Studying in Germany – How to apply

Studying in Germany – How to apply

Germany is the most attractive non-English-speaking country in the world for international students! Therefore more and more students want to study there.

Germany is the most attractive non-English-speaking country in the world for international students! Therefore more and more students want to study in Germany. If you want to study in Germany, then you should read this article.

Choose a university

After you decided to study in Germany, its very important to find the right course and university. Many criteria can be considered in this step, like for example:

  • University ranking
  • University library
  • Course content
  • Offer of Sports and leisure activities
  • Near to family or friends / living with family or friends
  • Place of work

Check the requirements

It is important to check the requirements of the selected university. Most universities want to check the higher education entrance qualification first. The other requirements may vary from university to university.

Manage your finances

When entering the EU from abroad for studies, language courses or other employment purposes, a traveler has to prove that he can finance his stay in the Federal Republic of Germany from his own funds. You need to have at least 853 Euro for each month you live in Germany. The amount is the minimum, less money won’t be accepted.

Apply at the university

Check the website and search for information how to apply. To increase your chance to study in Germany, you may apply to more courses and universities. For the most courses its possible to apply twice a year, for the winter and summer semester. You have to apply until 15 of July for the winter semester and until 15 of January for the summer semester. But you better check the deadline on the university’s website itself, as you will find the latest deadlines on the website. As a rule, you should receive an answer after about one to two months.

Tip! Apply as early as possible when the application window is open, as there will be enough time to correct mistakes or submit missing documents.

Your Health coverage

According to German law, a health insurance is compulsory. So you need a health insurance if you are studying in Germany. If are younger than 30 years and you matriculate for the first time at a university in Germany, you have to decide whether you would like to be insured by a public health insurance company or by a private (travel health) insurance company. But be aware that the premium of the public health insurance increased by more then 10 percent, in contrast the premium from MAWISTA stayed the same.

If you decide to be insured by a private insurance company, you have to exempt yourself from the mandatory public health insurance. Only public insurance companies like AOK or TK can issue this document and then the university will accept our insurance documents. This document is called “Befreiungsbescheinigung” in German.

Important! If you exempt yourself from the public insurance, this decision is binding for your entire studies in Germany until you turn 30 or finished 14 semesters of a particular degree.

Get a visa to study in Germany

Visa requirements vary from country to country. We have already published information about this.

Click here to learn more

Find a place to sleep

After you got a place and a visa to study you can start looking for a place to sleep. Unfortunately the most universities in Germany do not offer accommodations, or the amount of accommodations are very limited.

If you can’t live with friends or family, you have to find an apartment. Here the prices vary and therefore no exact numbers can be given. In big cities like Munich, Stuttgart or even student cities like Heidelberg or Freiburg the flats are a bit more expensive than in Berlin.

Important! After you have found an apartment, you have to register at the Einwohnermeldeamt or Bürgeramt.

Enroll for your favorite course

If you have been accepted to several degree courses or universities, you should now decide on a degree course. Furthermore, you will have to pay an amount between 150 Euro and 300 Euro as an administrative fee before each semester. If you travel to the university by public transport, you will have to pay about 180 euros for a semester ticket. This allows you to travel to the university by public transport for the whole semester (6 months). Further documents you will need to enroll are now listed:

  • Your travel document with visa or residence permit
  • passport photos
  • Completed enrolment form
  • Proof of higher education entrance qualification in original or officially certified copies with translation
  • notice of admission
  • Proof of sufficient knowledge of German (or English for an international degree course)
  • Proof of statutory health insurance in Germany
  • Confirmation of payment for the semester fee