The Best Requirements To Study In Germany As An International Student

Germany has over 300 universities, making it one of the most popular study abroad destinations in Europe. To become an international student in Germany, you need to have good marks and high English language proficiency. It’s also important to know the best requirements to study in Germany as an international student. You will learn about how to apply, what you should consider when choosing a university, and how to get started on your application for your study abroad program in Germany!

Germany’s international education industry has seen a lot of progress since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, which opened up the country to international students like never before. Germany has become one of the most popular destinations for studying abroad thanks to its rich cultural heritage, diverse cities, and student-friendly universities, known as Fachhochschulen or Universitäten in German. To find out more about studying in Germany, here are some interesting facts about studying in Germany and the best requirements you need to study in Germany as an international student.

About Study In Germany

Germany is a renowned destination for international students, with over three hundred thousand currently enrolled. The German education system is highly respected and efficient and offers unique opportunities for students from all over the world. Here are the best requirements to study in Germany as an international student!

To be eligible to study in Germany, you must first have completed your secondary education. If you have not yet completed your secondary education, you can still apply if you will be finished by the time your studies begin. In addition, you must demonstrate proof of financial stability, as well as health insurance.

Once you have met these basic requirements, you will need to submit your application to the German embassy or consulate in your home country.

Why Do You Want To Study In Germany?

Whether you want to study engineering, medicine, or business, Germany is a great place to pursue higher education. In Germany, you’ll find some of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world. And with a degree from a German university, you’ll be highly sought after by employers all over the globe.

How to Study in Germany as an International Student?

Whether you want to study in Germany for a semester or an entire degree, you’ll need to meet certain requirements. Keep reading to learn more about what you need to do to be eligible to study in Germany as an international student.

• You’ll need a passport that’s valid for at least the duration of your stay and a student visa, which you can apply for after being accepted into a German university.
• You’ll also need proof of health insurance.
• To be accepted into a German university, you’ll need to have completed your secondary education and have good grades in relevant subjects.
• If your secondary education was not in German, you may also need to take a language proficiency test such as the TestDaF or DSH.

Requirements for Fulfilling Eligibility Criteria for German Universities

As an international student, if you want to study in Germany, you will need to fulfill some eligibility criteria. Below are the requirements that you will need to meet in order to be eligible to study at a German university:

1. You must have completed your higher secondary education (12 years of schooling) with good grades.
   2. You must have proficiency in the German language. This can be demonstrated by passing a German language test such as the TestDaF or DSH.
   3. You must have health insurance.
   4. You must prove that you have enough money to support yourself during your studies in Germany.

Let us learn about the main eligibility requirements asked by most universities in Germany:

• Higher Education Entrance Qualification

Your chance of being able to study in Germany depends on whether you possess a “Hochschulzugangsberechtigung” – or “University entrance qualification”. It is a school-leaving certificate that qualifies you for university study.

You should find out if your university entrance qualification is recognized. If you are unable to meet the German university entrance qualification, you can attend a foundation course (“Studienkolleg”) before you are allowed to enroll at your university.

The DAAD entrance qualification database can help you with this. It will help you find out if you are eligible to study in Germany.

• Aptitude Test

You have the option to assess your ability to cope with courses offered in Germany with the Test for Foreign Students (TestAS). The TestAS is a standardized exam that allows universities to compare the scholastic aptitude of their prospective students.

The TestAS is for international students who wish to apply for admission to an undergraduate degree program at a German university. It is mandatory to provide TestAS scores in some universities while other universities do not require it. TestAS recognition varies from university to university.

Document Required for Admission to German Universities

If you want to study in Germany as an international student, you will need to meet the following requirements:

1. Valid passport.
2. Student visa.
3. Proof of health insurance.
4. Proof of financial resources.
5. Transcripts (if required)
6. Scores of Entrance Exams (if applicable)
7. Language Proficiency test scores
8. SOPs and LORs
9. Resume
10. Other documents
11. A letter of admission from a German university.
12. Pass a language proficiency test.
13. Completed application form

German University Admission Requirements for Language

Most degree courses in Germany are taught in the German language. Hence, students are required to have some working knowledge of the German language.

You can prove your German language proficiency by taking one of the following entrance exams for Germany

• TestDaF - This is offered in over 100 countries. It is possible to take this test from your home country.
• DSH - This test is only offered in Germany by many universities.
• Goethe-Zertifikat C2, the Telc Deutsch C1 examination, and Deutsches Sprachdiplom (level II) of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs are usually also recognized by German universities. The German language level required to study in Germany is mostly B2 to C2.

You won’t be expected to know German if you intend on enrolling in an international degree program. You will then have to give English language proficiency tests like IELTS or TOEFL.

What is the Germany IELTS Requirement?

Germany has a great education system that is respected all over the world. If you want to study in Germany, you will need to meet the IELTS requirements. The IELTS, or the International English Language Testing System, is a test that measures your ability to use and understand English at a college level.

To be eligible to study in Germany, you will need to score at least 6.0 on the IELTS. However, keep in mind that each university has its own IELTS requirements, so be sure to check with your school of choice. In addition to a high IELTS score, you will also need to have completed your secondary education.

Most universities in Germany accept an IELTS Score that is 5 or more 5.

Let us have a look at some of the top German universities and their IELTS band score requirements -

University                                           Required IELTS score

Technical University of Munich                      6.5

University of Cologne                                    6.0

University of ULM                                          6.5

Ludwig Maximilan University                         5.5

Heidelberg University                                    6.5

Humboldt University of Berlin                       6.5

In addition to the above universities, you can take a look at various other universities across the best student cities in Germany.

Additional Germany Admission Requirements

There are some additional requirements that students must have in place when they decide on studying in Germany. All the information about the additional requirements is summarised below.

Student Visa

To study in Germany as an international student, you'll need a student visa. The first step is to find out if you need a visa. You can do this by checking the website of the German embassy or consulate in your home country. If you need a visa, the next step is to gather the required

documents. These include a valid passport, proof of financial resources, and proof of health insurance.

Once you have all the required documents, you can submit your application to the German embassy or consulate. If your application is approved, you'll receive a student visa that will allow you to stay in Germany for the duration of your studies.

• Entering Germany Without a Visa

If you are from the EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland, you will not need a visa to study in Germany.

Similarly, there are a few more countries that fall under the exception of not needing a visa in Germany.

You can check out if your country needs a visa in Germany on the Federal Foreign Office website.

• Entering Germany With a Visa

If citizens from your country do need to obtain a visa for studying in Germany, you should apply for a student visa as soon as possible. You may typically be issued with a Schengen visa or a national visa.

• You can apply for two types of visas:
• Student Visa (If you have been already accepted to a german university)
• Prospective student visa (If you are waiting for your letter of acceptance)

The documents required to apply for a student visa:

• Valid passport
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of sufficient funds
• Academic transcripts and language test scores
• If applicable: letter of acceptance from your higher education institution
• If applying for a prospective student visa: a recognized higher education entrance qualification

Proof of Financial Resources

To study in Germany as an international student, you will need to show proof of financial resources. This can be in the form of a bank statement, scholarship, or sponsorship. Proof of financial resources is required to enroll in a German university.

There are a number of ways to show that you can finance your studies. The following forms of proof are possible:

• Your parents can submit documents certifying their income and financial assets.
• Someone with permanent residence in Germany can guarantee the Alien Registration Office to cover your expenses.
• A security payment can be deposited into a blocked account.
• You can present a bank guarantee.
• You can present a scholarship award notification from a recognized scholarship provider.

Health Insurance

If you are an international student studying in Germany, you are required to have health insurance. There are a few different ways to go about this. You can purchase health insurance from a German company, you can enroll in the public health insurance system, or you can remain insured by your home country's government health insurance program if it meets the requirements set by the German government. No matter which route you choose, make sure you are adequately covered so that you can focus on your studies and not worry about medical bills.

Public health insurance plans from the following countries are also valid in Germany:

• Member states of the EU
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Morocco
• Macedonia
• Montenegro
• Norway
• Switzerland
• Serbia
• Tunisia
• Turkey

If your health insurance policy from your home country is not recognized in Germany, you will have to sign up for coverage in Germany. A public health insurance policy costs about 110 euros a month until you reach the age of 30 or have completed your 14th subject-related semester at university. After that, the monthly premium jumps to 190 euros or more per month.

Residence Permit

If you want to study in Germany as an international student, you will need to obtain a residence permit. The requirements for a residence permit vary depending on your country of citizenship and the length of your studies.

You may also need to show proof of German language proficiency. If you are planning to stay in Germany for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a residence permit at your local German embassy or consulate before entering the country. This is a very important process in German university requirements because without this, you cannot, for example, open a bank account in Germany.

• Registration certificate

Once you have found a room or a flat in Germany, you have to go to the Einwohnermeldeamt (residents' registration office) within two weeks and register yourself. You will then receive a registration certificate that confirms that you are registered at a particular address. The registration certificate is needed on various occasions, for example when opening a bank account, applying for a library card or a parking permit, etc.

• Residence permit

Students from the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland do not need a residence permit. They receive a certificate showing that they have the right to live in Germany when they register with the residents' registration office.

If you are not from the aforementioned countries, you must report to the Ausländerbehörde (foreigners' office) and apply for a residence permit. International students require a residence permit for the purpose of studying if they have already been accepted to a higher education institution.

A chip card will be issued to you on which your passport photograph and fingerprints may be stored. It acts as proof that you have a residence permit.

FAQs About Germany University Requirements

Take a look at some of the commonly asked questions by students intending to pursue higher education in Germany:

• What are the requirements to study in Germany for Indian students?

Requirements to study in Germany for Indian students include - an entrance qualification, academic transcripts, proof of language proficiency, ID, or valid passport copies. Other requirements include a student visa, residence permit, and health insurance.

• What is the Germany IELTS requirement?

Overall band of 6.5 is the minimum requirement for most of the technical courses in Germany.

Is the GRE required for Germany?

GRE is not compulsory for most universities in Germany.

• What is the minimum CGPA required for MS in Germany?

The minimum CGPA required to do an MS in Germany is 7 or 70%. However, if you want to get admission to a top university, you need the best score in IELTS, and your CGPA must be around 8.5.

• How to study in Germany without knowing the native language?

You will be able to pursue higher education in Germany if you have a working knowledge of the German language. Now there are courses and fields of study that don’t expect you to know German. But most universities have the language criteria as a requirement.

• How to apply to German universities from India?

Whether you’re from India or from any other part of the world, the essential requirements of the application and admission process will remain exactly the same. Make sure to access all the important information before you start applying.

Conclusion

Germany is a great place to study for international students. The requirements are not too difficult to meet, and there are many options for financial aid. The country is also home to some of the best universities in the world. If you are thinking about studying abroad, Germany should definitely be at the top of your list.

As an international student, there are a few things you need to take into account when applying to study in Germany. Make sure you research the best requirements to ensure a successful application. Visit the Official Website for more information.