How to Apply to Study in
Germany
Why Study in Germany?
Germany is the third
most popular destination among international students in the world. More than
twelve percent of students at German universities come from abroad – just like
you. Germany is an attractive place to study and German university degrees are
highly respected by employers worldwide.
Check
the admission requirements:
Before applying, check that your current qualifications are recognized by your
chosen university. To study in Germany you need to have a recognized
Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (HZB), meaning ‘higher education entrance
qualification’. This can come in many formats, particularly for international
students who have gained their school-leaving qualifications in a different
country.
Get a German student visa
The requirements for
obtaining a student visa for Germany depend on your country of origin. You can
find an overview of the countries for which a student visa is or isn’t required
on the Foreign Federal Office’s website. You can also read this article to find
out how to get a German student visa and a residence permit.
Settle in to student life in Germany
Congratulations, you should now be (mostly) all set to begin your studies in Germany! Don’t forget to pack all the essentials, as well as arranging a few more important affairs:
If you haven’t already, once you’ve found accommodation you must register with the local registration office of your city (Einwohnermeldeamt or Bürgeramt). Once registered, you’ll receive a document confirming your registration at that address, which you can then use for the next step…
Get a student bank account. Most banks offer these for free, and it will make managing your regular payments (such as accommodation) much easier. You should open this account as soon as possible and ensure you have enough money in the meantime.
If you’d like to find a part-time job while you study, you can do so if you are a full-time EU or EEA student (excluding students from Bulgaria and Romania), with no restrictions on where or when you can work. If you are a full-time student from outside of the EU (or from Romania and Bulgaria), you will be limited to working up to 90 days full time or 180 days part-time per year before you must apply for a work permit. Upon gaining paid work in Germany you should contact the German employment office to learn about the legal conditions. Click here for tips on finding a student job in Germany.
Make sure your studies are organized. Students need to put together a timetable themselves – your Kommentierte Vorlesungsverzeichnis (KVV), or Annotated Course Catalogue, course schedule and examination regulations should help you with this, or you may be able to compile it online. You may well also need to decide on what course modules you’d like to attend.
Germany Visa and Entry Requirements
What kinds of documents and papers one needs of the entry to Germany depends mainly on where he or she comes from and on how long he or she wants to stay in Germany. It is important to get the necessary information and to put together all the papers quite early and in time before the studies abroad.
In general, there are the following rules: For citizens from the EU or from the countries Island, Norway, Switzerland or Liechtenstein it is only necessary to have an identity card to entry Germany. It is not necessary to have a visa. Citizens from other countries instead need a visa if they stay in Germany for more than 90 days. There are some more rules for the visa application as well. Citizens from the countries Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea and the USA can apply for their visa even after they arrived in Germany. For citizens from other countries, it is necessary to apply for the visa before coming to Germany.
You can get a more information