democratic checks and balances, controlled civil society, fixed election laws, and neutered criticism—ensuring that only extraordinary events, not elections, could oust it from power.

In Bozoki and Fleck’s telling, Orban’s genius was that he intuited exactly how Hungary was susceptible to this turn. The country possessed next to no democratic tradition before 1989. After the Soviets’ brutal crushing of the 1956 uprising, when Hungarians challenged the Stalinist regime, they fell in line again—in contrast to the Poles who fought communism’s enforcers tooth and nail. These “deep-seated attitudes” continued into the 21st century and contributed to Orban’s ability to entrench authoritarian rule.

“He could change the regime because society was not much concerned with the political system,” the authors write. “What people learned over decades and even centuries was that political regimes … were always external to people’s everyday lives.”

Rather than heavy-handed repression, Orban relied on self-censorship, suppliance, and patronage to keep his subjects in line. Those who toed the line were rewarded with jobs, directorships, and contracts. And, of course, he leaned on his own special cocktail of nationalist rhetoric: “He has provided identity props for a disintegrated society using tropes in line with historical tradition: a Christian bulwark against the colonialism of the West, the pre-eminent, oldest nation in the Carpathian basin, a nation of dominance, a self-defending nation surrounded by enemies,” the authors write.

Fidesz received a tremendous windfall in the aughts when the left-liberal government botched an economic transition based on neoliberal principles, rashly introducing free-market conditions to a society that was woefully unprepared for their fallout. The government created ever greater wealth disparities as it followed the “shock therapy” prescriptions of Western institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF, as well as the EU. In 2007, Hungary’s own debt crisis sent the country into a tailspin, a meltdown that the global economic crisis turbocharged the next year.

The socialist-liberal coalition of those years heaped blunders on top of blunders—such as the prime minister’s recorded admission that he lied to win the 2006 election—before crumbling. So thoroughly did the liberal partner in the coalition self-destruct that for a decade afterward, Hungary fielded no liberal party at all.

In the eyes of many Hungarians, the economic collapse discredited market capitalism, and liberal democracy with it. They understood it as one bundle that foreign actors had foisted upon them. Twenty years after democracy’s debut, the population welcomed a strongman who claimed to cater to “Hungarian interests” rather than those of elites in Brussels and Washington.

It is in the name of “national unification,” Fidesz’s blanket legitimation for nearly all of its reforms, that the party re-nationalized much of the industrial sector, as well as banking, media, and energy. Over the 2010s, Bozoki and Fleck write, Orban would decimate civil society and end “autonomy in public education, universities, science, professional bodies, and public law institutions.” Under these conditions, it is impossible to call any election free or fair, even if ballot boxes aren’t being stuffed.

Bozoki and Fleck’s fine book is buttressed by David Jancsics’s narrower Sociology of Corruption: Patterns of Illegal Association in Hungary, another work that understands egregious corruption as integral to the regime. At the book’s start, Jancsics, a Hungarian-born sociologist at San Diego State University, makes a simple observation: that corruption in Hungary today is on a scale unthinkable in the Soviet era.

This is quite a claim—in the 1990s, one of the most repeated reasons for Central Europe’s disgust with the Soviet system was its prevalent corruption. But the author backs it up. Although graft is still despised in Hungary today, because most people don’t benefit from it, Jancsics makes the case that it has once again been accepted as the way things are done.

Since 2010, Jancsics writes, “the Fidesz regime has effected a radical transformation of grand corruption patterns … in which complex corrupt networks are professionally designed and managed by the very top of the political elite.” Networks dominated by members of Orban’s inner circle now control not only political institutions, but also the economy, and “uninterruptedly siphon off a huge amount of public resources from the government system.”

These networks of Orban’s cronies and relatives are protected by a thick layer of shell companies that disguise the real owners of the businesses that profit from their proximity to government, Jancsics writes. And like the changes to Hungary’s political structure, the regime has fashioned laws to make its corruption legal.

Jancsics uses the example of the country’s $2.5 billion tobacco industry to illustrate this stripe of corruption. In 2012, the rubber-stamp Hungarian parliament passed a law that turned the sector into a state monopoly—purportedly to stop underage smoking—and decreed that all cigarette sales must occur under new concessions contracts. The government then created the national Tobacco Nonprofit Trade Company to oversee the distribution of new licenses. The company doled these out to members of networks close to the government. Two years later, another law passed stipulating that shops could only buy tobacco products from a state-owned intermediary. According to Jancsics, investigative journalists revealed that one person—Lorinc Meszaros, the then-mayor of Orban’s hometown—stood behind much of this scheme, which more than 500 shell companies helped obscure. Today, Meszaros is Hungary’s wealthiest man.

The crumbs of this hugely lucrative operation trickled down to lower-level party clientele. “It seems the legislators used the restructuring and reregulation of the whole tobacco market not only for the benefit of a few powerful oligarchs or proxy oligarchs but also for rewarding a large number of party clientele,” Jancsics writes. “Family members, spouses, siblings, parents, in-laws, friends, or even neighbors of people linked to the governing party won several concessions.”

The EU has not only watched this level of corruption unfold. As Bozoki and Fleck show, Brussels has been complicit in Hungary’s metamorphosis, supplying the funds to grease the regime’s operations. Like all of the EU’s Central European members, Hungary has profited immensely from EU cohesion funds, which are designed to bring the economies of weaker member states up to scratch. Between 2014 and 2020, Hungary received around $34 billion in EU funds, which Bozoki and Fleck argue has only solidified the ruling elite’s hold on power.

The EU finally got tougher in 2018, when it sanctioned Budapest for breaching the bloc’s core values. The following year, the European People’s Party, the European Parliament’s grouping of center-right parties, finally expelled Fidesz from its ranks. Over the past three years, the EU has frozen more than $31 billion to Hungary, including COVID-19 recovery funds, over rule of law deficits.

But this hasn’t forced Budapest to significantly modify any of its most flagrant abuses. Although there were loud objections from within the European Parliament, Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union in July. Orban has continued to veto EU aid to Ukraine and increased its reliance on Russian fuels at a time when the bloc is striving to quit Russian imports. Perhaps more than any moves Hungary has made as council president, Orban’s friendliness to the Kremlin in exchange for cheap energy has weakened the EU as a foreign policy actor.

The EU is paying an enormous price for indulging Orban, not least by sanctioning a template for populist takeovers elsewhere in Europe. The bloc’s clout in terms of its ability to shape commerce, values, and policy coordination is obviously not as great as I once imagined. Hungary’s brazen disrespect and power plays have weakened it even further.

Now, the EU as we know it is under siege across Europe, where Orban allies hold or share power in the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, Austria, and Croatia. These rightists want an EU with fewer powers and less centralization—a Europe of nations—and many look to Hungary for leadership. Even U.S. President-elect Donald Trump pays homage to Orban, whom he has called “fantastic” and a “great leader.” These other pretenders will hopefully come and go—as ruling parties and their leaders do in democracies—but history teaches us that Hungary’s embedded autocracy will not disappear anytime soon.

[fandomfluffandfuck]

Oh I'm sorry did I hear you're taking requests again? 🤭

Cute and fluffy high school Evanstan dating, please.

Imagine teenage Chris being all goofy yet charming and Sebastian's just smitten. He laughs at everything coming out of Chris' mouth. Then he's internally like "Jesus, calm down, you're being real desperate right now" but Chris is not thinking about that at all. Because he's so smitten with Sebastian himself, and he's like giving himself a pat on the shoulder in his mind, feeling real proud for being able to make someone actually laugh this much, and, it's Sebastian of all people too. But anyway, even though they're dating, they're still crushing real hard on each other, and try to hide the majority of it (and fail miserably, whether they realize that or not). But they're just so goddamn cute.

And then bonus point: imagine them marrying each other years later. They're each other's high school sweethearts. Aw maaan (in Anthony Mackie's voice)

Ugh, that doesn't count as anon's writing okay? That was a prompt. (Only If you're interested in it, of course) I would appreciate every single word you would write about this. Thank you!

This SO easily could be made much more fantastical and movie, a-la Not Another Teen Movie with jock Chris and popular boy Sebastian

But, just like you said, I love the thought of two dorky fucking theater kids giggling together and blushing so hard when their hands brush in the hallway or having awful all-tongue kisses before either of them knows how to kiss--it makes both of them cringe, it's so bad, but that's okay, they're bad together.

Too fucking sweet!

I can think of so many different scenarios for ✨them✨

When they're crushing hard on each other but have yet to admit it because Seb is a new student in Chris' school and they have yet to really meet--they've only seen each other's faces in the hall. Then, with butterflies, Sebastian always finds himself turning around sharply, spinning on his heel in a tight circle in the hallways. He would rather be caught dead than have to face his crush and stumble through an awkward conversation or get teased by his crush.

So, Seb practically runs through crowds of students to get away from Chris with that bright, shining smile and habit of making friends with anyone and everyone--jocks, theater kids, whoever. And because of Seb's bashfulness, Chris is convinced that that shy, sweet kid who doesn't talk so much in class because the other students make fun of his softened accent doesn't like him. Chris is a little heartbroken about it, too. He tells his older sister, Carly, and his Ma about it and they brush it off lovingly, surely, he's just shy and he'll come around, you'll have a class with him eventually and learn his name and talk to him. It'll work out.

It does work out.

After a first semester of evasion on Sebastian's part and hopeful intrigue on Chris', they end up in the same theater class together, same period, same teacher despite being in different years. Huh, Sebastian is a year younger than him. Chris didn't suspect that, but, hey, now the baby face makes more sense. Either way, suddenly, not only are they in the same class, now they're also playing silly theater games together, breaking the ice and laughing and bonding over the arts.

Chris learns, captivated by the other boy as he speaks, his voice soft and sweet with a lilt that flows over the syllables in a way that Chris has never heard before but is immediately obsessed with, that Sebastian is from Romania, lived in Germany for a short time, for an even shorter time was in New York City, and then came with his Mom (and probable, soon-to-be step-father) to Massachusetts. He's here. And, when Chris eggs him on and gets his mouth running, Chris also learns that for a while, Sebastian thought he should find a new name. An American name. He considered the name Chris.

Chris laughs because what are the odds? But he wishes he didn't because in an instant, Sebastian's smile dims and he grows quiet, unsure of his welcome. To apologize, Chris reaches out, setting his hand on his shoulder, and says so, "I'm sorry," he fumbles, "I just thought it was funny because then we'd have the same name. How funny would that be, dude? Hi, what's you're name? Chris. Oh, well, me too. Nice to meet you, Chris, I'm Chris." Chris finds his heart beating a little too fast, rambunctious as he does a voice for himself and for Sebastian, trying to cheer him up.

It works.

Sebastian laughs and, oh my god, Chris' whole world frickin' lights up. He's pretty sure he's in love. He's only ever felt so light and entranced the first time he saw a movie with Sandra Bullock or, god, Elisabeth Shue.

Keep it together, my guy, Chris shouts at himself in his head, his mind's eye suddenly awash with the incredibly uncool posters he has on his bedroom walls. A big, like, huge poster of Sandy and a smaller one of Elisabeth push a few run-of-the-mill posters of surfers and snowboarders that were too boyish for Carly to want out of her teen magazines. He needs to do something about those. He needs to be cooler. He needs Sebastian to like him. Ugh! not to mention the stuffed animals he still has. Some of them even sit on the side of his bed, their backs against the wall. He doesn't sleep with a teddy bear (technically), but they do sit there when he sleeps and sometimes he rolls over on top of them and crushes them in his sleep which makes him feel bad later even though he knows they can't feel it, they're not sentient, and--

Tighten up, c'mon, Chris urges himself, talking to himself in his head once more. He can't be spiraling out with this guy in front of him! He's trying to make conversation. He's trying to be cool.

Or... nevermind because their teacher interrupts any other chance of conversation with the next exercise.

After that first quick conversation, the boys are paired together more. Each time, they learn more about each other and, unbeknownst to the other, they hold tightly onto the information, willing themselves not to forget it so the next time they talk they don't stumble quite so hard.

Once, Chris is out with his Ma and siblings grocery shopping and he's interrupted in a not-so-serious argument with Scott about something that he can't even be bothered to remember when he hears--

"Uh, hi?"

Chris spins around and finds his face breaking into a surely dorky grin because Sebastian, it's Sebastian calling his name, unsure of himself, clearly, but confident enough to approach him and say hello and Chris might almost clobber him going in for a hug when Sebastian reaches for a handshake.

"Dude!" Chris says, pulling back to admire see his smile. He's wearing basketball shorts and a NASA sweatshirt, both bigger than he is, hanging off of him like hand-me-downs but Sebastian doesn't have any siblings so Chris wonders if they're his or his soon-to-be step-father's. Maybe. Maybe his mom still buys his clothes and insists that he can grow into them.

It's only when they're staring at each other, unsure of what to say, that Chris notices Sebastian's hair is wet and curling messily like he took a shower before spontaneously appearing in this grocery store on a Wednesday evening.

Sebastian is the one to break their silence, he also is the first one to get out of Chris' Evans'-typical-octopus-hold--what can he say, he's a hugger like his Ma--stepping back and going, "y'know, I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing so many bananas."

Chris is red.

Chris is thinking about bananas in a very, very inappropriate way. What could he possibly be talking about?

Sebastian, he notices, is turning red, too, but probably for very different reasons. Maybe. But he is definitely doing that thing he does when he's unsure of his place and his mouth is suddenly running away from him, talking about how in Romania and even to some extent in Vienna, there were never any bananas and little to no fresh fruit of any kind because of... of, y'know, he makes sure to look around before whispering communism.

Chris doesn't know much of anything about communism, just what they talked about in history with the Cold War so he just nods and tells Sebastian that he better buy a whole bunch then. Miracle of miracle, that makes Sebastian laugh. He confesses, turning his head and putting a hand over the side of his mouth so it's just the two of them--just Sebastian's warm breath on Chris' face, he's actually kind of sick of bananas now because of how many he ate when he first arrived in the U.S. Chris isn't sure if he's supposed to laugh or not, it doesn't seem super funny, it's a little more sad, but he laughs because Sebastian is telling him so theatrically that it must be a joke to him.

Sebastian gives him a secret smile, his hand still up to his mouth, and then scurries away to a disembodied voice just a few isles over, someone calling his name, heavily accented and musical, See-bass-tea-an. Chris lets it echo in his head and then tries it on his tongue, pronouncing the other's name the way it was intended, quiet, just to himself. See-bass-tea-an. That must be his Mom, calling for him, wondering where he wandered off to. And... right.

Yeah.

Chris should go back to his family, too, despite the stars circling his head like a cartoon character that's been hit with a mallet and is now wandering around in circles. Maybe it isn't love because Chris doesn't feel like this when he sees his favorite actresses on screen, this is... different. More intense. Definitely different. Maybe love. He stumbles back to Scott to half-heartedly, playfully shove him as the argument starts again.

They keep bumping into each other, talking in class but also in the hallways and at lunch. Sebastian starts sitting with Chris and his friends and it's great, the school year starts to fly by, until...

Everyone has been cast for the theatre department's third production of the year. Auditions are over, lines are being memorized, and rehearsals are underway. Chris was lucky enough to get the lead boy role and, on top of that luck, Sebastian was cast, too! So, now, they get to spend even more time together and it's great. Again, until...

The lead girl is out sick.

Nothing serious, just an unseasonal bout of the flu. It's nearly spring and it doesn't make sense but Chris would rather she stay home and rest rather than run herself into the ground before opening night is even here. Plus, this way, they don't have to practice kissing in rehearsals (which will never not be nerve-wracking) and Chris doesn't have to get sick himself, swapping spit. The only bad thing is that it means Chris is running lines by himself, making stupid, big gestures alone on stage (the teacher is running emergency runner-up auditions, just in case the lead girl misses more practice), pretending to grab a non-existent girl's waist and dip her to kiss her.

*Non-existent* and a *girl's waist* until someone shoves Sebastian out of the dark backstage where he had been waiting for his next cue as they do the run-through.

There he is, stumbling out into the light on colt-ish legs and suddenly Chris is bold enough, heart racing in his chest--encouraged by the voices of his Ma and sister and friends--to grab Sebastian and do the scene with him. Sebastian doesn't know his lines, and he's giggling because of it, but it doesn't matter. He's watched Chris do it enough to know when to react and how to move, swaying with him, gasping when he needs to. And Chris, just, does it.

Chris kisses Sebastian.

In the middle of the stage, standing in a blinding, sweltering spotlight, just as himself and not as his character, Chris kisses Sebastian's soft lips and, holy fuck, Sebastian is kissing him back.

Chris doesn't know what to do. He didn't think this far. He... he dips Sebastian like he was supposed to dip the girl but he doesn't kiss him as he dips him, feeling Sebastian scramble to hold onto him, afraid of falling. Instead, Chris whispers, their lips still brushing, "there's a spring dance in a few weeks, would you come with me?"

Sebastian's eyes flutter open and stretch wide, processing his question. Chris has never seen such a pretty, glittering color as what's entrapped in his eyes--they're blue, grey, almost green in the stage lighting. Absolutely mesmerizing.

His fingers dig tighter into his shoulders as Chris lifts them both back up to standing, "r-really?" Sebastian asks, his voice soft. The words are just for them. Not the characters they're playing. "Like, as your date? Not just because we're friends?"

Chris nods, confirming, "as a date."

Sebastian's verifiably soft lips split into a dazzling grin, kittenish and heart-stopping, "okay."

"Okay," Chris echoes, stuck in the magic of the moment. This feels like a movie, standing center stage where the boy gets the g--boy.

The boy gets the boy.

"Gentleman," their teacher claps her hands together once from the auditorium seating, shocking them both, leaving them to slide apart, a scant few inches between them, "that's enough goofing around." She twirls her finger in a circle, her voice gentle but without room for argument, "let's run it from the top."

Before Seb is whisked off the stage by a few of their mutual friends laughing and mostly quietly hollering, oooohing like middle schoolers rather than the high schoolers they are, he shoots Chris another one of those secret smiles and, god, Chris has forgotten every single one of his lines.

Do NOT get me started on the sheer amount of teasing that would happen if they did get married eventually, or just were long, long-term boyfriends and then were in Marvel and met Mackie. The jokes. Too much. I would love that.

[drsonnet]

"Today, in this upside-down world, we feverishly await the final vote in the U.N. General Assembly on the genocide in Srebrenica, while Gaza has been destroyed, and its people starved and denied water." (Illustration by Erhan Yalvaç)

Of villains, heroes and the final act

Of villains, heroes and the final act | Opinion (archive.org)

BY FARHAN MUJAHID CHAK - MAY 14, 2024

A UNGA resolution condemning the Srebrenica genocide is developed by countries like Germany and the U.S., despite their complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza by supporting Israel

Ino longer believe in fairy tales, although I once did.

Raised with ideals of sacredness in life, I was taught to honor the sanctity of humanity, to champion international law, and to cherish freedom of speech as the cornerstone of societal progress. I believe the Geneva Conventions were a manifestation of our collective conscience that mandated the rules of war and held nations to account. Women and children; hospitals and schools; the elderly and infirm were inviolable. I was taught that "peaceful protest" was the quintessential liberty of a sophisticated society that understood the relationship between civic activism, social change and progress. I listened, attentively, to the lofty rhetoric and was enthralled. I would utter high-sounding words on democracy, equality and freedom, and those grand glutinous words stuck to my teeth. I was – in a way, smitten.

Head-over-heels over values that deeply resonated in me, yet I slowly became disillusioned. It became evident those hollow words were never meant to be believed, only used to establish authority and reproach others with their inhumanity. Justice was not blind, and race, color and creed mattered in the application of the law. It is in this troubled context that the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will vote on whether to declare July 11 "The International Day of Reflection and Remembrance of the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide." The complex intersection of the ongoing genocide in Palestine, the war on students and free speech on university campuses across the United States, Canada and Europe, and the former genocide in Srebrenica deserves closer scrutiny. The U.N. vote on the Bosnian genocide could not come at a more condemnable moment in world history.

On May 1, after considerable delay, a draft U.N. resolution on the Srebrenica genocide was submitted to the president of the 193-member U.N. General Assembly. Recall that in 1995, the town of Srebrenica was a U.N.-declared safe zone promised protection by a U.N. Dutch force. Dozens of able-bodied Muslim men in the town were asked to disarm, which they did. Despite that, fanatical Serb forces overran the safe zone and murdered 8,372 Muslim men and boys. Such is the perverse reality of the world we live in, that a U.N.-mandated safe haven, supposedly protected by U.N. forces, was invaded by terrorist Serb forces and a genocide ensued under their watch.

Bizarre irony

Now, a UNGA resolution on the Srebrenica genocide, partially modeled on a similar resolution for Rwanda, has been developed by several countries including Germany and the U.S. Absurdly, both are collaborators in the genocide currently underway in Gaza by direct military, economic and diplomatic support for Israel. This is the bizarre irony of being complicit in an ongoing genocide and putting forth a U.N. Resolution condemning the same.

What is the point of passing a resolution on genocide and turning a blind eye to one going on for the whole world to see? Sadly, villains need masks and no better cover than virtue. It is politics, not ethics, that is driving the U.N. Srebrenica vote. Of course, this does not diminish the necessity of it or the need to condemn the Srebrenica genocide and its denial. Still, the larger macro-level betrayal of the Geneva Conventions and International Human Rights Law by the U.S., U.K. and Germany is an indictment of the Western-led global order.

It is that outright duplicity, the sheer savagery of the genocide in Palestine, and the silencing of dissent that has provoked a whole generation of young people on campuses throughout the West. After all, they, too, were told stories about diversity, inclusion and pluralism. They were taught to condemn discrimination based on ethnicity, religion or gender. About equality before the law and the inviolability of non-combatants. They were raised to feel empowered and encouraged to peacefully organize and express their opinions. And, that society benefits when individuals exercise their civic duty. Now, they are witness to the flagrant disavowal of the moral archetypes that were instilled in them. They feel duped and are protesting, as heroes do, the enabling of genocide by their universities. Idealistic and courageous, they are sacrificing their education and careers to condemn the genocide in Palestine. Except rather than being celebrated, thousands of students have been beaten, harassed and arrested. Condemned for believing in the values that they were taught.

Now, we seem to be in the final act. One of impunity – if you will, in which we close our eyes to the genocide in Palestine, condemn students who protest it, and negotiate ways to commemorate a past genocide in Srebrenica – when ignoring it while it happened. Today, in this upside-down world, we feverishly await the final vote in the UNGA on the genocide in Srebrenica, while Gaza has been destroyed, and its people starved and denied water.

Yet, no matter the outcome of the resolution, it will not stop future genocides. Still, if nothing else, it will forever be a testament to the twisted dystopian reality in which we live and be a symbol of the urgent need for a new world order. Maybe, one faraway day, we can muster the will – for whatever purpose, and pass a U.N. resolution condemning it. Or name a highway after the martyrs. We will tell noble stories about those who were killed since it seems our twisted world only after their death feigns to honor them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Professor of International Affairs, Visiting Research Faculty at Al Waleed Center for Muslim Christian Understanding at Georgetown University

[anger-and-red-flames]

imagine you re a German leftist organization and you re sending out leaflets saying its antisemitic to accuse Israel of committing a genocide :)

but ofc you also claim its antisemitic to view jewish people as an ethnic collective, and someones jewishness as an inherent, unchangeable characteristic.

which of course never gets criticized about Israels birth right trips or the way "jewish born" people can easily obtain Israeli citizenship.

like damn this is a "leftist" organization and I m so tired of how inconsistently people apply their own antisemitism definitions and how we are day after day keeping quiet about the Palestinian genocide, in which German weapons are being used in.

people are accusing groups of Palestine solidarity anti imperialist groups of being antisemitic because of the way they are focusing on Israels crimes - but oh my god in which other genocide are German weapons being used, germany is being sued for genocide at the icj, we are the only major non us ally Israel has left.

so of course as German anti imperialists and anti militarists we are focusing on the genocide our government is facilitating, and calling people "antisemitic" for doing so is absurd and doing a disservice to the actual threats jewish people in germany are facing.

a nazi tried to shoot up a synagogue a few years ago in the city of halle, and local "antifascists" are focusing more on stopping a teenage trans girl from attending a pride event than on stopping the fucking nazi protest against the event.

and yes, there is antisemitism among those calling themselves leftists, and in the one major case I know off the other anti imperialists immediately educated and heavily critiqued the girl - and in the case where people where on the way of accidentally perpetuating the "jewish people as demons" trope I talked to them and explained the history which makes this trope so insidious and dangerous, and, surprise, people thanked me and changed the text.

meanwhile nazis are beating up queer, jewish, muslim and leftist people, but what are the "anti antisemitism fighters" focusing on? Universities where some students are saying "yallah yallah intifada" or jewish academics publicly calling out Israel. germany is banning jewish scholars from working, jewish artists from performing, accusing jewish people speaking out in solidarity of Palestine to represent an "antisemitic ivory tower".

and this stupid leftist organization remains silent because standing with the fucking international law and humankind might be inconvenient. I hate it here.

[starboishifting]

⋆˙⟡♡ || better c/r info

my name is charlie lee (they/he), i'm 20 years old and am widely known for my content creation. my boyfriends are ethan (he/him) and andy (they/them), both of whom gained their initial popularity through tiktok for their marauders cosplays. i cosplay, too, though less actively than they do, and i join their streams on occasion, but more out of love for them than for an actual care for streaming.

⋆˙⟡♡ || school

i am an art major at paracosm academy, a school i created. the school has three major branches; one in manhattan, one in edinburgh, and one in seoul. it accepts students beginning at age 14 and extends into undergraduate programs up to master's degrees. i went to school in seoul until i turned 19, when i made the decision to move to edinburgh to be with my best friends. the school offers everything from bioengineering to philosophy, from psychology to art history, from gender studies to forensic sciences, from contemporary dance to comparative religion. there's something for everyone, and it's completely free; even the branch in the us. there is a unifrom up until age 18, or the end of senior year of high school, whichever comes first. that's not to say it's not difficult, because it most certainly is. however, there are a million opportunities for anyone coming out of the school, with thousands of intern/extern programs, apprenticeships, hiring opportunities, and more. i am double majoring in fashion design and traditional art; my final for both this year is a piece inspired by greek mythology, so i'm making both thanatos themed. of course, ethan and andy are helping.

⋆˙⟡♡ || family

my parents were both massive marketing moguls who ended up buying into major companies and then selling those stocks two decades later to end up richer than god. my brother, elliot, is now a world-famous chef based out of seoul, so i stayed with him while i was in seoul instead of living on campus. my parents live in greece, because they moved there from seoul a year before i was born because they were 45 and wanted an early retirement. they bought too much land and ended up 'loaning' it out to the residents of the island (the residents use the land for whatever they want and we make sure the government can't say shit or tax them unfairly). when i was growing up, my mum and dad, yuri and thomas, gave me all their time and attention, simply because they could and i was worth that. every summer, we'd go to a different country and spend the warm months there. my favorite was when i was 16 and we went to france, where i met ethan for the first time. we've been to russia, america, italy (to be fair we go to italy all the time but still), malta, india, vietnam, singpore (my second favorite, because goddamn the architecture is simply exquisite), canada, brazil, peru, chile, germany, turkey, france, thailand, china, japan, poland, slovakia, england, and many other countries over the years for so many things; i've never once flown coach.

⋆˙⟡♡ || friends

most of my friends don't live in edinburgh because i've spent so much of my life in seoul or traveling. but my favorite people all live in scotland; ethan and andy (obviously), @zipper-is-ranting, wanda, damien, taylor, ashlyn, etc. to be honest, if i didn't meet someone at school, i know them through ethan and andy, because i never leave the goddamn flat.

⋆˙⟡♡ || how i met ethan

when i was 16 years old, my parents decided to give me what i'd been asking for for years; a summer in france. on the third day of our stay, they'd sent me out of the hotel so they could "sleep", and i spent the morning walking through paris, nothing but adoration in my eyes. eventually, i grew hungry, and i found myself wandering into a little patisserie. I ordered far too much, my eyes much larger than my stomach. besides, i'd just bring some back for mama and papa. but as i'm walking out, carrying all these bags and boxes of pastries and breads and sweets, i bump into the prettiest boy i've ever seen in my life. i know the second my eyes meet his that i'll never move on. not only does he help me balance the bags and boxes, but when i offer him some of the food as thanks, he very promptly says, "fuck it," and leads me to a small park. we spend the entire day there, eating ourselves sick and laughing until long after the sun's set. he walks me back to my hotel, gives me his number, and we see each other every day for the rest of my trip. after i go back to school, we stay in touch, talking almost every day for years until i move to scotland.

⋆˙⟡♡ || how i met andy

i met andy after ethan did. them and ethan met over tiktok when they started stitching each other's videos (i, of course, watched this all occur from afar, giggling my ass off as i watched my best friend develop this absolutely debilitating crush), and when i went to visit ethan once, he introduced me to andy and the rest of his irl friends. andy and i instantly hit it off, and i (also) had a massive crush on this slovakian spitfire almost instantly. i spend a month in edinburgh, getting to know ethan's friends and spending a bit too much time with andy. by the time i go back to seoul, i'm vegan and head-over-heels in love with my two favorite people who are falling in love with each other.

⋆˙⟡♡ || the future~

the future? bright.

[save-the-villainous-cat]

Things to remember when studying in Germany for University as an international student?

I’m not an international student so I can’t really give you any advice on that I guess.

But just some info on Unis in general.

1. Public universities are tuition-free but semester fees are from like 100€ to 300€ (mine is like 260€) so you should rather focus on housing and your study visa when it comes to money.

2. Most Unis have Studentenheime which are basically just dorms — those aren’t necessarily cheaper than an apartment, though.

2. Language depends on which Studiengang (course of study) you choose. I study biology which means all my modules are in German.

3. Modules mostly consist of lectures and a practical course. That depends on your Studiengang and your university, though.

4. Don’t choose medicine. It’ll fuck you up.

5. Depending on your modules, you will either have to take a final exam (100% of your grade) at the end of the semester or you’ll have to write a Hausarbeit (percentage of your grade depends on your prof/module) or something else. But those are mostly the two main ways of grading you.

6. Do not trust Deutsche Bahn. Ever.

7. Depending on your modules you’re not obligated to go to lectures at all. The profs do not care at all.

8. Depending on your Studiengang, you will have to take a test to prove your German skillzzz

9. No one will remind you to do your work. No one will run after you. No one will force you to study. But people will help you if you ask them.

10. Make friends. Connections are important. Don’t mind old people staring at you. Spend your afternoons at cafés with your friends (that’s what I do at least and I’m doing pretty well…)

11. Don’t be afraid to quit. If it’s not for you, then it’s not. You have no time to waste.

[abroadstudiesoutlook]

Study abroad

www.abroadstudiesedu.com

9446005177

[the-light-of-stars]

Multiple palestinian, jewish, german and international leftist organisations, among them members of the BDS movement and Jewish Voice for a Just Peace, have been organising an event for the discussion and education on matters of palestinian liberation and human rights under the title 'Palestine Congress'.

German politicians and media have been repeatedly calling this event things like "terror event" or "event to spread 'imported antisemitism'" (a racist term common in the current german discussion referring to the idea that antisemitism in germany stems from and is being spread by immigrants and not from ethnically german citizens) and have been calling for a boycott and ban of the event and repercussions against its participants, and have already enacted repercussions against jewish organisations like Jewish Voice in the name of supposedly 'fighting antisemitism' , an argument the german government and media keep bringing up as a moral pretense to justify their continued support of Israel as their second biggest supplier of weapons, and which in the past months and years has lead to the arrests of many protestors, a very large part of them jewish.

"Broad resistance against 'Palestine Congress'"

A broad alliance [of people] from politics and civil society has called for a protest against the 'Palestine Congress' that is supposed to happen in Berlin at the end of the week.

"Berlin must not become the center of terror glorification", emphasized the alliance and explicitly referred to an appeal by the youth organisations of the political parties Grüne [greens/progressives], SPD [social democrats], FDP [liberals] and CDU [conservatives] as well as the youth forum of the German-Israeli-Society (DIG) and the Jewish Student Union Germany.

Famous supporters of the alliance are among others the parliament members Alexander Throm (CDU), Wolfgang Kubicki (FDP), Kevin Kühnert (SPD), Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP) and the former Berlin senator of culture Klaus Lederer (Linke [the left]).

This sentiment and call for protest was shared by the president of the Central Council of Jewish People in Germany who was quoted on the organisation's twitter account:

" Dr. Schuster regarding the planned Palestine Congress in Berlin: 'This event is a parade of anti-zionism and very certainly will not find any answers for the suffering of the civilian population in Gaza. On the contrary: Those who disregard the terror of Hamas and with it also the murderous strategy of the organisation against its own civilian population discredit themselves."

This of course is referring to the popular (in german media and politics) talking point that the deaths and otherwise suffering of civilians in Gaza was not caused by Israel but by palestinians themselves, specifically this argument states that Israel is only defending itself and is intentionally being tricked or forced into killing and starving civilians and breaking human rights conventions by Hamas as some sort of palestinian strategy to discredit the israeli government and that it is not doing this out of its own volition, and that the Gazan civilian populace acts as 'shields' for Hamas that Israel is forced to attack against its will for the sake of self defence.

German media and politicians love calling Israel the victim and treating palestinians as both the perpetrators and collateral damage , at most offering a fake 'oh the situation for the civilians is not good' while cutting off aid to Palestine and increasing weapons sales to Israel.

Of note for this particular situation:

The Palestine Congress is organised by multiple palestinian, jewish, german and international leftist organisations, among them also the jewish organisation Jewish Voice for a Just Peace.

Just recently a german state bank had frozen the organisation's bank account, thus freezing thousands of euros the organisation had meant to use as funding for the Congress. The bank also had demanded a detailed list of all of the organisation's members, including data such as their names and home adresses.

"The repression of the german state against the Palestine solidarity movement are escalating daily, they range from prohibition of demonstrations to police raids, and now the bank account of a jewish organisation was frozen in the name of fighting antisemitism - by the Berlin Sparkasse, a financial institution under public law." , said Wieland Hoban, chairperson of 'Jewish Voice' to jW on wednesday.

The unconditional support of Israel, that may be sold as a moral imperative but that serves real political purposes, leads to a 'dehumanisation of palestinians' and a declaration of war against everyone who calls for equality and freedom for them. "Who thinks they're ensuring jewish safety by doing this is gravely mistaken." so Hoban."

[bloody-wonder]

how did you learn to speak so many languages? and are there any resources u would reccomend for learning?

bc i'm from ukraine i have two first languages, however i don't want to ever speak russian anymore so there's that. i started learning english in school like most people, then i got into an international relations program at the uni and it had rigorous english courses bc we were meant to graduate with a double qualification "political scientist / interpreter from english". our profs were very strict and we were scared shitless of them so that was a good motivation to study diligently. at the same time i started watching movies and tv shows in english and then later also reading books and fanfic, using tumblr and watching youtube - everything in english bc it has a chokehold on media. so that was basically a carrot and stick method lol

similarly i started learning german in school as the second foreign language but my big german enthusiast era began later when i fell down the rabbit hole of austrian musicals - a niche obsession that pretty much changed my life. while i did a couple of language courses and went through many a textbook none of them had a bigger influence on my progress than listening to and singing songs from those musicals and religiously watching and translating interviews with my favorite performers. later in my early 20s i moved first to germany, then to austria to study art history (and watch musicals live!😀) which opened a whole new level of proficiency bc the sad truth is no matter how well you can learn a foreign language on your own you will never reach the same level as when you're forced to speak it every day (especially in an academic setting) surrounded by native speakers.

anyways all this to say sadly i can't really recommend any resources bc i learned foreign languages the old-fashioned way - by investing copious amounts of time, money and strong adolescent braincells into the whole process. now it's not as easy for me anymore since most of these things aren't available. right now i need to considerably improve my french for my phd project but i don't have time to sit and write down new vocab for hours, i can't find an affordable course that would suit my needs and timetable, and while my project does motivate me it's still learning a lanuage for w*rk - and not for fun :(

so ig i can only give some basic advice. firstly, learn the language through the activities/media you love - write fanfic or read books in english, watch anime in japanese, listen to italian opera etc etc - make it more fun for yourself, determine why you're doing it and use it to motivate you. bc while learning a foreign language just for the sake of it is a good hobby and a noble pursuit i don't think the process will be as smooth, efficient and enjoyable as when you have a clear purpose - 'for work' being the worst of the possible purposes lol. secondly, if you have money to spare find an advanced student majoring in your target language and hire them as your tutor - in my experience the efficiency of group courses is not proportional to their price and student tutors will cost less bc they don't have a degree yet and will often be more helpful and flexible than certified teachers. apps and online video classes obviously won't help you with anything beyond answering some specific questions. finally, if you get an opportunity to go abroad and immerse yourself in the language environment - do it.

ik you probably expected some links but i hope this helps too?💁‍♀️

[generational-atrophy]

Hi if its ok to ask for a hc with the hetalia guys

What if they have a s/o whos a fashion student/designer who dose elegant, modern and femenine looks and also likes sketching to stress relif . Hope its not confusing ^^' and love the hc and stories you make with the hetalia characters

Whenever reading luds its fun

(Allies + Italy X Reader) Fashionista, artistic S/O!

(Feminine) Headcanons ~ A/N didnt do germany n japan bcs they would be like ok 👍love u. Do ur thing and thats it jskhkjj. req that seperately ig

Trigger Warning: None, just fluff!

Thank god you’re around because otherwise, Alfred would walk outside in neon shorts, a novelty t-shirt, and sandals with socks. Luckily he has deep pockets, so the two of you can go on shopping sprees together all the time. He’ll wear whatever you tell him to, just make sure he doesn’t buy another pair of pizza pants.

He does love how feminine you are though. As much as he hates to admit it, he internalized a lot of 50s ideals. It’s always been his fantasy to have a ladylike wife, someone who can smooth his rough edges, someone graceful and caring. Once he realised you exemplify those traits, he had to have you.

Your hobbies are the exact opposite of his, but he’s always happy to listen and support your interests. Any art you do, regardless of how much you like it, is ending up framed on the wall, too.

Arthur cares quite a lot about fashion, too! Although his tastes are a bit vintage and very conservative. He’d be very interested in your studies, every time you get home, he’ll ask you a million and one questions about the newest developments. And if you make your own clothes, he’ll pull some strings to get you your own studio. After all, what kind of idiot wouldn’t support the future head of the fashion industry?

He loves how elegant you are, too. He’s always been attracted to ultra-femininity, so your indulgences in that part of yourself always excite him. It’s nearly impossible for him to keep his hands off you when you wear those cute dresses…

He’s also always had a thing for femme fatales, but you didn’t hear it from me…

Oh, mon Dieu! You’re the perfect partner for Francis! He’s absolutely over the moon about having an artistic S/O! He wants to see all of your work, everything you’re studying, and everything you want to make! All your thoughts, your ideas, your aspirations, he wants to know all of it. There’s nothing better for creativity than in-depth discussions, right?

One annoying thing though, is just that… he really loves your work. So he is constantly requesting that you make more. It’s very motivating when you’re going through art block, but… it’s not like you can design all of his clothes! Of course, since he’s also very skilled in that area, he’s very willing to help you whenever possible though. You need fabric? Your machine broke? Just need a second pair of eyes? He’s there. (And his advice is usually pretty good!)

Definitely gonna take you on a lot of dates to art museums and the like.

Well, Yao has never been that big into fashion… but nowadays his people are really getting into it. Now that he has you, you can make sure no one calls him lame and outdated! (And then he gets to spoil you with clothes you love along the way. Win-win!) With your guidance, everyone will finally envy him and his beautiful wife again. Wait- Sorry, he constantly forgets you two aren’t married yet.

He’d love to work side by side with you. He has very different artistic pursuits, but spending that kind of time together is always nice. Both of you lost in your own little worlds with the only words being exchanged being occasional compliments. He’s really latched onto your own ways to relieve stress…

Also, because of how graceful and elegant you are, he’s like… obsessed with you. He thinks of you as some kind of goddess, and he’s always trying to please you to make up for how lucky he feels.

Oh, how cute! He absolutely adores your work! While you’re busy designing and sewing, he loves bringing you little snacks and drinks while you're busy- he doesn’t wanna interrupt, really… he just can’t resist getting a little peak at whatever you’re working on. Whatever it is, he’s proud of you!

Since you like sketching to relax, he often takes you out to beautiful places. Whenever you’re stressed, or upset, or scared, he’s throwing you over his shoulder with your sketchbook and bringing you to a flower field. Maybe he’ll even start drawing himself! Although, you’re basically the only thing that inspires him.

Although he isn’t usually very attracted to ultra femininity, there’s something so pure about you that constantly makes him fall more and more in love. You’re like his sister, but not unstable and homicidal. And not his sister.

A fashion student? Well, you’ve come to the best! Not him, exactly, he dresses like someone you’d see on r/peopleofwalmart, but his country at least. He could probably even get government loans for you to buy as much fabric as you need. And if you need a model, he’s been told he’s very average.

He would be able to help with your sketching, though. His classical training isn’t usually something that can be easily passed on, but he’s very willing to sit down and teach you anything you want. If you’re not as serious though, he respects that. Leaves more opportunity for him to be the one sketching you.

Your femininity is what drew him to you in the first place. He’s never been able to resist pretty people, and seeing how you carried yourself… and what you wore… it’s a wonder you two are dating now considering his accidentally creepy introduction.

[artoflanaguage]

Unlock Global Opportunities with Art of Language — Your Gateway to German Excellence

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[pwlanier]

Clover Yuliy Yulievich (1850-1924)

Winter evening. 1895 Oil on canvas. 29 x 45 cm

EXPERT OPINION: NINE named after P.M. Tretyakov (expert Dergacheva A.B.)

SIGNATURE: at the bottom right "Yuliy Clover. 1895"

Clever Yuliy Yulievich (1850-1924) - professor of landscape painting (since 1881). He was born in Derpt in the family of a teacher at the University of Derpt. Studied at IAH (since 1867) with S. Vorobyova and M. Klodta (did not finish the course). At the age of 28, he was awarded the title of Academician of Painting. Lived in St. Petersburg. Worked in Finland, Smolensk province, Belarus. He lives in Germany at the beginning of the twentieth century. He had a workshop and students in Riga. Participated in exhibitions of the Academy of Arts, the Society for the Promotion of Arts and in international exhibitions. He arranged his own independent exhibitions. According to contemporaries from the mid-1880s, spectacular autumn and winter evenings with crimson sunsets, which are loved by the public, begins to multiply and repeat. He involved other lesser-known artists and his students to work on his paintings. His works were in the collection of the Academy of Arts, the best private art galleries. Currently, his works are available in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery, the Russian Museum and many other museums in Russia.

Moscow Auction House

[ladali12345]

How to Choose the Right University in Germany for Your Study Abroad Journey

Studying abroad is an exciting opportunity that can significantly enhance your academic and professional journey. Germany, known for its high-quality education and diverse cultural landscape, has become a top choice for international students. However, with so many options available, choosing the right university can feel overwhelming. This guide will help you navigate your decision-making process and find the best fit for your goals, highlighting the top universities in Germany, along with tips from a study abroad consultant.

1. Identify Your Academic Goals

The first step in choosing a university in Germany is to identify your academic and career goals. Are you looking for a program with a strong emphasis on research, or do you prefer a more practical approach? Different universities have varying strengths; for instance, some are renowned for engineering, while others excel in business or humanities.

Research Programs: Explore the specific programs offered by different universities. Look for those that align with your academic interests and career aspirations.

Check Rankings: Consider the rankings of the top universities in Germany in your field. Institutions like Technische Universität München (TUM), Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), and RWTH Aachen University are often recognized for their academic excellence.

2. Consider Language of Instruction

While many universities in Germany offer programs in English, particularly at the master's level, it’s essential to verify the language of instruction for your desired course. If you’re proficient in German, consider programs taught in German, as they might offer deeper insights into the local culture and job market.

English-Taught Programs: If you prefer to study in English, ensure the university provides a range of courses in your field of interest. Many top universities in Germany cater to international students with English-taught programs.

3. Evaluate University Reputation and Accreditation

The reputation of a university can significantly impact your future career opportunities. Look for universities that are recognized internationally and have strong ties with industry partners. Accreditation from relevant educational bodies is also crucial as it assures the quality of education.

Accredited Programs: Check if the program you are interested in is accredited by relevant institutions. This can enhance your employability and make your degree more valuable globally.

4. Assess Campus Life and Support Services

Campus life plays a vital role in your overall study experience. Consider the university’s facilities, student support services, and extracurricular opportunities. A vibrant campus culture can enrich your personal and academic growth.

Student Support: Look for universities that offer services for international students, such as orientation programs, language courses, and counseling. These resources can help ease your transition into a new academic environment.

5. Location and Cost of Living

Germany is home to diverse cities, each with its own unique character and lifestyle. Consider the city where the university is located in terms of cultural offerings, job opportunities, and cost of living.

Urban vs. Rural: Larger cities like Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt offer a bustling urban environment with numerous networking opportunities but may come with higher living costs. On the other hand, smaller cities may provide a more affordable living situation and a closer-knit community.

6. Explore Financial Considerations

Understanding the cost of tuition and living expenses is crucial for planning your study abroad journey. While public universities in Germany often have low or no tuition fees for international students, additional costs such as living expenses, health insurance, and travel should be factored into your budget.

Scholarships and Financial Aid: Investigate available scholarships and financial aid options. Many universities offer scholarships specifically for international students, which can significantly ease your financial burden.

7. Seek Guidance from a Study Abroad Consultant

Navigating the complexities of studying abroad can be daunting, but a study abroad consultant can provide invaluable support. They can help you with:

University Selection: Consultants can offer tailored advice based on your academic background, interests, and career goals, helping you identify the best-fit universities.

Application Process: They can guide you through the application process, ensuring you meet all requirements and deadlines, and help you prepare for interviews or entrance exams if needed.

Cultural Preparation: A consultant can also offer insights into cultural differences, helping you adjust to life in Germany more smoothly.

Conclusion: Your Path to Success in Germany

Choosing the right university in Germany is a crucial step in your study in Germany journey. By identifying your academic goals, evaluating language options, and considering university reputation and support services, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your aspirations. Don’t hesitate to seek assistance from a study abroad consultant, who can provide personalized guidance throughout your application process. With careful planning and research, you can embark on an enriching study abroad experience in Germany that paves the way for future success.

also read:

Understanding the Timeline for Applying to German Universities

Documents Required for a Germany Student Visa Application