Studying in Germany
Short-term and longer-term opportunities
University Exchange / Year Abroad
Germany is a great place to study and has some of the world’s top universities. There’s a wide range of UK degrees that include a mandatory or optional year abroad in Germany – you can find them by searching the UCAS database. Many UK universities also offer additional opportunities for exchange, allowing you to spend time studying in Germany. Check the “Study abroad” (or similarly named) section of most university websites, where you can find further details.
German universities (and other higher education institutions, or HEIs) don’t generally charge tuition fees for UK students on academic exchanges or years abroad in Germany – with some exceptions in the German states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Saxony. However, you’ll be expected to pay semester contributions of €100–400 per semester (half-year).
Living costs differ widely between the most expensive and more affordable places in Germany, but a student’s total monthly spend on university fees, rent and utilities, food, health insurance, and other fixed costs in Germany averages around €1200. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers further details on costs while studying in Germany, as well as many other aspects of living in Germany as a student.
Helpful guidance on student finance and funding opportunities available to UK students for a year abroad or university exchange can be found here. You’re also allowed to work part-time while studying in Germany – further details are available here.
Full Academic Courses in Germany
Alternatively, you may be thinking about completing a full degree programme in Germany. Most programmes are taught in German, but there’s also an increasing number of English-language courses. If you’re interested in studying at a German university or other HEI, the first step is to find a course that’s right for you. A great way to start is the My GUIDE portal run by the DAAD, which offers:
- a searchable database of degree programmes in Germany;
- an eligibility check for undergraduate programmes;
- profiles of over 100 German cities where you could study; and
- general information about Germany as a place to study.
There’s also a wealth of information on the German government’s Study in Germany website, including on the different types of institutions, degrees and subjects groups in German higher education.
Most standard UK school-leaving qualifications will enable you to study at a German HEI. Check the DAAD’s admission database for details. Once you are ready, you can apply via uni assist, which represents around 150 German universities. For all other universities and HEIs, you can apply directly to the relevant institution.
If you haven’t got the right qualification or German language skills yet, you can also apply for a preparatory college (Studienkolleg) or preparatory language course (see the section below on Preparing or Looking for an Academic Course).
In 13 of the 16 German states, public universities and HEIs don’t charge tuition fees for students from the UK. In Bavaria and Saxony, HEIs have the right to set their own international tuition fees; only in Baden-Württemberg do public universities charge non-EU students a standard fee of €1500 per semester (half-year). Across Germany, public universities also charge semester contributions of €100–400 per semester. Private universities – of which there are few in Germany – are free to set their own fees.
Funding opportunities to complete a degree in Germany can be found via the DAAD’s scholarship database, which includes their own offers as well as those of other funding organisations. Most scholarships are for graduates and researchers, but a limited number is available for undergraduate courses, too.
Visa Requirements
As a British citizen, you don’t need a visa or residence permit to study in Germany for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. For longer periods, you’ll need a student visa or residence permit.
You can apply for a visa before you leave – from the German Consulate General in Edinburgh (if you live in Scotland) or from the German Embassy in London (if you live in any other part of the UK). Alternatively, you can travel to Germany without a visa and apply for a residence permit from the local immigration office within 90 days.
Requirements for a student visa or residence permit include:
- For a university exchange or year abroad: letters from your UK and German host universities confirming your period of study abroad;
- For a full academic course in Germany: an admission letter from a German university;
- Evidence of sufficient funds (currently €992/month for up to 12 months) in the form of a blocked account, scholarship, student finance, and/or a German sponsor; and
- Evidence of health insurance cover in Germany, usually in the form of a UK GHIC or EHIC for a year abroad or shorter periods; for full courses in Germany, you’ll usually need to register with a German statutory health insurance (which must accept you if you’re a student aged under 30; typical cost: €130–150/month).
- Depending on the nature of your course – and the language it’s taught in – you may also need to prove your proficiency in German (see here for details).
Please note that this list is not exhaustive. Full details on student visas are available on the website of the German Missions in the UK. Details on applying for a residence permit after your arrival are available from the relevant local immigration office in Germany. The fee for a visa is €75. A residence permit obtained in Germany after arrival will usually cost you €100.
Like everyone living in Germany, you must register as a resident with the local authority within 14 days of moving into your accommodation. You’ll need confirmation of your registration to apply for your residence permit, or to have your visa converted into a residence permit.
Preparing or Looking for an Academic Course
If your UK school-leaving qualification doesn’t allow you to apply directly to the German academic course of your choice, you may be able to attend a preparatory college course (Studienkolleg) in Germany, typically lasting one year, to prepare for your course and obtain the right qualification. If you lack the necessary German skills for your chosen course, you may be able to attend a preparatory language course, as offered by some universities. The DAAD has a database of language and short courses.
If you’re planning to attend a preparatory college or language course, you can also apply for a student visa or residence permit, in exactly the same way as described in the previous section.
If you’ve got the necessary qualifications already, but haven’t yet secured a place at a German HEI and would like to spend longer than the visa-free 90 days (in any 180-day period) in Germany to look for a suitable course, you can apply for a prospective student visa or residence permit to spend up to nine months in Germany.
As a British citizen, you can apply for a prospective student visa before you leave – from the German Consulate General in Edinburgh (if you live in Scotland) or from the German Embassy in London (if you live in any other part of the UK). Alternatively, you can travel to Germany without a visa and apply for a residence permit from the local immigration office within 90 days.
The requirements for this type of visa are very similar to those for a student visa, but you don’t need to show that you’ve been accepted by a German university or other HEI. Instead, you’ll need to prove that your qualification and language skills allow you to apply for a university place in Germany, and you may need to submit a motivation letter and/or evidence of your engagement with prospective universities. If you are under 18, consent from your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) will be required. Please contact the German Missions in the UK for further details.
Disclaimer: the information in this guide has been collated from government, academic, professional and public institution sources available at the time of publication. However, it is subject to change, and errors and omissions are excepted. Please always check directly with the relevant decision-making bodies and/or take professional advice for specific cases.
