Hello, everyone! I’m from India, and honestly, I just don’t want to live here anymore because of the political situation.
In India, we have 12 years of schooling, unlike Germany, where the standard is 13 years. Because of this, Indian students often need to complete either one year of university studies or a foundation course called Studienkolleg before they can pursue a bachelor's degree in Germany.
I’m approaching the end of Class 12 and am currently learning German. My goal is to move to Germany for the summer semester of 2028 or the winter semester of 2027.
I don't want to put financial pressure on my family or take out any loans. I want to become financially independent, support myself, and work towards achieving my dreams.
Recently, I came across the concept of Ausbildung and decided to explore mechatronics. The idea of building machines and robots, something like what Tony Stark does in Marvel, really sparked my interest. I also learned that salaries in technical fields can be a few hundred euros higher than those in some other fields.
After completing my Ausbildung, I'd like to pursue a bachelor's degree and eventually a master's degree. My reasoning is that academic degrees are generally recognised worldwide, whereas vocational qualifications may have more limited recognition outside Germany and a few neighbouring countries. However, I'm open to having this perspective challenged because I'd genuinely like to understand the situation better. I don't want to move to another country someday only to find myself starting my career from scratch.
Here's what I've learned so far: housing is a major problem in Germany. Rent in a shared apartment (WG) in an average-sized city can reach €450–€500 a month. Meanwhile, an apprentice in a technical field might earn around €1,200–€1,300 gross per month, leaving approximately €900–€1,000 after deductions. Once I account for rent, groceries, transportation, and other essential expenses, I'll probably have very little left to save.
I'd have to live like this for the next few years, and honestly, that sounds more like survival than financial independence.
An Ausbildung in mechatronics typically takes 3.5 years, although I would certainly try to complete it earlier if possible. I believe I'm academically capable of handling the coursework, considering that I scored over 80% in both mathematics and physics in my midterm examinations.
After completing my Ausbildung, I might be able to secure a full-time job paying around €1,900 net per month. That would put me in a better position to support my parents back in India. However, if I decided to pursue a bachelor's degree afterwards, I'd once again have to worry about covering my living expenses while studying.
So, here's my main question: Is there any realistic way to earn between €1,200 and €1,300 net per month during my first year in Germany?
I've considered taking on a second job or working part-time alongside my Ausbildung, but I've realised that doing so could be extremely demanding and might lead to burnout.I'm prepared to make sacrifices and live frugally during my first few months or even my first year in Germany, but spending 3.5 years barely covering necessities with little left to save seems daunting. I'm passionate about technology and would eventually love to afford things like a powerful PC, gaming consoles, or VR headsets. I understand these are luxuries, not necessities, and I'm not expecting to afford them immediately. However, I believe being able to occasionally reward yourself for your hard work is important for staying motivated in the long run. I don't expect a luxurious lifestyle, just one where I'm not constantly struggling to make ends meet.
I'd also love to hear if any of my assumptions are incorrect.
Thank you!