What's right for me?
Choosing the right degree programme is a crucial stage on the path to a professional career and at the same time an exciting challenge. With the wide variety of study options, many find it difficult to make the right choice. Important questions such as, “What am I really interested in?”, “What do I see myself doing in the long term?” and “What careers match my strengths and interests?”, play a central role here.
Practical tips for choosing a course of study
It is quite normal at first not to know what you want to do in the future. However, various steps can help you make this decision − from self-reflection and exploring career fields to using study choice tests and advisory services. The following overview provides practical tips on how you, as a prospective student, can find your way to your ideal study programme:
Reflection, self-analysis
Personality and interests
- Am I more theoretical or practical?
- What do I like doing? What do I like?
Skills and talents
- What am I good at? What am I less good at?
- Which learning and working methods suit me? Which ones don't suit me?
Feedback from outside
- How am I seen by my family, my friends, my teachers?
- How are my strengths and weaknesses assessed by others?
Values and perspectives
- What is important to me in life?
- What do I want to stand up for?
- What career goals am I pursuing?
- Do I already have a concrete idea of what I would like to do professionally?
- What industry can I imagine working in?
- Is it important to me:
> to have a secure job?
> to be able to realize myself in my career?
> to earn a lot of money?
> to do something useful for society?
External factors for the decision
- Study location
- Study costs
- Admission requirements/restrictions
- Range of subjects
- Ratio of theory to practice
- Duration of study
Individual factors for the decision
- Learning preferences
- Proximity to parents
- Financing
- Size of the city
- Self-organisation
Formalities
- Starting your studies
- Selection procedure
- Application deadline
- Application documents
Research, collect information
What types of higher education institutions are there?
- Universities
- Universities of Applied Sciences
- Cooperative universities
- Universities of teacher training
- Universities for the civil service
Is Furtwangen University right for me?
Studying at a university of applied sciences such as HFU offers a number of specific advantages compared to a traditional university. Thanks to the focus on practical relevance and application-oriented teaching, students gain an early insight into professional processes and gain valuable experience in real projects, often in close cooperation with companies.
This practical orientation prepares students specifically for the job market and facilitates their transition into professional life.
In addition, universities of applied sciences are characterised by smaller learning groups and more intensive supervision, which enables students to interact more directly with lecturers and enjoy a personal learning environment.
Studying at HFU offers a practical, career-oriented education that is particularly suitable for students who want to develop specific professional skills at an early stage.
Help in making decisions
Study choice tests, orientation and interest tests
- what-study-me.de
- Check-U
- Further (also subject-specific) tests at: www.osa-portal.de
- Orientando
Insights into study subjects
- Taster lectures
- Open days / study information days
- Podcasts
- Study ambassadors
- Sample tasks from the study programme: BW-Quadrat
- University compass: www.hochschulkompas.de
- Berufenet: www.arbeitsagentur.de
Work experience
- Internships / part-time jobs
- Leisure activities School subjects
- Study and careers advice BEST seminars