How to Study in Germany for Free in 2022? Application Process All Details Covered

Introduction

This article contains information on everything you need to know about studying in Germany, including suggestions, links, and information about universities, study programmes, requirements, and scholarships. The queries now are, “How do I apply for a student visa?” and “How do I apply for a student visa?” What types of scholarships are available in Germany? And what are the qualifications for studying in Germany? This is where you’ll discover answers to all of these questions, as well as many others. This article is included with detailed information on How to Study in Germany for Free. Have a look.

Germany as a study destination

Germany is a popular study destination all around the world. On a global scale, the Federal Republic of Germany is the fourth most popular destination for international students. In 2022, foreign students made up 13% of all students at German universities. There are numerous explanations for this.

Why should you study in Germany?

German degrees are highly valued by employers all over the world. There is also a wide number of courses available: Germany has over 400 higher education institutions offering over 19,000 different study programmes. You will be able to choose the ideal course for you, whether you want to study medicine, environmental engineering, robotics, agricultural sciences, or peace and conflict studies. Find out how to do it right here.

Every year, Germany introduces fresh, innovative, practice-based, and, above all, international study programmes. The new “Code University” in Berlin, for example, opened in 2022. Thomas Bachem, the company’s creator, explains how they plan to educate the next generation of digital creatives.

Furthermore, German and international students at public universities have not had to pay study fees since 2014, with only a minor semester fee being charged. As you can see, studying in Germany is not only diversified, but also quite inexpensive. More reasons to study in Germany can be found here.

Requirements to study in Germany

To study in Germany on an undergraduate or PhD level, you must meet specific requirements. Furthermore, applications for jobs, for example, varied significantly. The Akademisches Auslandsamt (AAA) of the university you desire to attend in Germany should be your first port of communication. It’s known as the “International Office” or “International Center” at some universities (IC). There are consultants available to provide detailed information on the application process, including admission requirements, deadlines, application requirements, language courses, and more.

Study in Germany in English

There are a large range of foreign programmes available, so you don’t need to know German to study in Germany. More than 160 predominantly English-language Bachelor’s courses and about 1,100 international Master’s programmes are listed in the DAAD database International Programs in Germany. If you still want to learn German before studying or going on a research trip to Germany, you may find ideas on how to do so below, as well as a lot of valuable links. If you still want to learn German before studying or going on a research trip to Germany, you may find ideas on how to do so below, as well as a lot of valuable links.

Study in Germany with a scholarship

Scholarships for international students are available from a variety of organisations in Germany. These pointers can help you increase your chances of receiving a scholarship and successfully studying in Germany.

Applying for a student visa in Germany

For potential international students, obtaining a visa is one of the most critical and initial stages. Germany offers a variety of student visas, which you can apply for at your home country’s German Embassy or Consulate. Before you arrive in Germany, make sure you have one.

How to Apply for a Student Visa in Germany

Are you interested in studying in Germany? It isn’t as difficult as you may believe. Understanding the visa requirements for overseas students is one of the first tasks. Here are some pointers on what to do and when to do it.

Students interested in spending time in Germany have an almost limitless number of options. There are around 400 educational institutions in the country, offering over 19,000 distinct study programmes. The government and universities have built informational webpages and web portals (https://www.study-in.de) to make it easier for international students to enrol in certain of those programmes.

Before applying for a visa, be certain of your educational objectives

Know your objectives before you begin the visa application process. Do you wish to enrol in a quick course? Do you wish to stay in Germany for a longer period of time and earn a degree? This is critical because different visas are available based on your objectives.

A visa for every student

One of the most critical first tasks for international students is to obtain a visa. Germany offers a variety of student visas, all of which can be obtained by submitting an application to the German embassy or consulate in your home country. Make certain to do so before travelling to Germany.

People with a Schengen visa can stay in Germany for up to three months every six months. These visas are perfect for those who want to travel across the nation or take a few language classes.

Students’ stays are covered by language course visas for the duration of the language course.

National visas allow students to stay for more than three months and are intended for individuals pursuing academic degrees or conducting more intensive educational research.

Student applicant visas are for students who are interested in studying in Germany for a longer period of time but have not yet been accepted into a university. They can stay in Germany for three months to hunt for a programme with this visa. The visa can be converted to a national visa once they have registered. The visas may be extended if they do not enrol in a programme within three months, but this is at the discretion of the visa-granting authorities.

Schengen visas cover stays of three months or less

The Schengen visa is designed for students who want to study in Germany for three months or less. These visas are used by certain students to enrol in an intense language course or to conduct brief academic research projects. In general, students who wish to stay longer must leave at the conclusion of the three-month period and then reapply for a visa from their home country.

There are some exceptions. To study or remain in Germany, EU members do not require a special visa. They simply need to register with the Einwohnermeldeamt, or municipal government. Some non-EU citizens are permitted to enter Germany without a visa and subsequently apply for a visa to stay and study.

Language course visas

To apply for this visa, a student must be engaged in a language course. The duration of the visa is determined by the length of the language course. This visa would be a suitable alternative for students who want to pursue an intensive course that lasts more than three months. The agent at the German consulate or embassy will almost certainly want to see proof of enrollment from the language school, as well as proof that you can cover your expenses for the duration of the course. It will also be necessary to show proof of health insurance.

National visas are best for students who want a degree

International students who wish to do research in Germany for a year or longer should apply for a national visa. After being approved, students should make an appointment with the German embassy or consulate nearest their home. The Federal Foreign Office of Germany maintains a list of all of its abroad locations. A few key pieces of information will almost certainly be sought by German authorities. They will want proof of registration from the university, as well as proof of health insurance and the ability to pay at least 8,800 euros per year. This financial assistance can come from educational grants or family members, but it’s critical to demonstrate to the authorities that you’ll be able to survive as a student in Germany for the first year.

Student applicant visa

This visa is for those who are interested in studying at a German higher education institution but have not yet decided where to apply. Visitors are allowed to stay in Germany for three months while deciding where to apply. Once a prospective student has been accepted into a programme, the visa can be converted to a longer-term national visa.

General tips for getting VISA in Germany

The greatest recommendation is to begin the application process as soon as possible. Visa applications might take anywhere from a few weeks to many months to complete. It’s better not to procrastinate too much and risk missing a school program’s start date. Also, pay attention to the instructions provided by the visa authorities. Because the approach is tailored to match the needs of each individual, the requirements may alter. Remember to follow your contact’s directions at the consulate and embassy, and to be patient. The visa application is only the beginning of your new life in Germany as a student!

The checklist for studying in Germany

This checklist will help you get off to a good start if you want to study in Germany:

Be aware of your objectives.

Which course or programme do you wish to enrol in?

Make sure you meet all of the requirements.

You’ll need confirmation of financial means, among other things, and you might be able to find out about a scholarship.

Make an application for a student visa.

In your native nation, contact the German Embassy or Consulate.

Purchase health insurance.

In Germany, personal health insurance is required.

Make a note of your new address.

Within the first two weeks of your arrival in Germany.

Tertiary education institutions in Germany

Germany has 426 higher educational institutions, including 106 universities, six teacher-training schools, 16 theology colleges, 52 art academies, 216 universities of applied sciences, and 30 colleges of public administration. The majority of higher education institutions collaborate with a number of universities and institutes around the world.

Top universities in Germany

The Times Higher Education (THE) magazine produces an annual rating of the world’s top 1,000 universities. The top 100 universities in the world include ten German institutions. These are the universities with the highest rankings:

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (32nd place).

Technische Universität München (44th place).

Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg (47th place).

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (67th place).

Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg.

These universities are excellent

German universities have five success factors: they are innovative, international, and globally networked.

International university partnerships

Throughout 300 of Germany’s 400 universities collaborate with universities and institutes around the world. The University of Göttingen leads the way in international university relationships in Germany. It has 630 collaborations all around the world.

Germany’s universities attract top researchers

How does a higher education institution’s academic excellence become measured? One option is to use the Humboldt rankings, which allow guest scientists chosen by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation to select their own workplace. The Free Institution of Berlin is regarded as the most desirable German university by both top-level and up-and-coming worldwide scientists, according to the 2017 Humboldt Rankings, followed by Humboldt University Berlin and Ludwig Maximilians University Munich.

Innovative teaching at German higher education institutions

The Ars legendi Prize is given by the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft (Donors’ Association for German Science) for outstanding university teaching. It was awarded in 2018 to Evelyn Korn, an economist at the University of Marburg, whose students critique and modify each other’s essays. They learn how to argue in a scientifically persuasive manner in this fashion, and their efforts have a direct impact on the exam results.

Germany’s ‘greenest’ university

The Environmental Campus Birkenfeld is the first German university to be named one of the top 10 “greenest” universities in the world. Infrastructure, energy and climate change, waste management, water, mobility, and training are all evaluated in the ranking prepared by the University of Indonesia. For the second year in a row, the Environmental Campus Birkenfeld was ranked first in the world in the subject of energy and climate change.

Universities of applied sciences with a practical orientation

Internationally, the German Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences) model is popular. Successful bi-national projects like the German-Jordanian University and the Shanghai-Hamburg College share the university of applied sciences’ strong practical orientation. Over the last few years, universities of applied sciences have broadened their scope of study. Fulda University of Applied Sciences became the first institution to be granted the power to issue doctorates, which had hitherto been reserved for universities.

Unis of superlatives

There are a variety of other superlatives that apply to German universities in addition to the level of instruction. The following are the most inventive, largest, oldest, and worldwide universities in Germany:

Most international uni: Barenboim-Said Akademie Berlin.

Most attractive uni: Universität Rostock.

Largest uni: Fernuniversität Hagen.

Smallest uni: Hochschule für evangelische Kirchenmusik Bayreuth, Lutherische Theologische Hochschule Oberursel.

Oldest uni: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg.

Most feminine uni: AMD Akademie für Mode & Design Berlin/Hamburg/Düsseldorf/München.

Cost of studying in Germany

Since 2014, studying at a public tertiary education institution in Germany has been free. Nonetheless, the expenditures of rent, food, and transportation mount up rapidly. If you want to save money, you should consider the cost of living when picking a study location. In addition, the German Federal Ministry of Education offers a unique package of initiatives to help refugees gain entry to educational programmes. You can learn more about how German universities are becoming integration hotspots here.

Outstanding universities in Germany

The Times Higher Education (THE) produces an annual ranking of the top 1,000 universities in the world. Seven German universities are in the top 100 worldwide:

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (32)

Technische Universität München (44)

Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg (47)

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (67)

RWTH Aachen (87)

Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen (89)

Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (90)

Germany’s most innovative universities

In 2019, Reuters named 23 German institutions to its Top 100 list of Europe’s most innovative universities. The ranking is based on ten criteria, including the amount of patent filings and research article citations, according to the news agency Reuters. The following are the top three positions:

Universität Nürnberg-Erlangen (2)

Technical University of Munich (7)

Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg (11)

The German university to produce the most Nobel laureates

Munich’s Technical University has produced 16 Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry, and medicine, while Heidelberg and Göttingen each have 14 Nobel laureates.

Germany’s largest university

In Hagen, Germany’s sole state-funded distance education institution, some 75,000 students are now enrolled.

Germany’s oldest university

Heidelberg University (formerly titled Ruperto Carola) is the oldest university in Germany and one of the oldest in Europe, having been founded in 1386. Heidelberg is home to the German Cancer Research Center, as well as one of Germany’s premier medical universities. Neurobiology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and law are some of the other fields of specialisation. Heidelberg Institution was the first German university to open branches in other countries, with locations in Santiago de Chile, New York, Kyoto, and Delhi.

Germany’s most international university

Almost one in every four students at Munich’s Technical University is from another country. TUM has the biggest proportion of international students, at 24 percent, according to the THE 2019 rating. However, the record-holder is a small, private music university in Berlin, where 97 percent of the Barenboim-Said-37 Akademie’s students were from countries other than Germany at the start of the academic year in 2016.

The five cheapest university towns in Germany

It’s not just what you study that matters, but where you study as well. Particularly when it comes to money. We show you the cheapest and most costly university towns in Germany. Students in Germany have an average monthly budget of 918 euros, of which 819 euros are spent. The cost of a place to live is by far the most expensive — ahead of food and travel – with monthly rents averaging 323 euros. These are the findings of the Deutsches Studentenwerk’s most recent Social Study.

The cost of living varies greatly from one university town to the next. Munich has the most expensive student housing (387 euros per month), followed by Cologne, Frankfurt am Main (375 euros), and Hamburg (375 euros) (373 euros). The cheapest student housing may be found in four eastern German cities, with Leipzig and Dresden tied for top position.

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Where students pay the least for their accommodation

Leipzig (264 euros)

Leipzig, a trade fair city, offers not only affordable rentals and living costs, but also a plethora of recreational possibilities, a lively nightlife, and a diversified art and cultural scene. When classical music fans think of Leipzig, they think of the Gewandhaus Orchestra, while art connoisseurs think of Neo Rauch and the New Leipzig School.

Dresden (264 euros)

Millions of travellers visit this baroque city on the Elbe each year to view sights like the Frauenkirche, the Semper Opera House, and the Zwinger. Dresden has something to offer young people as well: it is stated that Dresden has more student groups than any other German university town.

Jena (265 euros)

Jena, a town of 100,000 people, has a laid-back attitude. Despite the fact that Friedrich Schiller University’s numerous faculties are dispersed throughout the city, they are all easily accessible on foot. Take a 20-kilometer excursion to Weimar, where Goethe worked for a while and where the Bauhaus was created, if it ever feels too little.

Halle/Saale (268 euros)

The old industrial town of Halle/Saale, which is home to Martin Luther University, is well on its way to rebuilding itself as a centre for science and research. The Weinberg Campus is Germany’s second-largest research and technology park, behind Adlershof in Berlin. University Square, in the heart of the city, is arguably one of Europe’s most beautiful.

Kaiserslautern (270 euros)

Among the middle of the Palatinate Forest natural park is the only West German university town in the top five. Tourists like the pleasant mood during the town’s wine festivals and the scenic wine-growing villages in the surrounding, while the Technische Universität Kaiserslautern attracts attention with its artificial intelligence research.

The German education system

The German higher education system has a strong international reputation and is noted for its exceptional conditions.