Applying to universities in Germany can feel a bit overwhelming, especially when you don’t have the right information or you are trying to figure out everything on your own. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the entire process, from choosing a university to sending your application. Let’s look at the details.
Why Study in Germany?
If you’re considering studying in Germany, you probably already know that most public universities have no tuition fees. Yes, you read that right – tuition-free education! But keep in mind that students still pay a small semester contribution (as low as between €100 and €400), which is honestly nothing when compared to paying tuition in countries like the U.S., Canada, or the U.K. Yet, German universities are world-class, maintaining the highest level of quality by global standards
Here is a little heads-up: if you intend to apply to schools in Bavaria (Bavaria is a state in Germany, and its capital city is Munich), do note that as of 2025, public universities there are no longer tuition-free for international students from non-EU countries. TU Munich (Technical University Munich), for instance, now charges between €2,000 and €4,000 per semester, depending on your program.
Now, let’s get to the application process!
Step 1: Choosing a University and Course
Before you start applying, you need to decide what to study and where. With over 400 universities and thousands of programs, the options can feel endless.
So, how do you find the right one?
The best place to start is the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) website. It has a huge database of courses – over 21,000, including over 2,000 of these programs offered in English. There are over 400 universities spread all over Germany. This site is the best place to check out your options and start your application process.
Start by typing “daad.de” into your web browser, then click your way through:
- Change the website language to English (using the google translate prompt at the top of the screen)
- Click on “Studying and Researching in Germany”
- Click on “Universities and Study Programs”
- Scroll down a bit and click on “International Programs”
- In the search bar, type in the name of the course that you want.
- Select the course type you want (e.g. Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, etc), select the course language you prefer, then click on “search”
- When the search results open, you can further refine your search using the options on the left side of the web page (E.g. you can select “no fees” under the “Tuition fees” drop down list, to get schools that are tuition-free)
- Click on the courses/schools in the search results to get further information on details like course requirements, semester contribution, estimated cost of living while studying, course details, etc
Tip: I recommend using a laptop or desktop computer when browsing through the DAAD website. You’ll easily find all the options and information with just a few clicks. Again, don’t forget to change the website language to English with the Google Translate prompt at the top of the page or by clicking on “EN” at the top of the screen to change the language to English (Chrome browser is recommended).
When choosing a university, consider the following:
- City size, cost of living and available opportunities: Bigger cities like Berlin or Munich offer more job opportunities but are more expensive to live in. Smaller cities are cheaper to live in, but they might have fewer work or networking opportunities. A good middle ground would be a smaller city near a bigger one (For example, Wuppertal is a small city, but it is 30 minutes away from Düsseldorf which is a big city. So one could be studying in wuppertal and still be able to work or access more opportunities and network in düsseldorf).
- Don’t bother about ranking: In Germany, all universities maintain a very high standard, so don’t bother about rankings. Any school you choose is a great choice with regards to the quality of education you’ll get.
Step 2: Check for Restrictions
If you’re from an EU country, your application process is straightforward. But if you’re a non-EU student, there are extra things to consider:
Application Deadlines: Non-EU students usually have earlier deadlines, so check this in advance.
Language Requirements: While many courses are taught in English, German is the main language of instruction. If your course is in German, then you have to provide proof of your German language proficiency.
Studienkolleg (Prep Course): When applying for a bachelor’s degree, most students are required to first take a prep course in Germany known as Studienkolleg after which they take an entrance examination.
Certain courses like medicine, law, and nursing are only taught in German, so if that’s your goal, there is no way around it, you’ll have to learn the language.
Some courses also have very limited spots for students, for instance, architecture or medicine. This is because there is a specific, students professor ratio that cannot be exceeded since these courses require a lot of one on one mentoring or consultations
Step 3: Gather Your Documents
Every university has its own requirements, but in general, you’ll need:
- Your Passport biopage
- Passport Photograph
- CV
- Motivation Letter
- Academic Transcripts
- Proof of Language Proficiency
Tip: Some universities accept an English Proficiency Letter from your previous school instead of IELTS/TOEFL (this letter basically just says you studied previously in English). However, not all schools do; so to keep your options open, it’s best to take the official exams.
For design-related courses, you will also need to submit a portfolio. Always check the university’s website for any extra requirements.
Step 4: Certify Your Documents
Before submitting your application, you need to certify your documents. There are two ways to do this:
- At the German Embassy in your country – Take photocopies of your documents along with the originals. The embassy will stamp and certify them.
- At a local court – Some countries allow you to certify documents at a local court instead of the embassy. This is what I did.
Important note: Never send your original documents – only certified copies.
Step 5: Submit Your Application
For international students, there are two main ways to apply to a German university:
- Direct Application – Some universities allow you to apply directly to them. In this case, you’ll need to send your certified documents by email or through their portal as reccomended.
- Through Uni-Assist – Most universities use Uni-Assist, which acts as a middleman between the university and you. Using Uni-Assist, you can apply to multiple universities at once without sending documents over and over again.
Cost of Uni-Assist:
- First application: €75
- Each additional application: €30
Since competition is tough, I highly recommend applying to multiple schools to increase your chances of acceptance.
No matter the means of application, deadlines are important. Your documents have to get to Uni-Assist at least 8 weeks before the school’s application deadline.
And if you are applying directly, of course the documents have to arrive at the school before the deadline. This means you have to send the documents a lot earlier.
As a reminder, only send the certified copies, don’t make the mistake of sending your original documents.
Step 6: The Waiting Game
Once you submit your application, be patient. Universities take time to process everything. If you applied through Uni-Assist, make sure your documents arrived at least 8 weeks before the deadline.
Now, all that’s left to do is wait for your acceptance or rejection letter, as the case may be. I hope that you get accepted though, you know I am always rooting for you.
Quick Recap:
- Choose your course and university (DAAD website helps).
- Check for restrictions (deadlines, language requirements, Studienkolleg).
- Gather and certify your documents.
- Submit your application (directly or via Uni-Assist).
- Wait for your acceptance letter.
I hope this guide has been helpful. If studying in Germany is your desire, start researching now so you don’t miss any deadlines.
