Studying in Germany – Admission Requirements, Information
Studying in Germany as a Foreigner
If you want to apply a German university, you will need the following documents in addition to sufficient knowledge of the German language. Please complete all documents carefully, otherwise your approval may be rejected or you may miss important deadlines.
Studying in Germany – information, costs and requirements
Would you like to study in Germany? You should know that! Information about studying in Germany:
Complete the application form
When completing the application form, make sure that the data matches your other documents. In most cases, the application will expire electronically. You must log into the university website. You will receive an applicant ID. All documents must be in digital form so that you can simply upload them with a few clicks. You will also need your signature, which you submit to the university.
Studying in Germany – proof of university entrance qualification
If you have a degree that is equivalent to the general university entrance qualification in Germany, the registration is not a problem and you receive the university entrance qualification (HZB) from the respective university. It looks different if the degree is not recognized. In this case, you must be enrolled in the preparatory course of Studienkolleg and prepare for an “Assessment Exam”. After successfully passing the course, you will have permission to study at the university. If you apply for these courses, you need to know which subject you want to study. Each of the courses is related to a field of study. They usually last two semesters and are usually free. These courses are only offered by institutes or universities where you can take the exam. An important prerequisite for the courses is, of course, a sufficient command of the German language. At least level B2 is required.
Proof of academic examinations
Submit all documents that document your previous academic career. The documents have to be translated by a recognized person, and an authentication by authority party is necessary.
The following certificates are necessary for the beginning or the continuation of the study. Which documents you need exactly depends on which degree you are seeking and which admission requirements are required:
- Proof of higher education entrance qualification.
- Certificates of attended courses and other academic credentials, sometimes a performance result is required.
- A diploma with proof of the average grade achieved.
- If necessary, proof Diploma certificate or proof of the achieved Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.
- Diploma attachment.
- Proof of training and further education of the applicant. These include, for example, certificates of completed vocational training, training outside the curriculum and similar documents.
- If you have volunteer or working experience, you can also do so when applying. Depending on the chosen major, this may be useful and may help you save internship.
For all questions regarding admission, it is better to contact the International Office of the respective university.
Required German language skills for studying in Germany
A large part of the university subjects are taught in German. For this reason, universities require a language proficiency level B2 / C1 according to the European Framework of Reference for Languages. The focus here is on the language examinations Test Deutsch as Foreign Language (TestDaF) and the German Language Examination for University Entrance of Foreign Applicants (DSH). The requirements are not only different from different universities, but also vary at the respective institutes. In addition to the foreign office of the university, you should also ask the institute where you would like to study in Germany.
For self-assessment of your German language skills, the TestDaF preparation test is suitable. You can also get the information about the required language skills of the different universities on the Sprachnachweis-Portal.
Enrollment at universities in Germany
If you have been admitted to a university, you will need to register afterwards. You have only a few days to do so. Inform yourself in time the starting date for university enrollment or others mentioned. You have to go through this process at the beginning of each new semester. For the following semesters, the procedure is called re-registration.
You should definitely submit the following documents:
- Letter of university admission
- The recognized entrance qualification for a university
- Proof of your health insurance in Germany
- At least 2 passport photos
- Documents for the required language certificate
- A valid passport
Once you have submitted all the documents, the university confirms your enrollment with a certificate of enrollment, which is considered a temporary student card.
In addition, an electronic payment slip will be sent to you by e-mail. With it, you can pay your semester fees. You will also receive the access data for an electronic account with your matriculation number. With the help of this account, you have the opportunity to register online for lectures and exams. From this account, you can also access a variety of university services, networks and electronic libraries. After you have transferred the semester fees, the university will send you the student ID by post.
Studying in Germany – Costs and Fees
To study in Germany, there are different costs. Although tuition fees are relatively low by international standards, it is important to know the details in advance in order to create a meaningful budget plan.
Since 2014, free study in all federal states has been reintroduced at state universities. In some states, long-term students or second-degree students with about 500 euros per semester and private universities are exempt. What all the German universities for sure collect is the semester fees. The amount varies between 25 and 150 euros per semester.
When planning your monthly budget, do not forget the living cost, such as rent, food and clothing, and health insurance costs. Special tips for cheap health insurance, accommodation and how to save on food and drink can also be found on this website.
Pay attention to our link “Why do German learners need a blocked account?” on this portal. Here you will find everything worth knowing about the blocked account as a proof of financing.
Study in Germany with scholarship
The easiest way to finance a study in Germany is through a scholarship. There are various programs and funding organizations for students. Under the link German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), you will find all information and requirements.
List of universities in Germany
To help you reach the goal of studying in Germany and finding the right university, we have compiled a list for you with different universities and sorted by federal state:
STUDYING IN GERMANY: UNIVERSITIES IN BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG
University of Ulm
University of Stuttgart
University of Konstanz
University of Freiburg
University of Hohenheim
University of Mannheim
University of Heidelberg
STUDYING IN GERMANY: UNIVERSITIES IN BAVARIA
Ludwig-Maximilians-University
Technical University
Otto Friedrich University Bamberg
University of Regensburg
University of Nuremberg-Erlangen
STUDY IN GERMANY IN BUNDESLAND BRANDENBURG
Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus-Senftenberg
European University Viadrina
University of Potsdam
Film University Babelsberg “Konrad Wolf”
Medical University of Brandenburg
STUDYING IN GERMANY: UNIVERSITIES IN BERLIN
Free University of Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
Technical University Berlin
University of Art in Berlin
STUDYING IN GERMANY: UNIVERSITIES IN HAMBURG
University of Hamburg
Hamburg University of Technology
HafenCity University Hamburg – University of Architecture and Metropolitan Development
College of Fine Arts
University of Music and Theater Hamburg
Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
North German Academy of Finance and Tax Law (University of Applied Sciences)
STUDYING IN GERMANY: BUNDESLAND HESSEN
Darmstadt University of Technology
Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main
Justus Liebig University
University of Kassel
Philipps University Marburg
Studying in Germany: Universities in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Ernst Moritz Arndt University Greifswald
University of Music and Theater Rostock
University Neubrandenburg
University of Stralsund
University of Rostock
STUDIES IN GERMANY: UNIVERSITIES IN LOWER SAXONY AND BREMEN
University of Fine Arts Braunschweig
Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences
University of Bremen
Technical University of Braunschweig
Georg-August-University Goettingen
Private University of Applied Sciences Göttingen
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover
University of Music, Drama and Media Hannover
University of Hannover
Hannover Medical School
Veterinary College Hannover
College of Intercultural Theology
College of Applied Science and Art
North German University of Law
University of Hildesheim
STUDYING IN GERMANY: UNIVERSITIES IN NORDRHEIN-WESTFALEN
RWTH Aachen University
University of Music and Dance Cologne
University of Applied Sciences Aachen
Bielefeld University
University of Applied Sciences Bielefeld – Gütersloh – Minden
Bochum University – University of Applied Sciences
Ruhr-University Bochum
Folkwang University of the Arts Essen
Technical University Dortmund
Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf
Art Academy Düsseldorf
University Duisburg-Essen
University of Cologne
Academy of Media Arts Cologne
STUDYING IN GERMANY: UNIVERSITIES IN RHEINLAND-PFALZ
College of the German Federal Bank Hachenburg
University of Kaiserslautern
University of Kaiserslautern
University of Koblenz
University of Applied Sciences Ludwigshafen am Rhein
University of Mainz – University of Applied Sciences
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
University of Applied Sciences Trier
STUDYING IN GERMANY: HIGHER EDUCATION IN SAARLAND
University of Saarland
University Hospital of the Saarland
College of Engineering and Economics
College of Music
College of Fine Arts (HBK)
German-French University
STUDY IN GERMANY: UNIVERSITIES IN SACHSEN
TU Dresden
University of Leipzig
TU Chemnitz
Freiberg Mining Academy and Technical University
STUDYING IN GERMANY: UNIVERSITIES IN SACHSEN-ANHALT
Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg
Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg
University of Anhalt
University of Merseburg
STUDYING IN GERMANY: UNIVERSITIES IN SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN
International School of New Media
University of Music Lübeck
Muthesius College of Art
Nordakademie
University of Flensburg
University of Lübeck
Virtual University of Applied Sciences Lübeck
Business Academy Schleswig-Holstein GmbH
STUDYING IN GERMANY: UNIVERSITIES IN THURINGIA
www.uni-erfurt.de
www.fh-erfurt.de
www.tu-ilmenau.de
www.uni-jena.de
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR STUDYING IN GERMANY? OUR LANGUAGE SCHOOL HELPS YOU!
Do you have specific questions? The language school Aktiv is glad to help you. Free hotline: 0800-7889000 or via e-mail: kontakt@www.sprachschule-aktiv.de