If you are not from the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), you will also need a visa. You can get a visa from the German Embassy (or German Consulate) in your country. You also need proof of financing. You must prove you have enough money. You also need health insurance.

Have you already finished a university degree? Highly qualified specialists have good job opportunities in Germany. Make sure to have certificates from your home country translated and authenticated. You will need these for your work permit. For more details, read the section Finding work.

There are various state and private universities in Germany. With the Abitur (highest school-leaving certificate) or another university entrance qualification, you can study at a university or university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule, FH). With the Fachabitur (technical school-leaving certificate), you can study at a university of applied sciences and certain subjects at a university. Studying at a university of applied sciences is usually more practice-oriented than at a university.

At German universities, there are usually 3 types of degrees:

• Bachelor
• Master
• State examination

German universities offer around 20,000 degree programmes in a wide range of areas. There are also international programmes which are taught in English. Are you looking for a degree programme or a university? The database on the “Study in Germany” website can help you find the right option.

Most universities have an International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt, AAA). Staff here advise students who are interested in studying in Germany.

There is also an increasing number of dual study programmes. Dual study programmes combine a university degree with practical work at a company, which pays you a salary.

To take a Bachelor’s degree, you normally need a school-leaving certificate. This is the general university entrance qualification or the entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences. A Master’s degree is a higher degree. You can take a Master’s degree after you’ve completed a Bachelor’s degree. A state examination (Staatsexamen) is only awarded in certain degree programmes, for example medicine, law, pharmacy, food chemistry and, in some federal states, teacher training. In these courses, students take a state exam.

In the case of foreign qualifications, the university decides whether applicants have the necessary knowledge to study at university. Contact the university’s International Office. Are you still unsure where you want to study? At many universities, the “uni-assist” service checks whether your certificates meet the requirements to study at German universities. You can find more information at uni-assist.en and anabin.de (German). However, the final decision lies with the university.

To study at a German university or university of applied sciences, you need strong German language skills. If German is not your native language, you will need to provide proof of your German language proficiency. In most cases, you must pass the DSH language examination for foreign student applicants, or TestDaF, the language examination for German as a foreign language. There may be other requirements, such as a minimum grade point average. Some programmes have only a limited number of places (numerus clausus). To find out more, contact the respective university.

If your school-leaving certificate does not qualify you to study in Germany, you must first complete a preparatory course (Studienkolleg). You will need to take an entrance exam first. This requires a good knowledge of German at level B1. At the end of the preparatory course, you will take an assessment test. The preparatory course usually lasts two semesters, but it can sometimes be shorter. Tuition is free, but you will be required to pay a semester fee.

There are usually application deadlines for degree programmes, so it’s important to find out when these are well in advance if you plan study in Germany.
 

An academic year at a German university usually has two semesters: a winter semester and a summer semester. Each semester lasts six months. Two and a half months of this are designated as a semester break. The summer holidays are usually longer. During the semester break, there are no lectures or seminars, but exams often take place at this time. This is also the period when students write seminar papers or complete work placements. Many degree programmes only begin in the winter semester.

How long a university degree takes depends on which programme you take and whether you pass the exams. Typically, it takes six to eight semesters to complete a Bachelor’s degree. After that, it takes another two to four semesters to complete a Master’s degree. At the end of a degree programme, you will write a final thesis. Sometimes, you may also need to complete a practical part. Programmes ending with a state examination usually take longer, depending on the degree programme.

A degree programme usually has various components, including lectures and seminars. In a lecture, lots of students gather in a large room. The instructor presents a specific topic, while students listen and take notes. Seminars usually have fewer participants, and these are usually more interactive than lectures.

Tuition fees depend on the federal state. Regular Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes are generally free of charge at state universities. However, students usually have to pay a semester fee per semester. These cover administrative costs, student services and the semester ticket. The semester ticket allows you to use public transport. Tuition fees at private universities are much higher.