Germany

• Most public universities charge no tuition fees, only a semester contribution.
• You can work up to 140 days a year while you study, and student assistant jobs at your university do not count towards that limit.
• After graduating in Germany you can get a residence permit for up to 18 months to look for a job.
• Since January 2025 you can apply for a study visa online through the Federal Foreign Office's Consular Services Portal.

Teaching language

German; many master's programmes and some bachelor's programmes are taught in English.

Intakes

Two intakes: the winter semester (starts around October) and the summer semester (starts around April). Not every programme admits students in both, and each university sets its own deadlines.

Bachelor's

3 to 4 years

Master's

1 to 2 years

PhD

No fixed length; it depends on your research project and your supervisor or doctoral programme.

Tuition

Most public universities charge only a semester fee, but Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students EUR 1,500 per semester (since winter 2017/18, still in 2026) and TUM charges EUR 2,000–3,000 per semester for bachelor's and EUR 4,000–6,000 for master's programmes (2026), with higher rates for new students from winter semester 2027/28.

Check the entry requirements for your programme, then apply either directly to the university or through uni-assist, as the university tells you. You usually need your school-leaving certificate or degree, transcripts and language certificates, and applicants with Indian school or university qualifications need an APS certificate. Apply several months before the semester, because deadlines vary by university and visa appointments can take time.

The admission letter is issued by your German university once it decides to admit you; you need it, or a conditional acceptance where your German mission accepts one, to apply for a national (D) visa for study.

1. 1

   Step 1: Check how your university takes applications

   Check your chosen university's criteria for your programme and whether you apply directly to the university or through uni-assist. Some universities also ask for a preliminary review documentation (VPD) from uni-assist, which you then submit to the university yourself.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)
2. 2

   Step 2: Apply online through My assist

   If your university uses uni-assist, register in My assist, create an application for each programme, upload your documents and pay the handling fee. uni-assist starts processing only once it has received your paid application, and results usually take 4 to 6 weeks.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)
3. 3

   Step 3: Get your admission letter

   If your application meets the university's criteria, uni-assist forwards it to the university's admissions office, which decides whether to admit you and tells you the next steps. Only the university, not uni-assist, can admit you.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)
4. 4

   Step 4: Open a blocked account

   Most students show they can pay their living costs by opening a blocked account (Sperrkonto), usually online with a bank or other provider you choose; only a set amount can be withdrawn each month. The Federal Foreign Office does not recommend any provider, and a formal declaration of commitment from a sponsor or a scholarship can be used instead.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)
5. 5

   Step 5: Gather your visa documents

   You typically need your passport, admission letter, school or degree certificates and transcripts, language certificates, a motivation letter, a CV, proof of funds and health insurance valid from your arrival date. Some missions, such as those in India, also ask for an APS certificate, so check your mission's own checklist.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)
6. 6

   Step 6: Apply on the Consular Services Portal

   Create an account on the Consular Services Portal, enter your details, upload your documents and send the application to the German mission responsible for where you live. You then attend an appointment in person to give fingerprints and a photo, pay the fee and show your original documents.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)
7. 7

   Step 7: Register and get a residence permit

   After you arrive, register your address at the local registration office (Meldebehörde), usually within two weeks of moving in. Then apply to the local foreigners' authority (Ausländerbehörde) for your residence permit as soon as possible, because some offices have long waits for appointments.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)

Visa

National (D) visa for study

Apply to the German embassy or consulate responsible for where you live, online through the Consular Services Portal where your mission offers it. You need an admission letter, proof of funds, health insurance valid from your arrival date and proof of German or English skills; applicants with Indian qualifications also need an APS certificate. Apply as soon as you have your admission, because appointment demand is high at some missions.

Proof of funds

EUR 11,904 for the first year (EUR 992 a month), usually paid into a blocked account; this amount has applied since late 2024 and is still current in 2026. A formal declaration of commitment from a sponsor in Germany or a recognised scholarship can be used instead.

Visa fee

EUR 75 (since September 2017); waived for holders of scholarships from public funds, such as DAAD.

While you study

Up to 140 working days a year (Residence Act § 16b, in force since 1 March 2024). A day with up to 4 hours of work counts as half a day; or, week by week, a week with up to 20 hours during the lecture period, or any week of work outside the lecture period, counts as 2.5 days. Student assistant jobs at your university do not count.

After you graduate

Residence permit for job search (Residence Act § 20): up to 18 months after you graduate from a German university, if you can support yourself. During the search you may work in jobs allowed under the permit's rules, and you switch to a work residence permit once you find a qualifying job.