To study in Germany is a great opportunity for many young people, not only from Europe but from all over the world. You benefit from a first-class education system, learn a new language and gain a lot of experience in this interesting country.
Requirements
Student health insurance certificate
The certificate and the health insurance certificate of the health insurance are for enrolment at the university.
Please note that according to the law, everyone in Germany is obliged to obtain health insurance regardless of the intention or purpose of their stay in Germany. For international students, health insurance is a must.
Proof of health insurance for students is an essential part of your application for a German student visa and your registration. You are not allowed to enter Germany if you do not have health insurance before applying for your visa and registering at the university.
Germany is proud of its highly developed and unique health insurance system. For this reason, we have noticed that many international students have various questions about health insurance certificate. Some of them do not have a basic understanding of how it works. If you have similar concerns about your student health insurance in Germany, we will resolve this once and for all.
Student visa
The number of international students, who choose to study in Germany, is growing. For most international students, they may need to apply for a German student visa at a German consulate in their country before they can come to Germany to study.
Depending on the country you are from, you may not need a visa to study in Germany. However, you must still receive a residence permit if your study programme lasts more than 90 days upon arrival in Germany.
Do you need a visa to study in Germany?
- For studies lasting up to 3 months, you will need a Schengen visa
- For a study course lasting more than 3 months, you need a German national visa
If you are travelling to Germany on a national visa, you must extend your stay by obtaining a German residence permit from the Foreigners' Office for study. You should do so while your entry visa is still valid.
Als erstes müssen Sie herausfinden, ob Sie ein Visum benötigen, um als internationaler Student in Deutschland zu studieren, und wenn ja, welches Visum Sie für die Dauer und Art Ihres geplanten Studiums beantragen müssen.
First of all, you need to find out whether you need a visa to study as an international student in Germany or not. If so, which kind of visa you need to apply for the duration and type of your planned studies.
Proof of financing
Auch wenn die Mehrheit der Hochschulen in Deutschland keine Studiengebühren haben und die meisten deutschen Städte auch nicht so teuer sind, wollen die Behörden wissen, ob Sie über genügend finanzielle Mittel verfügen, um in Deutschland zu studieren und zu leben, um Ihnen diesbezüglich ein deutsches Studentenvisum und eine Aufenthaltserlaubnis auszustellen.
Even if the majority of universities in Germany do not have tuition fees and most German cities are not so expensive, the authorities want to make sure that you have enough financial resources to study and live in Germany, in order to issue a German student visa and a residence permit.
According to current estimates of the Federal Training Promotion Act (BAföG), a foreign student needs €720 per month or at least €8,640 per year to live in Germany.
The blocked account for foreign students to finance their studies
If you come to Germany as a foreign student from a non-EU country or a non-EEA country, you must submit the proof of financing that you can cover your living in Germany for one year.
Proof of financial resources is one of the most important prerequisites for obtaining your student visa and residence permit for Germany.
Admission requirements for universities
In order to apply to a German university, you must submit the following documents:
A proper application form
The application form from the university should be completed in in accordance with the rules, which represents correct personal information, training and professional experience. The information provided in the application form should be consistent with the additional documents submitted. Universities usually have online application forms where you need to register and receive their applicant ID. This type of application also includes the electronic uploading of all additional application documents in scanned PDF format. Please do not forget to add your signature if you send the application form electronically.
A recognised university entrance qualification
If you do not have a recognised university entrance qualification in Germany, you must register in the basic course of the "Study College" and prepare for the "determination examination", a qualification assessment examination. And with a successful completion of this examination, you will receive a legitimate qualification of the university entrance qualification, ready for a higher education in Germany. These courses are related to the subject for which you are applying. It lasts up to 2 semesters or 1 calendar year, and usually are offered free of charge by the universities, in which it is possible to sign up after 1 year if you pass the examinations. To register for the course, you must demonstrate German proficiency at least in level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Recognised academic certificates
You must also submit all certificates from previous education, which must be translated by a registered translator and are officially certified by the notary. Official certification means for you, certificate copies confirming the formation, over-match with the original, with a signature and with an official seal or stamp on the copy.
The academic certificates that are usually required for admission to German universities are as follows:
- The university entrance qualification /school leaving certificates,
- Official academic certificates or performance overview,
- Final certificate (a document with the average grade),
- Diploma (a document proving the academic title, e.g. "Bachelor", "Master");
- Diploma attachment
- Certificates of the applicant's previous education (education, occupation, non-curricular training, and so on)
- Evidence of voluntary activities and work experience.