Your gateway to studying, working, and living abroad

I’ve already studied a few semesters in my home country and now I’d like to continue studying in Germany. Will the German university recognise my previous degree/ credits in its degree programme?
Each German university is responsible for determining its own admission policies. That’s why you should ask the International Office at the German university of your choice whether you fulfill all the requirements for admission and how much of your previous academic work will be recognised. You will find a list of universities and courses in this database.

Where do I find the requirements for studying in Germany?
You can find general requirements on our website. For specific admission requirements pertaining to your course of study, you should refer to the degree programme’s website. For suitable degree programmes you can also check out our database.

How can I find out whether my school-leaving certificate will be recognised in Germany?
The DAAD admission database will tell you whether your university entrance qualification is recognised in Germany. You can obtain more specific information about other countries and certificates at Anabin. This database contains information on how foreign secondary school-leaving certificates are evaluated. It provides all relevant information, e.g. whether your certificate will be recognised and whether you will need to meet further requirements. The final decision is always made by the university, to which you apply. Therefore, we recommend asking the International Office at the university of your choice whether you meet all the requirements!

What can I do if they don’t recognise my school-leaving certificate?
If your secondary school-leaving certificate is not recognised in Germany, you can gain entrance qualification to German university by completing a foundation course (“Studienkolleg”). You first have to pass an entrance examination to participate in a foundation course. Good German language skills are a prerequisite (B1 level of the European Framework of Reference for Languages). For more information, see the section on foundation courses.

I want to apply for admission to a bachelor’s programme. What do I have to do?
The first thing to do is to find out whether your university entrance qualification is recognised in Germany. The DAAD admission database can help you with this. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact one of the DAAD offices all around the world. For more information, see the section on application.

How much money do I need for my living expenses in Germany?
Compared to other European countries, the cost of living in Germany is quite reasonable. The prices for food, accommodation, clothing, cultural events, etc. are basically in line with the EU average. You will need around 1,150 euros per month to cover your living expenses. The largest expense is your monthly rent. In most cases, applicants have to prove that they have around 11,904 euros at their disposal for one year. For more information, see the section on money and funding.

How high are the tuition fees at German universities?
The tuition at German universities is very low, and some universities charge no tuition fee at all. Most German universities are funded by the government. Normally students in bachelor’s programmes don’t have to pay tuition fees. Low tuition fees are charged, however, for master’s degree programmes. All students have to pay a semester contribution. 

How do I get a visa to study in Germany?
Some international students require an entry visa for Germany depending on where they come from and how long they plan to stay. You will find general information on visas and residence permits on our website. For more information about visa requirements, contact the German embassy or German consulate in your home country. On the website of the German Federal Foreign Office you can find the addresses of German diplomatic missions abroad.

There are various databases for finding a degree programme. On the ‘Find a course of study’ page, we explain which database is right for you. This Database contains hundreds of suitable degree programmes. If you’re looking for English-language programmes, check out the International Programmes Database of the DAAD. THIS GUIDE helps you through the process of searching for a degree programme right up to the contact request to the university.

I’m looking for the best university in my area of study. Where can I find it?
As all German universities offer very good education, it’s hard to say which university is the best. The best university for you is the one which best meets your expectations. When choosing a university, you should take several aspects into account, like the range of subjects, the size of the university and city, as well as the cost of living in that city. You can find all of the degree programmes at German universities in this Database.

Which are the best universities in Germany?
As all German universities offer very good education, it’s difficult to say which university is the best. You might say the best university is the one which best meets your expectations.

How do I find the degree programme of my choice in a specific city?
The Database allows you to search for specific degree programmes in all German university towns.

I’d like to enrol in a master’s degree programme in Germany. How can I apply for a scholarship?
You can find scholarships for master’s degree students on the DAAD Scholarship Database. The application requirements are listed in the respective description.

How do I find a scholarship for my subject of study?
You can search for subject-specific scholarships on the DAAD Scholarship Database. Information about application requirements is listed in the respective description.

Can I enrol in an English-language degree programme in Germany?
Yes, there are many courses and degree programmes taught in English, especially master’s courses. You can get an overview in the extensive DAAD database of International Programmes. Having said that, we strongly recommend that you try to learn a little German, because knowing the language will make you feel more at home in Germany and help you make German friends faster.

How do I get a visa for a language course?
If you want to attend a language course, you can apply for a language course visa in many countries. It’s only valid for the duration of the course and cannot be converted into a student visa (“Visum zu Studienzwecken”). If you want to attend a language course in combination with university studies, you have to indicate this on your visa application form. In this case, make sure to apply for either a student applicant visa (“Visum zur Studienbewerbung”) or a student visa (“Visum zu Studienzwecken”). On our website you can find more information on visa procedures.

I’m looking for German courses at language schools which can help me prepare for my university studies.
Check out this database of German courses and providers. 

I’d like to improve my German using free online sources. Are there any good website you can recommend?
The Goethe-Institut, Deutsche Welle and the Alumniportal Deutschland provide helpful online language training. We also post useful links for learning German on our Facebook page on a regular basis.

How and where can I get a language certificate?
There are two different tests you can take to demonstrate your language proficiency in German. One is called the “DSH” (German Language University Entrance Examination for Foreign Applicants) and the other is the “TestDaF” (Test of German as a Foreign Language). Language certificates are also issued by the Goethe-Institut. On our website you can find more information about language skills.

Do I need to take an English test to apply for admission to a degree programme?
If you want to study in English, universities generally require an official English test such as IELTS or TOEFL. Exemptions are made for native speakers. For a listing of programmes in which English is the language of instruction, check out the DAAD database of International Programmes. 

How do I find a room in a student residence hall in a particular city?
The Accommodation Finder on our website is a helpful tool for obtaining information about various student residences in your university town. Our website offers information on finding accommodation as well.