Germany has about 400 state-recognized higher education institutions, offering 20,000 study programs at all levels — from short and language courses to Bachelor's, Master's, and Ph.D. studies. Germany is the third most popular destination for international students, after the Anglophone United States and the United Kingdom. In other words, every year, about 100,000 students arrive in Germany for their graduate or postgraduate studies.
Some of Germany's top universities are the Technische Universität München (also known as the Entrepreneurial University), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (the institution of 52,972 students for the academic year 2023/2024), and Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg (the oldest university in Germany). In fact, every major city in Germany has at least one university, guaranteeing high-quality studies. Besides the world-class curriculum and modern premises, international students in Germany enjoy promising employment prospects and a good quality of life.
Good to know:
Only degrees from state-recognized higher education institutions are accepted by international labor markets.
Useful links:
Technische Universität München
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
Plan your studies in Germany
Start by deciding which university you want to apply to and for what study program. At first, you may feel overwhelmed with all the options in front of you, but keep in mind that each university has its expertise, and certain universities are suitable for particular studies. For example, Universität Heidelberg is an excellent choice for studies in medicine. However, if you wish to study renewable energy, you should consider the Technical University of Munich (TUM). For studies in anthropology, the Free University of Berlin ranks higher than others.
Once you have decided on the university or universities you want to apply to, you should carefully go through the entry requirements because they differ from one university and course to another. If you have any doubts regarding the entry requirements, fees, or curriculum, you should contact the respective faculty representative for clarification. Naturally, non-EU and non-EEA students may have more questions regarding their German student visa application and finances. Therefore, they should allow more time for their application.
Another thing you should think about ahead of time, but most likely after you have been offered a place of study, is your accommodation in Germany. Student halls may offer limited spaces and give priority to younger or overseas students. Hence, a shared house, apartment, or studio might be a more viable option for you if you value your privacy. For more information about housing options in different German cities, go to our Accommodation in Germany Guide.
Tip: Moving to Germany to study at a university may raise many questions. Follow the lively discussions in our Germany forum to learn more about studying in Germany from seasoned expats.
Good to know:
University rankings can give you an idea of the quality of education offered by different universities. However, keep in mind that they vary between publishers and aren't always completely unbiased.
Useful link:
Deutsches Studentenwerk – information for international students
The German higher education system
Germany has state-funded and private universities spanning different categories: universities, universities of applied sciences, universities of art, film, and music, and Duale Hochschulen (which means dual study colleges). A university emphasizes theoretical knowledge and academic research; hence, if you wish to follow an academic career and complete a Ph.D., this is the type of higher education institution you should look for. On the other hand, universities of applied sciences offer vocational studies tailored to professional requirements in the technology, business, media, or social services sectors. Often, the study program requires an internship or a short-term work placement.
Universities of creative subjects such as fashion design, acting, dancing, and directing are more competitive since they require an entrance examination to prove your artistic skills and talents — on top of the academic and German language qualifications. Lastly, a dual-study college is ideal for those students who want hands-on experience. In other words, studies are combined with a paid work placement, and education takes place both in the job environment and at the college. Germany is generally known for its dual study programmes, which are especially popular in the automation, culinary, first aid, carpentry, and plumbing sectors, which are usually lacking in the labor force.
Good to know:
Most universities and colleges in Germany are state-funded, and some are church-run. In addition, there are private universities whose degrees are recognized by the state.
Useful links:
Degree programmes database by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research
German university entry requirements
To enroll in a German higher education institution, candidates need a school-leaving certificate (called Hochschulzugangsberechtigung). If candidates apply with a qualification that is not equivalent to the German school-leaving diploma, they will have to study a foundation course (Studienkolleg) before the degree. The course, which takes one year to complete, will include German language lessons and subjects relevant to your future degree program. Note that to enroll in a foundation course, you will need to pass an entrance examination first and prove sufficient (level B1 or higher) knowledge of German. For studies at a Master's degree or PhD level, the academic entry requirements are usually recognized as Bachelor's and Master's degrees, respectively.
Sometimes, meeting the academic and language requirements isn't enough to secure a place in programs of high demand, and other elements are taken into consideration, such as a good motivation letter and strong references. For such popular degrees (e.g., medicine, dentistry, pharmaceutical science, etc.), it is the Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung that makes the final decision. Note that these programs may have earlier application deadlines than the less sought-after programs. The restriction on admission because there are more applicants than places in the program is known in Germany as Numerus Clausus (NC), meaning a limited number.
Tip: Don't hesitate to contact the international office (Akademisches Auslandsamt) of your university of interest for information related to your studies, entry requirements, student visa, and more.
Useful links:
The DAAD entrance qualification database to find out whether your international certificate is recognized for university admission.
Anabin database for international qualifications
Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung
Submitting your application to a German university
For more than half of the German universities, candidates can apply via the national online university application platform called Uni Assist. For other universities, candidates will have to apply via the institution's own platform or other websites such as Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung.
Before uploading any documents of acquired qualifications, check whether your qualifications are adequate and recognized for your preferred study program and university. For example, for a Bachelor's degree, you need a school leaving certificate, the German equivalent of which is the German Abitur or the German International Abitur (DIAP).
The typical application documents include:
- A certified copy of your highest qualification;
- A translated and certified transcript of your classes and grades;
- A passport photo;
- A copy of your passport's biometrics page;
- Certified copies of language certificates.
Tip: The more applications you send, the more chances you have of enrolling in higher education.
Good to know:
Many undergraduate study programmes offer a summer start date (March or April). Usually, summer semesters are less popular among international students, meaning that there are more available spots. Applying for both summer and winter (October) start dates gives you more chances to secure a place.
Useful links:
Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung
DAAD admission requirements
Scholarships in Germany
The German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst), or DAAD, is the leading organization that grants scholarships to young graduates to help them finance their studies for a specific degree in Germany. Besides, there are non-governmental scholarships to study in Germany funded by organizations and foundations such as Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and Heinrich Böll Stiftung.
Good to know:
Scholarship application deadlines are much earlier than those for the study programme itself. Hence, to avoid disappointment, learn in advance about the scholarships' conditions and requirements, as well as important closing dates.
Useful links:
German Academic Exchange Service
Financing your studies in Germany
Finding a student job in Germany is relatively easy and allows good earning opportunities. Students from the EU or EEA are similar to German students and have free access to the German job market. During term break, students can work full-time for a full two months a year (or 50 working days). Different rules apply during lecture time, and regular students can work for only half time, up to 20 hours a week. Students from outside the EU–EEA can work up to 120 full or 240 half days a year. If you want to work more, approval by the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Employment Agency is needed. Note that unpaid work experiences count as work, and every day of unpaid work will be subtracted from the 120 days.
Good to know:
The minimum wage for student jobs in Germany is about 8 to 10 euros per hour.
Tip: As a student, you may be interested in summer jobs. Please find out more about summer jobs in Germany in our Living in Germany Guide.
Useful links:
The Erasmus EU programme
The Erasmus programme is for students who wish to spend a semester in another EU country to improve their employment prospects, experience life in a different country, or improve their language skills. Students may also apply for a traineeship besides studying at the Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral level.
Useful link:
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