Studying at universities in Germany
Public universities charge no tuition fees (only a semester contribution remains), with programs in German and English. We'll map a path for your situation and guide you through to enrollment.
Key figures for the country
A strong education with no tuition fees
Public universities, no tuition fees
Only a semester contribution remains. Private universities charge tuition.
Programs in German and English
You can study in English; most programs require a language certificate at the required level.
Degrees recognized worldwide
German university degrees are recognized across the EU and worldwide.
A future in the EU job market
A German degree opens the door to a career in Europe and a German residence permit.
Admission to Germany — step by step, fact by fact
The essentials at a glance: school and recognition, language, applications, deadlines, visa and finances. Exact figures change every year — we mark them “to be confirmed.”
- School & recognition
- Whether you need a Studienkolleg or one year of university at home depends on how your school-leaving qualification is recognized for direct entry; if you're transferring from a university, curriculum matching matters. The exact path depends on your situation.
- Language of instruction
- German or English; a language certificate at the required level is needed — level depends on the program
- How you apply
- Directly to the university, and/or via uni-assist, and/or via credential recognition; for restricted-admission subjects (Numerus Clausus, e.g. medicine) — through Hochschulstart.
- Semesters & deadlines
- Winter and summer semester; deadlines vary — dates depend on the program and your current qualification
- Visa & finances
- Student visa, blocked account from 992 euros/month depends on your admission goal plus insurance. The blocked account is a requirement of the consulate, not the university.
- Extra costs
- University and uni-assist fees, visa fee, language courses, accommodation — amounts depend on your situation
Figures (blocked-account amount, fees, deadlines, required levels) are updated every year and confirmed for your specific program, your current level of education and your individual circumstances. We'll give you the exact numbers during your consultation.
The admission path — step by step
An approximate order after school. The real timeline depends on recognition, language and the programme.
- 1Recognition of your certificateChecked in anabin: whether you need a Studienkolleg or have direct access.
- 2Language to the required levelGerman (DSH / TestDaF) or English — the level depends on the programme.
- 3Apply by the semester deadlineVia uni-assist or directly to the university — the programme decides.
- 4Blocked account and a D visaOpening a Sperrkonto, health insurance, the visa application.
We'll guide you all the way to Germany
The Complete Admission Programme (UniApply) runs all 16 steps — from strategy to enrollment and your first steps on the ground.
a reference price for the entire cycle. The final cost depends on the scope of work: with a strong profile and less work involved it is lower. We will tell you your price at the eligibility interview.
Covers our work for the entire admission cycle. University/uni-assist fees, visa fees, insurance and the blocked account are paid separately.
Not ready for the Complete Programme?
Start with a single service — the payment is credited when you move up.
Choose your starting point
We'll show the path that fits and the next step for your situation.
Universities, colleges and cities in our catalogue
16 federal states: where tuition is charged and where there are more universities
The tuition fee and the semester contribution are set by the land; admission, deadlines and language by the university. The land affects your budget, not your chances.
Fee: public universities, international students (EU and EEA citizens pay like Germans). Some programmes charge their own fee — see the programme page.
Cities and costs
The difference between cities is almost entirely housing. The budget assumes a room in a WG.
| City | Federal state | Universities | Programmes | Room in a WG | Living costs / month | Per semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin universities TUB, FU Berlin, HU Berlin |
BE | 44 | 136 | €659 | from €1,277 | from €7,662 |
| Hamburg universities UHH, UE, SRH |
HH | 22 | 41 | €736 | from €1,318 | from €7,908 |
| Munich universities TUM, LMU, HM |
BY | 19 | 66 | €850 | from €1,018 | from €6,108 |
| Stuttgart universities SRH, HdM, HFT Stuttgart |
BW | 13 | 35 | €559 | from €1,177 | from €7,062 |
| Cologne universities SRH, TH Köln, HfMT |
NW | 12 | 36 | €672 | from €1,290 | from €7,740 |
| Frankfurt am Main universities Goethe-Universität, HfMDK, ISM |
HE | 11 | 39 | €674 | from €1,292 | from €7,752 |
| Dresden universities TU Dresden, SRH, HTW-Dresden |
SN | 10 | 39 | €463 | from €1,081 | from €6,486 |
| Hanover universities LUH, UNI Hildesheim, HS Hannover |
NI | 9 | 17 | €461 | from €1,079 | from €6,474 |
Find a field in Germany
Germany is already chosen — pick your level and field.
The StudyInFocus method is supported by
Banks, insurers, language schools and Studienkollegs at the finance and preparation stages. This is not a list of universities we place into.
Names and logos are the property of their owners; mentioned as StudyInFocus method partners. Not advertising of third parties.
What the key terms mean
- Studienkolleg →
- A preparatory college for applicants whose certificate gives no direct access to a German university. The year ends with the FSP exam.
- Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) →
- The final exam of a Studienkolleg. It makes your certificate equivalent to the German one for programmes of the course's profile.
- anabin →
- A database on the recognition of foreign certificates and universities. It shows whether you need a Studienkolleg.
- uni-assist →
- A service organisation that checks the documents of international applicants for many German universities.
- VPD (Vorprüfungsdokumentation) →
- uni-assist's assessment that converts your grade; you apply to the university directly with it.
- NC (Numerus clausus) →
- An admission restriction: places go by a competition of grades, and the cut-off changes every year.
- Semesterbeitrag →
- The semester contribution every student pays, also at public universities without tuition fees. It usually includes a transport ticket.
- Sperrkonto →
- A blocked account for the student visa — proof of funds for a year of living: currently €992 a month, €11,904 a year. The amount is set by the German federal government and revised every year.
- DSH / TestDaF →
- German exams for university admission. German-taught programmes usually require a level corresponding to C1.
Admission to Germany
Let's find your path to Germany
Tell us your level and field — we'll show you the right page and your next step. Not ready? Start with a free service consultation.
¹ Guarantee year. A repeat support cycle at no extra service fee — per the contract terms. Applies to the full package and admission to a public university. Not a guarantee of admission; the decision is made by the university/government body.
² 100%. Over the last 8 years among clients who chose the full programme. "2,000+ admitted" is counted across all clients — these are different bases.