What should I study?

Currently, more than 400 German higher education institutions (universities, universities of applied sciences, and colleges of art and music) offer a total of over 22,000 degree programmes. Given this wide range of options, it can be difficult to find out which degree programme and which higher education institution best suits one's strengths and interests.

Studying? Of course! But which programme? To find out which subject is right for you, it is important that you get an overview of your own interests and strengths. If the course of study matches your abilities and inclinations, you will be more committed and passionate about it and better able to overcome challenges.

Once you have a clear idea of your interests and strengths, you need to find out which degree programmes might suit you. General self-assessment tests for study orientation can help you with this. You can use various subject-specific self-assessment tests for some of the Bachelor's programmes offered at Leuphana College.

To find out what your interests are, you can ask yourself the following questions:

• Which topics am I well versed in? Which topics do I like to talk about?
• Which topics did I particularly enjoy dealing with at school?
• Which (specialist) books/programmes do I find interesting?
• Which tasks did I always take on and which did I avoid?
• Where have I done voluntary work?

The following questions may help you identify your strengths and abilities:

• What did your colleagues and superiors praise you for during internships and other professional experiences?
• What did you receive praise/recognition for at school?
• Which subjects did you find easy at school and which were particularly difficult?
• During which activities did you think, ‘I did that really well’?
• In which activities outside of school were you better than others?
• What would your friends/parents say if they had to describe your talents?

Once you have a rough idea of which subject might suit you, it's time to find out what the specific course content is and where your desired study programme is offered.

Where can I find information?

The extensive databases of the major study information portals provide an overview of the German higher education landscape:

• www.hochschulkompass.de/en/study-in-germany
• https://studienwahl.de/en

The portals list all degree programmes in Germany and in some cases provide additional information on contact persons and course content, as well as further links.

At the College Open Day at Leuphana College, you can find out about the various study programmes. Register for the College Open Day

During your research, you will notice that the same subject can be structured differently at different universities. Each university sets its own priorities within a subject, so it is worth comparing the course content. There are various sources of information available to help you do this.

Not only can the content of your chosen degree programme vary from university to university, but there can also be significant differences in the structure of the course depending on the study model (1-subject Bachelor's, 2-subject Bachelor's, etc.). Again, you should compare.

It is also advisable to find out about the career prospects associated with a particular subject. The services offered by the Federal Employment Agency and the universities can be particularly helpful in this regard.

In addition to the content and structure of the course and career prospects, you should also find out about the following aspects:

• What entry requirements do I have to fulfil and how is the admissions process regulated?
• In which language is the course taught (courses taught in English are on the increase)?
• Which degree is awarded upon successful completion of the course (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, etc.)?
• How can I finance my studies?
• Do I like the city in which I would like to study for the next few years (number of inhabitants, cultural offerings, rents, etc.)?

To make the decision in favour of a subject – and thus for a university and a place of study – you should compare all the information you have gathered. On the basis of this comparison, you can weigh up your decision.

Possible decision criteria

• Interests
• Abilities
• Study culture
• Career prospects
• Attractiveness of the university location
• Feelings about the subject
• University rankings, e.g. the CHE and ZEIT rankings

When it comes to rankings, you should make sure that the criteria evaluated are also your most important criteria.

Various people can support you in weighing up options or discussing your decision:

• parents, friends, teachers
• university student advisors
• school counsellors from the employment agency
• students and teachers at university information events