”Choosing the University of Mannheim Was One of the Best Decisions I Could Have Made”

Why did you decide to study at the University of Mannheim?

I wanted to pursue my master’s degree abroad and applied to several universities in Germany and Italy. After having been accepted by various universities, I ultimately chose Germany.  One of the main reasons I selected the University of Mannheim was its strong rankings in the field of Computer Science.

Did you go straight into your master’s program after completing your bachelor’s degree?

No. After finishing my bachelor’s degree in Pakistan, I initially started working and was in the process of building my career. That’s why it wasn’t an easy decision for me to pause my professional path and come to Germany for my master’s degree. Some people in my social and professional circles even advised against it. Fortunately, however, some friends and my family encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and take this leap. Looking back, choosing Germany—and especially the University of Mannheim—was one of the best decisions I could have made.

So your family supported your decision to come to Mannheim?

In my family, there are just two brothers—my older brother and me. At first, my mother didn’t want me to study abroad, especially not in Germany, because it is so far away. She had her doubts, particularly since I already had a good job in my home country—I was most recently working as a manager at an IT company—and we are not many siblings in the family. But I believe that in order to achieve something new, you have to let go of something old. Once my parents saw how certain I was, they supported me after all.

When you arrived in Mannheim, what or who helped you? Can you tell us a bit about that process?

After I received my admission to the University of Mannheim, I came into contact with an alumnus through a Facebook post where I was looking for accommodation. Asad Ellahi had also studied Business Informatics in Mannheim, and honestly, he was like an angel to me because he helped me so much with the transition from Pakistan to Germany and with settling in.

We are still in close contact today—he has since become my best friend here in Germany. He also recommended that I reach out to the International Office, which turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me. Angela Dörflinger and her team, who are responsible for international degree-seeking students, made sure that all my questions were answered and supported me in every possible way—from initial onboarding to finding accommodation, registering with the city authorities, and questions about work permits.
 They were by my side every step of the way.

You are pursuing a master’s degree in Business Informatics. How do you like your program of study? What do you particularly appreciate about it?

Compared to the bachelor’s program I completed in Pakistan, which was also in Computer Science, I think there is much more emphasis on practical elements here in Germany. My current program in Business Informatics is a combination of Business Administration and Computer Science.

I feel that there is much more practical relevance here than in my home country, and I really appreciate that. I am now almost in my final semester—I only have my master’s thesis and one course left. I have already had the opportunity to gain practical experience in my field, and I would like to continue building on that in the future. Ideally, I would like to work as a software developer in Germany after graduating.

Based on your experience, do you have any tips for others who want to study in Germany?

I approached my research in a very structured way, and I can really recommend that. At the beginning, when looking for a master’s program, you should focus on the main fields that interest you. Computer Science, for example, is a very broad field, so it’s important to specialize—whether in artificial intelligence, general computer science, or business. From the start, I personally wanted to go in the direction of Business Informatics. Once you have chosen a country, you should select suitable programs, carefully read the requirements, and then simply apply. If an IELTS test is required, you should prepare for it, take the exam, and then apply. I think it is relatively easy to be accepted by a university in Germany if you are well prepared. You should carefully review the universities’ requirements. If you meet them, you should apply—your chances of being admitted are really good. Another important point is the language barrier. You should try to address it before arriving. Ideally, you should start learning German before moving to Germany. If that is not possible, you should attend a language course after your arrival. The University of Mannheim offers some of these courses free of charge, which is a great help. That’s why I would encourage everyone to take this step.

Interview: Emma-Lena Sester   I   May 2026