“History has been made at the University of Cambridge in the UK—and not just once. Isaac Newton studied here, and centuries later, Stephen Hawking pushed the boundaries of our understanding of the universe from Cambridge. Now, German master’s student Lara Weinzierl also aims to make history at this renowned university—her own personal history. After all, she has already achieved what many others only dream of: securing one of the coveted places.
The 24-year-old will never forget the moment she received her acceptance letter. She was sitting in the library of her previous university—Goethe University Frankfurt—when the email arrived in her inbox. 'It was a very special moment.'” "It felt like the work of the past few years and the preparations for the application were paying off," said Weinzierl, who—in a burst of euphoria—first called her mother and best friend from the library restroom.
Oxford and Cambridge have ranked among the world's best for decades. In the latest ranking by *Times Higher Education* magazine, Oxford holds the top spot, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in second place and Cambridge in third.
The highest-ranked university outside the US and the UK is ETH Zurich, in eleventh place.
Students at elite universities expect excellent teaching, an exciting campus life, career advantages, and networking opportunities. "Many view an elite education as an investment in themselves," says Wolfgang Gairing of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). But do the benefits actually outweigh the costs? An elite education can quickly become very expensive.
Lara Weinzierl is paying just under 43,000 euros in tuition fees for her one-year master's program at Cambridge.
With fees of this magnitude, one almost inevitably considers the return on investment. Three-quarters of those who completed their studies in the UK in 2021/2022 held a highly skilled job 15 months later—at least according to data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency. The University of Cambridge reports an even higher figure of 91 percent. Thus, studying at Cambridge improves one's chances of landing a good job.
The annual graduate survey conducted by the student newspaper *The Harvard Crimson* reveals that 64 percent of the Class of 2025 entered the workforce immediately after graduating from the elite US university. The dominant sectors were finance (20 percent), technology (18 percent), and consulting (13.5 percent). About half of the respondents stated that their starting salary would exceed 90,000 US dollars per year. By comparison: the average starting salary for US college graduates in 2025 was around 69,000 euros.
Lara Weinzierl weighed similar factors: the cost of study versus job prospects. Since October 2025, she has been pursuing a Master’s degree in Education at the University of Cambridge. Prior to this, she completed her teacher training studies at Goethe University Frankfurt with a top grade of 1.0. She had finished her secondary schooling (Abitur) with a grade point average of 2.2. Weinzierl says she hadn't even considered a prestigious university for a long time. However, her perspective shifted during a semester abroad at King's College London while completing her Bachelor's degree.
From then on, she wanted to focus on education policy and specifically sought a program at the intersection of education, power, and politics. Cambridge offered just that. Weinzierl notes that the UK was a natural choice for her, partly due to the language and her positive experiences in London. At the same time, she is well aware of the prestige associated with the university's name.
But what is it actually like to study there—amidst Cambridge’s grand, almost palatial courtyards and towering facades? Weinzierl has immersed herself in a different world there: formal dinners, balls, debating societies, intensive support from professors, and students walking around in traditional academic robes. "However, it’s not all as rosy as it looks in the movies." For instance, attending dinner events eventually becomes routine. "And in the end, you often just sit in perfectly ordinary lecture halls," she says. Furthermore, the academic pressure is immense, and she often simply doesn't have the time to attend every event.
There is little sense of competition in her Master's program. Many of her fellow students completed their Bachelor's degrees at prestigious universities like Yale or Harvard. "That was a bit intimidating at first, because those names you are familiar with," says Weinzierl. Over time, however, she realized that she was by no means lagging behind professionally—even if the name of her former university in Frankfurt was less well-known. "Doubts and comparisons always remain. But eventually, you learn to handle it better," she says. "At the same time, it is very enriching to be surrounded by such intelligent people. You learn something new every day."
It is also possible to build a career without having attended an elite university. Take the European Commission, for example: according to its job portal, anyone wishing to work there as an economist primarily needs a university degree and must be proficient in at least two EU languages. When asked, the European Commission emphasizes that applicants are assessed based on "skills and experience" rather than the reputation of their university. The specific degree or language requirements are listed in the job postings.
Johanna Bärnreuther, an economist at the EU Commission, found this to be true as well. Although she completed a Master of Philosophy in Environmental Policy at Cambridge and values the strong network she built there, she later realized it wasn't strictly necessary. "I wouldn't recommend that people go to an elite university in the UK or Canada if they already know they want to work for the EU later on," she says. Programs that are more affordable and offer more targeted preparation—such as those at the College of Europe—often make more sense. While tuition there is also high, full scholarships are frequently available.
The situation was different for a long time at the management consultancy McKinsey. Many of the firm's German consultants had previously attended top-tier universities, but the company is now moving away from that approach. "We are looking for the best graduates, regardless of which university they attended or where they come from," says Jonathan Steinbach, who is responsible for recruitment in Germany and Austria. "There are universities that hardly anyone had on their radar in the past." Today, they are considered genuine hotspots in certain fields." In contrast, the appeal of British universities has recently declined.
At the auditing firm EY, the name of the university also plays a secondary role. Laura Langbein, who heads talent acquisition and recruiting in Germany, views it merely as a door opener. "A well-known university name might spark our interest in getting to know the person behind the paperwork," she says. However, the crucial factor is that individuals with diverse educational backgrounds have comparable career opportunities at EY.
According to HR managers, a university's name primarily generates attention but does not guarantee a job. Statistically, however, graduates from prestigious universities are more likely than average to end up in high-paying sectors. Yet there could be another explanation: universities themselves engage in a selection process. "At a past selection day for scholarships, I asked the group who had served as a student representative," says Wolfgang Gairing of the DAAD. "About half of them raised their hands." Most applicants, therefore, bring a strong drive to succeed, coupled with impressive results and a sense of civic engagement.
Where Cambridge student Lara Weinzierl will eventually end up professionally remains to be seen. One thing is certain: she has found a good door opener for her career—albeit a very expensive one.” [1]
1. Lohnt sich eine Eliteuni? Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung; Frankfurt. 11 Apr 2026: 34. Von Stefanie Pfleger
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