How to Apply to a University in Germany (2025)

The “Land of Ideas” as it is fondly called, Germany attracts a large number of international enrollees in its universities, which provide top-notch quality education in various fields of study. Despite it being a non-English speaking country, Germany proves itself in the center of study abroad destinations for higher learning, i.e. undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs. As of this writing, the country is home to around 400 education institutions offering more than 19,000 degree programs for Germans and non-Germans alike. Germany, although a popular international student choice, has affordable education and living costs. In this non-Anglophone country, you can experience an unparalleled university life within its incredible student cities, globally ranked institutions, and highly professional academicians.

Once you have decided to choose Germany as your study abroad destination, it is now time to start exploring universities which you want to attend. You can compare your choices using Edarabia’s list of best universities in Germany, as it has a comprehensive tuition fees guide, community reviews, rankings, and available courses guide for your easy reference. In the meantime, you have to know the admission process for prospective international students who wish to be educated in Germany.

Table of Contents

1. Facts about University Admissions in Germany
2. Steps in Applying for University Admission in Germany
3. What are the requirements for international admission in Germany?
4. Finding Accommodation in Germany

Facts about University Admissions in Germany

• In Germany, some study programs have a nationwide cap or quota (“Numerus Clausus” or NC) on the number of students who can be accepted. Most of these subjects are in the life sciences, architecture, veterinary medicine, dentistry, and medicine. If ever you are an EU student (including those from Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) who comes across a program with a nationwide cap, you have to submit your application via the Foundation of Higher Education Admission (“Deutsche Hochschulreife”). If you are a non-EU student with a similar situation, you can proceed with your application through the regular admission process, which is through a direct submission to the university or through the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) portal.
• If your study program has no restrictions, you can apply directly or course your application through the DAAD Uni-assist portal.
• Some universities in Germany require online submission (i.e. email or university portal) of admission applications, while others require that you submit your documents in person. If this is the case, you can initially apply for a Student Applicant Visa (valid for 3 months, and can be extended up to 6 months) to be able to enter Germany and visit your university. Once enrolled, you can apply for the conversion of your current visa to a Student Visa, which you need to have for the duration of your studies.
• Upon arrival in Germany, enroll in your university to make you an official student. You will then be issued a registration certificate so you can apply for a residence permit.
• Every semester, you need to re-register for your study program. This will mean paying your tuition fees for every semester of studying.
• Some universities ask for €100 (US$110) as payment for a “semester ticket” which guarantees free transport as a student for 6 months.
• Universities have an international student office which can help you should you need assistance regarding your admission and student life on campus, in general.
• Graduate study programs in Germany often accept applicants with a focus on their accumulated GPA (Grade Point Average) on their undergraduate studies. The higher the GPA of an applicant, the easier the application process will be.

Steps in Applying for University Admission in Germany

Applying for admission in a university in Germany may prove to be a challenging step for an international student, particularly if he does not have an idea on where and how to start. Knowledge is always key to having things work out smoothly. Hence, we want to give you the most helpful information as you prepare to apply for university admission in the “Land of Ideas”.

1. Have a shortlist of at most 3 universities in Germany. Make sure each university offers a degree program you are interested to study. Moreover, review if the courses you want to attend are taught in a language which you are proficient in. Most universities in Germany have English-taught courses in addition to its German-taught programs. It will also help to rank your list according to your preference, so as to help you prioritize in sending your applications.
2. Visit each of the universities’ website. Find the section for international student admissions. You may also want to check if the university has a help desk to assist foreign students like you.
3. Evaluate if your previous academic qualifications are consistent with the course admission requirements in your selected university. In Germany, international students are required to have a “Hochschulzugangsberechtigung” (HZB) or a higher education qualification. Prospective undergraduate students are typically asked for a high school diploma or a university entrance exam result. Nonetheless, every student’s educational background will be assessed before allowing him to proceed with the application process. Generally, students from outside of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) are required to attend a preparatory program called the “Studienkolleg”, and afterward take an entrance examination, the “Feststellungsprüfung”. This is when their academic background does not fit within the standards of the EU/EEA zone. For student-achievers, such step may be skipped, in the discretion of the admission office, of course.
4. Once you are sure that you are academically qualified in your chosen university, check the language requirements for your nationality. For courses with German language proficiency requirement, you can take either the TestDaf (“Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache” or Test of German as a Foreign Language) or the DSH (“Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang ” or German Language Examination for University Entrance), depending on the specific instructions from the university. Some universities prefer one language test over the other, so it is best to do a double-checking. The TestDaf may be taken in over 90 countries around the world. You just have to do an online search if there is a testing center for such in your home country. Meanwhile, the DSH is only available in universities in Germany. On another note, English-taught study programs require that either you are a native English speaker or is proficient enough in the language. You can take the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) to prove your proficiency. Again, you need to check the language test required by your university before signing up for any of the examinations.
5. Come up with a financial plan. In order to successfully gain entry in Germany, you need to show that you can sufficiently finance your education and living expenses in the country. The requirement is €8,700 ($9,935) per year, although some cities in Germany cost lower in terms of living necessities. In applying for a student visa, you will be asked to deposit in a blocked account a security payment for a whole year of stay in the country. This will assure the German Consulate that you are able to live independently in the country.
6. Take steps to acquire a health or medical insurance valid in Germany. This is an important requirement which should not be overlooked, as the university and the German consulates will definitely ask for it. Health insurance in Germany may cost €120 to €160 per month.
7. Try to search for scholarship opportunities or financial aids for international students in Germany. There are quite a number of generous assistance from individual universities, the government, and private institutions to help you cover tuition fees or other related expenses.
8. Secure all the document requirements and applicable fees for your application (which you can find below). Some universities ask for an application fee. This is the reason why it is recommended to limit your choices to at most 3 options, as the application fees are not refundable.
9. Check the application deadlines. In Germany, each applicant can send applications twice in an academic year, since universities follow a summer semester and a winter semester. If you want to commence your studies in the summer (March to August or April to September), you have to send your application by the 15th of January. If you want to kick off your German study experience in the winter (September to February or October to March), you have to send your application by the 15th of July. Our suggestion is to submit early, and not procrastinate until the deadline. If possible, send your admission requirements and forms at least 6 weeks before applications close.
10. Once you have settled all of the above steps, you can start submitting your applications. You can do this through a direct submission to the university or through the DAAD centralized admissions portal. If you prefer to use the latter option, you can go to www.uni-assist.de, and check if your selected universities are users of the platform.
11. Wait for the results. Usually, universities will inform you if your application is successful or not within a month or 2 after the closing of admission applications. Once successful, start your application for the student visa, find accommodations near the university’s vicinity, and fix your travel arrangements to Germany.

What are the requirements for international admission in Germany?

Each university has its own set of guidelines and criteria in evaluating its prospective international students. Similarly, each university asks for its own requirements to further assess an applicant’s profile. While you have to refer to the university website for such requirements, we have rounded up a list of the general documents for international student admission among universities in Germany. See our checklist below for your reference:

• A copy of your passport
• A passport photograph
• Duly accomplished application form
• Certified copies of proofs of previous academic qualifications
• Translations of all documents in English or German
• Language test scores (i.e. DSH or TestDaf for German, and IELTS or TOEFL for English)
• Medical insurance
• Letter of motivation
• Application fee (if applicable)

Make sure to remember that incomplete applications are often disregarded by the evaluating panel. Hence, strive to get a hold of all necessary documents before submission. Moreover, the copies of all documents you will send should have a certification from the awarding body as proof of authenticity.

Finding Accommodation in Germany

Before you fix your travel dates to Germany, it is crucial to have a plan about where to live in this foreign country. If possible, try to settle your accommodation at least 2 weeks before you fly to Germany. Every city has available accommodation options which international students can call a home. Even though most universities in Germany do not have on-campus residence halls, the area around the campus has a lot of rental houses. The rent will always depend on which city you will be based. Refer to the table below for the list of accommodation options you have when you study in Germany.

You can also opt to stay in a hostel once you have not signed a rental contract in any of the above-mentioned accommodation options. Our suggestion is to get a shared accommodation for lesser cost and more social interaction. Moreover, if you will study in cities in Western Germany, such as Cologne or Dusseldorf, and in small cities, such as Heidelberg and Freiburg, the rental costs will be considerably lower when compared to more urbanized German cities like Berlin and Munich. Nonetheless, you have to avail of a student accommodation which makes you feel safe and comfortable.

Applying for university admission is one further step towards making your study abroad experience in Germany a reality. But good job for making it thus far. We hope you have a thrilling journey ahead!