Why study in Germany?

Looking for an ideal destination to study overseas? We recommend Germany. It features world-class education and an exciting taste of the country’s urban life. Germany welcomes immigrants from all over the world and accepts them into their society.

For international students arriving to study in Germany, the following factors are motivating and worth an appreciation:

• German universities charge low tuition fees if not charging none at all
• Germany offers many funding and scholarship options to overseas students
• German universities have many study programs that are taught in English
• International students can enjoy the prospect of low costs for a high standard of living
• International students graduating from German Universities have so many job options available
• A multi-ethnic population and an international ambiance are features of German universities
• International students can choose from a wide range of universities and courses
• International students will have the freedom to travel and visit other European nations

HOW CAN YOU STUDY IN GERMANY?

Citizens of Australia should submit application for a student visa or a residence permit once they enter Germany at the local immigration authority.

COST OF STUDY IN GERMANY

It’s a fact that international students can study in public universities in Germany for free.

It depends on the semester of a course that the expenses of enrolment, administration, and confirmation are charged per semester. These charges are different from university to university. It also depends on whether the university is public or private and which is the course chosen.

Though private universities in Germany charge for education, these charges are quite affordable when compared to countries like the US, Canada, and Australia.

Here’s brief info on the tuition fees charged in private universities in Germany:

• Undergraduate Bachelor Degree – €500 – €20,000 annually
• Postgraduate Master’s Degree – €5,000 – €30,000 annually

INTAKE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN GERMANY

The general timeline applicable for study programs in German universities is the following:

• Intake to summer Semester. The application must be submitted before January 15 of the year
• Intake to winter Semester. The application must be submitted before June 15 of the year

WORK AUTHORIZATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Above 60% of international students in Germany choose to work in Germany on part-time basis to cover their living expenses. Some popular ways of funding their studies apart from working a part-time are personal savings, student loans, parental income, and scholarships.

Criteria for work authorization for international students

• The student must be aged over 18 years
• International students in Germany can work for up to 120 full days or 240 half days of the year.
• Work as a research assistant or student assistant at your university won’t be counted towards your time limit to work.
• Overseas students can work full-time in Germany during their regular university breaks.
• They are also allowed to work extra hours if their job can be considered to be mandatory under certain regulations.
• An internship during a semester break, even if unpaid, will be regarded as normal work. It will be subtracted from the 120-day credit balance.
• Mandatory internships that are part of the course don’t count.
• Non-EU students aren’t allowed to work as a freelancer or in a self-employed capacity.
• Those aiming to work longer than the 120-day limit must take specific permission for the same. The foreigner’s registration office (Ausländerbehörde) and the local employment agency (Agentur fur Arbeit) issue these permissions.

It’s recommended that a student find part-time work in the field related to their study. Besides earning them money to cover their living expenses, this can add the work experience as credits for their study in Germany.

For spouses of the principal applicant

Generally, spouses of international students get the same rights as the spouse already in Germany. This stays valid in the case of the right to work also. The work permit holders can also apply for a dependent visa.

REQUIREMENTS FOR GERMAN STUDENT VISA

• 2 completed as well as signed application forms. Fill out the application form online, take a printout, sign it, and submit it. Make sure that the barcode is printed in high quality. Submit the other documents required as well.
• 2 passport-size photographs that are recent (measures: 35x45 mm, white background, front facial view)
• Your passport (with a validity that exceeds your period of stay in Germany by a minimum of 3 months). Produce the original along with 2 copies.
• 2 copies of the proof of Australian visa status (where applicable)
• The original and 2 copies of the Admission Letter issued by a university in Germany or a conditional letter of acceptance
• The original and 2 copies of the proof of your proficiency in language in which the course you enroled to will be conducted.
• The proof of means of subsistence
• 2 copies of evidence of travel/health insurance that’s valid in Germany (it must include details about policy coverage: minimum of €30,000 including costs of repatriation as well as coverage for pandemics like COVID-19)
• Prepaid registered mail envelope with your address (in case you want response by mail).

Your university will make you aware of additional requirements if any prior to your application.

PHD CUM RESEARCH IN GERMANY

Where should you apply?

• All applications for the visa in Australia have to be submitted in person. Included in the application process, your fingerprints will get scanned electronically.
• Applicants residing in any of the Australian state/territory, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, or Nauru must fix an appointment. They must apply approaching the Consulate General in Sydney.

Documents required along with your application

• 2 completed as well as signed forms of application
• Fill out the application form online, take a printout, sign it, and submit it. Make sure that the barcode is printed in high quality. Also, submit other required documents.
• 2 passport-size photographs (35x45 mm, white background, front facial view)
• The original and 2 copies of your passport (with validity that exceeds your period of stay in Germany by a minimum of 3 months)
• 2 copies of the proof of your Australian visa status (where applicable)
• The original and a copy of the personal covering letter that explains why you are planning to stay in Germany
• The original and 2 copies of your local university or research institute’s no-objection letter
• The invitation letter from the university in Germany or research institute confirming the conditions on which you are going to stay in Germany. This includes health insurance (the original and 2 copies) and payment
• The original and 2 copies of the proof of academic qualification (degree certificate)
• 2 copies of the evidence of travel/health insurance that’s valid in Germany (it must include details about coverage: a minimum of €30,000 as well as repatriation costs and coverage for pandemics like the. COVID-19
• A prepaid registered mail envelope carrying your address (if you want a response by mail)

LANGUAGE COURSE

A language course could be taken with 2 intentions:

• Language course to prepare for further studies in Germany
• A generic language course that isn’t meant to be a preparation program for your studies in Germany

The type of language course you undertake must be made clear.

Participation in a generic language course can be granted only for no more than a year. The visa for this purpose cannot be extended.

If you wish to continue your studies in Germany directly after the language course, it’s necessary for you to return to your home country in order to apply to procure a student permit. It’s impossible to do this directly in Germany.

Where should you apply?

• All applications for the visa in Australia have to be submitted in person. Included in the application process, your fingerprints will get scanned electronically.
• Applicants residing in any of the Australian state/territory, Vanuatu Solomon Islands, or Nauru must fix an appointment. They must apply approaching the Consulate General in Sydney.

Documents required along with your application

• 2 application forms completed as well as signed
• Fill out the application form online, take a printout, sign it, and submit it. Ensure that the barcode is printed in high quality. Submit other required documents too.
• 2 passport photographs that are recent (35x45 mm, white background, front facial view)
• The original and 2 copies of your passport (with validity that exceeds your period of stay in Germany by a minimum of 3 months)
• 2 copies of the proof of Australian visa status (where applicable)
• The original and 2 copies of the letter of acceptance from a language institution (at least 20 hrs per week)
• The original and 2 copies of your CV and the proof of your academic qualifications
• The original and 1 copy of the Motivation Letter in German/German
• The original and 2 copies of the proof of German language studies done previously (where applicable)
• The original and 2 copies of the letter of acceptance or the conditional letter of acceptance from a German university (for a preparatory language course)
• The original and 2 copies of the recognized entitlement to admission to a German university (a high school diploma or certificate of graduation examination) [for a preparatory language course]
• The proof of means of subsistence
• 2 copies of the evidence of travel/health insurance that has validity in Germany (it must include details regarding coverage: a minimum of €30,000 as well as repatriation costs; coverage for pandemics like the COVID-19)
• A prepaid registered mail envelope carrying your address (if you want a response by mail)

STUDENT EXCHANGE TO GERMANY

Where should you apply?

• All applications for the visa in Australia have to be submitted in person. Included in the application process, your fingerprints will get scanned electronically.
• Applicants residing in any of the Australian state/territory, Vanuatu Solomon Islands, or Nauru must fix an appointment. They must apply approaching the Consulate General in Sydney.

Documents required along with your application

• 2 completed as well as signed forms of application
• Fill out the application form online, take a printout, sign it, and submit it. Make sure that the barcode is printed in high quality. Also, submit other required documents.
• 2 passport-size photographs (35x45 mm, white background, front facial view)
• The original and 2 copies of your passport (with validity that exceeds your period of stay in Germany by a minimum of 3 months)
• 2 copies of the proof of your Australian visa status (where applicable)
• The original and a copy of your parents’ consent letter
• The original and a copy of the letter of invitation from the family in Germany acting as your host
• The original and 2 copies of the letter of acceptance from the school you are enrolling in Germany
• The original and 2 copies of the no-objection certificate from the school you are enrolling in Australia
• The original and 2 copies of the proof of the Exchange Programme (issued by universities in Germany and Australia)
• The proof of means of subsistence
• 2 copies of the evidence of travel/health insurance that’s valid in Germany (it must include details about coverage: a minimum of €30,000 as well as repatriation costs and coverage for pandemics like the. COVID-19
• A prepaid registered mail envelope carrying your address (if you want a response by mail)

WHAT AFTER GRADUATION IN GERMANY?

• Upon completing your studies in Germany, you can apply for an 18-month residence permit to seek a job as per your qualification.
• As soon an international student like you gets a job offer, you can choose whether to apply for a German residence permit or an EU Blue Card for the next part of your stay.
• You may get a residence permit though you get a job offer for part-time employment, provided the expected salary secures all the means of subsistence
• If you, a student, want to live on in Germany and become a PR, you can submit an application for a settlement permit. This can be done as early as 2 years once you get your EU Blue Card or PR permit.

WORK OPPORTUNITIES AFTER GRADUATION

• The right university degree is essential for securing a high-paying job in Germany
• Salaries in Germany are worth it
• For an international worker seeking employment in Germany, the major sectors to consider are:
  • IT
  • Coal
  • Machine tools
  • Textiles
  • Engineering
  • Electronics
  • Chemicals
  • Machinery
  • Shipbuilding
  • Vehicles
  • Food & beverages
• Recent growth areas in Germany include:
  • The automotive industry
  • High-tech manufactured products
  • Telecom
  • Banking
  • Tourism

CAN STUDENTS APPLY FOR A GERMAN PR VISA AFTER GRADUATION?

A German Permanent Residence Permit is necessary for a student to be allowed to stay in Germany after Graduation. This permit is also called a Settlement Permit or Niederlassungserlaubnis in German.

The permanent residence allows you to work in Germany as well as travel to and from the country.

To be eligible for the permanent residence permit, you will have to prove that:

• You have worked in Germany for at least 5 years
• Your job has the approval of the Federal Employment Agency
• You have paid the necessary taxes and cleared other contributions to the German government

Over and above all these, you must also have some advanced knowledge of the German language at this stage. The need for German language proficiency is much higher for the permanent residence permit.

After getting the permanent residence permit, your spouse and children can join you in Germany. At first, they will get a temporary residence permit. In a few years, your family will also become eligible to receive a permanent residence permit.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR A RESIDENCE PERMIT

The following are the eligibility criteria for an international student to get a permanent residence in Germany:

• The candidate must hold a valid passport of another country
• He/she mustn’t have a criminal record
• He/she must have German language proficiency of at least B1 level
• The candidate must have German health insurance
• The candidate must pass a health check-up which proves that you are healthy enough for study and/or work
• The candidate must be financially stable, with the ability to support one’s family and oneself.
• If the candidate will be working in Germany, he/she must get a letter from the employer, stating the job offer along with a job description
• If the candidate will be studying in Germany, he/she must get proof of admittance into a university
• If the candidate will be joining his/her spouse in Germany, a marriage certificate as proof of marriage will be required

TOP UNIVERSITIES IN GERMANY

Germany Rank	QS World University Ranking	University Name
1	50	Technische Universität München
2	63	Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
3	64	Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
4	117	Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
5	130	Freie Universität Berlin
6	131	KIT, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
7	145	Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
8	148	Technische Universität Berlin
9	=173	Technische Universität Dresden
=10	=175	Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
=10	=175	Universität Freiburg

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