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Destination guide

Germany

Tuition-free public universities and an engineering powerhouse.

Public universities in Germany charge no tuition for most masters programmes — you pay only a semester contribution (~EUR 300). English-taught masters are widely available, especially in engineering, CS and economics.

Tuition
EUR 0 – 1,500 / year (public)
Living cost
EUR 11,208 / year (blocked account min.)
Intakes
Winter (Oct) primary · Summer (Apr) limited

Popular programmes

National Visa for Study (D-Visa)

Application fee
EUR 75
Processing time
6–12 weeks (book early)
Work rights
140 full / 280 half days per year
Post-study
18-month Job Seeker visa

Application timeline

  1. 1Get admission via Uni-Assist or directly
  2. 2Open a blocked account (EUR 11,208) — Expatrio, Fintiba
  3. 3Buy travel health insurance
  4. 4Book Embassy appointment 3+ months ahead
  5. 5Attend interview with APS certificate if from India/China/Vietnam
  6. 6Convert to residence permit within 90 days of arrival

Insider tips

  • Public unis are tuition-free, but Baden-Württemberg charges EUR 1,500/sem for non-EU.
  • Learn A2 German even for English programmes — opens part-time jobs and PR.
  • Apply 6+ months ahead for visa appointments — slots fill fast in summer.
  • Anmeldung (city registration) within 14 days is mandatory.

Tests accepted

IELTSTOEFLGRE (some)TestDaF (German)

Official resources

Cost of studying in Germany

Tuition, monthly living costs, visa fees and a rupee funding-gap calculator.

National Visa for Study (D-Visa) document checklist

Every document you need, as a tickable list you can save.

Studying in Germany — FAQs

How much does it cost to study in Germany?

Tuition typically runs EUR 0 – 1,500 / year (public), and living costs come to roughly €1,065 per month in a mid-range city — about ₹12.6 lakh for a typical first year including living costs. Use the Germany cost calculator to model your own numbers.

What visa do I need to study in Germany?

You need the National Visa for Study (D-Visa). The application fee is EUR 75 and processing usually takes 6–12 weeks (book early). Book your embassy slot as early as possible — slots, not processing, are the bottleneck.

Can I work while studying in Germany?

140 full / 280 half days per year After graduating: 18-month Job Seeker visa

Which tests do universities in Germany accept?

Commonly accepted tests are IELTS, TOEFL, GRE (some), TestDaF (German). Requirements vary by university and programme, so always confirm on the programme page.

When are the intakes for Germany?

Winter (Oct) primary · Summer (Apr) limited Applications generally open 9-12 months before the intake starts.

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

Blocked account of about €11,904 for 12 months (roughly €992 per month).