Study abroad
Germany
Little or no tuition at state universities, but plan the entry route early.
Figures are for the 2027 winter semesterLast checked
At a glance
Who it suitsStudents who want a low-cost degree and are ready for strict paperwork, and often for learning German.
- Money to prove
- €992 a month (€11,904 a year) [1]
- Tuition
- Usually none at state universities; €1,500 per semester for non-EU students in Baden-Württemberg [1]
- Semester contribution
- €70 to €430 [1]
- uni-assist fee
- €75 first course, €30 each extra [10]
- Typical deadline
- Often 15 July for the winter semester [7]
- Stay and work after
- Up to 18 months to find a qualified job [6]
Which qualification leads where
-
A-LevelPossible
Direct entry depends on your subjects; check the DAAD admission database. [11]
-
IB DiplomaPossible
Often recognised when the subject rules are met; check the admission database. [11]
-
AP and a US high-school diplomaHard
Often not enough on its own; the admission database says what extra proof you need. [11]
-
GaokaoPossible
You need an APS certificate first; your results decide direct entry or a Studienkolleg. [12]
-
Studienkolleg (foundation course)Good route
Usually 2 semesters, taught in German; you need German at B1 to B2 to start. [13]
English you need
- IELTS
- 6.5 [8] Prepare for IELTS →
- TOEFL iBT
- 4.5 [8] Prepare for TOEFL →
That is for an English-taught programme. A German-taught one needs DSH-2, or TestDaF level 4 in all four sections, or DSD II at B2 — and only about 4% of bachelor's programmes are in English, so for most of them German is the real entry requirement.
Universities to look at
-
Technical University of Munich (TUM) Munich, Bavaria
Accepts Germany's best-known technical university is no longer free. It does offer need-based and merit fee waivers.
Tuition a year €2,000 to €3,000 a semester for a bachelor's for non-EU students, since winter 2024/25
-
RWTH Aachen Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia
Tuition a year No tuition; a semester contribution of about €300
-
University of Cologne Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia
Tuition a year No tuition
-
Heidelberg University Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg
Tuition a year €1,500 a semester for non-EU students, under the state's law
-
Constructor University Bremen Bremen
Accepts A private university teaching entirely in English, so no German is needed.
Your checklist
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Choose your route
Apply
Money and visa
After you arrive
Timeline
-
Oct 2025 24 months before passed
Start German now if a German-taught degree or a Studienkolleg is possible for you.
-
Apr 2026 18 months before passed
Check your certificate in the DAAD admission database and shortlist programmes.
-
Oct 2026 12 months before now
Gaokao route: apply for the APS certificate.
-
Jan 2027 9 months before
Take the language test your programmes need: TestDaF, DSH or an English test.
-
May 2027 5 months before
Send your uni-assist application at least 8 weeks before the deadline. [7]
-
Jul 2027 3 months before
Deadline for the winter semester, often 15 July. [7]
-
Jul 2027 3 months before
Arrange proof of €992 a month, for example a blocked account. [1]
-
Aug 2027 2 months before
Admission letter in hand: book the visa appointment at once, because a visa can take months. [18]
-
Oct 2027 At the start
Arrive: register your address, enrol and apply for your residence permit.
- A year
- ¥81,000 – ¥160,000
- Whole degree
- ¥240,000 – ¥470,000 over 3 years
Converted to RMB at two significant figures — the rate moves and the ranges are wide. Rate: European Central Bank: euro foreign exchange reference rates, 18 September 2026, checked .
- Tuition
- Usually none for a bachelor's at state universities [1]
- Baden-Württemberg
- €1,500 per semester for non-EU students [1]
- Bavaria
- TUM charges non-EU students €2,000 to €3,000 a semester for a bachelor's, from winter 2024/25 [14]
- Semester contribution
- €70 to €430 per semester [1]
- Proof of money
- €992 a month (€11,904 a year) once you hold a place [1]
- Proof of money as an applicant
- €1,091 a month if you apply as a Studienbewerber, before you have a place [19]
- APS certificate
- RMB 2,500 [12]
Scholarships and funding
-
No tuition at most state universities — but check yours [16]
Cologne charges none; Aachen charges none and puts the semester contribution at about €300. That is still the common case.
Two exceptions now matter to a non-EU student. Baden-Württemberg charges €1,500 a semester, and TUM — Bavaria's flagship — has charged €2,000 to €3,000 a semester for a bachelor's since winter 2024/25. That is €4,000 to €6,000 a year at one of the universities a Chinese applicant is most likely to want.
-
TUM: tuition-fee waivers [20]
A need-based waiver covers the fees for the standard length of the degree; merit waivers run for two semesters and are renewable.
-
Deutschlandstipendium [21]
€300 a month, for at least two semesters and up to the standard length of the degree.
Any nationality, any year of study, and income is not considered. You apply to your university after you enrol, so it is a living top-up rather than an entrance award.
-
⛔ DAAD does not fund a bachelor's degree [22]
DAAD's scholarships are, in its own words, aimed primarily at graduates, doctoral students and postdocs. This is the most common misunderstanding about funding a German degree.
Visa
- Students from outside the EU need a national visa for study, from a German mission or the online portal. [18]
- Not admitted yet? A prospective student visa is valid for up to 9 months, for applying or a language course. [18]
- Typical documents: passport, proof of health insurance, proof of money, language certificates and the admission letter. [18]
- A tourist visa cannot be changed into a student visa later. [18]
Work during and after studies
- Students from outside the EU may work 140 full days or 280 half days a year. [5]
- Academic assistant jobs at the university have no day limit, but you must tell the foreigners' office. [5]
- After graduating you can get a permit for up to 18 months to find a qualified job, and take any job meanwhile. [6]
When you arrive
- Register your address soon after moving in; you need the confirmation for many later steps.
- Enrol at the university and pay the semester contribution.
- Apply for the residence permit at the foreigners' office before your visa ends.
Common mistakes
- Do not assume your certificate gives direct entry: check the admission database before you apply. [11]
- Studienkolleg and some courses close earlier than 15 July. [7]
- Visa appointments and processing can take months, so book as soon as you are admitted. [18]
- Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester, so budget for it. [1]
Sources
- DAAD: finances, tuition and proof of money checked
- FAU Erlangen-Nurnberg: tuition fees for non-EU students checked
- DAAD: finances and living costs in Germany checked
- DAAD: English-language degree programmes in Germany checked
- DAAD: side jobs for students checked
- DAAD: career planning after graduation checked
- uni-assist: deadlines and processing time checked
- Technical University of Munich: language certificates checked
- Constructor University Bremen: undergraduate application information checked
- uni-assist: handling fees checked
- DAAD: admission database checked
- APS China: procedure for Gaokao applicants checked
- DAAD: Studienkollegs checked
- Technical University of Munich: tuition fees checked
- RWTH Aachen: fees for international students checked
- University of Cologne: costs and financing checked
- Heidelberg University: tuition fees for international students checked
- DAAD: visas checked
- German Federal Foreign Office: blocked account amounts checked
- Technical University of Munich: scholarships and fee waivers checked
- Deutschlandstipendium: how the scholarship works checked
- DAAD: who its scholarships are for checked
Rules and fees change. Everything here was checked against the official pages on the date shown. Confirm on those pages before you apply or pay.