Studying inGermany
A Practical Guide forInternational Students

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A Practical Guide for International Students
8th edition

4

STUDYING IN GERMANY

Contents
So you want to study in Germany? We can’t wait to meet you!

8

1 Preparations before starting your studies

10

1.1

Higher education institution in Germany

10		

Types of higher education institutions and their features

12		

Public or private funding12		Student numbers in Germany

13

Study programmes and degrees in Germany

14		The most popular degrees in Germany 15		Doctoral/PhD programmes: Procedure and information sources

15		

Studying if you don't speak German: international study programmes

18

		

Studying in different countries on a joint or dual degree programme

18

1.2

		Get a German degree without studying in Germany:
hybrid and online study programmes
1.3

Entry requirements and how to apply



18
20

		

School-leaving qualifications for German higher education institutions	

20

		

Access to higher education with non-equivalent qualifications	

21

		

Testing your German language skills

22

Other ways of preparing to start your studies in Germany

24

Ways to apply to study in Germany

26

Administrative matters: what to do in advance

31

Funding31

		Health insurance

36		Visas

37

		
1.4

STUDYING IN GERMANY

5

Seitenzahlen werden aktualisiert

1.5

Finding accommodation before you come to Germany: some tips

40

Types of apartments and accommodation in Germany

40

		Coming to Germany without a place to live43		

Where to look for accommodation

44

Checklist and timetable

46

2 You’ve arrived in Germany – what’s next?

50

1.6

2.1

Your first points of contact in Germany

50

2.2

Enrolling at your higher education institution

51

2.3

Your first visit to the administrative offices in your new home

52

2.3.1

Residents registration office

53

2.3.2

Immigration office

53

		
2.4

Organisation of studies

54

2.5

Other support services

57

3 Tips for a successful stay in Germany

60

3.1

Meeting people and making new friends

60

3.2

Learning and improving your German in Germany

61

3.3

Get work experience through work placements and part-time jobs

62

3.3.1

Work placements

62

3.3.2

Working part-time

64

		
3.4

How can I stay on in Germany after my studies?

65

		

3.4.1

The law and how it affects you

66

		

3.4.2

Chances of getting a job in Germany

67

3.5

What to do if there’s a problem

68

		

3.5.1

Sickness

68

		

3.5.2

Help with mental health

69

		

3.5.3

Staying safe in daily life

70

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STUDYING IN GERMANY

Have a safe journey and all the best for your studies!

71

The numbers: international students in Germany

72

The DAAD: goals, activities and programmes

76

Addresses and external links

78

Index

80

STUDYING IN GERMANY

78STUDYING IN GERMANY

SO YOU WANT TO STUDY IN
GERMANY? WE CAN’T WAIT
TO MEET YOU!
Studying in another country is always an
exciting project but it is challenging, too.
You’re leaving behind your familiar surroundings to go and live in a different
country with a different culture.

There are currently more international students in Germany than almost anyother country. The current figure is around
350,000, about 12% of all students inGermany – so you’ll be in good company!

In Germany you will find a wide range of opportunities to study in cities large and small.
Germany’s higher education institutions
enjoy an outstanding reputation around theworld and are recognised for the strengthof their research. On top of this, they offer
great conditions for study. What’s more, thecosts are low when compared to other countries around the world. If you’re interested
in a PhD, Germany’s many internationallyrecognised research institutions offer excellent opportunities.

Any period of study abroad requires a lotof preparation, and we hope this brochurehelps you with that. Of course, it can’t answer every individual question, so why not
get in touch with our teams in the DAAD’s
offices around the world when making yourplans? They are very experienced and will
be happy to help you make the best possible preparations for your stay in Germany.

In addition to this, there is currently a very
good chance of being able to remain inGermany after you graduate. Germany islooking for skilled professionals, and it iseasier to get a long-term residence permit
if you have graduated from a study programme in Germany.

And even if right now everything looks pretty complicated and hard work, don’t forgetthat studying abroad is an experience which
you’ll remember for your whole life. Yearsfrom now you will look back on your time
abroad and still benefit from it.
We’d like to wish you all success and awonderful, exciting time in Germany!

STUDYING IN GERMANY

WHAT IS THE DAAD?
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is the organisation of Germanhigher education institutions and their student bodies. In addition to awarding
scholarships, the DAAD also promotes the internationalisation of German universities, as well as strengthening German studies and the German language
abroad. The DAAD also helps developing countries create efficient higher education institutions. It also advises policy-makers on the areas of foreign science,education and development.
In addition to this, the DAAD provides a wide range of information about studying and living in Germany for prospective students. You can find this information at www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-germany/, www.studyin-germany.de/en/ and www.myguide.de/en/. We also provide brochureson these topics which you can find in the DAAD’s offices around the world andonline.

910PREPARATIONIN GERMANY

TIPS

1	PREPARATIONS BEFORESTARTING YOUR STUDIES
Just going away on holiday requires a gooddeal of planning and organisation. That’s all
the more true if you want to study in another country. You will need a good basic
understanding of the higher education system, the study programmes on offer, andhow to apply. You will also need to know
about some bureaucratic points.
In this chapter we will explain what you
need to know about starting your studies inGermany. You will find out about the different types of higher education institutions inGermany, the different study opportunities
they offer and how to get started. In addition to this, you will learn about the requirements you need to meet in order to study inGermany. We will also explain some of thetechnical and administrative questions youneed to clarify in advance and how to start
looking for accommodation before you evenarrive in Germany.

You can also find these points in a checklist at the end of the chapter, along withadvice on the best time to deal with each of
the points. This will help you keep track ofeverything and stay on schedule, andensure you have all the documents youneed for your departure.
By following these steps, nothing should getin the way of making a successful start tostudying in Germany!

1.1 HIGHER EDUCATION 			INSTITUTIONS IN GERMANY
Every country’s higher education system isdifferent, so in this chapter, we will explain
the different types of higher education institutions in Germany and the different ways
they are funded.

EDUCATION POLICY
Education policy in Germany is set by the federal states. This means that Germany doesn’t have one single higher education system: it has 16, one for eachfederal state, but the systems are similar. However, the types of higher education
institutions do not differ between the federal states. Nevertheless, you shouldfind out the specific requirements for your chosen higher education institution.

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11

Germany has over 420 higher education institutions spread across the whole country.

Flensburg

Heide

Stralsund

Kiel

SCHLESWIGHOLSTEIN
Elmshorn
Wedel
Hamburg
Bremerhaven
Buxtehude HAMBURG

Greifswald

Rostock
LübeckWilhelmshaven
Emden
Leer Elsfleth
Lüneburg
Oldenburg
Ottersberg
BREMENLOWER SAXONY
VechtaHermannsburg
Diepholz

WismarMECKLENBURGWESTERN POMERANIA

Neubrandenburg

Neuruppin

BERLIN

Eberswalde

Stendal Wustermark
BerlinSAXYONY-ANHALTFrankfurt/ O.
Brandenburg
HannoverPotsdamWildau
Braunschweig
Friedensau
Osnabrück
Wolfenbüttel
Herford
Magdeburg
Hildesheim
NORTH RHINEBRANDENBURG
Lemgo Hameln
Bielefeld
WESTPHALIA
Münster
Wernigerode
Detmold
Clausthal-Zellerfeld
Bocholt
Cottbus
Kleve
Holzminden
KöthenPaderborn
Senftenberg
Bochum Hamm
Lippstadt
GöttingenHalle
Recklinghausen
Nordhausen
Gelsenkirchen Witten
Merseburg
Dortmund
Essen
Leipzig
Hagen Iserlohn
Duisburg
KasselMülheim
SAXONY
Bad
Sooden-Allendorf
Krefeld
Wuppertal
Görlitz
Düsseldorf
Eisenach
WeimarDresden
HESSE
Erfurt Jena
Mittweida
Köln
Gera
SiegenZittauFreiberg
Brühl
THURINGIA
Dietzhölztal
Chemnitz
St. Augustin
AachenIlmenau
Marburg Schmalkalden
Alfter Bonn
Hachenburg
Zwickau
GießenFulda
Vallendar
Koblenz
Hof
CoburgIdstein Oberursel
Bad Homburg
Frankfurt a.M.
Wiesbaden Offenbach
Schweinfurt
Geisenheim
Mainz
BingenBayreuth
Bamberg
Aschaffenburg
Darmstadt
Trier
Würzburg
RHINELAND
WeidenPALATINATE Worms
Erlangen
Fürth
Ludwigshafen Mannheim
Nürnberg
SAARLAND
AmbergHeidelberg
AnsbachKaiserslautern
Neuendettelsau
Saarbrücken
SpeyerWeidenbach
Heilbronn
LandauRegensburg
Karlsruhe
Pforzheim
Ludwigsburg Aalen
Bad Liebenzell
Deggendorf
Stuttgart Schwäbisch Gmünd
Eichstätt
Esslingen NürtingenGeislingen
Ingoldstadt
PassauReutlingen
Landshut
Tübingen
Offenburg
Ulm
Rottenburg
Augsburg
BADENFreising
Biberach
Neu-UlmWÜRTTEMBERG
Ismaning
Albstadt
MünchenFurtwangen Trossingen Riedlingen
BAVARIA
Neubiberg
Freiburg
Sigmaringen
Weingarten
Rosenheim
Konstanz
Ravensburg
KemptenFriedrichshafen

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PREPARATIONIN GERMANY

TIPS

Types of higher education institutions andtheir features

applied sciences which have grown strongly
in number over recent years.

Germany’s 420 or so higher education institutions include almost 120 universities,
over 200 universities of applied sciences andjust under 60 institutions for music and thearts. In addition to these, there are over 30
colleges of public administration and a small
number of institutions which specialise insingle areas such as marketing or medicine.
How do these various institutions differ fromone another?

Colleges of music and the arts also include
colleges of film, media and similar institutions. If you want to study at one of these
institutions, you will need artistic talent andwill usually have to pass a separate entrance
examination.

Universities have a strong focus on researchand their study programmes are academically oriented. Most universities offer a wide
range of subjects, although there are somespecialist institutions such as technical universities, medical universities and collegesof education. What they all have in common
is the right to award doctoral degrees. So
if you want to do your PhD in Germany you
should take a close look at the universities
here.
However, if a more practice-oriented education appeals to you, universities of appliedsciences might be of interest. They generally offer study programmes which are more
focused on practical applications, and work
placements are usually a core element of
the curriculum. The subjects they offer areoften more application-oriented than thoseoffered by universities and are mainly inthe fields of technology and engineering
or economics and social sciences. On theother hand, there are also some specialist
institutions such as technical universities ofColleges of public administration train
Germany’s civil servants. Non-standard
higher education institutions include dual
higher education institutions for degree
programmes with vocational and academic
elements.
Public or private funding
One distinctive feature of Germany’s higher
education system is that many institutions
are publicly funded. Around two-thirds ofall higher education institutions are publicbodies which are funded by the state. The
state also recognises over 110 private universities and just under 40 church-funded
institutions.
What does this mean for you? You do not
usually pay tuition fees at public higher education institutions. Instead, you pay a feeeach semester. These are generally between€170 and €450, which is very low comparedto many other countries. On the other hand,private institutions and some church institutions do charge tuition fees, but the levels
range widely. Some are as low as €500 per
semester, while others can be up to €15,000.
The average is roughly €3,500.

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13

HISTORY OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
Ruprecht Karls University in Heidelberg is the oldest university in Germany. It
was established in 1386 and houses the oldest university library in the country.
Universities of applied sciences are much younger. The first of these were set
up in the late 1960s, although many were based on much older predecessors,
such as colleges of engineering and higher technical colleges for specific subject
areas.

In addition to these institutions, there areother private or church institutions which
are not recognised by the state. Degrees
awarded by these institutions may be lessvaluable on the international job market.
You should check in advance whether yourdesired institution is recognised by thestate. A quick tip: all institutions listed in theHigher Education Compass (www.daad.de/study-programmes) are recognised by thestate.

Student numbers in Germany
Around 2.9 million students were enrolled
at higher education institutions in Germanyin the 2022/2023 winter semester. The majority (1.7 million) study at universities. Universities of applied sciences have 1.1 million
students, and colleges of art and music havejust under 38,000 students.
A clear majority of students in Germany areenrolled at public higher education institutions. About 12% chose to study at private
institutions.
And around 12% of all students come fromabroad. There are around 350,000 international students in Germany.

350,000 international
students in Germany

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PREPARATIONIN GERMANYTIPSSTUDENT AGESThe average student in Germany is 23 years old, but there are outliers above andbelow this. For example, the youngest student in Germany now has not even reached the age of 15! Generally, very few people under the age of 18 are in higher
education in Germany. There are currently fewer than 5,000 such students. By
contrast, in certain subjects you may be more likely to meet students of retirement age. It is estimated that there are around 55,000 such students. They areoften found in subjects like history and philosophy, but less commonly in technical study programmes.

1.2 STUDY PROGRAMMES AND DEGREES IN GERMANY
Regardless of whether you are just starting out in higher education or already are wellunderway, you will find programmes and degrees in Germany which fit your interests.
There is a lot of choice, and you will need to consider many things when making your decision. We can help you get where you want to go.

HOW MANY STUDY PROGRAMMES ARE THERE IN GERMANY?

STRUCTURED DOCTORALPROGRAMMES
almost 1,000

MASTER’S DEGREE
PROGRAMMES
over 10,000

BACHELOR’S DEGREE
PROGRAMMES
almost 10,000

OTHER PROGRAMMES
over 1,600

TOTAL PROGRAMMES
over 21,000

STUDYING IN GERMANY

15

The most popular degrees in Germany
If you have just completed your school education, a bachelor’s degree programme is
the right next step for you. There are different types of bachelor’s degrees: the mostcommon are Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees,
which are often awarded for programmes
in the social sciences, economics and languages. You can achieve a Bachelor of
Science (BSc) in science subjects, while
BEng degrees are common in engineering
subjects. Bachelor’s degree programmes
generally take between six and eight semesters to complete, at the end of which you
will have your initial professional qualification. It will allow you to enter the employment market or continue your academic
education with a master’s degree.
The most common master’s degrees are
Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc)and Master of Engineering (MEng). To be
accepted onto a master’s degree
programme you will generally need abachelor’s degree, usually in a relevant
subject. A master’s degree allows you to
explore the fundamentals you learned inyour bachelor’s degree in greater depth.
These programmes generally last between
two and four semesters, after which you can
get off to a flying start in your career orcontinue onto a PhD.
After completing your master’s degree, you
can go on to study for a Doctorate/PhD. In
a PhD you conduct research into an academic problem or issue, and publish yourfindings in a thesis, known in Germany asa ‘Promotion’. Depending on your research
topic and subject area, you will need between two and five years to complete a PhD.
Doctoral/PhD programmes: Procedure andinformation sources
In Germany there are two different models
for a PhD: individual PhDs and structured
PhDs. The traditional model is theindividual PhD. In this model, you find yourown supervisor for your PhD project independently. They supervise your work andsupport you throughout your PhD. Your
supervisor is known as a ‘Doktorvater’ or‘Doktormutter’ – a doctoral father or mother – in Germany. Under their mentorship,
you then work fairly independently on yourproject and are free to structure work as you
wish.
The other model is a structured PhD. For astructured PhD you apply to a PhD programme such as a research training groupor graduate school. There, you work on yourPhD within a prescribed structure.
Both routes have their pros and cons. In an
individual PhD you have greater freedom,
both in terms of time and your subject
matter. However, you also have to work
more independently than in a structured
programme, where you often collaborate
with other doctoral students. Before starting, think about which option is a better fit
for your personality and way of working.

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PREPARATIONIN GERMANY

You can find more information about PhD
opportunities in Germany at:www.daad.de/phd
www.research-in-germany.org
www.hochschulkompass.de/en/
doctoral-studies

TIPS

You can research calls for applications to
PhD programmes on the following websites:www.phdgermany.de  
www.hochschulkompass.de/en/     doctoral-studies
www.daad.de/international-programmes(international PhDs)

 IP: For international PhD programmes, take a look at the International Max
T
Planck research Schools (IMPRS) run by the Max Planck Institutes in Germany.
There are 68 IMPRS, where German and international PhD students work
together and the working language is English. Further information is available
via www.mpg.de/en/imprs.

There are some other types of degrees inGermany which will probably be unfamiliar to you. These are the state
examination, ‘Diploma’ and ‘Magister’degrees. Nowadays, Diploma and Magister
degrees are only awarded occasionally,
mainly in engineering, arts subjects andtheology. By contrast, the state examination is in widespread use. Students of law,
medicine and pharmacy receive this degree,
as do trainee teachers. If you are working
towards one of these degrees, you shouldmake absolutely sure in advance that they
will be recognised in your home country.

Orchid subjects in Germany
Have you ever heard of orchid subjects?
They have nothing to do with botany.
Orchid subjects are study programmes
which are only offered at a few higher education institutions in Germany and are
therefore considered exotic. What about abachelor's degree in applied leisure studies
or equine studies? Or a master's degree inpapyrology, caucasology or onomastics?
You won’t find packed lecture theatres inthese subjects, and they are guaranteed togive you something to talk about at parties.

STUDYING IN GERMANY

17

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PREPARATIONIN GERMANY

Studying if you don’t speak German:international study programmes
What if you want to study in Germany, but
you don’t have the necessary language skills?
An international study programme could
be right for you. English is usually the main
language of teaching for these programmes
and you can often apply even if you cannot
speak German well. In addition, these programmes usually offer additional support forinternational students. Their curricula also
often include international elements such as
international guest lecturers or projects andlanguage courses which can help you get thehang of life in Germany.
You can find many of the international study
programmes currently offered in Germany in the DAAD’s database of international
bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programmes (www.daad.de/internationalprogrammes). The database contains entries
on some 290 bachelor’s programmes, over
1,400 master’s programmes and around 180
structured doctoral programmes.
Studying in different countries on a joint ordual degree programme
If you don’t want to spend the whole of yourstudies in Germany and want to get to know
more countries, have a look at programmes
which include international double degrees. For these you will only spend part ofyour standard period of study in Germany,and the remainder of your time will be at ahigher education institution abroad. You get

TIPS

two degrees from programmes like this: one
from the higher education institution inGermany and one from the institution
abroad. There are currently around 850 ofthese programmes in Germany, including
290 bachelor's degree and 550 master’s
degree programmes.
Get a German degree without studying inGermany: hybrid and online study
programmes
Distance learning study programmes are notunusual in Germany. There are even someinstitutions where you cannot study in person at all. During the pandemic, Germany’s
higher education institutions expanded theirhybrid and online provision. Now you canchoose from over 1,000 online and hybrid
programmes.
There is a wide range of options. For some
programmes you never have to travel toGermany, and you can even sit examinations
digitally. However, most programmes include
some periods where you have to come toGermany. These could be individual days per
week or a few weeks a year, but it could also
only be for examinations. You will need tocheck carefully to see how each programmeis organised.
The ways the course content is taught canalso vary widely. In some programmes you
can study without any restrictions at all on
when and where you study. The course provides the content and you can then work on
it whenever you want. For other programmes

STUDYING IN GERMANY

19

the content is taught live. That means that alive video feed or chat will take place at a certain time. If you live in a different time zone
to Germany, that can be pretty hard work, as
you may sometimes need to join a session in
the middle of the night.

recognised degree from a German university
without having to move away from where
you live. That means you will not have to find
new accommodation or be apart from yourfamily. However, you would miss out on thecultural experiences of studying abroad.

When it comes down to it, there are pros andcons to all distance learning options. One advantage is that you can get an internationally

What if you don’t want to complete a fullstudy programme in Germany and just wantto spend one or two semesters abroad?

 IP: What happens if you have been accepted on an in-person course in GerT
many, but your visa has not arrived yet? Make sure to check if your study programme offers individual elements in hybrid form. Hybrid options allow you tochoose whether to study in person at the higher education institution or digitallyfrom elsewhere. In such cases you can therefore start digitally and then continue
your studies in person at a later point once you have received your visa.

Check out partner programmes withGerman higher education institutions
through your home institution’s international office. If your home institution is in
an EU country or a third country which is
associated with the programme, Erasmus+
is an incredible opportunity to spend sometime abroad. You can find more detailed
information at eu.daad.de.

Choosing the right city
Of course your choice of programme andhigher education institution is important,but you need to like the city and it needs to
fit your priorities. Are you more of a big city
person, or do you love small-town tranquillity? Do you enjoy bracing sea air in thenorth or is your heart in the mountains?
Take a look around 100 cities in Germany
with higher education institutions at www.
study-in-germany.de/en/germany/cities/.

20

PREPARATIONIN GERMANYTIPS

USEFUL LINKS
Higher Education Compass ( www.daad.de/study-programmes):
Information on over 21,000 study programmes in Germany
International Programmes in Germany ( www.daad.de/international-programmes): information on around 2,000 international study
programmes and short stays in Germany y GUIDE ( www.myguide.de/en/) : Portal for study programmes where usM
ers can log in to review individual access options and contact higher education institutions directly
 tudy in Germany: Information on the German higher education systemS( www.study-in-germany.de/en/plan-your-studies/study-options/higher-education-system/) studienwahl.de/en: official study guide for Germany

1.3 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND
HOW TO APPLY

School-leaving qualifications for Germanhigher education institutions

To be able to study in Germany you haveto demonstrate that you hold certain qualifications. Often you need to provide proofof your German language skills. However, if
you lack anything, there are services to help
you fill in any gaps. What if you aren’t sure
if you meet all the formal requirements?
Here, too there are services to help you
prepare and test yourself. And when you
are ready to apply, it’s a good idea to know
in advance how it works. We’ll explain it allin this chapter.

If you want to study at a German higher education institution, you will need a higher
education entrance qualification. In Germany, these qualifications are called the Abiturand the Fachabitur. An Abitur allows you toapply for any subject at any university, while a
Fachabitur allows you to study a more limited
range of subjects. Your school-leaving qualifications must be equivalent to one of thesetwo qualifications.
So how can you find out if your qualifications are considered equivalent?
If you have school-leaving qualifications
from Switzerland or a country in the European Economic Area (EEA), it’s reallyeasy. If your qualifications will get you into

STUDYING IN GERMANY

higher education at home, they will generally be adequate for higher education inGermany. If you have an Abitur from a German school abroad (regardless of whether
it is in the EU or not), that qualifies you forhigher education in Germany.
It becomes a little more complicated if you
are not from Switzerland or an EEA country, and did not attend a German school. In
that case, you will need to check your individual circumstances. The DAAD provides
several tools on its website to help you dothat, including the admissions database(www.daad.de/admission-database). With
just a few clicks, you can find out if yourqualificationss atisfy the requirements to study any
subject (also known as ‘direct general
university admission’), llow you to study a restricted range ofasubjects (also known as ‘subject-restricted admission’),r equire that you study for one or two
years in your home country before you
can start studying in Germany, or re not adequate to study in higheraeducation in Germany.
The DAAD My GUIDE (www.myguide.de/en/) portal offers similar assistance. My
GUIDE provides a non-binding eligibility
check and will show you the study programmes for which you can apply with yourqualifications, which cuts out one stage ofthe research process for you. You can also

21

contact individual higher education institutions directly through My GUIDE.
These tools are for information only, andthe higher education institution will makethe final decision. For this reason, you
should always check with your desired
higher education institution to make surethey recognise your qualifications.
You should be aware that different requirements can apply to artistic subjects. If you
can demonstrate exceptional talent, you
may sometimes be able to study even if
you do not have a formal higher education
entrance qualification. In these cases, too,
the decision is up to the individual higher
education institution.
Access to higher education with
non-equivalent qualifications
If your school-leaving qualifications are noteligible for study in Germany, you will needto take a higher education entrance examination known as the ‘Feststellungsprüfung’.
This will test you on subjects which are relevant to your future subject area. Passing thetest allows you to apply for a bachelor’s degree programme in that field of study. The
Feststellungsprüfung also
generally includes a language test.
Of course, you can take the Feststellungsprüfung without any extra preparation, but
we do recommend attending a preparatory
course in Germany known as a ‘Studienkolleg’. These courses generally take twosemesters with around 30 hours of lessons a

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PREPARATIONIN GERMANY

TIPS

 IP: You only need to take the Feststellungsprüfung if you are applying for aTbachelor’s programme. If you already hold a bachelor’s degree and want to starta master’s programme, you do not need to take the assessment. The same
applies if you have a bachelor’s degree from your home country.

week. Attending a course at a public higher
education institution is free and you only
have to pay the standard semester fees.
Please note, if you want to attend a Studienkolleg, you will need to show you have good
German skills (i.e. Level B1 of the Common
European Framework of Reference for
Languages).

and study programme. You can take someinternational study programmes without
knowing any German at all. However, moststudy programmes are still taught in German. You will need to prove you have goodlanguage skills when you apply so you canfollow the lectures and seminars and complete your academic assignments.

Testing your German language skills

Two different exams are available for you
to demonstrate your German skills: theTest Deutsch als Fremdsprache (TestDaF)
and the Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den
Hochschulzugang (DSH). You can take the
TestDaF exam at one of 500 test centres in
100 countries. The digital TestDaF exam
can also only be taken at a test centre. The
exam dates are published in advance andLanguage is an important aspect when it
comes to studying successfully in Germany,but how good do your German skills need
to be?
This really depends on the specific requirements of the higher education institution

LANGUAGE SKILLSOver 80% of international students could speak German before they started
studying. Even if it is not compulsory for your study programme, being able tospeak German will make it easier to find your feet in Germany, both in the classroom and in your private life.

STUDYING IN GERMANY

TIP: You can find out more about language certificates at www.sprachnachweis.de.
Here, you can research the German skills which you will need for your chosen
subject at the higher education institution you hope to attend. Sprachnachweis.
de also gives you a great overview of the exams which you can take to demonstrate
your German skills.

can be found at www.testdaf.de. On theother hand, DSH exams are mainly offeredby higher education institutions and Studienkollegs in Germany. The exam dates
can be found at dsh.de/dsh-dates, but you
should also check with the international
office of your higher education institutionin Germany. Both tests are available at different levels of difficulty, but you will needto achieve at least level B2.2 to be able toapply for any study programme without
restrictions.
You will have to pay a fee to take the tests.
Find out the fees which will apply to you, as
they vary from country to country and frominstitution to institution.

LANGUAGE COURSES IN GERMANY
One good way to improve or refresh your language skills before starting yourstudies is to take a language course in Germany. Many higher education institutions offer a range of courses from German for beginners to courses for advanced
learners. Some focus on specific topics while others offer more general information about the country and its culture. Check out the courses which are currently
available at www.summerschools.de.

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However, you do not need to provide
evidence of your German skills if any of
the following points apply to you:Y ou hold an Abitur from a Germanlanguage school.
Y ou have passed the new GoetheZertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches
Sprachdiplom exam.
Y ou hold a level II Deutsches Sprachdiplom der Kultusministerkonferenz.
Y ou have passed the telc Deutsch C1
Hochschule exam

Find out more about language skills
German skills are measured using
the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages or CEFR.
CEFR categorises language users into
three broad levels:
Level A – basic user
Level B – independent user
Level C – proficient user
Each of these levels is subdivided into 1 and2. For example, someone with level A1 skills
can only use and understand everyday expressions and very basic phrases. Someone
with skills at level C2, on the other hand,
can speak the language almost as well as anative speaker.

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Other ways of preparing to start yourstudies in Germany
Even if you meet all the formal requirements to study in Germany, you might still
be feeling a little uncertain. Is your German
good enough for higher education, forexample? Do you have the specialist academic knowledge you need to be successful in your studies in Germany?
If you are worried about any of these issues, you can take a preparatory course
known as a ‘Propädeutikum’. Participating
in one of these programmes will not only
allow you to complete a language course
but also prepare for the academic side ofyour future study programme. They also often include an introduction to the Germanhigher education system and academic
work. Propädeutika come in many different shapes and sizes. Some only take a few
weeks while others run for one or even twosemesters. The DAAD’s International Programmes in Germany database includes asummary of selected Propädeutika. Go towww.daad.de/international-programmes
and select Prep Course under course type.
If you want to test your skills for yourself,
you can take the Test for Academic
Studies (TestAS). Taking the test can give
you a better idea of whether you can meetthe requirements of a German higher education institution. Some institutions evenrequire a TestAS as part of an application.
It is always worth taking a close look at theentry requirements for your desired study

STUDYING IN GERMANY

programme. You can find more information
about TestAS at www.testas.de/en/.
If you want to focus on testing your German
skills, you can use the Goethe-Institut’s
German self-test. It is available atwww.goethe.de/en/spr/kup/tsd.html.
A range of other self-tests are available online which can help you choose which subject to study. The Studium-Interessentest (www.hochschulkompass.de/studium-interessentest) explores your interests
around what to study and reveals your inclinations and talents, amongst other things.

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The test is free, non-binding and only takes
around 15 minutes. You can find plenty ofother self-tests online, but probably not alldeserve to be taken seriously. The Hochschulkompass website includes a selectionof tried-and-tested options at www.hochschulkompass.de/en/degree-programmes/
choosing-a-programme/higher-educationorientation-tests.html. If you already know
you want to study a technical subject, Self
Assessment International is a good option
for you. It is provided by the TU9 Alliance ofleading universities of technology in Germany and can be accessed at www.globalassess.rwth-aachen.de/tu9/tm.

 IP: It is quite common for individual higher education institutions or even indiT
vidual faculties to offer online tests. If your chosen study programme offers oneof these tests, it certainly cannot do any harm to take it.

You will need to set aside more time for the
test, which takes between 90 and 120 minutes to complete.
Furthermore, don’t be shy about taking advantage of individual advice. You can get intouch with the following offices and people:
The DAAD’s global network.
 he Lecturers that the DAAD sends out toThigher education institutions abroad.
The Goethe-Institut and Goethe Centres.
 ermany’s diplomatic missions abroad,Gsuch as embassies and consulates.

In Germany itself, you can get advice andsupport from the international office of any
higher education institution or the DAAD’s
headquarters in Bonn.
There are of course many websites which
offer information about studying in Germany.
One good starting-point is the Study inGermany – Land of Ideas campaign(www.study-in-germany.de/en/).
You can also access it via social media suchas YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. You
can find the links in the External Links sectionof the appendix to this brochure, listed underSupport and advice.

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Ways to apply to study in GermanyFirst things first: each study programme has
its own application process, and there is no
single set of rules for the documents which
you have to submit. So make sure you
always carefully check the exact requirements of your chosen course! The following information can only give you a broad
overview.
In Germany, some study programmes havefew admission requirements, while others
have much stricter requirements. These are
known as ‘zulassungsfrei’ and ‘zulassungsbeschränkt’ study programmes respectively. The first step is to check which category
your chosen study programme falls within.
Study programmes with unrestricted
admissions (‘zulassungsfrei’): In order
to apply for an unrestricted admissions
study programme, you need to meet theminimum requirements such as holding ahigher education entrance qualification. If
you meet these requirements, you can enrol
directly with the higher education institution, although you may need to submit yourapplication through uni-assist.
Study programmes with restricted admissions (‘zulassungsbeschränkt’): With many
study programmes in Germany there are
more applications than places, so stricter
admission requirements apply.

One common requirement is known as a
‘Numerus Clausus’ (NC), where you need tohave achieved certain grades in your school
leaving examinations or certificate.
Higher education institutions are allowed to
set their own minimum grade requirements.
In these cases, you would apply either to theinstitution directly or through uni-assist.
In addition to your grades, you might also
be required to show evidence of work experience, an aptitude test or references foryour application to be successful. Make sure
you read through the exact requirements ofthe specific study programme.
In addition to this, admissions to somestudy programmes are subject to a single
set of national regulations. These are study
programmes in medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine and dentistry. As long as yourschool leaving qualifications are equivalent
to those of German applicants, you apply
for these subjects through Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung (Foundation for Higher Education Admission), www.hochschulstart.de.
If you do not hold equivalent qualifications,
you will need to apply to the higher education institution directly or through uni-assist
for these study programmes. You can findmore detailed information on the website of
the Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung.

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27

WHAT IS UNI-ASSIST?
Many study programmes are subject to individual admission requirements.
For these, certain international applications must be submitted to uni-assist.
Uni-assist is a non-profit organisation which handles international study applications. They check your application for a fee. If it is in order, uni-assist sends
your documents to the higher education institution. If anything is missing, they
let you know so you can submit missing documents. Uni-assist makes life easier
because you can apply for several study programmes at the same time. But thesame advice applies here: always check carefully in advance how you should
apply for your chosen study programme and whether you can apply throughuni-assist.

The second stage of the process requires
you to meet certain application deadlines,
which often fall several months before thestudy programme actually starts. For manyhigher education institutions, the application period for the winter semester ends on
15 July. The application deadline for thesummer semester often falls on 15 January.
If you have to apply through uni-assist makeextra sure to allow more time and submit
your application at least eight weeks before
the published deadline. However, manyhigher education institutions set their own
deadlines. Give yourself plenty of time tofind out the deadlines which apply to yourchosen study programme. Another important point is that with many study programmes, you can only apply for the wintersemester.

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THE ACADEMIC YEAR IN GERMANY
The vast majority of higher education institutions in Germany divide the academic year into two semesters: the winter semester (known as ‘WiSe’) and thesummer semester (known as ‘SoSe’). Each semester includes the ‘lecture period’
when seminars and lectures take place. Between two semesters there is a ‘lecture-free period’, known as the ‘semester break’. But these breaks aren't justholidays. There are often times when exams are held and there will be assignments waiting for your attention.
Each higher education institution sets its own dates for when semesters start.
Please always find out the exact dates in advance from your chosen higher education institution. As a guideline, the following dates generally apply:
Universities
winter semester: October to Marchsummer semester: April to September
Universities of applied sciences
winter semester: September to Februarysummer semester: March to August

WINTER SEMESTERS AROUND THE WORLDIn many parts of the world the winter semester begins in September. In Germany, most universities start in October. One of the only universities in Germany toadopt the international calendar is the University of Mannheim, where the wintersemester begins in early September and ends before Christmas. The summer semester runs from February to June. The university therefore refers to its semesters as ‘autumn’ and ‘spring’ semesters.

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STUDYING IN GERMANY

Lastly, make sure that your application iscomplete by checking that you haveincluded all the necessary documents.
These generally include: igher education entrance qualificationH
certificate(s) ny university certificates orAqualifications you have achieved so far
Passport photo
Passport
Language proficiency certificate
Never submit original documents: only sendcopies. The copies must be officially certified to confirm their authenticity. You mustalso provide English or German translationsof all documents, and the translations mustalso be officially certified. You can get documents officially certified at German embassies and consulates in your home country.

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Submitting an application does come withsome costs. For example, there are charges
for getting copies and translations certified,and German language tests are not free. You
may sometimes have to pay a processing
fee which will vary according to the institution. Uni-assist, for example, charges aprocessing fee of €75 for your first-choicestudy programme. Each additional
programme costs €30. In some cases thehigher education institution will cover theuni-assist processing fees. You can findmore information on this from uni-assist(www.uni-assist.de/en/). The Stiftung fürHochschulzulassung does not charge a processing fee.

REFUGEE STATUS IN GERMANY
In general terms, refugees can study at German higher education institutions. If
you are a refugee and hold recognised status or have received a ‘Duldung’ (suspension of deportation), there are no problems with applying. It is even possible
while proceedings are still ongoing. Otherwise, the same conditions apply to
refugees as to other international students, although they can start a study programme even if they have no or incomplete documents.

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1.4 ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS: WHAT TO DO IN ADVANCE
Have you received your letter of acceptance? Congratulations! That means your application
to a German higher education institution was successful. However, the letter of acceptancedoes not mean you are officially a student – yet. That happens when you enrol at yourhigher education institution. You will find the enrolment deadline on your letter of
acceptance. If you applied for the winter semester, the letter of acceptance will be sentout in August or September. If you applied for the summer semester, you can expect it toarrive in February or March.

ENROLMENT
Each higher education institution has its own rules on how future students must
enrol. Some allow you to enrol online and others allow enrolment by post. However, some only accept enrolment in person. If that is the case for you, you willneed to get to Germany by then. Be aware: you usually cannot enrol once thedeadline has passed.

As you can see, the letters of acceptance aresent out not long before the semester starts.
If you wait until you receive the letter before
getting on with your other preparations forstudying in Germany, you can find yourself
facing a lot of stress. You may even be unable to get to Germany in time for the startof the semester. In this section, we’ll explainsome of the things which you should get on
with in advance.
Funding
Before you come to Germany, you need tomake absolutely sure of how you will fundyour studies. You will need to know whichcosts to expect and the different funding
opportunities which are available. We’ll talkabout those in the next few sections.

But before we go any further: it is hard to
give a general view of how much money you
will need to live in Germany. It depends toomuch on where you are studying and yourlifestyle.
Nevertheless, we can say in general that
Germany is not very expensive whencompared to other European countries.
Prices are higher in most of Germany’s
immediate neighbours, while northern
European countries and Switzerland aremuch more expensive.
You can work out your approximatemonthly outgoings, and you can look at
how much money other students have on
average each month. According to a recent
government survey, the average student

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flat in Munich and €580 in Frankfurt. Berlin
was very affordable for a long time, but
recently it has moved to the top of the pricelist, with a room in a shared flat costing €640.
However, you can live much more cheaply insmaller cities in eastern Germany or the Ruhrregion. You can also expect to pay a lot lessfor a room in a student residence.

spent €842 per month during the 2021 summer semester. The average student income
currently stands at €1,036 a month. Anotherpoint of reference is how much money students are required to prove they possesswhen applying for a visa. This currently
stands at €11,208 a year, which assumes
monthly outgoings of €934. However, allthese amounts may be rather low, as
prices for housing, food and energy haverisen sharply in recent times. As such, you
should allow a little more.
The largest expense for students is rent fora room or apartment. Including additionalcosts, students spend €410 on average on
rent – almost half of their monthly budget.
However, rents vary widely. In big cities inwestern Germany like Munich and Frankfurt
am Main, you will have to spend a good deal
more. The average student spends €720 amonth for a privately rented room in a shared

Other major outgoings include food (€198
per month), costs for travel and transport(€89 per month) and healthcare (€100 per
month). Students with children can find outgoings for children and childcare are a heavy
burden. If you do not have much money,
food and transport are a good place to start
making savings. Try shopping in the cheap
discount supermarkets and cook a lot of yourown meals. If you live close to your higher education institution, you may not even need aticket for public transport. Why not go by bikeor on foot instead?

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MONTHLY STUDENT SPENDING: TOTAL AND BY TYPE
Total expenditure
Rent(incl. ancillary cost)
Food
Healthcare
Travel/Mobility
Tuition fees
Leisure, culture, sport
Clothing
Semester fees
Study material
Phone, internet
Other expenditures
Childcare costs
Child-related spending

0€

200 €

400 €
Arithmetic mean

600 €

800 €

1000 €MedianSource: German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW), German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW) and the Research Group on Higher Education of the University of Konstanz: 22nd
Social Survey

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MONEY SAVING TIP: EAT IN THE CAFETERIA
Every day, over 400,000 people eat in canteens and cafeterias run by German
student unions. There are 875 such eateries in Germany, where you can often get
a hot lunch for around €3. But the cafeteria isn’t just a place to grab a bite to eat.
It's a place to meet your fellow students and enjoy your breaks.

Affordable culture for students
Students in Germany pay lower prices atmany cultural institutions, making it more
affordable to visit a museum, watch a playor an opera, or see a film in the cinema. But
don’t forget to have your student ID cardwith you at all times! Without it, you willfind it hard to get a discounted ticket.

All higher education institutions charge
semester fees and you should make sure
you allow for these in your budget. They
range widely from around €170 to €450,
although some institutions charge less than€100. The fees cover social contributions
and fees which fund facilities such as cafeterias and student residences. They also often
include a semester ticket which gives you
free use of public transport in the city. Someeven let you travel for free in the region or
the whole federal state.

DEUTSCHLANDTICKETThe ‘Deutschlandticket’ was introduced on 1 May 2023. It currently costs €49 permonth and allows you to use local and regional public transport to get anywherein Germany. For example, you can use the metro in a city, take a regional train toa different town or use the bus to get out into the countryside. It is not yet clear
how students could benefit from these tickets in the future. There are plans to integrate the Deutschlandticket into semester tickets. We recommend asking yourhigher education institution how it works there.

STUDYING IN GERMANY

You will only need to budget for tuition
fees in individual cases. Tuition fees are notcharged for most bachelor’s and master’s
degrees at public higher education institutions. However, for private universities andsome master’s degree programmes you willneed to budget for fees, which can be as
high as €10,000 per semester.

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How can you cover these costs? While mostinternational students are supported bytheir parents, one in two also makes anincome by working part-time. A further
22% have savings and 15% receive scholarships.

EARNING MONEY AND STUDYING
If you want to earn money from a job, you need to be aware of the law. No special rules apply to students from the EEA (European Economic Area) or Switzerland, who can work up to 20 hours a week, just like their German counterparts.
From March 2024, all other students, however, can only work up to 140 full daysor 280 half days a year. If you want to work more, you will need to get approval.
Are you interested in a position as a working student? In this case, inform yourself about the current conditions.

There are all kinds of scholarships in Germany, but unlike other countries, these
are not always awarded by higher education institutions. The German Academic
Exchange Service (DAAD) stands out in thisarea thanks to the wide range of scholarships it offers for international students.
You can find out more in your home country
through the DAAD’s global network. Other
organisations which offer scholarships include foundations linked to political parties,

church institutions, organisations linked tobusinesses and institutions which provide
assistance to gifted students. The DAAD
scholarship database (www.fundingguide.de) provides an overview of major
scholarship opportunities. Bear in mind,
though, that a scholarship will almost never cover your whole monthly outgoings
throughout the entire period of your studies. Generally, a scholarship will be more ofa supplement.

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TIPS

EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES FOR EUROPEAN STUDENTS
Students from EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway,
Serbia and Turkey can also take part in special exchange programmes. One very
well known programme is Erasmus+, which funds study visits abroad for between three and twelve months. These exchanges take place as part of bilateralagreements between higher education institutions. Under these agreements,
you are a guest of the partner institution, so you do not have to pay any tuition
fees there. You can find more information at erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu.

Health insurance
There are two types of health insurance inGermany: public and private. All students
in Germany are required to show they holdone of these forms of insurance when theyenrol for their studies. That means you needto get insurance cover before you come toGermany. You will need to know if your insurance is valid in Germany or if you need totake out a new policy.
In some cases, an insurance policy fromyour home country will be recognised inGermany. That is usually the case if you
have public health insurance in an EU or
EEA country. If you do, you can apply for aEuropean Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in
your home country which you can then use
in Germany.

Germany has also signed bilateral social
security agreements with some other countries. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs provides a summary atwww.bmas.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/
EN/bilateral-agreements.html where you
can check to see if your country is included
and whether health insurance is covered.
If it is on the list, your health insurance will
generally be valid in Germany.
If you have private insurance in your homecountry, you will need to find out in advance
if it is accepted in Germany. The best way
to do this is to ask your insurance provider.
If your insurance is accepted, you can geta certificate from your insurance provider
which you will need to show when you enrolin Germany.

STUDYING IN GERMANY

If your insurance is not valid in Germany, youwill need to take out insurance here. You cantake out private insurance or choose thestudent tariff from a public insurance
provider. The German National Associationfor Student Affairs advises international
students to take out public insurance, even
if it might be more expensive than some of
the cheaper private insurance options. By
taking out public insurance you can be
confident that you will be looked after wellin Germany if you fall ill. Policies usually costaround €110 per month.
However, this only applies to students aged
under 30. If you are older than this, youeither need to take out voluntary insurance
from a public insurer or choose a private
policy.

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Visas
Whether or not you require a visa depends
on your country of origin.
If you are a citizen of an EU or EEA country, you
do not require student visas for Germany –you can just travel on a valid identification
document. Under certain conditions the same
applies to students who already hold a residence permit to study in another EU country.
Citizens of several other countries such as
Australia, the UK and the USA can travel toGermany without applying for a visa inadvance. However if you come from one ofthese countries, you will need a valid residence permit for study purposes. You canapply for a permit after arriving in Germany
by visiting the foreigners’ registration officeof your intended place of residence. You cancheck if these rules apply to your home country on the website of the Federal Foreign
Office: www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/
visa-service/231148.

HEALTH INSURANCE AND PART-TIME WORK DURING
YOUR STUDIESBe aware that there are rules in Germany on how many hours you can work without having to take out your own health insurance. If you work too many hours,
you must take out insurance in Germany, regardless of whether your insurance
from your home country is valid here. The limit is currently 20 hours per week.

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If you are from a different country, you must
apply for a visa before you come to Germany. You can do this at the German consulate
or embassy in your home country. You willneed:
your passport,
a biometric passport photo,a completed application from,t he letter of acceptance from your higher
education institution
and your proof of funding.
Make absolutely sure you are applying
for the right type of visa. You will need astudy visa (‘Visum für Studienzwecke’). You
should never travel on a tourist visa! It is
not possible to convert a tourist visa into a
study visa.
You can find a simple overview of the visa
process on Make it in Germany, the Federal Government’s portal for skilled workers
from abroad: www.make-it-in-germany.
com/en/visa-residence/types/studying. See
the ‘At a glance: Visa for studying’ section.
A study visa is the best choice, but thedeadlines are often tight. You can find thestandard deadlines for your country on thewebsite of the embassy or consulate. You
may therefore not have enough time to apply
for a visa after your place has been confirmed by your higher education institution.
For this reason you can start by applying fora student applicant visa in Germany. The

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visa is valid for 90 days and the foreigners
authority in your area of Germany can issue
it to you. It grants permission to stay inGermany for the purposes of applying tostudy and can be extended to a total stayof up to nine months. To apply for this visa
you will again need proof of sufficient funds
for the duration of your whole stay. You will
also need to submit several other documents such as health insurance, your higher
education entrance qualification from yourhome country and proof of your language
skills. You should look up the details on thewebsite of the German embassy or consulate in your country or ask in person.

STUDYING IN GERMANY

PROOF OF SUFFICIENT FUNDSYour proof of sufficient funds shows the German embassy or consulate that you
have enough money for your studies in Germany. Since 1 January 2023 this has
been set at €11,208 a year (as of October 2023). Most international students use atype of account known as a ‘Sperrkonto’ (literally a ‘blocked account’) as proof offunds, with the funds shown as a credit to the account. A Sperrkonto must meetcertain requirements. For example, it may only allow a certain level of withdrawals
each month, and you can only close the account with approval from either anembassy or consulate, or the competent foreigners authority. Sperrkonten areavailable from a range of providers. The best approach is to get advice from theGerman embassy or consulate.
If you do not want to set up a Sperrkonto, your parents can present proof of theirincome and assets, or a person in Germany can act as your guarantor. Confirmation that you hold a recognised scholarship or have an annually renewable bankguarantee with a bank located in Germany will also be accepted. You can finddetailed information on this topic on the website of the Federal Foreign Office
and you should read this carefully: www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/
visa-service/buergerservice/faq/-/606850 (‘When applying for a student visa,
how can I prove that my financing is secure?’).
Don’t forget! A study visa is valid for a maximum of two years and is therefore
too short for a complete bachelor’s degree. At that point you must apply to haveyour residence permit extended, and you will need to present proof of sufficient
funds again.

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TIP: If you have applied to several higher education institutions but you do not
yet know which offer you want to accept, the best option is to apply for a student
applicant visa. On your application you can state the higher education institution
where you are most likely to study. If you later choose to study a different subject
at a different institution, that does not matter. You can still change the student
applicant visa in Germany to a residence permit for study purposes.

1.5 FINDING ACCOMMODATION BEFORE YOU COME TO GERMANY:SOME TIPS
On the subject of where to live during yourstudies, there are two things which you may
not know in your home country.
F irstly, confirmation of your place on a
study programme does not automaticallycome with accommodation. Instead, youwill have to find accommodation for yourself in Germany.
 rivately rented rooms and apartmentsP
in Germany generally come unfurnished.
Kitchen equipment like an oven, sink or
fridge is not always included, either.

Types of apartments and accommodationin Germany
Many students live in student residences.
These are especially popular among international students, and over 40% have aroom in a student residence. The rooms inthese residences are furnished and, withaverage costs of €250 per month, they are
fairly cheap. What’s more, you won’t bealone for long there, either, and will quickly
get to know other people. Another benefit isthat you can apply and sign the contract fora room while you are still at home.
However, even if you apply early and international students get slightly preferential
treatment, you cannot be certain of getting
a room. The number of applicants exceeds
the number of available rooms several times
over. The numbers speak for themselves:
there are just under 240,000 publicly funded
places in student residences, but there are
2.5 million students! Submit your application early, as you don’t necessarily need to
wait for your letter of acceptance.

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41

Living in student residences
Student residences offer many different
forms of accommodation. There are individual apartments where you have yourown small kitchen and bathroom. However, shared flats known as ‘WGs’ are morecommon, where you have your own room
but share a bathroom and kitchen. So how
many people do you share with? It depends.
You might just share with one other person,
but it could be as many as six others. You
may be familiar with shared rooms fromyour home country, but these are rare in
Germany, and are effectively not on offer.
It is also rare for shared flats to be separated by gender, so women and men usually live together. If you are not happy to dothat, you should look on the private rental
market, where you can take your genderpreferences into account when choosing aplace to live.

Many residences are run by student unions.
You can find these options on the DAAD’s
accommodation finder. It contains almost
1,200 student residences at over 170 locations (www.daad.de/accommodationfinder).
The major churches in Germany also run
their own student residences, and there aresome commercial providers, too. But watch
out, as these private residences can be quite
expensive.

STUDENT UNIONS' SERVICE PACKAGESAs of October 2023, 16 student unions in Germany offer service packages for international students. These are a kind of welcome package which always include
a room in a student residence. They often also include a semester ticket, vouchers for the cafeteria or insurance. Some even include bed linen, crockery or abike! Check to see if the student union at your higher education institution offers
one of these packages.

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PREPARATIONIN GERMANY

Another good option is a shared flat, known
for short in German as a ‘WG’, which is shortfor Wohngemeinschaft. While you have yourown room in a shared flat, you will share abathroom and kitchen. You may also sharecommunal areas and a balcony with yourflatmates. The benefits are obvious, as theapartment usually includes essential
facilities, particularly in the kitchen. Even
the rooms are often at least part-furnished.
In addition, it is much cheaper to live withother people, and you will not be on yourown. Shared student flats are very common
in Germany, and almost one in three students lives in one.

TIPS

Living costs in a shared flat
According to a recent study, students inGermany paid an average of €458 a monthfor a standard room in a shared flat in the2023 summer semester. The most expensive
cities are Munich (€720), Berlin (€640) andFrankfurt (€580). The cheapest place forstudents to live is Chemnitz, where rent
costs an average of €253 per month. Essentially you will have to budget most for rent
in major cities in western Germany andhistoric university cities.

LIVING COSTS FOR A SMALL FLAT
(30m² including 20% additional costs):
4 most expensive cities
MunichStuttgart
BerlinFrankfurt am Main
4 least expensive cities
Chemnitz
Magdeburg
Leipzig
DresdenSTUDYING IN GERMANY

43

TIP: Most students start their studies in the winter semester. Only 10% start in
the summer semester. That means it will be much easier to find somewhere tolive if you start your studies in the summer semester. Finding somewhere to live
during a semester is also easier since fewer people are looking for accommodation. Finding a short-term rental for the first few weeks or months would makethis an option for you.

If you do not want to live in a shared flat or astudent residence, you can look for a small
flat on the open rental market. However,
you will need to budget more for this.
Whether you are trying to rent a room ina shared flat or your own privately rented
apartment, it can be difficult to get approval
if you are not there in person. However, you
can certainly do your research at home andcould even arrange some viewings. Anotheroption for a temporary solution is to find aroom which is being rented for a limited period because the person who normally lives
there is abroad. Things like that can be easier to arrange if you are not there in person.
Could homeshare be an option for you?
Many older people in Germany live in fairly
large apartments. Their children have left
home but moving house would be too difficult, so they have empty rooms. Homesharemeans that you get a room in exchange forhelp around the house or in the garden.
Homeshare agreements never require you
to provide care services. Generally, you
would be expected to provide one hour ofhelp per month per square metre of living

space. Tenants are only expected to pay for
additional costs such as gas, water and electricity. You can find an overview of the cities
where homeshare projects are available atwww.wohnenfuerhilfe.info.
Coming to Germany without a place
to live
What can you do if nothing has worked andyou come to Germany without a place to
live? Above all, make sure you find out in advance where you can sleep for the first few
days or weeks. Does your higher education
institution have a guest house where you
could stay temporarily? Be sure to checkwith the international office of your institution about this. If it is not an option, you
could always take a room in a B&B, holiday
flat or hostel. However, that should only
be for a few days, as accommodation ofthat kind would probably overstretch yourbudget.

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PREPARATIONIN GERMANY

TIPS

Where to look for accommodation
There are many offers on the internet, so it is worth researching online using the keywords‘Wohnung suchen’ (looking for a flat), ‘Wohnung finden’ (finding a flat) und ‘WG’ (sharedflat). You can find a selection of links here.
Student residence:DAAD accommodation finder: www.daad.de/accommodationfinderL ocal student unions: www.studierendenwerke.de/en/
topics/accomodation/student-halls-of-residence/applying
Shared flats:
WG-Gesucht.de: www.wg-gesucht.deHousing Anywhere: housinganywhere.com
Kleinanzeigen: www.kleinanzeigen.de
Renting your own apartment:Immobilienscout24: www.immobilienscout24.de
Immowelt: www.immowelt.de
Top tip: Don’t forget to check the noticeboards at your higher education institution and theadvertisements in local newspapers. Many have online editions where you can viewproperties advertised for rent from the comfort of your own home.

STUDYING IN GERMANY

45

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PREPARATIONIN GERMANY

TIPS

1.6 CHECKLIST AND TIMETABLE
18monthsto go

What do I want to do, and what opportunities are there in
Germany?
I know where to get information from:www.study-in-germany.de/en/www.daad.de/en/
I have made initial contacts
with a DAAD office in my country.
with a German lecturer at my higher education institution.
through education fairs in my country.
I know
how long I want to study in Germany.
what kind of degree I want to achieve.
which subject I want to study.
which higher education institutions offer my subject.
15
monthsto go

Do I meet the requirements for my chosen study
programme?
 re my school-leaving qualifications sufficient to study inAGermany? Do I have the right qualifications for my chosen
study programme?
L anguage proficiency: Do I have the right German and/or
English language skills? Do I need to improve my language
skills?
F unding: Can I afford to study in Germany? Am I eligible
for a scholarship?

What do I need for my application and how does it work?
12
monthsto goI know which documents I need for my application. In particular I needcertified copies of my letter of acceptance and language certificate. I know
if I need to provide certified copies and/or certified translations of my
documents.
I know where to send my application, i.e. to uni-assist, the Stiftung fürHochschulzulassung or directly to the higher education institution.
I know when the application deadline is and when I need to submit myapplication.

STUDYING IN GERMANY

6monthsto go

47

How am I getting to Germany and what will I need?
I know how I am getting to Germany.
I know if I need a visa. If I do need a visa, I am informed about
which visa I need, how to apply for it and what evidence that
requires, such as funding and health insurance. I am also
aware of how much time it will take. If the application deadline for my programme is too close to the start of the course, I
know how to apply for a student applicant visa.
I know which health precautions are required, e.g. vaccinations.

4–5
monthsto go

Have I sent off all my applications?
I have sent off my application(s) for a place tostudy and met the application deadlines.
I f I am planning on living in a student residence,
I have sent off my application, even if I am still
waiting for official confirmation of acceptance on
my programme.

3monthsto go

Where am I going to live?
I f I am still waiting for confirmation of a room in a student residence or my application has been rejected, I am
making every effort to find alternative accommodation,
looking at advertisements and writing applications.
I n any case, I know where I can spend my first few nights
in Germany.

48

PREPARATION

2monthsto go

IN GERMANY

TIPS

The clock is ticking! Is everything ready?
I have booked my tickets.
I have made arrangements to find a place to live and havefound somewhere I can stay for the first few nights if I need to.
I have opened a blocked account if I need one for my visa.
I have checked that I have valid health insurance.
I have assembled all the documents I will need for my journey
to Germany and made sure they are valid (see next section).
I have written a packing list which is appropriate for the
climate in Germany. If I am going for the winter semester I willpack winter clothing.

A finalcheck

Have I got all the essential documents in order?
Valid passport or identity cardL etter of acceptance from my higher education institution
or confirmation of my application
Birth certificate (original or translated and certified copy) chool leaving or examination certificates (original orStranslated and certified copies)I f necessary, university degree certificates and language
certificates (original or translated and certified copies)
Visa, if necessary
Proof of sufficient funds, if necessary
 onfirmation that my health insurance is valid inCGermany, or a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
Proof of vaccinations, if necessary
Have you got all your documents in order? Have a great trip
and a fantastic start in Germany!

STUDYING IN GERMANY

49#HelloGermany

Learn more about Rostock.

DEEP DIVE FROMHERE INTO OCEAN
BIOLOGYYOUR FIRSTKITESURFING LESSONTO THE BEACH THIS WAYHELLO STUDY ADVENTURE
Germany has a lot to offer. In addition
to excellent study conditions, there are avariety of interesting places and activities
to discover. Like here in Rostock.
Learn more at study-in-germany.de

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PREPARATIONIN GERMANY

TIPS

2	YOU’VE ARRIVED IN
GERMANY – WHAT’S NEXT?
Once you have arrived in Germany you willneed to get several things sorted out overthe first few days and weeks. If your higher
education institution only accepts enrolment in person, it’s essential to enrol before
the deadline. You may also need to deal
with bureaucracy, especially if you need aresidence permit for Germany. You will also
have to choose the lectures and seminars
you are going to attend and make sure thetimetable is possible.

This may seem like a lot of work, but you willrise to the challenge – and don’t forget, you
don’t have to do it all on your own. You willfind many places where you can get help.
That’s what this chapter is all about. We
want you to get off to as smooth a start as
possible in Germany!

TIP: Try to plan your journey so you don’t arrive in Germany on a weekend. Theinternational office will be closed on Saturdays and Sundays, as are banks andadministrative offices. It may also be difficult to get the key to move into yourstudent residence if the office staff are not at work. What's more, in Germany all
the shops shut on Sundays, so you cannot do any shopping, either!

2.1 YOUR FIRST POINTS OF
CONTACT IN GERMANY
Once you have arrived in Germany, the central point of contact at your higher education
institution will be the international office.
Here you can get all the information you
need for your first few days in Germany.
They can often provide help with enrolment
and visits to local administrative offices. Theinternational office can often give advice onfinding somewhere to live.
The local students union could also be
important to you, particularly if you arestaying in a student residence. Membersof the student union staff will be responsible for handing over the keys to your room

STUDYING IN GERMANY

or flat once you arrive, for example.
You will also come into frequent contact
with the student union as your stay goes on,
from lunch in the cafeteria to the sport andlanguage courses which some student unions offer. You can also access information
and advice on a range of issues here.

51

You will find the details of the enrolment
procedure and the specific dates in yourletter of acceptance. It will also list the
documents you need to enrol. Generally,
these are:
letter of acceptence
proof of health insurance

2.2 ENROLLING AT YOUR HIGHEREDUCATION INSTITUTION

receipt for payment of the semester fee

You don’t become a student when you get
accepted onto a study programme. You
officially become a student when you enrol.
In Germany this is known as ‘Immatrikulation’. At some higher education institutions
you can do this online or by post, so you cancomplete this task before you even get toGermany. However, in many cases you still
have to enrol in person at your higher education institution. That makes it essential to
get to Germany before the deadline.

ID card/passport (and possibly your visa)

passport photo nd sometimes original copies of examia
nation or degree certificatesIf you have any questions, get in touch with
the international office or the admissions
office at your higher education institution.
That way you can make sure you haveeverything you need to enrol and that
nothing will go wrong.
Once you have enrolled, you will receive
your student ID card and your semester
ticket (if applicable). This usually happens
by post. Now you are officially a student
at a German higher education institution!
You can start attending classes and takeexams. You also have access to facilities
such as the institution’s library and sporting facilities. You can also take advantage
of discounted student tickets for cultural
institutions.

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PREPARATIONIN GERMANY

TIPS

2.3 YOUR FIRST VISIT TO THE
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES IN
YOUR NEW HOME
When you move to Germany, there is no get- offices in Germany you will need to visit,ting around visiting administrative offices. So and which offices will be responsible for you
you need to prepare accordingly. Look online where you live.
to find out in advance which administrative

TIP BEHÖRDENFINDER: Administrative offices in Germany are known as ‘Behörden’.
If you don't know which offices are responsible for you, you can use umziehen.de/behoerdenfinder. Enter the postal code or name of the city where you will be studying and you will be shown a list of the offices which handle different questions
and issues.

You must make sure you check online in advance so you know the deadlines which apply to you and make appointments with theoffices. You will usually have to expect
to wait several weeks for an appointment.
Ensure you get in touch with the international office at your higher education

institution. They are well versed in theseprocedures and will certainly be able to give
you tips and practical support.
But at the same time, be patient. Administrative processes just take time.

TIP INTERPRETERS: What happens if you can't speak German very well yet?
Take someone with you who can speak German well when you have to visit
administrative offices. Official German can be pretty complicated and you willprobably find things easier if you have someone to translate for you. Find out
if the international office at your higher education institution can provide asuitable person.

STUDYING IN GERMANY

53

2.3.1 Residents registration officeEveryone who lives in Germany is requiredby law to register with the residents registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt). As soon
as you have found accommodation you
should visit the residents registration officestraight away where you fill in a registration

form. Look after this form carefully. Registration is free in all but a very few offices.
Don't put this off for too long, though, as
you only have two weeks to do it.

RESIDENTS REGISTRATION OFFICE
Einwohnermeldeamt, Bürgerbüro, Bezirksamt: These German terms all refer tothe same type of office: the residents registration office. There may be long waiting times in major cities, so make an appointment online in advance if you can.
That will save you from waiting in a queue for a long time. However, if the officedoes not have any appointments before the deadline, don’t worry: you only haveto show that you made the appointment before the deadline.

You will need the following documents toregister at the residents registration office: assport (with your visa if necessary) orp
ID cardc onfirmation from your landlord that you
have moved in
If you do not need a visa to stay in Germany,
you will get your confirmation of your rightto remain from the residents registration
office directly. You may also have to provide
evidence that you have health insurance
and the funds to cover your living expenses.

Please note: If you move within Germany at
a later date, even within the same city, youmust repeat this step and report your new
address to the residents registration office.
2.3.2 Immigration office
If you travelled to Germany on a visa or need
to apply for a visa after you arrived, you willneed to visit another administrative office:the immigration office. These are municipal
offices in your city which handle all questions concerning immigration law and yourright to remain.

54

PREPARATIONIN GERMANY

You apply to the immigration office for yourresidence permit. You must do this within
three months of arriving in Germany, andyou must do it in-person at the appropriate
office.
You will usually have to provide the following documents:
passport (including your visa if necessary)c onfirmation of registration with theresidents registration officeproof of health insurancecertificate of enrolment
Y ou may also need: proof of sufficient
funds, health certificate, rental contract,and a biometric passport photo
Find out in advance which documents you
will need – you can check on the immigration office’s website for this. Make absolutely sure to take all these documents to yourappointment: it is better to take too many
than too few! If you are missing anything at
your appointment you will usually need tomake a new one.
You also need to factor in the fee which you
have to pay at the office, which is usuallyaround €100. Find out the fee in advance in
the immigration office which is responsible
for your area.
Contact your international office, where you
will find good and experienced people to talkto on questions about residence permits.

TIPS

Your residence permit is called an ‘elektronischer Aufenthaltstitel’ or eAT. It is a card withan integrated chip which stores certain information about you. You can collect your cardfour to six weeks after applying in person at
the immigration office. Your eAT card will bevalid for a maximum of two years. If your studies take longer than this, you need to extend
your residence permit – make absolutely sure
to do it before your card expires.
Important: When extending your residence
permit you must prove that you are still within the standard period of study for your study
programme. You must also provide new
proof that you can cover the costs of your living expenses. You may need to present proofof funding again by showing that you havethe necessary funds in a blocked account.

2.4 ORGANISATION OF STUDIES
Higher education gives you much more
freedom than school, and Germany offers
particularly high levels of independence.
For example, you will not be given a fixed
timetable at the start of the semester which
you have to follow. This means that, withincertain limits, you can organise your studies
in the way that best suits your interests. Thisin turn requires independence and initiative.
You will also need some basic information,
and we’ll explain that here.

STUDYING IN GERMANY

55

HOW IS A HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION ORGANISED?
You will encounter a diverse mix of different terms at German higher education
institutions, from faculties and departments to institutes and seminars. It may
seem confusing, but it is quite straightforward. Individual subjects are combined
into faculties and departments, such as the Faculty of Social Sciences. Faculties
are made up of institutes and seminars. In our example, the Institute of Political
Sciences would be a part of the Faculty of Social Sciences. Within these institutes
there are professorships which are held by professors, along with other lecturers. People who work in an institute generally have their offices close together on
one floor or in a separate building. You’ll quickly find your way around.

As with every other stage of the process, you
can get help with assembling your timetable.
Go to the introduction and welcome events
which are held by most faculties and student
bodies. Attend the orientation events which
are offered by your international office. Get
an introduction to your institution’s library –check for when tours and events are taking
place.
So how do you compile your own timetable? Each study programme has study regulations that tell you which modules you
must complete. Modules often consist of
several lectures and classes linked to a topic

or theme. However, you have a good dealof freedom in which of these to attend. You
will often be able to choose which individualclasses and lectures you want to attend for acertain module.
To make a good choice you will need to gethold of the course catalogue for your study
programme. Your institute may also provide
an online course catalogue which includes
explanatory notes. These describe all thecourses, not only in terms of the content but
also how the course is taught. They also tell
you how many credit points are awarded forthat course.

TIP: If you want to attend a seminar, register in good time. There is often highdemand for certain seminars because the topic is interesting or the lecturer ispopular.

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PREPARATIONIN GERMANY

These are the most common forms ofclasses:
Lectures:
Lectures are usually attended
by large numbers of students, so the mainelement is the lecture delivered by thelecturer. Discussions tend to be quite rare.

Seminarsand courses: In these classes,
the number of participants is limited andteaching is interactive. There are also a lotof discussions.

Tutorials:
The main focus of tutorials is
on exploring the contents of lectures,
seminars and courses in greater depth.
They are sometimes known as ‘Übungen’,
which means practice or dry run, and they
allow you to practise using your knowledge and skills.

Revisioncourses: These focus on revisingmaterial you have already studied andpreparing for specific exams.

TIPS

For many courses, you will have to take an
exam and these can take many different
forms:
 ritten examinations: In a written exam,W
you will be tested on the topic of a course.
They usually take place at the end of asemester or during the semester breaks.
 erm papers: For a term paper, you writeTan essay on a predetermined topic. You
will usually complete these during thesemester breaks, although some may be
due before the end of a semester.
 resentations: In presentations you giveP
a talk on a topic. You complete these during the semester.
 ral examinations: In place of a writtenOexam, you may be asked to take an oral
exam on the topic of the course. These
usually take place at the end of thesemester or during the semester break.

ECTS CREDIT POINTS
Germany uses the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, or ECTS,
to measure the workload required to achieve a degree. One credit point equates
to between 25 and 30 working hours. You will usually have to achieve 30 credit
points per semester in order to complete your studies within the standard period. In order to graduate from a bachelor's degree programme you will needbetween 180 and 240 credit points, and between 60 and 120 credit points for amaster’s degree. It all adds up – studying is a time-intensive business!

STUDYING IN GERMANY

2.5 OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES
The international office and student unionat your institution can help with more thanjust bureaucratic affairs. They often hold
events where you can meet other people.
You can also find specific support services
there.

57

The vast majority of international offices
offer special support to help international
students settle in. These range from special
introductory events and single welcome
events to whole welcome weeks. Some
offer a pick-up service so someone meets
you at the railway station or even the
airport.

TIP: The vast majority of higher education institutions offer more than just welcome events for international students. There are events where new students
can get to know one another such as visits to bars or tours of the city. Many faculties offer similar events for their new students. Don’t hesitate to take part. You’ll
have the chance to meet German students and other international students who
are new to the city and are looking to meet people and make friends. Friendships
which last a lifetime get made at events like these!

It is common for international offices torun so-called buddy programmes. These
programmes put international students
in touch with someone who will be theirbuddy. The buddy then helps with appointments at administrative offices as well as

questions about everyday life and studies.
Buddies are often experienced students whoare in higher semesters. If you’re interested,make sure to ask the international office ifthey can arrange a buddy for you.

TIP: Some cities offer buddy programmes, too. These buddies are not necessarily students. They are just people who want to make it easier for international
students who are starting life in Germany. Many of them are older people, andsometimes a buddy programme can lead to an intergenerational friendship. If
you're interested, contact the city hall directly.

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PREPARATIONIN GERMANY

If you live in a student residence, a resident
tutor can help you settle in. Ask your student union if your residence offers this.
In addition every higher education institution has a student council. The councils areelected by the students themselves to communicate their interests to the managementof the institution. These councils are often
known as AStA (general student committee), StuRa (student council) or StuPa (student parliament). They often organise sport,
cultural and leisure programmes at higher
education institutions and provide advice
on finding accommodation and jobs. Someeven offer language courses. Check out thestudent council at your institution to see
what is on offer.

TIPS

It is also common to find international
student groups especially for international
students. The main focus of these groups ison helping new arrivals make contact quickly with other students, so they organise
parties, excursions and regular meetings atbars and cafés.
Student representatives can help withacademic problems. They are groups ofstudents who are elected to represent theinterests of students in a given faculty. Student representatives are often known as‘Fachschaft’ and can help you arrange yourtimetable and find your way around yournew higher education institution. But they
don’t forget about social interaction, either.
Student representatives are well known fororganising information events for new students – and parties, too.

HELP WITH SPECIFIC ISSUES:•	The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) provides advice on all
issues related to migration ( www.bamf.de/EN/)•	The Federal Employment Agency (BA) helps people find work and may in certain cases be required to approve employment( www.arbeitsagentur.de/en)•	Health insurers are there to help with all questions linked to health insurance(you can also find information at www.daad.de/health-insurance)•	The Federal Central Tax Office is responsible for everything connected totaxes, such as tax IDs and tax declarations ( www.finanzamt.de)STUDYING IN GERMANY

59

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PREPARATIONIN GERMANY

TIPS

3	TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL
STAY IN GERMANY
Once you have overcome the challenges ofgetting started in Germany, you’ll need tomake life here a positive experience – andwe’ve got some great ideas. For most people, that means more than just doing wellacademically. So this chapter includes suggestions for how to meet people and makefriends. You will also find advice on how to
improve your German skills and work experience during your studies. You might evenlike Germany so much that you want to stayhere once you have completed your studies.
The odds are in your favour, and we’ll explain
how you can achieve your goal.
Obviously, moving away from home and living in a foreign country is not always easy. So
we’ll explain and give you specific advice forwhen problems arise and who to ask if you
need help.

3.1 MEETING PEOPLE AND MAKING
NEW FRIENDS
Feeling happy in Germany depends on a lot
more than just doing well in your studies. A
large part of enjoying life here comes frommaking new acquaintances and getting toknow people with whom you enjoy spending your free time.

However, this can be a bit of a challenge ata large higher education institution withthousands of students. Something to bearin mind is this: many of your fellow students
are new in town just like you and are looking to meet new people. So don’t worry
about being the only person who doesn’tknow anybody! Why not be brave and takethe first step? Maybe the other people areshy, too. Take advantage of opportunities totalk to other students and get to know them.
We have collected a few ideas for straightforward ways to meet other people.
Various forms of orientation events takeplace at higher education institutions which
are explicitly aimed at international students,
such as Erasmus+ events. Check with yourinternational office, student representatives
or student council to find out when these
are taking place. Then go and get involved!
These events are particularly good places tomeet students in their first semesters who arealso looking to meet other people.
International offices, student representatives and student councils also regularlyorganise events of their own, such as regularmeetings at a bar, café or restaurant, known
in German as a ‘Stammtisch’. Another common type of event are evenings when people meet up to cook and eat together. These
are all casual meet-ups where you can just

STUDYING IN GERMANY

chat to others. Who knows, you might meetsomeone there and be able to arrange otheractivities together right then.
Parties are a regular occurrence at higher
education institutions and are an easy way
to meet new people.
All higher education institutions have arange of student groups which are usually
dedicated to a particular activity or topic.
Do you enjoy singing? Then try out for thechoir. Are you a keen actor? Many higher
education institution have theatre groups
which you can join. Do you love debating?
If you do, debating societies and politicalstudent groups could be fun. All you needto do is check out your higher education
institution’s website to see which groups areavailable there.
If you are a member of a religion, religious
communities could be for you. There are often groups for all world religions. But don’t
worry: they aren’t just for prayer. They also
arrange excursions, parties and much more.
Meeting people on international
programmes
If you study on an international programme,
you might find it even easier to meet new
people, especially if you don’t speak Germanvery well yet. On these programmes, most of
the participants come from other countries
or at least from different cities. Just like you,they are keen to get to know new people
quickly.

61

If you’re a student who loves being active,
sport can offer a great opportunity to meet
people. The range of sport courses on offer
is rich and varied. If your higher education
institution is located near the sea or a large
lake, you will find that the sporting options
available include water sports like sailing.
Team sports and racket sports like footballand badminton are usually available everywhere, as are gymnastics, athletics andyoga. Another plus is that these activities
are generally free of charge. You can findthe sports offered at your higher education
institution on its website.
Last but not least, take advantage of theopportunities provided by social media.
Every higher education institution maintains Facebook and Instagram profiles, andpossibly other platforms, too. They post
information about events and deadlines
on these sites, and this might be anotherway for you to make some initial contacts.
‘Study in Germany’ also has profiles onthese platforms.

3.2 LEARNING AND IMPROVINGYOUR GERMAN IN GERMANY
Even if you don’t need any German skills foryour study programme, it is certainly important to be able to speak a little German indaily life. Here are a few ways you can focus
on improving your German language skills
during your stay in Germany.

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You could take a language course which isdesigned for speakers of your ability. Try asking at the language centre of your higher
education institution to see if they offer suitable courses. These are often available for freeand you can take the course alongside yourstudies during the semester.
There are also many state-funded and private course providers. Some of the mostwell known are the Goethe-Institut, adulteducation centres (called ‘Volkshochschule’) and Deutsche Welle. You can also
check out the private courses in your area or
see which online courses are available. Be
aware, though, that you will usually have to
pay a fee to take these courses.
It’s also worth thinking about attending asummer school. These allow you to focus
on improving your language skills during asemester break. Many higher education institutions offer summer schools for speakers
of different levels. Check out www.summerschools.de to find suitable options. However, you should be aware that you usually
have to pay for these courses.

TIPS

You can also focus on improving your language skills without having to go throughinstitutions. Have you ever heard of language exchanges? Through these, twopeople are paired up who want to learn
the other person’s first language. You meet
regularly and practice using your languages
together. Your international office will often
arrange language exchanges. Why not go
and find out? You could also find a suitablepartner online via social media or online
exchanges. In fact, your higher education
institution may even run its own language
exchange!

3.3 GET WORK EXPERIENCE
THROUGH WORK PLACEMENTS
AND PART-TIME JOBS
Studying in Germany is also a great opportunity to get to know the country’s employment market. If you are toying with the idea ofstaying on in Germany after your studies, you
should definitely make use of this opportunity.
Essentially there are two options: you canundertake a work placement alongside yourstudies or work part-time.

TIP: What if you want to try out speaking German or improve your skills, but
without making a big deal of it? Just take the plunge! You could go for a coffeewith your fellow students or try speaking German at parties. You could volunteer
for a club, go to the cinema or watch German films on TV. Even if you speak English very well, embrace the opportunity to speak German, even if you are sorely
tempted to speak English.

STUDYING IN GERMANY

63

3.3.1 Work placements
On a work placement you can start gaining work experience in your subject area.
A work placement could allow you to takeone of your areas of interest from yourstudies and go into greater depth, gaining
more specialist knowledge on the subject.
On the other hand, work placements canalso help you realise that certain types ofwork are particularly appealing to you or
do not suit you at all. Experiences like thatcan be important for your future career,
too. Last but not least, you can start making contacts outside higher education –these could be helpful for your careerfurther down the line.
You can undertake a voluntary work placement as part of any study programme.
These placements are subject to the same
regulations as part-time jobs for students.
That means that from March 2024, students
who are not from the EU or EEA can workfor up to 140 days a year without having to
get permission from the immigration officeor Federal Employment Agency. You’ll findmore details in the next chapter, ‘Working
part-time’.
Some study programmes include compulsory work placements. Check the regulations of your programme to see if that applies to you. These will tell you the detailsof how long your placement should last,
the type of work and possibly even where
your placement will be. If your programme
includes a compulsory work placement,
there will usually be someone in the faculty who is responsible for the topic. If you

go and see them during office hours you
are bound to get plenty of useful advice.
You may even get advertisements for work
placements from businesses and organisations. One important point is that compulsory work placements are subject todifferent rules from voluntary placementsor part-time jobs. If you are from outside
the EU or EEA, you can work for over 140
days on a compulsory placement without
having to get special approval (from March
2024). The hours you work will not becounted against the 140 days you can workon other placements or part-time.
Online work placement exchanges can help
you find a placement in Germany. Many
departments and faculties have their own
exchanges, while some are run by higher
education institutions, usually by the career centre. You will also find work placement exchanges online which specialisein certain careers and industries. And ask
around among your fellow students, who
might be able to give you a tip or two
about rewarding work placements.
TIP: Your study programme regulations willstate the requirements of a compulsory work
placement. You will have to get your placement approved in advance to ensure that it
fulfils these requirements. The person who
handles work placements in your faculty
will usually grant approval for a placement.
So don’t start any work placements without
getting approval first! You may find that it is
not recognised afterwards.

64

PREPARATIONIN GERMANY

TIPS

PAYMENT FOR WORK PLACEMENTS
Germany has a minimum wage which is set at €12 per hour (as of 2023). However, this does not always apply to work placements. For example, you can be
paid less for a compulsory placement. Moreover, the minimum wage only comes
into force for voluntary placements which last for more than three months. Thatmeans you do not have a legal right to a salary for most placements. Take this
into account when looking for placements and clarify in advance if your placement provider is willing to pay you, and if so, how much.

You can find more information on work
placements at www.daad.de/internship.
3.3.2 Working part-timeWorking part-time can be a way to start getting experience of working in Germany, andone positive side effect is that you can earnsome money as well. But bear in mind thatyour studies will take up a lot of your time,
too. It is very unlikely that you will be able
to fund your studies completely by working
part-time, and on top of this there are rules
on how much students can work.
If you come from the EU or EEA, you havethe same employment rights as German
students. You have free access to the employment market. However, if you work
more than 20 hours a week you must pay
insurance contributions. Your studies will
also suffer if you are working that long every
week.
If you come from a non-EU or EEA country,
the following rules apply to you:Y ou can work up to 140 full days or 280
half days a year without having to get approval (from March 2024). Self-employed
or freelance work must be evaluated on acase-by-case basis.
I f you want to work more than these limits, you must get approval from your local
employment agency and the immigration
office.
 esearch assistants at higher educationR
institutions are exempt from these rules.
There is no limit on how much they canwork, but they must still inform the immigration office.
You can find more information atwww.daad.de/job.
Students have all kinds of part-time jobs.
Many work as student assistants or research assistants at higher education institutions. Here you work for a department
and help the professors by researching,working in the library or giving tutorials. Jobs like these have two advantages.

STUDYING IN GERMANY

Firstly, you are not limited to the maximum number of hours which apply toother jobs, and secondly you are working
on subject matter which is relevant to yourstudies.
Classic part-time student jobs outsidehigher education include waiting in cafés,bars and clubs, working at trade fairs or
as a courier. Some businesses employ students who are known in German as ‘Werkstudierende’. In these cases you can lookfor jobs which are linked to your subject,
but these jobs often require you to havecompleted several semesters of study.
If you are looking for work, check the job
advertisements on your higher education
institution’s website. Other good places tolook include the local employment agency,
noticeboards at your higher education institution, job ads in local newspapers and,of course, the many job sites online.

65

3.4 HOW CAN I STAY ON IN
GERMANY AFTER MY STUDIES?
What happens if you like living in Germany
so much that you want to stay on here after
graduating? The odds are in your favour.
The majority of international students initially stay in Germany after graduating.
Two-thirds of international students are stillin Germany a year after graduating, whilealmost half are still here after five years.
Even ten years after graduating, almost 40%
of former international students still live inGermany. Of these, around one-third holdresidence and work permits, while anotherthird have actually become German citizens.
What rules apply to you and how you can
improve your chances of getting a job inGermany? We can explain.

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PREPARATIONIN GERMANY

3.4.1 The law and how it affects you
Once again, the situation is easiest if youcome from an EU or EEA country. If you
do, you have free access to employment inGermany and enjoy the same status as German citizens.
Citizens of other countries, however, aresubject to different rules. After graduating,you can initially extend your residence
permit by up to 18 months. That gives you
time to find a job which is appropriate toyour qualifications. However, you will needto prove that you can cover your living expenses for this period and that you have
health insurance.

TIPS

During this period you are allowed to workand you can do any job.
If you do find an appropriate job during
these 18 months, you can get a residence
permit for employment. From March 2024,
you are no longer bound to your field ofstudy when looking for employment. The
specific job does not have to be related
to the degree from the higher education
institution. An exception is employment inregulated professions (e.g. medical doctor)
and the receipt of the EU Blue Card.

TIP: Once you have completed your degree, you can apply for jobs in skilled
professions.

Under certain conditions, after two years
in employment you can get permission forpermanent residence, which allows you toremain in Germany permanently. In 2023,
the Federal Government decided to amend
the law to make it easier for skilled workers
to find work and settle in Germany. These
new regulations will come into force in2023 and 2024 respectively.

Further information and advice is available
on the official portal of the Federal Government ‘Make it in Germany’: www.make-itin-germany.com/en/.

STUDYING IN GERMANY

67

TIP: THE EU BLUE CARD
You can apply for the EU Blue Card. From November 2023, new conditions will
apply and the criteria (including a completed degree from a higher education
institution and a concrete job offer) will be continuously adjusted. The list ofbottleneck professions is also being revised. Please find out about the current
framework conditions at www.bamf.de/bluecard.

3.4.2 Chances of getting a job in Germany
At present the chances of finding employment in Germany are the best they havebeen in a long time – and graduates are no
exception.

companies and competition for lucrative
jobs is much more intense.

Certain degrees give you better chances
than others. Doctors are in particularly highdemand, both in hospitals and private practices. This situation is not going to change,
as many doctors will retire in the near future. In federal states in eastern Germany
it is already proving difficult to find people
to take over the running of GP practices.
Employers are also desperately looking forengineers, IT specialists and scientists.

Germany is the land of hidden champions.
These are firms which are not well known
but are market leaders in their field. Most
are family businesses with a rich heritage
and they tend to be based in rural areas.

Small and medium-sized enterprises
play a major role in Germany. Almost all
businesses here are in this category, whichmakes them correspondingly important for
the employment market. Just under halfof people employed in the private sector
work for small and medium-sized enterprises. If you’re looking for work, make sure
you include job adverts from SMEs in yoursearch. Germany does not have many large

Hidden Champions

Whatever degree you hold, you can increase
your job prospects by having good German skills. You cannot work as a doctor if
you cannot speak German. The situation issimilar in many other professions, so learn
German while you are studying. Research
institutions and large international corporations are pretty much the only exception
to this rule. English is used as the everyday
language here, and you will get on very wellindeed if you speak excellent English. However, without a basic knowledge of German
you will find daily life more difficult, regardless of whether you are in higher educationor already in the world of work.

68

PREPARATIONIN GERMANYTIPSPORTAL FOR INTERNATIONAL SKILLED WORKERS
The www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/ portal provides advice to international skilled workers who want to work in Germany. It includes full details on how tofind work in Germany and various forms of residence permits. It also includes ajob site where you can search for specific careers. The portal is run by theGerman government.

3.5 WHAT TO DO IF THERE’S A
PROBLEM
Regardless of how happy you feel in Germany, studying is always a challenge, especially in foreign surroundings. So it’s a goodidea to know where you can ask for help if
problems arise. That’s what this chapter is
all about.
3.5.1 Sickness
In order to enrol at a higher education
institution you must prove that you have
health insurance. If you feel ill, don’t hesitate to see a doctor. Germany has manywell-trained doctors who provide carewhich is up to the latest standards. Your
health insurer will cover the cost of seeing
a doctor. There are also many pharmacies
where you can get advice on health questions. They can also give you medication,although you have to pay for medication
you get directly from the pharmacy without a prescription from a doctor.
If you feel ill the first person to contact is afamily doctor, also known as a GP or general practitioner. These doctors typicallytreat mild illnesses such as the flu and canprescribe the medication you need. You
can then pick your medication up from thepharmacy for a small fee.
However, GPs are only available on weekdays. If you fall ill over the weekend andcannot wait until Monday to see a doctor,
the best option is to go to an on-call clinic(known in German as a ‘Bereitschaftspraxis’). These clinics exist in many cities.
Just search online for ‘Bereitschaftspraxis’ and the name of your city to finda clinic nearby. Alternatively, call 116 117(www.116117.de/de/englisch.php). If
there is no on-call clinic in your city, you
should go straight to hospital. The hospitalis also your first port of call in emergencies.
If the situation is especially dangerous, call
112 for an ambulance. Your health insurer
will also cover these costs.
Please note: You should only go to an on-callclinic if you have an urgent problem but it is
not an emergency. If it really is an emergency,
go straight to hospital or call an ambulance.
Your insurance will also cover visits to specialist doctors. In some cases your GP will

STUDYING IN GERMANY

69

TIP: Find a GP in Germany. They are your first point of contact for a mild illness.
You can find a suitable local practice by looking on www.kbv.de/arztsuche.

refer you to a specialist. Sometimes you
can also make an appointment with one
yourself – it depends on the medical field
concerned. If you have toothache or want adental check-up, you can make an appointment yourself with a dental practice. But beaware that it can take some time to get an
appointment with a specialist doctor.
Are you worried about seeing a doctor because your German isn’t very good yet?
Usually, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Most
doctors in Germany speak English fairly welland some even speak other foreign languages, too. If you feel unsure, you can ask
your international office for someone toaccompany you and translate for you.
3.5.2 Help with mental health
Spending a long time away from home andfeeling unfamiliar with your new surroundings can make you feel homesick. Studying
can be more of a strain if you are unfamiliar
with the language and environment. That is
all completely normal.
However, if you feel stressed and can seethat these feelings are negatively affecting
your health or your studies, you should get
professional help. There are many ways of
doing this.

 any higher education institutions proM
vide psychological services and advice centres. Some offer workshops oncommon problems in higher educationsuch as time management. You can also
arrange one-to-one counselling. Thesesessions are usually provided by thefaculty of psychology or social sciences.
They may also be arranged by the central
student support services office or the international office.
 ome student unions offer counsellingS
services. You can find details at
www.studierendenwerke.de/en/topics/
counselling-and-advisory-services/
psychological-counselling-services.
 n alternative first step is to talk to yourAGP.
 f course it may be possible to contactOa psychotherapist directly, but be awarethat your insurance will not always cover
the cost of the appointment. You should
check this in advance. In addition, there ishigh demand for medical appointments
and you may have to wait several months
for an appointment.

70

PREPARATIONIN GERMANY

Last but not least, there is a lot you can do
to avoid feelings of depression. One of themost important is to avoid becoming isolated and to stay active, socially and in otherways. Meet up with your fellow students
and, if you feel comfortable to, talk about
the difficulties you are facing. Just sharing
your experiences can help. Please also visit:www.daad.de/en/study-and-researchin-germany/first-steps-germany/
psychological-wellbeing/.
3.5.3 Staying safe in daily life  
Compared to other countries, Germany isvery safe. Germany is right at the bottom ofinternational rankings for many crimes suchas petty crime and assault. Most people inGermany feel safe when they are out on thestreets alone at night. But if anything does
happen, call the police on 110. You can relyon them to help you whatever the time of
day or night.

TIPS

But don’t take unnecessary risks, even if
the conditions in Germany are generally
safe. Don’t walk through dark and deserted
streets or parks alone at night. Find out fromyour fellow students if there are parts oftown which are considered less safe.
The international office can also give you
information about this.
You can also get assistance from the consulates or embassy of your home country.
You can find your country’s embassy andconsulates in Germany listed on the Federal
Foreign Office website: www.auswaertigesamt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit/
vertretungen-anderer-staaten.

STUDYING IN GERMANY

HAVE A SAFE JOURNEY AND ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR STUDIES!
You now know what opportunities for study are available in Germany and how international
students can apply for a place. We've also shared some advice on how to get off to a good startand build a career in Germany.
Now it’s up to you to get started with everything you need to do. This brochure can serve as a
guideline, but it cannot replace speaking to a real person for advice, and it cannot answer all
your individual questions. So if you’re interested in learning more, make sure you get in touchwith the DAAD offices in your country.
You can find more DAAD publications with detailed information for international students at
www.daad.de/publications-germany/.
We hope you have a great journey and that your time in Germany is exciting and full of new
experiences! Best of luck!

71

72

STUDYING IN GERMANY

THE NUMBERS: INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN GERMANY
Students in higher education (2021/2022 winter semester)German students

2,501,351

International students*

440,564of which foreign nationals
educated in Germany

91,126of which foreign nationals
educated elsewhere

349,438

Total students

2,941,915* the group of international students includes foreign students who gained higher education qualifications inGermany or at a German school abroad (known as ‘Bildungsinländer’), and foreign students who gained higher
education entrance qualifications at schools outside Germany (known as ‘Bildungsausländer’).
Figures taken from ‘Wissenschaft weltoffen kompakt 2023’, published jointly by the DAAD and DZHW. Used under
Creative Commons Licence CC BY-SA 4.0.

International students by region of origin (2021/2022 winter semester)STUDYING IN GERMANY

73

Key countries of origin for international students (2021/2022 winter semester)Country
40,055

China
33,753

India
16,712Syria

14,601

Austria
Turkey12,616

Iran

11,625

Russia10,739
9,887

Italy
Cameroon

7,692

Egypt

7,214

Pakistan

7,114

France

7,054

Spain

6,863

Tunisia

6,694

Morocco6,573

Ukraine6,359

Bangladesh

5,999

Vietnam

5,943

USA

5,716

South Korea

5,663
0

10,00020,00030,00040,00050,000

74

STUDYING IN GERMANY

THE NUMBERS: INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN GERMANY
Most popular subject groups for international students(2021/2022 winter semester)
Art and art history
16,932Agricultural, forestry andfood sciences
7,636 (2.2 %)Medicine and health sciences
17,470

Humanities
31,581Others2,908 (0.8 %)

4.8 %
5%
9%

Mathematics andnatural sciences
39,854
11.4 %

41.7 %
25 %Law, economics andsocial sciences
87,350Engineering
145,707

STUDYING IN GERMANY

75

International students, by type of degree(2021/2022 winter semester)

37.3 %

Not studying for a degree
21,354
6.1 %Other types of degree
19,960Bachelor’s degree
130,478

5.7 %
8.2 %

Doctorate
28,74542.6 %

Master’s degree
148,901

International students, by type of higher education institution(2021/2022 winter semester)
Universities of applied sciences
107,12830.7 %

69.3 %

Universities
242,310

76

STUDYING IN GERMANY

THE DAAD: GOALS, ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMES
Since its foundation in 1925, the DAAD has supported some 2.9 million scholars in Germany
and abroad. It is an association and its members are German higher education institutions
and student bodies. Its activities go far beyond granting scholarships: the DAAD promotes
the internationalisation of German higher education institutions, strengthens German studies and the German language abroad, supports developing countries in establishing efficienthigher education institutions and advises on matters of education policy, foreign academic
policy and development policy.
Its headquarters are in Bonn, and it maintains a Government Liaison Office in Berlin, to which
the famous Artists-in-Berlin Program is closely affiliated. A network of regional offices, information centres and information points maintains contacts with key partner countries on allcontinents and provides local advice.

DAAD programmes and objectives‘Change by exchange’ describes the DAAD’s contribution to creating a global community
which can find answers to the pressing questions of the future. The DAAD stimulates internationalisation and global responsibility. It is an independent mediator between different
stakeholders and their interests. Those who bring about this transformation are the students
and academics who transcend borders every day, and the higher education institutions who
encourage them through their efforts.
Including EU programmes, the DAAD funded over 140,000 people around the world in 2022.
The support it provides ranges from a year abroad for young students to full doctoral programmes, from work placements to visiting lectureships, and from fact-finding visits todeveloping higher education institutions abroad. The DAAD supports the international activities of German higher education institutions by providing marketing services, publications,
events and training.

STUDYING IN GERMANY

77

The DAAD realises its objectives across three strategic fields of activity:‘Recognising and supporting potentials worldwide’refers to help for individuals. Outstanding applicants from Germany
and around the world at all academic
levels get access to excellent education and research, subject-oriented
professional training, and interculturalexperiences.

‘Strengthening thestrategic academic network’
focuses on higher education institutions in Germany and abroad. We help
these institutions develop international
partnerships, and provide support withacademic networking and thereby makea contribution to solving global
challenges.

‘Providing expertise forinternational relations’places the DAAD as a pioneer in ongoing discussions around internationalisation at higher education institutions and in academia, as well as making it an actor in building
decision-making processes in politics andcivil society.

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STUDYING IN GERMANY

ADDRESSES AND EXTERNAL LINKS
BONN HEAD OFFICE OF THE GERMANACADEMIC EXCHANGE SERVICE (DAAD)
Kennedyallee 50
53175 Bonn/Germany
Tel. +49 (228) 882-0
Fax +49 (228) 882-444
postmaster@daad.dewww.daad.de/en/
BERLIN OFFICE
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
WissenschaftsForum am Gendarmenmarkt
Markgrafenstraße 37
10117 Berlin/Germany
Tel. +49 (30) 20 22 08-0
Fax +49 (30) 20 41 267
DAAD OFFICES WORLDWIDE
You can find the contact details of our regional offices and information centres on
the DAAD’s website at www.daad.de/en/
the-daad/daad-network/.
DETAILED INFORMATION ON
STUDYING IN GERMANY
www.study-in-germany.de/en/www.daad.de/en/
STUDY PROGRAMMES AND
STUDY IN GENERAL
www.myguide.de/en/www.study-in-germany.de/en/www.daad.de/study-programmeswww.studienwahl.de/en/www.universityranking.de
www.daad.de/international-programmes

DOCTORAL PROGRAMMES/PHDS
www.research-in-germany.de/phd
www.phdgermany.de/en/www.gerit.org/en/(German Research Institutions)www.dfg.de/gk/en(research training groups)
www.mpg.de/en/imprs (International
Max Planck Research Schools)
www.daad.de/international-programmes
STUDYING ONLINE
www.daad.de/study-programmes(search for ‘distance studies’)
www.daad.de/international-programmes(Filter ‘Mode of study’)
ADMISSIONS
www.daad.de/requirements
www.myguide.de/en/www.anabin.de (only in German)
www.daad.de/preparatorycourses/
www.testas.de/en/index_en.htm
www.hochschulkompass.de/studium-interessentest.html(only in German)
www.studienwahl.de/themen-desmonats/testverfahren (only in German)
www.global-assess.rwth-aachen.de/tu9/
index.en.html
TEST YOUR GERMAN
www.sprachnachweis.dewww.testdaf.de (only in German)
www.goethe.de/en/spr/kup/tsd.html
www.onset.de/en/language-placementtest-english-onset/

STUDYING IN GERMANY

APPLYING
www.daad.de/applying
www.uni-assist.de/en/www.hochschulstart.de (only in German)
VISAS
www.auswaertiges-amt.de/enwww.diplo.de/visa
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
www.funding-guide.de
eu.daad.de (only in German)
erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu
www.deutschlandstipendium.de/deutschlandstipendium/de/services/
english/english_node.html
www.fes.de/studienfoerderung(only in German)
www.kas.de/en/web/begabtenfoerderungund-kultur/homewww.boell.de/en/scholarships
www.freiheit.org
www.hss.de/stipendium (in German only)www.rosalux.de/en/foundation/
studienwerk/study-scholarships
FINDING ACCOMMODATION
www.daad.de/accommodationwww.daad.de/accommodationfinder
www.jugendherberge.de/en/www.hostelbookers.com
www.wohnenfuerhilfe.info(only in German)
www.internationale-studierende.de/en/
prepare-your-studies/accommodationwww.wg-gesucht.de (only in German)
www.immobilienscout24.de(only in German)
www.immowelt.de (only in German)

79

SUPPORT AND ADVICEwww.daad.de/io (international offices)www.internationale-studierende.de/en/(German student unions)www.study-in-germany.de/en/www.facebook.com/Study.in.Germany
www.instagram.com/study.in.germany_
land.of.ideas/
www.youtube.com/@StudyinGermany_de
LEARNING GERMAN
www.summerschools.de
www.goethe.de/en/www.deutsch-uni.com/en/
learngerman.dw.com
www.iwdl.de („Ich will Deutsch lernen“)
www.deutsch.info
www.pasch-net.de/lernmaterial(only in German)
WORK PLACEMENTS
www.daad.de/internshipwww.iaeste.de/en/www.aiesec.de (only in German)
traineeships.elsa.org
WORKING DURING AND AFTER STUDY
www.daad.de/job
www.study-in-germany.de/en/
germany/everyday-life/work/www.arbeitsagentur.de/en/www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/
www.bamf.de/bluecard
WIDER READING
www.study-in-germany.de/en/
community/
www.daad.de/publications-germany/

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STUDYING IN GERMANY

INDEX
Accommodation

40

Health insurance

Applying

20

Higher education entrance examination 21

Bachelor's degree

15Higher education entrance qualification 20

Cafeteria

34

Hybrid study programme

Course catalogue

55

Immigration office37, 53Credit Point

56

International Office50

Doctoral programme/PhD

15International study programmes

18

Doctoral programme/PhD – individual

15

Job

63

Doctoral programme/PhD – structured

15

Joint Degree Programme18

DSH (German language examination forhigher education admission)

22

Language course

23, 6218

Language skills / Language
proficiency certificate

22, 24

Dual degree programme
ECTS

56

Lecture56

Enrolling51

Letter of acceptance31

Erasmus+36

Living costs

31

Exams

56

Master’s degree15Forms of classes

56

Mental health69

Funding

31

Module55

Numerus clausus (NC)26

German skills  

22, 6236

18

STUDYING IN GERMANY

81

Online study programmes

18

Student council

58

Part-time work

64

Student representatives

58

Proof of sufficient funds

39

Student residence

40

Propädeutikum/Preparatory course

24

Student union50

32, 42

Studienkolleg

21

Study regulations

55

Rent

37

Residence permit
Residents registration office38, 54, 66

Summer courses / schools

23, 62

Safety70

TestAS

24

Scholarship

35

TestDaF

22

Semester

28

Tuition fees

35

Tutorial

56

Semester fee

12, 34

Semester ticket

34

uni-assist

27

Seminar56

University

12, 13

Shared flat (WG)

42

University of applied sciences

12, 28Sickness

68

Visas

State examination

16

Working

Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung(Foundation for university admission)

26

Work placement37
64, 6762

IMPRINT
Publisher
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst e. V.
Kennedyallee 50
D-53175 BonnThe DAAD is an association of German universities and their student bodies.
It is institutionally funded by the Federal Foreign OfficeSection K23 – Information on Studying in Germany
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8th edition November 2023 – 15.000© DAAD
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