diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 470f967524198da7ab9fb515d26d36fc4261be40..2cc633e2f87b14ef3f6bf2575a4004f7327de417 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -14,10 +14,20 @@
 
 ## Installation
 
-- clone the repo
-    - as a guest: `git clone --recurse-submodules https://git-st.inf.tu-dresden.de/ceti/ros/panda_gazebo_workspace.git`
-    - as a project member: `git clone --recurse-submodules git@git-st.inf.tu-dresden.de:ceti/ros/panda_gazebo_workspace.git`
-- change into the workspace `cd panda_gazebo_workspace`
+- There are two ways to install, using git submodules or by cloning the required ros packages individually.
+    - **Either** clone this repo and its submodules (recommended for fresh installations):
+        - as a guest: `git clone --recurse-submodules https://git-st.inf.tu-dresden.de/ceti/ros/panda_gazebo_workspace.git panda_gazebo_workspace`
+        - as a project member: `git clone --recurse-submodules git@git-st.inf.tu-dresden.de:ceti/ros/panda_gazebo_workspace.git panda_gazebo_workspace`
+        - change into the workspace `cd panda_gazebo_workspace`
+    - **Or** clone the provided packages individually (recommended for existing ROS workspaces or if you do not understand or like submodules)
+        - if you do not have a catkin workspace yet, create on`mkdir -p panda_gazebo_workspace/src`
+        - change into a `src` directory of a catkin workspace, e.g. with `cd panda_gazebo_workspace/src`
+        - clone the for provided packages into the `src` directory
+        - `git clone https://git-st.inf.tu-dresden.de/ceti/ros/franka_description.git` **or** `git clone git@git-st.inf.tu-dresden.de:ceti/ros/franka_description.git`
+        - `git clone https://git-st.inf.tu-dresden.de/ceti/ros/panda_moveit_config.git` **or** `git clone git@git-st.inf.tu-dresden.de:ceti/ros/panda_moveit_config.git`
+        - `git clone https://git-st.inf.tu-dresden.de/ceti/ros/panda_simulation.git` **or** `git clone git@git-st.inf.tu-dresden.de:ceti/ros/panda_simulation.git`
+        - `git clone https://git-st.inf.tu-dresden.de/ceti/ros/sample_applications.git` **or** `git clone git@git-st.inf.tu-dresden.de:ceti/ros/sample_applications.git`
+        - change into the workspace main directory `cd ..`
 - install ROS package dependencies `rosdep install --from-paths .`
 - build the workspace `catkin build`
 - source the config: depending on your shell