Frankfurt or Dortmund - Which city to choose for my higher studies?
Hello, I'm planning to pursue my master's and have received a few admits. I wanted to ask for opinions, mainly on Frankfurt and Dortmund.
For context, the programs I got into are (Frankfurt UAS - (M.Sc.) High Integrity Systems, FH Dortmund - (M.Sc.) Digital transformation)
I have a few questions:
- How are both these cities in terms of affordability and student life?
- What is the IT/Tech field like?
- From an international perspective (an Indian woman), how can I find my life there? Is there any racism (like renting out apartments to Indians) ?
- How is the housing market in both cities?
- I know Frankfurt is a big city, so it is more international. How is Dortmund in terms of diversity?
- Dortmund's course is broad (Digital Transformation) while Frankfurt's is specialised (High Integrity Systems). For student developer roles, do German employers care about the specific title, or do they only look at your practical coding skills?
I'm personally leaning towards Dortmund, as it is in the NRW region and seems well-connected to other cities like Cologne, Düsseldorf, Essen, etc. If I wanted to travel for part-time jobs or an event, would it be feasible to travel to different neighbouring cities from Dortmund? Are there any major delays? (I read that there is an ongoing DB construction)
As for Frankfurt, as it is a finance hub and very expensive, I'm hesitant. Being able to find a part-time job in my field is important to me, but I'm hesitant to live in a place where I need to constantly worry about money and whether I will be able to afford things.
Would love to hear from anyone currently living, working, or studying in either city. Thank you so much for your help!