This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ishansh Gupta, 29, who lives in Munich. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
Growing up in India, I knew I eventually wanted to live in the United States. I had relatives who had moved there, and the American dream as portrayed in Bollywood films appealed to me. I was interested in technology, and some of the greatest opportunities in that field seemed to be there.
While earning my bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering in India, I applied for internships around the world to strengthen my chances of being accepted into a US university for a master’s degree.
I completed two six-week internships in Poland, in 2017 and 2018. After spending time in Europe, I decided not to apply to US colleges. Instead, I studied in Germany, where I now work at BMW. In 2022, I had a taste of American life during an assignment in South Carolina. When I left, I was glad that I had built my life in Germany rather than paying for an expensive US education.
Learning that international students could study tuition-free in Germany changed everything
On a trip to Berlin, I met a group of Indians in a restaurant who told me that international students could attend public universities in Germany without paying tuition. It was a game-changing moment for me. Even a private university in Germany seemed more affordable than studying in the US, where I expected a master’s degree, including tuition and living expenses, to cost around $100,000.
My experiences interning in Poland and visiting Germany had been very positive, and I enjoyed the European people and culture. I was eager to explore more European countries. I was also impressed by Germany’s strengths in manufacturing and engineering, as well as the technical knowledge people displayed.
In 2019, I began a master’s degree in data engineering at a private German institution. A partial scholarship reduced my tuition from 20,000 euros ($9,000? Wait 20k euros to 8k euros ($9k)) to 8,000 euros. I had learned basic German in India, but the university was highly international and operated in English, so I did not face much of a language barrier.
During my final semester, I completed a six-month internship at BMW and was accepted into the company’s three-year PhD program. In 2023, I started a full-time role as a digitalization specialist at BMW, and in 2026, I moved into an HR position leading AI initiatives for senior executives.
I am still learning German, partly because I value networking and want to understand inside jokes when connecting with people. I have some meetings in German, and I understand much of the context, but if I miss something, people are always willing to explain it in English.
My time working for BMW in the United States showed me some differences from Germany
Based on my experience and that of friends in Germany, work-life balance is strongly valued there.
When I worked on-site at BMW in South Carolina for three months in December 2022, I got the impression from friends and contacts at different companies that a person’s brand, ambition, and professional network seemed to matter much more in the US than in Germany.
American corporate culture encourages people to discuss their work, build visibility, and make major career moves early, such as changing companies more often or joining a startup. In Germany, it is common for people to remain with the same company for a long time, possibly because of factors such as labor protections and indefinite contracts. I do not think Germans are less ambitious; they simply tend to talk about it less.
I am open to future opportunities in the US, perhaps through an expatriate contract with BMW, but I am also happy to remain in Germany.
I am glad I experienced the US without taking on the financial burden of an expensive education
Earlier in my life, taking out a large loan or asking my parents to finance an expensive US education would have been extremely risky because I did not yet have an established career, professional network, or financial security. Today, my situation is very different. I have more professional experience and personal savings. If I accepted an opportunity in the US and things did not work out as planned, I believe I would have a realistic way back into the European job market.
Germany and Europe have provided opportunities I could barely have imagined when I first arrived. I have worked at BMW, pursued an industrial PhD program, and built my career while still making time for interests such as fitness and travel. I do not feel at a disadvantage compared with people in America in terms of the quality of my education or experiences.
I had always imagined that I might live and work in the US one day, and I am glad I could experience it without taking on the financial risk of an expensive US education. I would not change what I did.
Do you have a story about choosing the right place to build your career? Contact this reporter at ccheong@themoneytimes.com