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How useful is it to get a second masters of architecture degree from a more prestigious university in Germany?
Hi Everyone,
I am an architectural graduate in NZ with a masters degree and 2 years of work experience. I did an exchange program in Germany during my university years and really enjoyed the country. Now I want to work in Germany and was thinking what would be the easiest and fastest way to work there. I am thinking of studying a specific topic in one of the university since I already have a masters degree. Would studying another architecture program help my chances to work there? It is a waste to end up with 2 similar masters? You thoughts are much appreciated.
Depends on what you want to do with that education. If it's just to upgrade your resume and you plan on being an everyday architect, then I'd argue that it's probably not worth it. However if there's a program with specific training that will allow you to become a specialist, it might be worth it.
And this ignores cost. It's not just about the cost of school, but also about the loss of income from not being able to work while you're in school - not an insignificant number if cost/ income are factors.
I'm an American studying for a master's degree in sustainable urban planning in Germany. While I am not an architect, many others in the program are.
It's not a bad idea to come to Germany as a student. Tuition is cheap, cost of living is relatively low for students (cheaper health insurance, transport, rent), the barriers for a visa are lower, and having student status is a good way to break into the German workforce (architecture offices really like hiring students part-time).
A friend of mine from the States came to Germany to find a job as a structural engineer and she struggled to find work for a year. Looking back, she wishes she had enrolled as a student from the beginning. It would have made her life a whole lot easier.
If you really don't want to complete a second master's degree, you can always stop studying as soon as you find something more permanent.
It can be as useful as you want it to be, you can use it to fill a gap in your architectural knowledge, specialize in something that really fascinates you, use it to build a network and gain easier access to offices or all of the above...enjoy!
If you think studying a similar masters would be useful it is not. It is only useful if you specialize in something or want to built up your cv to do a phd.
There is work in Germany and if your portfolio is good you should not have a problem. Sometimes it takes longer to get a job then in other Places such as London, but you should be able to find something within six months. If anything you should consider taking German lessons, knowing the language does open doors.
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