(Start researching at least 3 months before deciding)

Finding a university and choosing a study program that suits your interests is the first step to planning your studies in Germany.

This shouldn't be a significant issue because there are numerous universities and study programmes available, all of which are of unquestionably top-notch quality. No matter what path you choose to take in life, there is undoubtedly a study plan that will work with your goals for learning and your future plans.

But if you haven't given this much thought before beginning your application process to study in Germany, it could take some time to choose a university and a study programme. One of the reasons you haven't chosen a course yet may be a large number of options.

Before making a final decision, we advise you to give the study programme at least three months of thought. You have ample time to search through all German colleges that offer programmes relevant to your line of work.

Once you have located those German universities, you can narrow down the list of institutions to those that seem to be the best fit for you. If you want to improve your chances of getting accepted, you can choose to apply to more than one university or just one.

It is crucial to choose a university and a course of study because it will affect everything.

Here is the list of universities in Germany.

(Two weeks before the application is opened)

Now that you have decided what university and what study program you want to attend you must check out all the requirements. For this purpose, you check the university website and its admission requirements section. If there are things you don’t understand never hesitate to contact the university directly.

It is advised to read the requirements section several times because entry criteria vary depending on the university and the degree type you select.

The most frequent problems at this point are bad timing and missing documentation, both of which can result in delayed admission or even application rejection. You must start preparing these documents far in advance to prevent such a scenario.

For instance, you must enroll in a language course for at least three months before taking a test to determine your level of ability in German. It takes a lot longer if you start learning German from scratch.

Up until they are issued to you, additional legalizations of your documents could take a similar amount of time to process. You must begin gathering your documentation at least 4 months before you want to apply for a spot at the university, taking into account potential sporadic delays resulting from the nature of the application procedure.

(Start learning it 6 months before the application or the course commences)

Even if your program is in English, your ability to succeed in university greatly depends on your knowledge of the German language. You may be certain that you will comprehend study materials, grasp the concepts being taught in lectures, and be able to express yourself clearly if you have a firm grasp of the German language.

While many study programs at higher academic levels are taught wholly or in part in German, the majority of undergraduate courses in Germany are taught in the original tongue. With the exception of the university, you will need to speak German with locals frequently.

Even though learning German from scratch can be challenging, if you get started early, you'll be a native speaker by the time you visit Germany. To acquire a fundamental understanding of the German language, we advise beginning at least six months before the start of your course (or before the application if German language proficiency is a requirement).

(at least two weeks before you apply for a German student visa)

The next step is making sure you have the required financial means to live and study in Germany. Under the current law, every foreign non-EU or non-EEA student must have proper financial means to finance their stay in Germany during their studies.

An international student in Germany must possess a minimum of €11,208 which is estimated to be enough for a student to cover the cost of living for the first year of his studies. This amount of money needs to be deposited into a German-blocked bank account.

Important Tip: To Maximize Your Chances of Getting Your German Student Visa You Should Use a Blocked Account as Proof of Financial Resources.

A blocked account is a special type of bank account, to prove you have enough funds to live in Germany for one year.

As of 2023, as a foreigner in Germany, you need a minimum of €934 euros per month for living expenses. So, you are required to have a total of €11,208 in your bank account before you apply for a German internship visa.

Click here to learn more about the German Blocked Account

Naturally, for a student, this a large amount of money and takes time to collect. It’s highly recommended you start saving money a long time before you initiate your university application, except when you’ve been granted a scholarship and use it as proof of your financial means.

Normally, 6 months before your application would be early enough to start collecting this money and two weeks before applying for your student visa you must have them deposited.

(As soon as you complete the requirements)

After double-checking your application documents, it’s time for you to submit the application. The application can be carried out online, but there may be universities that receive only applications in person or by post.

Contact your university to see which way you can submit your application. Most German universities are part of the national university online application platform known as UniAssist. In addition to this, there are universities that run their own online admission platform on their website.

Keep in mind that universities in German are a hub for international students and admission committees are heavily loaded with foreign applications. Going through all the applications takes time and you need to submit your application as soon as possible to take advantage.

You must submit your application once the call for application is opened and then wait for the admission letter.

Depending on what level of studies you’re pursuing in Germany, the application procedures vary slightly.

Here are our detailed guides on how to apply for university in Germany:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Master’s Degree
• PhD Degree

(As soon as you receive the admission letter)

If you’re a student coming from a non-EU and non-EEA country you must get a German student visa.

For detailed guidance on how to get your student visa, please read our article “German Student Visa Requirements“.

By the time you are collecting the documents, we suggest contacting the German embassy/consulate in person and making a visa appointment.

Make sure you have secured the proper financial means for studying in Germany. One of the easiest and best ways to convince the authorities that you have enough money to cover your study and living cost is by opening a so-called Blocked bank account.

We suggest opening a blocked bank account with Expatrio.  Expatrio is a German company and is officially approved by the German Federal Foreign Office.

Along with other documents, the German embassy/consulate in your home country will also require you to get a health insurance policy before granting you a student visa.

Most international students in Germany prefer to get health insured with DR-WALTER.

The health insurance tariff EDUCARE24 by DR-WALTER is suitable for the following groups of people:

• Foreign exchange students, language students and students participating in university preparatory courses (Studienkolleg)
• University students
• Participants in exchange programmes (e.g. ERASMUS, DAAD, SOKRATES)
• Trainees
• Accompanying family members

Still have questions about health insurance? Learn more about health insurance in Germany from experts.

Get health insurance by DR-WALTER online within a few minutes

(As early as possible. Start researching at least 3-6 months before arrival)

Now that you’re officially an admitted student in Germany and you have your student visa you must think of a place to stay in. Accommodation in Germany for international students is not that expensive but is normal that as a foreign student you should strive to find the most financially suitable place for you to live.

Keep in mind that finding accommodation in Germany is getting harder every year because of the limited number of student halls and shared apartments. Because of this many students are having a very stressful time.

We recommend you give the deserved priority to this issue because it may cost you a lot of time and money to find a solution if you don’t find accommodation early. With that in mind, you can try to find accommodation online before landing in Germany and pay the initial deposit to lock in your place.

(First week after arriving in Germany)

The final step to officially be given a place at the university of your choice is to enrol in the course to which you have been admitted. In this sense, the enrollment process takes you from a successful applicant to a registered student in Germany.

Public higher education in Germany is offered for free, but you will still have to pay a registration fee which ranges somewhat between €150 and €250. Additionally, you will have to pay for your Semester ticket to use public transportation free of charge for 6 months.

To enrol on your university course in Germany you need to personally appear at the administration office of your university and submit the following documents:

• Your valid passport
• A passport photo
• Your Visa or Residence Permit
• Completed and signed Application Form
• Degree qualifications (original documents or certified copies)
• The Letter of Admission
• Proof of health insurance in Germany (You can get your health insurance here.)
• The payment fee receipt

Following your enrollment in the university administration will issue you a registration document (ID card) which can later be used for residence permit application and attendance of your classes.

An important note: You need to re-register each semester following the completion of the previous one and again you will have to cover the same registration costs.