Reported by:
Sr3ComB Ho Chia Chien

Photography by:
Counseling Department

           On 28th April 2025, Kuen Cheng High School held an after-school sharing session on studying in Germany and Austria. The event took place from 3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the MML 2 activity room. Before the session began, the counseling teachers presented commemorative gift bags to the speakers, and a group photo was taken to mark the occasion.

(Photo 1: Gift presentation to guest speakers)

(Photo 2: Group photo)

           The session officially began with a brief introduction by the counseling teacher, who introduced German Educare and welcomed the guest speakers, Mr. Victor and Mr. Koh, the founders of the organization. The discussion initially focused on studying in Germany, but later expanded to include Austria as well.

           Mr. Victor opened the session by explaining why many students are choosing Germany, the main reason being the availability of tuition-free public universities. Students are only required to pay a registration fee, which is approximately €360 (around RM1,729) per year. Studying in Germany or Austria is also attractive due to the exposure to different cultures, high-quality education, opportunities to develop independence, job prospects, and the chance to travel.

(Photo 3: Mr. Victor presenting information on studying in Germany)

           Mr. Victor also cautioned students not to overlook living expenses. For example, living in a major German city such as Munich can cost approximately €992 (RM4,765) per month, while Austria may be slightly more expensive at around €1,050 (RM5,044).

           One of the session’s highlights was the introduction of two partner universities: Deggendorf Institute of Technology in Germany, which accepts UEC qualification without a placement exam, and FH Kufstein Tirol in Austria, which does require one.

           Mr. Victor also introduced the Dual Vocational Training Program in Germany — a three-year course comprising 30% theory and 70% practical training at a company. Students actively work during their studies and can potentially earn over RM4,000 annually in their first year. This program is available in fields such as Technology, Healthcare, and Hospitality, and it has lower entry requirements compared to traditional university degrees.

           Mr. Koh then conducted a brief session on the German language. He began by asking if any students had previously studied German, and some responded that they had used the app Duolingo. He explained that the German language has roots in Latin, English, and French, and highlighted some of its key features — including noun genders (masculine, feminine, and neutral), the use of capital letters for all nouns, verb placement, and the close relationship between spelling and pronunciation. He also taught the class the German alphabet and some basic greetings.

           During the Q&A part of the session, one student asked how important extracurricular activities are for gaining admission into German universities. Mr. Koh explained that, unlike universities in the UK or US, German universities place much less emphasis on such achievements. This is because the German education system is designed to level the playing field and promote equal opportunities for all applicants. Another participant, who was interested in pursuing a career in music, asked about the acceptance rate in that field. Mr. Koh responded that admission largely depends on talent. He shared that one of his students passed the interview on the first attempt, while another, despite trying for two to three years, was still unsuccessful.

           Ultimately, the sharing session was valuable not only for deepening students’ understanding of the German and Austrian education systems, but also for inspiring them to explore alternative educational pathways with greater confidence.