At 7:30 am, Syed Haider refreshes his email again, hoping for a response from a landlord.
It has been three months since he started searching for accommodation in Sankt Augustin, a town in Germany’s western state of North Rhine Westphalia. So far, there has been no response. Like many international students, Haider spends hours scrolling through online housing platforms before starting his day.
Between rent searches, classes and part time work, he must manage accommodation, food, insurance and daily expenses within a limited student income.
Germany is often presented as a dream destination for international students. “Free education,” “affordable living,” and “paid scholarships” are common taglines promoted on university websites, social media and by education consultants. YouTube videos and student influencers frequently highlight Germany as a place where students can study with little financial burden.
These promises attract thousands of students every year, particularly from South Asia.
Among them was Sana Saleem from Quetta, Pakistan. She moved to Germany to pursue her master’s degree on a fully funded scholarship, completed her studies, worked with a notable organisation, and returned to Pakistan in 2024. But the experience was far more challenging than she had imagined.
“I was not expecting life to be that hard,” Sana recalls. “Homesickness, no friends, a lot of documentation and harsh weather, these are the things you face when you are living in Germany. It’s not like a movie or a vlogger video. The reality is different.”
"Here no one really guides you about how the system works, and the system expects a lot from you—bureaucracy, documentation, letters and appointments"
During her studies, Sana lived in a student dormitory where the rent was cheaper than the private housing market. But affordability came with compromises.
“We were sharing the kitchen and washrooms with more than ten other students, it was manageable, but it was not easy.” She says.
“Student life has its own difficulties, but after graduation there are different challenges again and you have to be ready to face many things alone.”
Sana’s experience reflects that of many international students who arrive in Germany each year.
The first challenge for most newcomers is finding a place to live and completing the mandatory “Anmeldung” the city registration process that triggers a long chain of official paperwork in Germany.
Despite these difficulties, Germany remains one of the most attractive destinations for international education.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) reports that more than 420,000 international students are currently enrolled at German universities. The numbers have steadily increased and exceeded 420,000 in the 2025–2026 academic year. Germany has become one of the most popular non English-speaking study destinations, with more than 100,000 new international students beginning their studies each year, many of them in engineering and STEM fields.
Yet the realities of student life can be demanding.
Syed Haider, who moved to Germany from Pakistan in 2018 to study Data and IT, describes student life as a continuous struggle.
“Being a student in Germany means dealing with many things at once finances, studies, language barriers, documentation and daily life,” he says. “The money you earn usually only covers your basic expenses.”
Many international students rely on part time jobs to survive. They often work as student assistants at universities or in bakeries, kitchens, warehouses and delivery services.
Under German law, international students are allowed to work a limited number of hours per year. Exceeding those limits can lead to higher tax deductions or changes in employment status.
But for many students, finding work and accommodation are both the biggest challenges.
“Right now, the biggest issue for everyone is housing and job,” Haider says.
Talking about barriers Haider explains “international students often don’t speak German, they don’t have enough money, and they are new to the country so it's like almost impossible to find a private place to live.”
Housing shortages affect not only students but also professionals across Germany.
In major cities like Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg, affordable accommodation is increasingly scarce. Even student dormitories often have long waited lists.
A study conducted by the Pestel Institute and Social Housing Monitor estimated in 2026 that Germany faces a shortage of 1.4 million apartment, affecting both urban residents and newcomers.
Despite these challenges, the number of students arriving from South Asia continues to grow.
Germany has also expanded cooperation with countries like India to attract skilled workers and international students in high-demand sectors.
Bharti Sharma, a student from Delhi who moved to Germany last year for higher studies, says her first experiences in the country were confusing.
“I called a service line and selected English, but the person still spoke German and I got stuck,” she recalls.
Even though she had studied basic German before arriving.
“Here no one really guides you about how the system works, and the system expects a lot from you bureaucracy, documentation, letters and appointments, and most of it is in German.” she added.
Yet despite the struggles, many students say the experience ultimately builds resilience.
“Besides all the hardships, living here teaches you important life lessons, Sana says. “I can confidently say I can travel alone and manage things independently.”
For Haider, who has now spent more than eight years in Germany, the lessons have also been lasting.
“I often tell students not to expect an easy life or quick success” Haider says. “Germany teaches you structure, punctuality and long-term planning.” Haider shared experience.
For many South Asian students, the dream of studying in Germany remains alive but the reality often demands far more resilience than the glossy brochures suggest.