Study in Germany

About Germany

Germany is Europe's largest economy and a global leader in engineering, cars and research. Most public universities charge little or no tuition, even for international students. Main intakes are Winter (October) and Summer (April). The currency is the euro (EUR).

Why study in Germany

• Public universities are tuition-free or very low-cost (you pay a semester contribution)
• Hundreds of English-taught Master's programs
• 18 months after graduation to find a job
• Strong demand for engineers and IT professionals
• EU Blue Card and permanent residence routes

Popular fields of study

Mechanical and automotive engineering, electrical engineering, computer science and AI, data science, mechatronics, renewable energy, and management. Top universities include TU Munich, LMU Munich, Heidelberg, RWTH Aachen and TU Berlin.

Student visa, step by step

1. Get your APS certificate (academic document check, required for Indian students).
2. Get an admission letter from a German university (directly or through uni-assist).
3. Open a blocked account with €11,904 (€992 a month for 12 months).
4. Buy health insurance for the visa (travel cover first, then public or private student insurance).
5. Apply for the national (D) student visa through the German Consular Services Portal and attend your appointment at VFS.
6. Pay the €75 visa fee and wait for the decision.

After you get your visa

• Register your address (Anmeldung) within 2 weeks of arrival.
• Get your residence permit from the local foreigners' office (Ausländerbehörde).
• Work up to 140 full days or 280 half days a year. Student assistant jobs at the university don't count towards this.
• You can withdraw €992 a month from your blocked account.

Work and staying on

Working while you study

Work up to 140 full days or 280 half days a year. Student assistant jobs at the university don't count towards this.

After you graduate

18-month job-search permit After graduating, you can get a residence permit of up to 18 months to look for a job matching your qualification. You can work in any job during this time.

Settling long term

EU Blue Card: for graduate jobs above the salary threshold (lower for shortage jobs and new graduates). Skilled worker residence permit: for qualified jobs below the Blue Card salary. Settlement permit (permanent residence): possible after about 21–27 months on a Blue Card, or 2 years of skilled work for German graduates. Citizenship: possible after 5 years of residence.

Rules change. Please confirm the latest position with your guide.

Visa expenses

Average salary

Graduates typically start at about €45,000–€55,000 a year (approximate). Engineering and IT pay at the top of this range.

Good to know

• Learning German (B1 or higher) greatly improves part-time and full-time job chances.
• Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 a semester at public universities.
• Accommodation usually costs about €600–€800 a month.
• Fields with strong job demand: engineering, healthcare and nursing, architecture and civil engineering, IT, accounts and finance, and aerospace.
• Big employers include Volkswagen, Deutsche Telekom, Munich Re, DHL Group, Bosch, BMW, Siemens, Mercedes-Benz (Daimler), Allianz and Uniper.
• Most English-taught degrees are at private universities of applied sciences; public universities mostly teach in German.
• Typical timeline: university assessment 5–7 days, offer letter 4–6 days, APS certificate 4–6 weeks, visa decision 4–6 weeks.