From ascertaining a suitable study program to enrolling at any German university, if you are an applicant who is wondering about what they need to do to study in Germany, and are confused by the amount of information available on steps that need to be taken, then you are at the right place.
We have simplified the process of applying for study in Germany as a foreign student into 8 moves they need to make. Follow these 8 steps one by one to keep track of where they are right now and what they need to do to make your dream of studying in Germany a reality.
Germany is one of the most popular non-Anglophone study abroad destinations around the globe, and with its contemporary student-friendly cities and inexpensive (or no) tuition fees, it’s not hard to see why.
If the applicant is planning to study in Germany for the very first time, they should follow the following procedure:
1. Choose a Course and a University/ College
Now that the applicant has chosen Germany as their study abroad destination — it’s time to choose the right course and university for them. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has a database of almost 2,000 courses available to explore, including 1,389 courses in English.
Unfortunately, opportunities to study in Germany in English at the undergraduate level are currently somewhat limited, though there are some courses taught in both English and German (typically commencing with English for the first two to four semesters and then switching to German) as the medium of instruction. This allows the applicant to study in English while improving their proficiency in German, particularly as their university may offer German language classes.
The applicant may also wish to review the latest rankings of the top universities in Germany while making their decision or consider the latest QS World University Rankings to shortlist the top German institutions in their subject field, so as to narrow down possibilities.
2. Check the Admission Requirements
Before starting the application process, check that the current qualifications are recognized by the chosen university. To study in Germany one needs to have a recognized Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (HZB), that is, ‘higher education entrance qualification’.
For prospective undergraduate freshmen, a high-school diploma, school-leaving certificate or university entrance exam result is usually adequate, and the DAAD has a database of information on admission procedure requirements for specific countries. Students with academic history from outside Europe may have to opt for the Feststellungsprüfung entrance examination after attending an introductory Studienkolleg, although high-achieving pupils may be able to bypass this step.
The applicant will additionally need to check the language requirements. The maximum number of courses are taught in German, requiring foreign applicants to submit proof of proficiency in the German language. Two main tests that evaluate applicants German language proficiency are as follows:
- The Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH, that is “German language examination for university entrance”) and
- The TestDaF.
Likewise, if the chosen course is taught in English, unless the applicant is a native speaker or has previously studied in an English medium institution, they will need to prove their knowledge of the language with an English language proficiency test such as:
- IELTS or
- TOEFL.
Universities will usually declare the cut-off score/s they require on their websites.
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3. Get your Finances IN ORDER
To fulfil student visa requirements, the applicant will need to show proof that they have, or have access to, around €8,700 per year (~US$10,000) to cover their living costs, although they may find they need more, depending on their lifestyle and spending habits (the average pupil spends €850/US$975 a month). Living costs also vary based on the location; according to Mercer’s Cost of Living Survey, Munich is currently the most expensive city in the country.
If the applicant is concerned about costs, there are multiple scholarships available to support international students studying in Germany at various study levels.
4. Apply!
For most subjects, the applicant can apply straight with the international admissions office of the university. Alternatively, the applicant can apply to the website www.uni-assist.de, a centralized admissions portal for international students, run by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), although not all universities accept this. The applicant may aspire to apply for various courses and universities separately to improve their odds of being accepted.
At several German universities, it’s possible to apply for admission twice a year — to start studies either in the winter or the summer semester. In general, applications for the winter semester need to be submitted by 15 July, and applications for the summer semester by 15 January. However, application deadlines vary depending upon the institutions, and the same institution may set different deadlines for each program — be sure to meticulously check the specific dates for the chosen course.
It’s recommended to submit the application form at least six weeks before the deadline, to ensure time for alterations or additions if any information is missing or wrongly entered. The applicant should expect to get a formal acceptance or rejection letter approximately one to two months following the deadline date.
The mandatory documents required and the application process will be established individually by each institution, but the applicant will typically be required to submit:
- A certified copy of the high-school diploma or previous degrees, and any other relevant qualifications in the original language
- A translated overview of the course modules and grades
- A passport photo
- A copy of the passport (personal information and photo ID page)
- A Proof of language proficiency
They may also need to pay an application fee.
In case of some subjects, there is a nationwide limit on the number of students who can be enrolled. For these subjects (essentially life sciences), the applicant from the EU (plus Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein) is required to apply through the Foundation of Higher Education Admission. Applicants from outside the EU should apply as normal.
5. Take out Health Insurance
Before the applicant leaves their home country they should ensure they have purchased health insurance to cover during their stay in Germany. This is required both before the applicant enrol and before they get a student visa and/or residence permit. If the applicant is a resident of a country within the EU or EEA, there should be a social security agreement in place between their country and Germany. This means that if the applicant has public health insurance in their home country, they should be covered in Germany as well. the applicant will generally need to get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to take advantage of this (free to obtain).
If the applicant’s health insurance is not valid in Germany, they will need to pay between €80 (US$92) and €160 (US$176) per month to cover this. The cost is higher if the applicant is over 30, and if they are over 29 when starting their course they can only obtain private insurance.
6. Get a German Student Visa
The requirements for obtaining a student visa for Germany depend on the country of origin. The applicant can find an overview of the countries for which a student visa is or isn’t required on the Foreign Federal Office’s website.
7. Find a Suitable Accommodation
Once the applicant has secured a seat on a course and their student visa (if applicable), it’s advisable to start looking for accommodation, as unfortunately, most German universities do not have on-campus accommodation facility for their students. Rent is likely to be the biggest monthly expense and will vary depending on which part of the country one lives in. In big cities within Western Germany (i.e. Dusseldorf, Cologne etc.) and smaller, student-oriented cities such as Heidelberg and Freiburg, the applicant should expect to pay slightly more than if they were living in eastern Germany (i.e. Berlin).
Once they have found a place to live, they need to register at the ‘residents’ registration office’ (Einwohnermeldeamt) or the ‘citizens’ bureau’ (Bürgeramt).
8. Enroll
The applicant must enrol before they can start their course and use university facilities such as the library. They will also need to re-register before the start of every semester. This usually costs between €150 and €250 (~US$170–290), depending on the chosen university. There may be an additional charge of around €180 (~US$205) for a “Semesterticket”, which covers public transport expenses for six months.
The usual documents the applicant needs for enrollment are:
- Passport with visa or residence permit
- Several passport photos
- Completed registration form
- Proof of higher education entrance qualification, either original certificates or officially certified copies and translations
- Notice of admission
- Evidence of adequate knowledge of German (or English)
- Evidence of statutory health insurance in Germany
- Payment receipt for the semester fee
Once enrolled, the applicant will receive a registration certificate which acts as a provisional student ID, allowing them to apply for their residence permit and register for classes.
9. Settle into your much-awaited Student Life in Germany
Congratulations, the applicant should now be (mostly) all set to begin their studies in Germany! Don’t forget to pack all the essentials, as well as arranging a few more important affairs:
If the applicant hasn’t already, once they have found the accommodation they must register with the local registration office of their city (Einwohnermeldeamt or Bürgeramt). Once registered, they will receive a document confirming their registration at that address, which they can then use for the next step.
Get a student bank account. Most banks offer these for free, and it will make managing their regular payments (such as accommodation) much easier.If they would like to find a part-time job while they study, they can find out how this works for EU and non-EU students here. If they are worried or unsure about anything, ask for help from the advisory service offered by the student committee (Fachschaft) or the university’s office. Alternatively, if the applicant has any questions, visit our website — https://eazygrad.com/ and set up a FREE COUNSELLING SESSION with our expert counsellors.
