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40-Year-Old Considering German Masters: Private University Dilemma?

Dr Pananjay K

Dr Pananjay K Tiwari  | Answer  |Ask -

Study Abroad Expert - Answered on Aug 28, 2024

Dr Pananjay Tiwari is the founder and director of Impel Overseas Education, a Dehradun-based consultancy for students who want to study abroad in the fields of engineering, science, agriculture, medicine, arts and the humanities.
They also guide PhD students who are studying internationally with their research.
Dr Pananjay has 21 years of academic and research experience and has published several books and research papers in various Indian and international journals.
He is a gold medallist with a master’s degree in science and a PhD in environmental sciences from the Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal Central University, Uttarakhand.... more
Asked by Anonymous - Aug 28, 2024Hindi
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Hi Prananjay. I have a question for you. I'm 40 years old and I have been pondering with idea of moving abroad and study masters. After doing my research, I found out that Germany would be an option worth exploring. Since it provides you 18 months of post-study work visa. My only hesitation is that I'm getting a private university which I'm not entirely comfortable with. Is it okay to go ahead with a private university? Second, I will be far more experienced than the students in my batch. Is it okay? Third, I'm willing to learn the German language and spend a little money to get a degree with best ROI and possible career in Germany. What do you think are the prospects for an applicant like me?

Ans: Pursuing a master’s degree in Germany at 40 is a bold and promising step, especially given the country's reputation for high-quality education, even in private institutions, and the 18-month post-study work visa that allows ample time to secure a job. While public universities in Germany are often preferred due to their lower costs and established reputations, many private universities also offer excellent programs, industry connections, and tailored support, making them a viable option if they are accredited and align with your career goals. Being more experienced than your peers can be a strength, as your professional background can offer valuable insights in classroom discussions and group projects, and can also set you apart in the job market. Learning German will significantly enhance your employability, as language skills are highly valued by German employers. Overall, your prospects are good, provided you choose a well-regarded private institution and leverage your experience and new skills to integrate into the local job market effectively.

Regards
Dr Pananjay K Tiwari
Visit us at www.shreeoverseaseducation.com
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Sushil

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Study Abroad Expert - Answered on Jun 29, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 22, 2024Hindi
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I have 6 years of experience in Quality department in automotive industry ( injection moulding - last 4 years) . I wanted to work in abroad so I choose masters in engineering management in Berlin that is a one year course in a private university . Is my decision correct? . My current monthly income in India is 27000 and my age is 29
Ans: Hello,
To begin with, thank you for contacting us. To answer your question first, I would like to tell you that your choice to study a Master's in Engineering Management in Berlin seems to match with your professional objectives of working overseas and progressing in the quality and automotive industries. Possessing 6 years of industrial experience, four of which were in injection moulding, I would like to let you know that pursuing further education in engineering management can improve your leadership, project management, and international business abilities, thereby, enhancing your competitiveness in the worldwide labour market. Moreover, Berlin is a centre for the engineering and automotive sectors, in turn, providing possible networking possibilities as well as exposure to cutting-edge practices.
Given that you are 29 years old and earn a monthly income of INR 27,000, enrolling in a one-year master's program could improve your employment opportunities and earning possibilities considerably. You will be glad to know that the abilities and global experience acquired while studying in Germany may result in higher-paying jobs in the automotive sector and beyond, thereby, making the short-term time and monetary commitment to your education worthwhile.

For more information, you can visit our website: www.edwiseinternational.com

You can also follow us on our Instagram page: edwiseint

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |11009 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Apr 18, 2026

Career
Sir, My son has appeared in Class X ICSE Exam and results are awaited. So far , he has been an average performer academically. I believe he is capable and he can do great if he puts in the hard work. His performance in subjects like History/Geography etc has always been better than in Maths/science. I personally never wanted to force him to choose any stream for higher studies. He also is not sure about it. While discussing I suggested him to go for Commerce or humanities stream and then for MBA from a reputed institution. However, he is more concerned about job opportunities and wanted to go for science. Hence, after a lot of discussion, we have got him admitted in Science stream in Delhi and also got him enrolled in Allen for JEE Coaching. We thought if he adapts well and gets going, then may be he can achieve good result. Otherwise, we may decide to change stream after Class XII. What is your opinion? Request for your suggestion please
Ans: Shyam Sir, I have thoroughly reviewed your son’s background. You haven’t mentioned whether he is continuing with the ISC board or has enrolled in the CBSE board with Allen-JEE coaching for this 11th/12th Grade. Firstly, I recommend a psychometric test for your son to gain a rough idea of the most suitable career options for him.

Secondly, job opportunities exist across domains, but to be competitive, your son must have passion and interest in his chosen field and continuously upgrade both technical and soft skills relevant to that domain.

Thirdly, besides understanding suitable career options through the psychometric test, ask him what types of problems he is interested in solving in the future.

Fourthly, since you mentioned his performance is better in History and Geography than in Science and Maths, Allen-JEE coaching would be suitable only if he is truly interested in Maths and Science. If not, his performance may fall short of expectations, leading to demotivation.

My suggestion is to consider enrolling him in the Arts/Humanities stream with a focus on Geography-centric subjects. Later, he can pursue civil services, media, law, or management studies. Reassess his progress after about a year (by December 2026), focusing on his interest, mental health, and realistic performance rather than perceived job security alone.

Before he completes 11th grade (by February 2026), you both can collectively decide and start preparing for entrance exams in law, media, or management (CUET, CLAT, IPMAT, NPAT, SET etc.) based on his interests and future plans. ALL the BEST for Your Son's Prosperous Future!

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |11009 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Apr 18, 2026

Career
Sir my son is expected to score 90+% in 12th boards typically between 93-95% of board marks .. and 90% and above pcm cutoff .. is he now eligible with this met score of 125 marks and 12th score for admission in mit manipal mechanical? . . Also i need a guidance about aeee also . Since my son scored 90.3 percentile in aeee entrance phase . Is he eligible for slab 1 mechanical engineering in aeee ? Kindly support pl
Ans: Bala Sir, I have already addressed the first part of your question, confirming that the chances of him getting admission into the Mechanical branch at Manipal are higher. The official handbook of AMRITA states that seat allotment and scholarship consideration are done through CSAP allotment. Your son may secure a Mechanical seat, but Slab 1 cannot be guaranteed unless his final AEEE rank or JEE percentile is strong enough at the time of CSAP choice allotment. Slab 1 is based on merit ranking, not raw marks. His 125 AEEE marks will be converted into a rank relative to all candidates; if many score higher, the Slab 1 cutoff will rise. Therefore, raw marks alone do not guarantee Slab 1.

The chance of getting a Mechanical seat from Slab 2 is moderate at Amrita Coimbatore and highly probable at the Bengaluru campus. It’s advisable to have 2-3 backup options besides Manipal and Amrita. Mechanical Engineering is generally less competitive than CSE or ECE, but having backups is still wise. ALL the BEST for Your Son's Prosperous Future!

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