Study in Germany

To study in Germany as an international student, you need three things to line up: a school or university qualification that gives you access to the programme, an application made the way that university asks (often through uni-assist), and, if you are from outside the EU, a national student visa with proof of funds. Public universities generally charge no tuition for bachelor’s degrees, but there are exceptions, and living costs and the visa rules need careful planning. This page covers each step, with the official source for every figure listed at the end.

Entrance qualification and language

Does your qualification give access? For a bachelor's degree you need a university entrance qualification recognised in Germany (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung). Depending on the country, a school-leaving certificate gives direct access, subject-restricted access, access only after one or two years of university study at home, access only via a Studienkolleg, or no access. The DAAD admission database and the anabin database (KMK) show how certificates are rated; the final decision on admission always rests with the university. The DAAD admission database lets you check your country before you apply.

Studienkolleg. If your school-leaving certificate does not give direct access, a Studienkolleg (foundation course) can prepare you for the Feststellungsprüfung (university qualification exam). Admission requires an entrance exam and German at B1 to B2 level; the course usually lasts two semesters and is taught in German, and at public Studienkollegs it is usually free apart from the semester fee. The DAAD page on Studienkollegs explains admission, length and costs.

APS certificate. Applicants whose school-leaving certificate or undergraduate degree is from India, China or Vietnam generally need an APS certificate. The APS (Akademische Prüfstelle), run by the German embassy and DAAD, checks the authenticity of educational certificates; the certificate is a requirement for applying to a German university and for the student visa.

Language. For programmes taught in German you usually prove your German with TestDaF or DSH. If you reach at least the intermediate level in all parts, you meet the language requirements of the vast majority of programmes; certificates such as Goethe-Zertifikat C2 or telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule are usually also recognised. Some programmes, especially master's degrees, are taught in English (international programmes). For these you usually prove your English and may need little or no German. The DAAD International Programmes database lists them.

How to apply: uni-assist, VPD or directly

German universities set their own admission rules, and you apply in one of three ways, depending on the university and the programme.

Through uni-assist. uni-assist handles applications with international certificates for around 160 German universities. Each university decides which programmes and applicant groups go through uni-assist. In the standard procedure, uni-assist checks your documents and forwards a complete application to the university, which then decides on admission.

With a VPD. A VPD (Vorprüfungsdokumentation, preliminary review documentation) is a document from uni-assist that lists which certificates you submitted, how uni-assist evaluates them and how your grade converts to the German grading system. Some universities require it, and you then apply directly to the university with the VPD. With a VPD, uni-assist does not forward your application. You must upload the VPD with your application to the university yourself, before the university's deadline.

Directly at the university. Not every programme at a uni-assist university is handled by uni-assist. Check on the university's website whether your programme and applicant group apply through uni-assist, directly, or with a VPD.

Some popular bachelor’s programmes with restricted places also need a separate registration at hochschulstart.de; uni-assist explains this procedure.

Our uni-assist application guide walks through the My assist portal step by step. The main rules to know in advance:

• Fees. uni-assist charges €75 for the first programme in a semester and €30 for each additional one. uni-assist charges the same handling fees for a standard application and for a VPD. The fee is not refunded if the evaluation result is negative.
• Documents. The uni-assist application is fully digital: you upload scans (PDF) of your official documents in My assist and do not send paper copies by post. Certificates not issued in German or English must be uploaded in the original language together with a translation into German or English made by a sworn or court-authorised translator, or by an authorised office of the issuing school or university. Translations from ordinary translation agencies without this authorisation are not accepted.
• Timing. uni-assist usually sends the evaluation result 4 to 6 weeks after it receives the online application form. uni-assist recommends applying at least 8 weeks before the university's deadline, so there is time to add missing documents.
• Payments and agencies. uni-assist does not work with commercial agencies. Payment requests come only from uni-assist, through the My assist portal. Wisemore is not affiliated with uni-assist: you create your own My assist account and pay any fees there yourself.

Application deadlines

The uni-assist deadline is the university's deadline: the online form and all documents must be in your My assist account before it. Incomplete applications are not forwarded to the university. uni-assist names typical dates that many programmes use:

15 July (winter semester) and 15 January (summer semester) apply to many, but not all, programmes. Many universities set earlier deadlines, for example for master's programmes or the Studienkolleg. Always check the deadline of your programme on the university's website. Our application deadlines guide compares these dates with the UK, the Netherlands and Spain.

Applying for a master’s degree

For a master’s, you need a completed undergraduate degree in a related subject, and the university checks that it is comparable to a German bachelor’s degree. Admission criteria, such as a minimum grade, internships, the language level and the documents, are set separately for each programme, and deadlines are often earlier than the typical dates above. Some master’s programmes are taught in English; you can search them in the DAAD International Programmes database.

Whether you apply through uni-assist, with a VPD or directly depends on the university, so start from the programme page. Some programmes ask for a motivation letter; our guide on writing a motivation letter for Germany and the Netherlands explains what it usually covers.

What it costs to study in Germany

Tuition. As a rule, public (state) universities in Germany do not charge tuition fees for bachelor's degrees or for most master's degrees. Exceptions exist: Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students, some universities charge non-EU students (for example TUM in Bavaria), and some master's programmes and private universities charge fees. Two examples of the exceptions:

• Baden-Württemberg: €1,500 per semester for non-EU students at its public universities.
• Example: the Technical University of Munich (TUM) charges new non-EU/EEA students tuition fees. From the winter semester 2027/28 they are 2,300 or 3,400 euros per semester for bachelor's programmes and 4,600 or 6,800 euros per semester for master's programmes, depending on the programme.

Semester contribution. Every student pays a semester contribution each semester. It funds the student services organisation (Studierendenwerk) and the student union, and at many universities includes a public transport ticket (Semesterticket). The amount depends on the university: DAAD gives a range of about 70 to 430 euros.

Living costs. DAAD estimates average living costs for a student in Germany at 900 to 1,200 euros a month, depending on the city. The amount you must prove for the visa (see below) is a separate, official minimum.

Health insurance. Every student in Germany must have health insurance, and you prove it when you enrol, including if you come from another EU country. Students from the EU and the EEA with public (statutory) health insurance at home can usually have it recognised; a German public health insurer then issues a certificate saying you do not need German public insurance. If your insurance is not recognised, you take out insurance in Germany.

The main official amounts for an applicant from outside the EU:

Student visa and residence permit

This section is a general overview, not an assessment of any individual case. The official sources are the Federal Foreign Office visa pages and the website of the German embassy or consulate in your country, which publishes the exact requirements and the documents it accepts.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland do not need a visa or residence permit to study in Germany. They register their address like everyone else and may be asked for proof of health insurance and of sufficient funds.

Students from other countries. Students from outside the EU generally need a national (long-stay) student visa, applied for at the German mission in their country before travelling. EU citizens do not need a visa. Some nationalities have special entry rules; the German embassy or consulate in your country can tell you which rules apply.

Proof of funds. To get a student visa you must prove you can cover your living costs. A blocked account (Sperrkonto) at a provider of your choice is one way: only a set amount can be withdrawn each month. Other accepted ways include a scholarship or a formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) by a person in Germany. The German mission in your country publishes the exact amount and the accepted options. In 2026, the amount for a student is €11,904 for the first year, with no more than €992 per month available to withdraw. The amount follows the maximum rate of German student support (BAföG). A BAföG reform now before the Bundestag (Drucksache 21/8405) would raise that rate from the summer semester 2027 and again from the winter semester 2027/28, so the amount for 2027/28 entry may be higher. Check the Federal Foreign Office blocked account page and your embassy’s page before you transfer money.

Not yet admitted? Applicants who are not yet admitted can, under certain conditions, get a visa for seeking a place in higher education. It allows a stay of up to nine months and requires proof of funds.

After arrival. Everyone who moves into a flat in Germany, EU and non-EU students alike, must register the address (Anmeldung) at the local registration office within two weeks of moving in. After arrival, non-EU students get a residence permit for study purposes, usually for two years at first. It can be extended if the studies are not finished.

The visa decision is made only by the German mission and the immigration authorities.

Working during and after your studies

Non-EU students may work up to 140 full days or 280 half days a year. During the lecture period, a week with up to 20 hours of work can instead be counted as two and a half days. Jobs as a student assistant at the university are not counted. These limits apply to students from outside the EU who hold a residence permit for study.

After graduating from a German university, non-EU graduates can get a residence permit for up to 18 months to look for a job that matches their qualification. During this time they may work in any job. The details are on Make it in Germany, the federal government’s portal.

How Wisemore can help

We help international students shortlist German programmes that match their requirements and expectations, prepare and check uni-assist and university applications (you keep your own My assist account and pay uni-assist yourself) and gather the documents for the student visa, with a completeness check against the official checklist of the German mission. If a programme asks for a motivation letter, you write it yourself and we can give feedback on your drafts. We confirm the timeline before you pay, based on your university deadlines. We do not assess individual legal questions, and admission and visa decisions are made by the universities and the authorities, so we cannot guarantee an outcome.

Prepared by the Wisemore editorial team · Last checked: 13 Oct 2026