Study in Germany from India: where to start

Most state universities in Germany charge no tuition, which makes Germany a serious option for Indian students. But it still needs careful planning. You must check your entry route, prove your money for living costs, get an APS certificate and apply on time.

The sections below follow the order you will need them, from choosing a route to the visa. Read them in order, or jump to the part you need.

Check your route after 12th or after a degree

After 12th, APS India lists two routes to a German bachelor's degree. The first goes through a Studienkolleg. From the winter semester 2026/27, APS India asks for at least 70% overall in your Class XII certificate. With that score and an APS certificate, you may qualify for subject-restricted admission through a Studienkolleg. That is a preparatory course, and it usually takes two semesters.

There is a second route after 12th. If you also complete one year of a regular bachelor's degree at a recognised institution, with the same 70% minimum in Class XII, you may get direct subject-restricted admission in your previous field of study and closely related subjects. Read the full APS notice for your case, because the details matter.

After a degree, you apply for a master's programme. Compare your transcript with the programme's subject requirements, check the teaching language and read the application rules on the university's own page. If something is missing, ask the university before you pay any application fee. The university always makes the final admission decision.

Build a shortlist you can explain. Write down what you want to learn, which course modules fit that aim and what work you hope to do afterwards. Compare the same details across universities. Do not choose a programme only because someone says the city is cheap or admission is easy.

Tuition and the exceptions

The German academic exchange service, DAAD, says state universities generally charge no tuition for bachelor's courses and most master's courses. There are exceptions you should know.

• Baden-Württemberg charges students from outside the EU EUR 1,500 per semester.
• Bavarian universities can set their own fees for students from outside the EU or EEA, which can reach several thousand euros per semester, depending on the degree.
• Every student pays a semester contribution of EUR 70 to 430, depending on the university.
• Private universities and some continuing-education master's programmes charge tuition. Check the fee page of your exact course.

Budget beyond tuition

You still need money to live. DAAD estimates that students need EUR 900 to 1,200 a month for living costs. Rent is the biggest part, and it changes a lot from city to city.

For the student visa, the German missions in India ask for a blocked account of EUR 11,904 for the first year. A blocked account is a German bank account that releases only a fixed amount each month. Here the limit is EUR 992 a month. Banks charge between EUR 70 and 150 to set up a blocked account. The missions also accept a formal declaration of commitment or an eligible scholarship instead.

Add health insurance to your budget. Statutory student health insurance costs about EUR 120 to 130 a month for students under 30, says DAAD. Plan your arrival costs separately too: the flight, the rent deposit and the first weeks before your blocked account money starts to arrive.

APS and language evidence

The German missions in India say that applicants with Indian qualifications almost always need a certificate from the Akademische Prüfstelle, called APS. APS is part of the German Embassy in New Delhi and works with DAAD. It checks your certificates. The student visa usually needs the APS certificate. It does not decide your admission or your visa.

For degree holders, APS India's June 2026 leaflet sets the fee at INR 18,000, and it is not refunded. Check the current fee for Class XII applicants on the APS India site. The check takes at least two weeks, so apply for APS early, and check whether your university wants it with the application. Follow the current APS India checklist for your stage, school or degree, and read its latest notices.

You also need language proof. For a German-taught degree, TestDaF with level 4 (TDN 4) in all four parts proves your German. Goethe C2 and telc C1 Hochschule are usually accepted too. For an English-taught degree, you usually need proof of English instead. Check the accepted tests and scores on your programme's page.

uni-assist and deadlines

Many German universities ask international students to apply through uni-assist. It is an association supported by about 160 German universities, and it checks international applications before they go to the university. It charges EUR 75 for the first course you choose and EUR 30 for each more course in the same semester. uni-assist advises applying at least eight weeks before the deadline.

Watch the dates. At most universities, applications for the winter semester, which starts in September or October, close on 15 July. Applications for the summer semester, which starts in March or April, close on 15 January. Private universities may have other deadlines, so check each programme. Not every university uses uni-assist either. The programme page tells you where to send your application.

uni-assist says it does not work with commercial agencies that place applicants at German universities. So be careful with anyone who claims a special link with uni-assist.

Working while you study

Students from outside the EU may work 140 full days or 280 half days a year. Academic assistants at the university, for example those leading tutorials, have no day limit, but they must tell the foreigners office. A part-time job helps with daily costs, but plan your budget so you do not depend on it, especially in the first months.

After you finish your degree in Germany, you can get a permit of up to 18 months to look for work, if you can pay your living costs.

Arrange funding and the visa

Apply for the student visa through the Consular Services Portal of the German missions in India. Keep these ready: proof of admission (a university admission letter, a Studienkolleg place or a language course registration, as the missions list), school and degree certificates, the APS certificate, your language certificate, proof of money (blocked account, declaration of commitment or scholarship) and health insurance. Check the current blocked account amount before you open or top up the account.

Start early. APS takes at least two weeks, uni-assist advises applying at least eight weeks before the deadline, and the visa application needs your proof of admission. Working backwards from your intake gives you a clear plan.

1. Shortlist courses and check their entry and language rules.
2. Apply for your APS certificate.
3. Take your German or English exam.
4. Apply through uni-assist or the university before the deadline.
5. After admission, arrange the blocked account and health insurance.
6. Apply for the student visa.

Convert your grades

A common way to convert a foreign score is the modified Bavarian formula, from a resolution of the German education ministers' conference (KMK). It turns your marks into a German grade between 1.0, the best, and 4.0. It was written for the overall grade of foreign university-entrance certificates, such as Class XII, so use it to estimate where you stand, and check how your programme converts grades.

Request a free call back to talk about your 12th marks or degree, the subject you want and your budget. If you already have an offer from a university, bring it to the call.