Study in Germany: Admission, Cost, Visa and Scholarships (2027)

Germany's higher education system has three main kinds of institution: research universities (Universitaten), universities of applied sciences (Hochschulen fur angewandte Wissenschaften or Fachhochschulen), and colleges of art and music. Research universities focus on theory and usually expect strong academic preparation, while universities of applied sciences build practical placements and industry projects into the degree. Public universities enrol the large majority of students and are funded and regulated by the sixteen federal states, which is why rules on tuition, admission and deadlines differ from state to state rather than following one national standard.

Tuition works differently in Germany than in most countries international students compare it against. Most public universities charge no tuition fee at all, regardless of nationality, and only collect a semester contribution that funds student services, administration and often a nationwide public transport ticket; this typically runs from about EUR 100 to EUR 400 a semester depending on the university. Two states now charge non-EU students directly. Baden-Wurttemberg has charged EUR 1,500 a semester at its state universities since the 2017/18 winter semester, applying to Bachelor's, Staatsexamen and consecutive Master's study. Bavaria has allowed its universities to set a non-EU fee since the 2024/25 winter semester; the Technical University of Munich, for example, charges between EUR 2,000 and EUR 6,000 a semester depending on the level and programme. Private universities set their own fees and are usually far more expensive than public ones.

The academic year has two intakes. The winter semester starts in October and is when almost all programmes admit students; the summer semester starts in April with a smaller range of programmes open to new international students. Application periods are set by each university and often by each individual programme rather than the university as a whole. A common pattern for programmes without a restricted number of places is a deadline around 15 July for the winter intake and 15 January for the summer intake, while competitive programmes with a fixed number of places tend to close earlier, often in spring for an autumn start.

International applicants whose degree comes from outside Germany often apply through uni-assist, a central service that checks foreign qualifications on behalf of its member universities before forwarding the application; not every university uses uni-assist, and some run their own international admissions process instead. Programmes taught in English ask for an English test, most commonly IELTS or TOEFL, at a level that ranges from B2 to C1 depending on the subject. Programmes taught in German, which is still most Bachelor's programmes, ask for a German test such as TestDaF or DSH instead.

Once admitted, students from outside the EU and EEA need a national visa for study purposes before entering Germany. During their studies they can work up to 20 hours a week. After graduating, they can stay in Germany for up to 18 months on a residence permit to look for a qualified job, and can take any kind of work while they search.