Table of Contents:

1. Why Apply for a German Study Visa?
2. German Study Visa
3. Reasons to Study in Germany
4. Top Universities in Germany
5. List of Affordable Universities in Germany
6. Study Intakes of Germany
7. Germany Student Visa Types
8. Eligibility Criteria
9. Steps to Apply
10. Germany Student Visa Dependents
11. Post Study Work Permit
12. How to Apply for PSWPs
13. Student Visa Costs for Germany
14. Student Visa for Germany Processing Time
15. How Y-Axis Can Help You?

 

Why Apply for a German Study Visa?

• Germany is #1 European destination to international students for higher education
• 400000+ International students in German universities
• 19000+ courses on offer for international students in over 400 universities
• € 860+ per month scholarship for international students
• Over 1000 scholarships/year for students at German universities

 

German Study Visa

• International students like you studying in Germany on short term courses lasting around 3 months can use a Schengen visa.
• International students for long-term courses require a National Visa D Type, lasting for up to 4 years.
• Germany can waive or cut your student visa fees, if you show proof to promote culture/foreign policy, or humanitarian issues.
• Depending on your home country, you may be exempt from paying for a German student visa but will still need residence permit.
• You can extend your German student visa under certain conditions, and even use it to seek Permanent Residency in Germany.
• As EU citizen living in UK you don’t need German student visa but must get yourself registered at the local registrar office.
• Post-Study Work Visa permits international students to stay 18 months after completing their studies to find work and gain experience.

 

Reasons to Study in Germany

• German universities provide top-quality education at very low cost/fees.
• Germany is a safe country compared to others at the same level.
• A melting pot of cultures, Germany, as a secular, liberal nation, offers various courses to international students as per their needs.
• Despite being a German-speaking nation, most universities offer English language-based study programmes focusing on practice.
• The cost of living in Germany is low compared to the UK.
• International students like you can enjoy a vibrant social life in Germany, especially at night.
• While studying in Germany, you can do part-time work 20 hours/week or 120 days total/year.
• International students can travel across Europe / Schengen area and even apply for permanent residency in Germany after graduation.
• Germany as Europe’s largest economy, presents lot of career opportunities across banking, auto, fashion, and more.
• International students after graduation can earn better entry salary of EUR € 36000 to 42000 / year in Germany than in the UK.
• German universities focus on research, development, and innovation giving international students opportunity to expand their horizon.
• International students can boost their future employability by learning German, a widely spoken language in Europe.

 

Top Universities in Germany

• There are three types of universities in Germany namely Universities of Applied Sciences, Academic Universities, and Academies of Arts, Music, and Film.
• Academic universities in Germany offer both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees; while Universities of Applied Sciences only offer courses up to a master's degree.
• German universities are categorized under public universities and private universities.
• While public universities are owned and operated by the state, where education is free, private universities are owned by companies or investors who charge tuition fees.

QS World University Rankings 2024 – Top 10 universities in Germany
Germany Rank	Global Rank	University
1	37	Technical University of Munich
2	54	Ludwig-Maximillians-Universität München
3	87	Universität Heidelberg
4	98	Freie-Universität Berlin
5	106	RWTH Aachen University
6	119	KIT, Karlsruher-Institut für Technologie
7	120	Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
8	154	Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin)
9	192	Albert-Ludwigs-Universtaet Freiburg
10	205	Universität Hamburg

• The other renowned universities in Germany that an international student can opt for are:
  • Eberhard Karls Universität, Tübingen 
  • Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg
  • University of Göttingen, Göttingen
  • Rheinische Freidrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Bonn
  • Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt
  • Technische Universität, Dresden
  • University of Cologne, Cologne 
  • Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt
  • Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart
  • Ruhr-Universität, Bochem 
  • University of Münster, Münster
  • Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen 
  • Julius-Maximillians- Universität, Würzburg
  • Universität Mannheim, Mannheim
  • Universität Potsdam, Potsdam
  • Universität Jena, Jena
  • Johannes Gutenberg Universität, Mainz
  • Universität Konstanz, Konstanz
  • Universität Leipzig, Leipzig
  • Leibniz University, Hannover

 

List of Affordable Universities in Germany

• For international students like you seeking higher education, Germany is the most preferred choice.
• Germany offers international students like you high academic and living standards with low tuition fees.
• Most German public universities charge a social fee of EUR € 413 per semester, which grants students unrestricted access to sports clubs, university libraries, and the public transport system.
• Some of the most well-known affordable universities and colleges in Germany are as follows:

S.No.	University	Annual Fees in Euro €
1	Technical University of Munich	70 to 102
2	Ludwig Maximilians University	231
3	Heidelberg University	151
4	Karlsruher Institute of Technology	3252
5	Humboldt University of Berlin	316
6	Technical University of Berlin	-- (only semester fee)
7	Georg-Augusta University of Göttingen	-- (only administrative expenses)
8	University of Hamburg	-- (only semester fee)
9	University of Stuttgart	1500/semester
10	Darmstadt University of Technology	900/year (administrative expenses)
11	University of Bremen	1500 to 11000 / semester
12	Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz	326/semester
13	University of Wuppertal	325/semester
14	University of Siegen	823/semester
15	University of Kiel	1500/year
16	University of Giessen	1500/year
17	Chemnitz University of Technology	1500/year
18	University of Passau	1500/year
19	Mittweida University	1500/year
20	University of Bonn	1500/year
21	Flensburg University of Applied Science	1500/year

 

Study Intakes of Germany

Intake	Month/s
1	April (Summer)
2	September (Winter)

• Winter intakes are considered the primary intake season in Germany for international students.
• Winter intakes are based on semester that last till February or March depending on the course you choose.
• Summer intake that lasts till July or August depending on the course you choose offer limited options for choice of courses.

 

Germany Student Visa Types

• The Student Visa grants you the right to remain in Germany for the entire course duration. International students can choose from a German Student Visa or ‘Visum Zur Studienzwecken,’ German Student Applicant Visa or ‘Visum Zur Studienbewerbung,’ and a German Language Course Visa to study in Germany.
• International students from UK don’t need any visa. They simply need to register their local German address with the local German Resident Registration Office or ‘Einwohnermeldeamt’ and apply for a residency permit within the next 90 days of arriving in Germany. To apply for the residency permit, they must submit all relevant documents required for a student visa.
• German Student Visa: Issued to those already accepted into a German university course. It is usually valid for 3 months, which is enough time for you to enter Germany, settle down, register your local address at the local register office, and get your residency permit, allowing you to stay for your entire duration, of course.
• German Language Course Visa: It is issued to those accepted into a language preparatory course with duration between 3 months and 1 year. The visa applicants are expected to complete a minimum of 18 hours of language lessons each week. It can be extended in certain cases by up to 1 year if the applicant proves the intention to attend the course isn’t to pursue further education in Germany.
• Student Applicant Visa: it is issued to those who haven’t chosen their study course in a German university and are still waiting for confirmation of acceptance. This visa is usually valid for 3 months but can be extended based on prevailing circumstances. This visa gives you enough time to meet your German university’s entry requirements, convert your student applicant visa into a student visa, get a residency permit and an admission letter.

 

Eligibility Criteria

• Visa application
• Acceptance letter from a German university
• Biometrics
• Proof of financial resources
• Statement of purpose 
• Curriculum vitae
• Health insurance in Germany
• Proof of language
• Past academic records

 

Steps to Apply

• Step 1: Apply for Admission to a German university
• Step 2: Prepare the necessary documentation
• Step 3: Apply for a long-term student visa
• Step 4: Pay visa fees to schedule an interview appointment 
• Step 5: Attend the interview & fly off to Germany if approved

 

Germany Student Visa Dependents

• German laws state that you as an international student studying in a German university, can bring your spouse, legal partner, and/or minor kids to reside with you in Germany. You need to have sufficient funds and arrange for living space to accommodate them with you. 
• As a condition, if your course is full-time at the postgraduate level with at least 9 months duration or you are a German government-sponsored student, studying a full-time course with at least 6 months duration.

 

Post Study Work Permit

• DAAD, the premier German authority encourages international students to seek jobs that don’t require specialization.
• According to DAAD, over 40% of international students stay back in Germany after graduation.
• Germany issues Post Study Work Permits (PSWPs) to all international students outside of the EU, and EEA who have completed their studies in Germany.
• PSWPs allow international students to stay in Germany for up to 18- month to look for a job.
• This permit comes into effect when international students like you receive your last exam result. Note the 18 month residence permit can’t be extended.
• International students need to prove they can financially sustain themselves during this period.
• Types of PSWPs available for international students in Germany are:-

Visa Type	Eligibility Criteria	Duration and Benefits
Job Seeker Visa	Completion of studies in Germany	Valid for 6 months
	Sufficient funds for self-support during job search	Allows job search in Germany
	Not allowed to work or be self-employed during this period
Temporary Residence Permit for Employment	Completion of a recognized degree or vocational training	Up to 4 years (based on employment contract)
	Job offer or work contract that meets the criteria	Access to social security and public services
EU Blue Card	Recognized university degree or equivalent qualification	Initially issued for 4 years
		Fast track to permanent residency
		Opportunity to bring family to Germany

• International students for PSWPs need to submit to authorities:
  • Personal ID, 2 Photos, and Passport
  • Proof of Graduation from a German University
  • Proof of Financial Resources
  • Proof of Health Insurance
  • Proof of German Language

 

How to Apply for PSWPs

• Convert your temporary residence permit into a German resident permit within 90 days.
• Before applying, get health insurance and open bank account.
• Make an appointment to complete resident permit application.
• Present all paperwork on the due date to get PSWP in 2 – 3 weeks.

 

Student Visa Costs for Germany

Student Visa	Charges in Euro €
Student Visa Fee (above 18 yrs)	75
Student Visa Fee (below 18 yrs)	37.5
Residence Permit	110

 

Student Visa for Germany Processing Time

• The processing time for long-stay study visa in Germany ranges from 6 to 12 weeks.
• On the other hand short-stay study visa of Germany are usually decided within 15 to 30 days by German embassies abroad.

 

How Y-Axis Can Help You?

• As an independent overseas education consultant, we help boost your chance to get relevant visa of Germany.
• We provide coaching services for you to clear IELTS, TOEFL, and CAE English language exams.
• Through Y-Axis Campus Ready Program, we counsel you to navigate through your study program.
• Our personalised service like Y-Path helps to chart best route for success in studies.
• Our Course Recommendation Service helps you search most relevant course as per qualifications.

 

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