Study and find schools in Germany

Studying in Germany

Germany is the most populous country in the European Union, with about 83.3 million inhabitants according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). For international students it combines a large, mostly state-funded university system with low or no tuition fees at public institutions, a growing number of programmes taught in English and a dense network of schools for German as a foreign language.

According to the German Rectors' Conference (HRK), Germany has 422 higher education institutions with about 2.9 million students. Around 402,100 international students were enrolled in the 2024/25 winter semester, 14% of all students, according to Wissenschaft weltoffen, the DAAD and DZHW data portal. German is the main language of teaching, but state-recognised institutions offered 2,381 English-language degree programmes in July 2025, most of them at master's level.

The education system

Education, including higher education, is the responsibility of the 16 federal states (Länder), so rules on admission, fees and organisation can differ from one state to another. The HRK counts three main types of higher education institution:

• Universities (120, including technical universities): research-oriented, with the right to award doctorates
• Universities of applied sciences (Hochschulen für Angewandte Wissenschaften or Fachhochschulen, 245): practice-oriented programmes in engineering, business, social work, design and similar fields, often with work placements
• Universities of the arts and music (57): fine arts, performing arts, music, design and media

Of the 422 institutions, 273 are public and 149 are non-state; around 90% of students attend public institutions. Private universities are mostly small and focus on a few subjects such as business or media. Germany follows the Bologna structure with ECTS credits: one credit stands for about 30 hours of work and a full-time semester usually carries 30 credits. A bachelor's degree normally lasts six semesters (around 180 credits) and a master's two to four semesters. Medicine, law, pharmacy and teacher training usually end with a state examination (Staatsexamen) instead. A doctorate takes about two to five years in the traditional supervised model; structured doctoral programmes are often limited to three years. In total, the HRK counts about 21,600 degree programmes.

Outside the universities, Germany has a large private sector of language schools that teach German as a foreign language from beginner to advanced level, often with preparation for exams such as TestDaF or telc, and summer and semester programmes run by universities for visiting students.

Admission and recognition

Admission depends on whether your school-leaving certificate counts as a higher education entrance qualification in Germany. Certificates from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland that give access to university at home usually do so in Germany as well. With a certificate from another country, the DAAD notes that you often need two or three semesters of comparable study in your home country, or a year at a Studienkolleg (preparatory college) in Germany that ends with the Feststellungsprüfung assessment test. Public Studienkollegs guarantee a state-recognised assessment test. The DAAD admission database and the anabin database of the Central Office for Foreign Education show how certificates from each country are assessed, but the final decision is always made by the institution.

Students from outside the EU apply either directly to the institution or through uni-assist, depending on the university. Medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine and dentistry have nationwide admission restrictions. Most programmes taught in German require at least level B2 of the CEFR; programmes taught in English ask for proof of English instead.

Student visa and residence

Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland only need an ID card and must register their address at the local residents' registration office. According to the DAAD, students from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States, and from Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino, can enter Germany without a visa, but must apply for a residence permit at the local foreigners' office (Ausländerbehörde) if they stay longer than three months.

Everyone else applies for a national visa at the German embassy or consulate in their home country, in many countries online through the Federal Foreign Office's Consular Services Portal. There are two options:

• Student visa: with a letter of acceptance from a German institution
• Prospective student visa: for applicants still waiting for admission or taking an entrance exam, valid for up to nine months

Applicants usually need a valid passport, health insurance, proof of sufficient funds and records of previous study and language skills. Since January 2025, students must show 992 euros per month (11,904 euros per year), often through a blocked account (Sperrkonto), a scholarship or a parental guarantee. A tourist visa cannot be converted into a student visa later. Processing can take months, so apply early and check the current requirements with the German mission in your country (checked October 2026).

Costs

There are generally no tuition fees for bachelor's degrees or most master's degrees at state institutions. The exceptions, according to the DAAD, are Baden-Württemberg, which charges students from outside the EU 1,500 euros per semester, and Bavaria, where institutions may charge students from outside the EU/EEA fees of up to several thousand euros per semester. Private institutions charge higher fees. All students pay a semester contribution of between 70 and 430 euros, which often includes a public transport ticket.

The DAAD estimates living costs at between 900 and 1,200 euros per month, depending on the city, with rent the largest item. Opening a blocked account costs between 70 and 150 euros at the bank.

Where to study

Our directory lists schools in many German cities. Berlin and Munich have the most, followed by Cologne, Heidelberg and Frankfurt:

• Berlin: university programmes for visiting students such as the Freie Universität Berlin's FU-BEST semester and FUBiS summer and winter sessions, and German language schools such as did deutsch-institut Berlin and BWS Germanlingua
• Munich: private business schools such as Munich Business School and EU Business School Munich, and language schools such as TANDEM München and DeutschAkademie
• Heidelberg: home of Universität Heidelberg, founded in 1386 and Germany's oldest university, and of language schools such as the Academy of Languages Heidelberg
• Frankfurt: the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management and several German language schools
• Cologne, Bonn and the Rhine-Ruhr region: the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn and the Universität Duisburg-Essen, among others

Smaller university towns such as Oldenburg, Ulm, Kassel, Weimar and Münster also have universities in our directory.

Practical life

Health insurance is compulsory for everyone in Germany. Students from the EU can often use their European Health Insurance Card; others take out German insurance, where statutory insurers offer a student rate of about 120 to 130 euros per month for students under 30.

Working while studying: students from outside the EU may work 140 full days or 280 half days per year; jobs as academic assistants at the university are not limited, but must be reported to the foreigners' office. The minimum wage has been 13.90 euros per hour since January 2026. The DAAD warns that a side job alone rarely covers all living costs.

Frequently asked questions

Is studying in Germany free for international students?

At most state institutions there are no tuition fees for bachelor's and most master's degrees, but every student pays a semester contribution of 70 to 430 euros. Baden-Württemberg charges students from outside the EU 1,500 euros per semester, and institutions in Bavaria may also charge them fees.

Can I study in Germany in English?

Yes. State-recognised institutions offered 2,381 English-language degree programmes in July 2025, most of them master's programmes. Most bachelor's programmes are taught in German and require level B2.

How much money do I need to show for a German student visa?

Since January 2025, the required amount is 992 euros per month, or 11,904 euros per year, usually shown through a blocked account, a scholarship or a parental guarantee. Check the current amount with the German embassy or consulate.

Can I work while studying in Germany?

Students from outside the EU may work 140 full days or 280 half days per year. Students from the EU have practically the same rights as German students.

What is a Studienkolleg?

A one-year preparatory college for students whose school-leaving certificate does not give direct access to German universities. It ends with the Feststellungsprüfung, which qualifies you to apply for programmes in the matching subject area.