TRAt most public universities in Germany there is no tuition fee for a bachelor's degree. Students pay a semester contribution each term (for example €402 in Hamburg for winter 2026/27). Baden-Württemberg, however, charges students from outside the EU a fee of €1,500 per semester. A student whose diploma is not enough for direct entry prepares with the Studienkolleg, which usually lasts two semesters.
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In their note dated 30 July 2024, Germany's missions in Türkiye set two conditions for direct entry. You need to score above 180 in YKS (Türkiye's university entrance exam) and be placed in a program. A student who does not meet these conditions usually prepares with a Studienkolleg. The Studienkolleg mostly lasts two semesters and ends with the Feststellungsprüfung exam.
The year is split into two semesters. The winter semester runs from mid-October to the end of February, and the summer semester from mid-April to the end of July. For example, classes for the 2027/28 winter semester at Heidelberg start on 11 October 2027. A bachelor's degree at universities usually takes six semesters, so three years.
Programs taught in German ask for enough knowledge of German. According to the note from the missions in Türkiye, you show this with a language exam at the university before classes start. This exam can be repeated only once. If the exam is not passed, the provisional admission also falls away.
Students from outside the EU can work 140 full days or 280 half days a year. Compulsory internships of the program do not count toward this limit. For the visa you show at least €992 a month, so €11,904 a year. This is usually done with a blocked account (Sperrkonto).
A graduate from outside the EU who finishes their studies in Germany can get a residence permit of up to 18 months to look for a qualified job. During this time they can do any kind of work. The permit cannot be extended after this period.
The universities are the country's top three schools according to the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Examples from current fees for international students, as published on the schools' own pages.
RWTH Aachen University estimate, Aachen, 2026
For a student visa you show at least €992 a month, so €11,904 a year. This is usually done with a blocked account (Sperrkonto).
A month-by-month plan for 2027 entry. Official date Our suggestion
Check which grade the student will move up to in 2027/28. A school residence permit is normally issued from 9th grade.
Draw up the school list. The school must be a public or state-recognized school with an international orientation, or a private school that prepares students for an international diploma.
Plan the school applications and interviews.
Plan the fee payment for after acceptance. For example, Steinmühle asks for the annual fee before the school year starts.
Prepare the notarized consent of the parents for students under 18. For students under 16, a responsible adult in Germany is also named.
Make the national visa application to attend school (Aufenthaltserlaubnis zum Schulbesuch, § 16f AufenthG).
At Urspringschule, for example, the fee year starts on 1 August. Prepare for the school year and plan the trip.
Choose the course type, length and city.
Check the 2027 dates and prices of the Goethe-Institut and the universities. The Goethe pages currently have no dates published.
Book the course and reserve accommodation.
Check your passport validity. Ask the German mission about the visa type and the list of documents.
Book a visa appointment and submit the documents.
Summer course season. The Goethe-Institut offers a two-week compact course in July and August from €789.
Draw up the list of fields of study and universities. Decide whether to study in German or English.
For direct entry you need to score above 180 in YKS and be placed in a program. If not, plan the Studienkolleg route.
Step up your preparation for the German or English language exam.
Example: at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, the bachelor's application for Wintersemester 2027/28 opens for applicants with foreign diplomas.
Send your uni-assist application at least 8 weeks before the deadline. Evaluation usually takes 4 to 6 weeks.
BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg application deadline. According to uni-assist, the winter semester deadline for many programs is 15 July.
After acceptance, deposit €11,904 for the year into the blocked account and apply for the student visa.
Wintersemester 2027/28 officially starts. Classes start on different dates by university. At Heidelberg it is 11 October 2027.
Draw up the program list. Note each program's language, grade and document requirements from its own page.
Plan to take the language exam (German or English).
Prepare the diploma, transcript and translations. Start a draft of the motivation letter.
Example: at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, the German-taught master's application opens for applicants with foreign bachelor's diplomas.
Apply at least 8 weeks before the deadline to programs that use uni-assist.
BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg German-taught master's application deadline.
Blocked account (€11,904 a year) and student visa application.
Wintersemester 2027/28 officially starts.
At public universities there is generally no tuition fee for a bachelor's degree and most master's degrees. A semester contribution is paid each term (for example €402 in Hamburg for winter 2026/27), and it often includes a public transport ticket. Baden-Württemberg charges students from outside the EU a fee of €1,500 per semester. In Bavaria, universities can set their own fees for students from outside the EU.
For a student visa you show at least €992 a month, so €11,904 a year. This is usually done with a blocked account called a Sperrkonto, and the money is released to the student at 1/12 each month. The amount is tied to BAföG and may change.
Last checked: October 2026. Rules and amounts can change. We check the current situation together before you apply.
A bachelor's degree lasts six, seven or eight semesters. It is usually six semesters at universities, and six or seven semesters including the internship semester at universities of applied sciences. A foreign high school diploma must give the right of entry to higher education in the student's own country. Applicants from some countries go through the Studienkolleg or an assessment exam.
A master's degree lasts two, three or four semesters.
To be admitted to bachelor's programs taught in German, applicants must show enough knowledge of German.
At public universities, most states charge no tuition fee for a bachelor's degree. Students pay a semester contribution each term. In Baden-Württemberg, students from outside the EU pay a fee of €1,500 per semester. In Bavaria, universities can set fees for students from outside the EU.
Study in Germany is done with a residence title for study purposes issued under Section 16b of the Residence Act. Applicants get a student visa before entering the country.
According to the amount published by German missions abroad, a student must show at least €992 a month, so €11,904 a year. This is usually done with a blocked account (Sperrkonto). DAAD gives this amount as of 1 January 2025.
Students from outside the EU can work 140 full days or 280 half days a year. For student assistant jobs inside the university there is no day limit, but they must be reported to the foreigners' office.
Graduates from outside the EU who complete their studies in Germany can get a residence permit of up to 18 months to look for a qualified job. During this time they can do any kind of work. The permit cannot be extended.
The winter semester runs from mid-October to the end of February, and the summer semester from mid-April to the end of July.
Yes, it is possible with a residence permit for school attendance. This permit is normally issued from 9th grade. As a rule, the student stays in the boarding section (Internat) of the school. For students under 18, notarized consent from the parents is needed.
In most states there is no tuition fee for bachelor's degrees and most master's degrees, but a semester contribution is paid each term. This contribution often includes a public transport ticket too. In Hamburg for winter 2026/27, €226.80 of the €402 is for the ticket. Baden-Württemberg and TUM, however, charge fees to students from outside the EU.
Yes, everyone in Germany must have health insurance, and proof of insurance is asked for at university enrollment. Students under 30 can use the student rate in public insurance. Because public insurance starts after enrollment, private insurance is needed until that date.
You report your new address to the local registration office within two weeks. Then you apply to the foreigners' office for a residence permit. This is done while the visa is valid and within 90 days of entry. The card can take a few months to arrive.
DAAD recommends starting to look for housing and applying for a student residence about three months before classes begin. For a student starting in early October, that is July. The accommodation for the first nights should be arranged about two months before you leave.
31 subjects, 8 schools. Programmes were checked on the schools’ own websites. Tap a subject to see what you study, what graduates do and the options in other countries.
Bachelor'sBerkay walked us through the whole process openly; he didn't hide what we could do or what would be hard. When a few things went wrong, he found solutions and pulled it all together.
Master'sHe didn't only tell me about the nice possibilities; we talked honestly about the pros and cons of each option. This is my second year in Berlin. I'd recommend building a strong network at school.
Master'sBerkay has a lot of energy; our meetings were always productive. He answered questions openly, and when he didn't know something, he looked into it and came back to me. I especially appreciated that honesty.
Master'sFriendly, but serious and clear when it matters.
Bachelor'sI didn't expect this to be so easy.
Steps, fees and the money you need to show for the F-1, the UK Student visa, the German national visa and the Canadian study permit (October 2026).
COUNTRIESThe semester contribution, fees in Baden-Württemberg and at TUM, the uni-assist fee, the blocked account amount and the job-search permit after graduation.
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