Study in Germany

Welcome to Germany!

The Federal Republic of Germany lies in the heart of Europe. It is a cosmopolitan, democratic country with a rich tradition as well as a vibrant modern life. Germany is one of the world’s strongest economies and offers an innovative research and education landscape. At the same time, it has a dynamic cultural scene. Germany is the European Union’s most populous nation with over 82 million inhabitants. It is surrounded by nine neighboring countries, and its territory encompasses roughly 357,000 square kilometres - stretching from the North Sea and the Baltic Sea in the north to the Alps in the south. Since 1949 the Federal Republic of Germany has been a democratic parliamentary federation. It is made up of 16 Länder (states), each with its own constitution, parliament and government. Germany is a modern and open-minded country with high quality of life, influenced in many ways by multinational diversity. Berlin is the capital of Germany.

Germany is a country characterized by variety. Trendy and modern Berlin can seem a world away from the more traditional and conservative Munich. The gleaming skyscrapers of Frankfurt form a stark contrast to quaint Heidelberg. And if bustling and fast-paced Hamburg becomes too much, you can always retreat to the peaceful and picturesque Middle Rhine region.

Higher Education System

In Germany there are 399 institutions of higher education*, of which 111 are entitled to award doctorates, and around 230 universities of the applied sciences. Courses at German Higher Education Institutions cover more than 400 disciplines, and many institutions offer courses taught in English that lead to internationally recognized degrees, including Master’s and PhD. Prominent fields of study include: Engineering Sciences, Natural Sciences, Economics and Business Administration, Arts, Music, Architecture and Design – and there are over 1,900 international programs*, most of them taught in English, listed on the DAAD database. Almost half of Germany’s 2.4 million current students are women. With around 340,000 foreign students* enrolled at German institutions of higher education, Germany has the fifth highest number of foreign students in the world. The number of Indonesian students in Germany has more than doubled in the last five years. Currently there are 4.176 Indonesians studying in Germany*. Germany offers various forms of research locations: All in all, there are approximately 1.000 public-funded research institutions in Germany, plus research and development centres run by industrial corporations. The annual research budget is about 84 billion euro (www.research-in-germany.de). German universities do not charge tuition fees, neither from German nor from the international students. Some 41 German universities feature in the Global Top 400 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2016-2017, of which 22 are in the Top 200 and seven in the Top 100 – the highest ranked German Universities being Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen at 30, Heidelberg University at 43, and Technical University of Munich at 46.

(*Data Sources: www.hochschulkompass.de, DAAD International Programs Database, Wissenschaft Weltoffen Kompakt 2017)

Tuition fees in Germany Tuition Fees in Germany

If you want to study in Germany at undergraduate level, great news! There are no tuition fees at public universities in German for undergraduate students, and this includes domestic, EU and international students. In Baden-Württemberg, in the future, foreign students might be charged tution fees of 1.500 Euro per semester. But that is still being debated.

While tuition costs are free, however, students are required to pay a nominal fee per semester of around €250 (~US$280). This fee covers administration, student support and other costs.

If you want to study in Germany at master’s level, you may need to pay tuition fees. This is usually only the case for students who have not completed a related bachelor’s program at a university in Germany within the past few years – classed as “non-consecutive” students. Fees for non-consecutive master’s degrees vary, but can amount to as much as €10,000 (~US$11,100) per semester.

If you plan to progress from undergraduate study in Germany straight to a related master’s program at a public university, fees are likely to remain low or non-existent. To find out more, read our article about the costs of studying in Germany.

Applying to universities in Germany

The application process for universities in Germany varies depending on a few factors. If you have a European qualification, such as a baccalaureate or A-levels, then you will only need to prove you can speak German (unless you’re enrolling in a course taught in English) and you can then apply directly for a university-level course.

Students with qualifications from outside Europe may have to take the Feststellungsprüfung (a qualification assessment examination). They can prepare for this examination in a Studienkolleg ( a foundation course or a preparatory class). High-achieving students may be able to bypass this.

For most subjects, you can apply directly to the international office of the university. Alternatively, you can use uni-assist, a centralized admissions portal for international students. This is one of the services run by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the world’s largest funding organization supporting international student and academic mobility.

For some subjects, there is a nationwide cap on the number of students who can enroll. For these subjects (mostly life sciences), students from the EU (plus Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein) need to apply through the Foundation of Higher Education Admission. Students from outside the EU should apply in the normal manner.

Getting a student visa for Germany

The requirements to get a student visa for Germany depend on your country of origin.

Applicants from the EU (and Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein): European Union

You do not need a visa to study in Germany.

Within a week of your arrival you must register with the Einwohnermeldeamt or Bürgeramt (resident’s registration office) in your city. You’ll need your registration document from your university for this.

If required the Foreigners Office (Ausländerbehörde) will issue a Freedom of Movement certificate for EU-citizens.

You will need to prove you have or will have enough money (see above) and have purchased statutory health insurance if you’re under 30. Certain countries have bilateral agreements with Germany, which mean insurance policies in the student’s home country will be applicable in Germany.

You need to prove your proficiency in your course’s language of instruction.

Applicants from outside the EU: Globe

If you are from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland or the US, you will not need a visa to enter the country, but you will need to register at the local Residents’ Registration Office and the Aliens’ Registration Office (Ausländeramt) to obtain a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis).

If you are from Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco, San Marino or Taiwan you will only need a student visa for Germany if you want to work before or after your degree. You will need to apply for a residence permit.

If you are from any other country, you will need to obtain a visa from your nearest German embassy before you enter Germany, as well as a residence permit. Ensure that you apply for a National Visa for the purpose of study rather than a Schengen Visa, which will only allow you to stay in Germany for three months.

In order to get a residence permit you will need to present confirmation that you’ve registered at the Residents’ Registration Office, proof that you have health cover (your university will help with this), proof of your financial means, your passport (with visa if you need one) and a tenancy agreement which shows you have found somewhere to live. It will be valid for two years, after which time you must get it renewed.

To obtain a visa, you will need to present the same list of documents as for a residence permit. You may also have to show proof that you don’t have a criminal record and are free of certain diseases. The specific list will depend on the embassy.

The same language requirements apply as specified in the requirements for EU students. You may also need to produce this evidence at the visa stage.

Fast fact

• Area: 357,022 sq km (slightly smaller than Japan)
• Population: 82 million – second largest in Europe, after Russia
• Borders with: France, Poland, Czech Republic, Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium and Austria
• Capital and largest city: Berlin
• Official language: German
• Federal republic split into 16 states, known as Länder
• Germany has the world’s fourth largest GDP
• There are no speed limits on German motorways (autobahn)
• Central European Time (UTC+1), switching to Daylight Saving Time in summer (UTC+2)
• International dialing code: +49
• Currency: Euro (€)
• Influential member of the European Union
• Famous for beer brewing, Christmas markets and bratwurst (sausage made from pork, beef or veal)
• Famous dead Germans include classical music composers Bach, Beethoven and Brahms, and philosophers Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche.

Discover the land of ideas, Germany! The country today becomes one of the main gate ways for many students to pursue their education in Europe. As the most populous country in the European Union, you must agree that it is a cosmopolitan and tolerant country.

Revolutionary inventions, they called? Here is where it came from: the automobile, the airbag, X-ray technology, Aspirin, the computer, the chip card and the MP3 data compression format. Science and research have a long tradition in Germany and are still highly valued today. Therefore, government and independent organization of German higher education institutions (DAAD) support the mobility of international students to Germany. DAAD or so called German Academic Exchange Service responsible for implementing internationalization as well as establishing foreign cooperation.