Germany is an ideal destination for study overseas with its world-class education and thrilling urban life that is embedded in serene landscapes. It has a welcoming culture and accepts immigrants from all over the world. The German economy is vast with infinite opportunities for overseas graduates.
Overseas students can study for free at Public Universities in Germany. However, there is enrolment, administration and confirmation charge per semester that must be paid by them. This varies depending on the University – Private or Public and the chosen course.
Do note that only Public Universities offer Free Education. While Private Universities charge tuition fees, variable in keeping with the course opted for, the tuition fee is usually on the lower end of the spectrum and is quite affordable when compared to other countries such as Canada, U.S. or even Australia.
Study Program | Average Tuition Fees in € |
Undergraduate Bachelor Degree | €500 -€20,000 yearly |
Postgraduate Master’s Degree | €5,000 – €30,000 yearly |
Universities in Germany have diverse deadlines for application. However, the two general timelines are broadly applicable:
Intake 1: Summer Semester – The application must be submitted prior to January 15th
Intake 2: Winter Semester – The application must be submitted prior to July 15th
Student Applicant:
Spouse:
In general, spouses are given the same rights as the spouse is already in Germany. Therefore, if the spouse in Germany has the right to work, the spouse who comes to join him or her will also have that right. But also note that only work permit holders can apply for the dependent visas.
As a student to be allowed to stay on in Germany, you will need to get the German Permanent Residence Permit, also referred to as the Settlement Permit or the Niederlassungserlaubnis in German.
The permanent residence permit lets you work in Germany. You can also travel in and out of the country.
The Niederlassungserlaubnis is usually given to people who have either the EU Blue Card or have held the temporary residence permit for some years. To be eligible for the permanent residence permit, such people must prove the following
Moreover, a knowledge of some advanced German is also necessary at this stage, as the requirements for German language proficiency are more stringent for the permanent residence permit.
Once you have the permanent residence permit, your spouse and children will be allowed to join you in Germany. Initially, they will be given a temporary residence permit. After a few years, your family can get the permanent residence permit as well.
To be eligible for any of the residence permits, you will be expected to fulfill certain requirements, which include –
QS World University Rankings |
University Name | QS World University Rankings |
University Name |
61 | Technical University of Munich | 191 | Technische Universität Dresden |
62 | Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München | 197 | University of Göttingen |
64 | Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg | 223 | Universität HamburgMore |
116 | KIT, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology | 253 | Technische Universität Darmstadt |
121 | Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | 255 | Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn |
130 | Freie Universitaet Berlin | 260 | Universität Stuttgart |
144 | RWTH Aachen University | 279 | Universität Frankfurt am Main |
147 | Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin) | 299 | Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg |
168 | Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen | 306 | University of Cologne |
186 | Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg | 326 | Universität Jena |