Hi! Long time lurker / first time poster here! This post is going to be TL;DR.

This is for past and current students of either Harvard GSD MDesS Technology or the University of Stuttgart ICD/ITKE - ITECH. 

I just submitted applications for these programs, and while I've done the research of going through the program website, brochures, contacted faculty (didn't really get the answers I was looking for but responses were still substantial and apt) etc., I was hoping to get feedback or insights from those who graduated from or who are currently in these programs. (Yes I've tried contacting Archinect users affiliated to these programs based on their profiles but they are either too busy or their accounts have been untouched for years) Also, since there's no thread about this topic yet I thought it would also help those who will apply to these programs eventually. 

- How do you think are the programs different from each other?

- What's the learning environment like? (Teacher-student ratio, teacher-student dynamics like how much time is spent on class discussions, consultations vs your own studio/research time)

- How's Boston or Stuttgart? If you've been to both or one of either, how are the cities alike and different?

Here's my comparative list of both so far:

Harvard GSD - Master of Design Studies Technology

- Primarily focused on Computational Design and Digital Media, but has courses on mapping, fabrication, robotics etc. that allows the student to explore and apply the tools, techniques and methodologies, even from across other specializations under the Design Studies program (Art, Design and the Public Domain; Energy & Environments; Ecology, Landscape and Urbanism, etc)

- Not as reputable as ICD/ITKE in terms of being a mecca of computational design, but Harvard's MDesS Tech program has more choices in terms of what tool or medium you want to focus on depending on the track of your study; in short, as Prof. Dianne Davis mentioned to me through email correspondence, the design studies program is very transdisciplinary and flexible and that most students do studies and courses from across all tracks.

- of course it's Harvard, so it's $50k a year. but for the faculty, facilities, access to MIT, and the ivy league gravitas, and the STEM accreditation, it seems worth it among other tech-related programs especially in the US. I like that it's a 2 year program because i think a 1 year duration seems too short to truly grasp the critical thinking, mastery and depth of study for a graduate level program.

University of Stuttgart ICD/ITKE Master of Science Integrative Technologies and Architectural Design Research

- Like Harvard's MDesS Tech program, this one's also focused on Computational Design, but leans toward robotics and fabrication, materials science, engineering, construction, natural sciences (biology, biomimmetics), etc.

- Every year, as a synthesis of a year's worth of research, they have this experimental pavilion project which is designed and built by faculty, students and resident researchers (and robots).

- Also a 2 year program, ICD/ITKE is definitely cheaper in terms of tuition. Stuttgart (and the region it's in) remains as the only jurisdiction of Germany that still charges tuition fees (esp. for international students). Most of Germany is tuition free already (inc. international students). The institute is headed (or was once headed) by Prof. Menges who once taught and directed the EMTECH program at the AA at one point (one of my references was his former student) which has a similar pedagogy to ITECH.

I've covered everything I know so far. If you have any further information, insight or feedback, it would be highly appreciated! Thanks!