Why Apply for a German Study Visa?

No tuition fees in most universities while others have minimum tuition fees
Highly skilled staff providing world-class teaching
Choice of hundreds of academic courses
Affordable living costs
Students from around the world build cultural diversity
Opportunity to learn German Language
Various opportunities to work in the country once your course is over

Germany study visa is of three types:

German Student Visa: This is a visa for international students who have gained admission in a German University to a full-time study program. 

German Student Applicant Visa: You will need this visa if you must apply in person for admission to a university course, but you cannot study in Germany with this visa. 

German Language Course Visa:  This visa is required if you want to study for a German language course in Germany.

 Visa Requirements

• Completed and signed visa application form
• Valid passport
• Two photocopies of your passport
• Your birth certificate of birth
• Your recent passport-size photos
• Proof of financial resources

No, knowing German is not a requirement for studying in Germany. Many universities offer English-language postgraduate programs. It will also depend on the course you wish to study.

Yes, IELTS results are required as proof of English competence in order to receive a Germany Student Visa.

In Germany, studying for free entails paying no or very cheap tuition expenses. This is especially true at public colleges, which do not charge tuition. Fluency in German or an average of 80% for several universities are among the entry requirements.

Yes, English courses are available at the majority of universities. Public universities, on the other hand, demand German language certification as a prerequisite of entrance because certain courses are only given in German.

Apart from tuition fee, accommodation cost is something every international student needs to consider. If you study in a German university for free then only you need to consider accommodation costs. Accommodation cost includes food, travel, and other expenses.

Note that living expenses in city areas will be more than those outside. According to estimates, an average EUR € 850 monthly is more than enough to live in Germany for international students. The table below gives you a fair idea of the expenses you must prepare for.

Types of Expenses	Expenses in EUR €
1 Bedroom Flat	335
Clothing	50
Transportation	112
Food and Groceries	201
Household bills (including phone, internet, and television license)	37
Study materials	23
Recreational activities	73
Other expenses	19
Total	850

  

For most courses offered by German public universities, there are no tuition fees. Depending on your choice of university (public or private), the cost of the course can range anywhere between EUR € 350 and € 20000 / year. The courses you opt for at the Universities of Applied Sciences can be more costly owing to the need for more equipment.

Following are some of the most popular courses in Germany that international students like you from the UK can opt for are:- 

 

Popular Courses	Duration	Average Annual Tuition Fees in EUR €
BSc. Mechanical Engineering	3 years	10000
MSc. Economics	2 years	5000
MS. Data Analytics	1 to 1.5 years	1500
Mech. Engg.	1 to 2 years	12500
Bachelor of Medicine	5+1 year of internship	3000
MSc. Computer Science	2 year	12000
MBA	1 year	35000
BBA	3 to 3.5 years	6000

In group 1, all citizens of Europe / Schengen area plus Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Switzerland DO NOT need any student visa or residency permit to stay in Germany. Students from these nations can simply enter Germany with their national IDs without going through any visa application process. They only need to register their local German address with the local Resident Registration Office or Einwohnermeldeamt after they arrival in Germany.

All Citizens of Israel, Japan, Andorra, Australia, El Salvador, Honduras, Brazil, South Korea, Canada, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, USA, and UK DO NOT need a student visa to enter Germany and don’t have to go through any visa application process before coming to Germany. However, after arrival, students from these mentioned countries above need to apply for a residency permit and register their local German address with the local Resident Registration Office or Einwohnermeldeamt.

All international students from countries other than those mentioned above, need a student visa and a residency permit to study in Germany. They can get residency permit at the Ausländerbehörde or Foreigner's Authority before or after arriving in Germany.

As a holder of a valid German student visa, you can:-

1. Apply for an extension: If you haven’t completed your planned studies within the stated student residence permit in your visa, and you want to complete it.

2. Get a part-time job: You can work for a total of 120 working days/year, even if you’re already working as a part-time employee on campus in the university you are studying. However, it must not interfere with your study progress.

3. Apply for a residence permit: You can apply for a residency permit only if you have completed your studies in Germany. A residence permit valid for up to 6 months, allows you to search for a job or to get self-employed after graduation. You can get a temporary position while searching for a permanent job as per your academic qualifications.

 

As a holder of a German student visa, you can’t:-

1. Get a full-time job: You can’t get a job that requires you to engage in at least 240 working days per year.

2. Abandon study lessons: if you fail to regularly participate in your study lessons in your course at a German university, it may lead to cancellation of your German student visa.

3. Stay indefinitely: A German student visa, allows you to remain in Germany for 3 months. You must apply for a residence permit within that period that will enable you to stay in Germany for up to 2 years. You can extend it only as long as you are studying.

 

As a holder of a German language course visa, you can’t:-  

1. Convert this visa into a student visa or student applicant visa.

2. Change it to a work permit or undertake any job while in Germany.

3. Start any other course or apply for admission to another German university.

A university admission confirmation letter is a written confirmation document that verifies you have been accepted as student into a German university. The confirmation letter contains the following details:-

a. Details of education provider – the university where you have been admitted to study.

b. Acceptance reply card – you must confirm your acceptance of the offer for study by replying to the university admission office with a signed document.

c. Enrollment deadline - dates by which you need to register yourself as a student.

d. Exam dates – when a German language test or university preparatory entrance exam will happen if you have been given conditional admission.

e. Orientation day – date when as a new student you will be informed about the university’s premises and activities.

You can also be issued a university conditional admission confirmation letter, if after you apply the university admission office decides that you need to complete a few additional requirements to become a student of the university formally. This may include a requirement for you to pass any specific pre-academic tests.

The following German language certificates are recognized as valid for studying at a German university:-

a. TestDaF Level 4. You need to clear TestDaF Level 4 as a test of German as a foreign language for foreign students.

b. DSH Certificate II or III. you need to clear DSH Certificate II or III for admission as an international student.

c. Assessment test at the end of institutional preparatory class.

d. DSD Certificate of level II. it would be best if you cleared the diploma of the Permanent Conference of Ministers for Education and Culture Affairs, level II.

e. Goethe Certificate C2. you need to pass the Goethe Test of level C2.

f. Telc Deutch C1 or B2 Hochschule Certificate. You need to clear B2 Hochschule or Telc C1 tests.

 

To prove your proficiency in the English language, you need to clear the following:-

TOEFL Test. required score of IbT-88, Pbt-66.

IELTS Test. The required score must be 6.5+.

CAEC Test. Clear CAEC or Cambridge Proficiency English Certificate level A, B, or C.

Note certain German universities have their language proficiency exams and not all internationally recognized language tests and scores may be accepted by them.

Studying in Germany from the UK is comparatively affordable and cost-friendly. The German public universities do not charge tuition fees but only a semester fee, which can cost around €100-350. The semester fees may include transportation, administrative costs, and other student services. The private universities in Germany, however, charge around €5,000 to €20,000 per annum.

Yes, most public universities in Germany do not charge tuition fees for local and international students. International students from the UK can study in German public universities without having to pay any tuition fees, making it an affordable and ideal option. However, a semester fee or administrative fee of €100-350 must be paid for each semester.

Yes, IELTS is required to study in Germany, as English language proficiency is one of the requirements. The minimum IELTS score required for a German student visa is a band score of 6.0 or 7.0, depending on the study program and university. While IELTS is one of the most commonly accepted English proficiency tests, you can also prove your language skills through tests like TOEFL or Medium of Instruction (MOI) Certificates.

You must have minimum funds worth €992 per month and €11,904 per annum to apply for a German student visa. You can demonstrate the money through scholarships, a blocked account, or a letter of commitment from a German resident or sponsor.