BERLIN

ACCOMODATION

• Dublin [sharing] average based on my experience?
• €350-500
• Berlin average for single bedroom near BIMM?
• €250-400

ANNUALLY...

• €400 x 9 months =
• €3600
• VS
• €300 x 9 months =
• €2700

OVERALL

• €3600 x 3 years
• €10800
• VS
• €2700 x 2 years
• €5400

FEES

• €3000 per year in Dublin
• VS
• €7600 per year in Berlin

OVERALL

• €3000 x 3 years =
• €9000
• €7600 x 2 years =
• €15200

LIVING COST

• Consumer prices are 19.6% lower in Berlin
• €200 - 19.6% =
• €161.80 per month
• Saving €343.80 per year
• €1800 VS €1456.20

OVERALL PER YEAR

OVERALL

EXTRA REASONS WHY BERLIN IS AWESOME

• I could learn German (could increase future salary by 3.8%)
• I could experience a new city, culture and lifestyle (bikes and public transport are more widely used)
• Newer college with more production-oriented facilities
• There are a lot of music publishing houses in Germany (especially Berlin based)
• Finished / Financially independent a year earlier
• Adventure

THINGS TO CONSIDER

• Braces
• Trips home
• Language barrier
• More intensive course
• Initial costs
• Distance / homesickness / loneliness
• Do I even like Berlin as a city?

HOW TO OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES

• Braces; haven't really researched this properly. We may have to go private
• Trips home; the overall price difference allows for €850 (annually) which would easily bring me home twice a year, not accounting for the extra I would earn from a part-time job
• Language barrier; I'm already learning the basics but will surely learn German when I am totally immersed and interested
• Course work; this would have been gradually more difficult in Dublin too. When I am not challenged I lose interest. This will push me!

SOLUTIONS CONTINUED

• Upfront cost; 3 types of German student loans are available to all EU students
• Loneliness; Skype, trips home, college societies, housemates, classmates
• Do I even like Berlin? Let's find out! I am visiting in April

Q&A