Country guide for Indian students
Study in Germany
Germany is the flagship low-cost destination: most public universities charge no tuition for a first degree, degrees carry strong global recognition, and graduates get an 18-month permit to find work with a clear path to the EU Blue Card and settlement. In return the process is paperwork-heavy and deadline-strict, Indian students must clear APS verification, prove funds through a blocked account, and register with local authorities within days of landing. Get the sequence right and it is one of the most reliable, affordable routes abroad; miss a step and admission or the visa stalls.
At a glance
Tuition (public unis)
Mostly €0 for a first degree
Two growing exceptions: Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500/semester, and TU Munich (Bavaria) charges non-EU tuition since Winter 2024/25 (Bachelors €2,000 to 3,000, Masters €4,000 to 6,000 per semester). Check the specific university, not just 'public'. Private universities charge full fees.
Proof of funds
Mandatory€11,904 blocked account (2026)
= €992/month, the BAföG living-cost rate. Releases €992/month after you arrive.
Main intakes
Winter (Oct) & Summer (Apr)
Winter is the big intake. Common deadlines 15 July (winter) / 15 January (summer), always confirm per university.
Work while studying
140 full / 280 half days per year
Plus up to 20 hrs/week during lecture periods; unlimited in semester breaks (2026 rule).
After graduation
18-month job-seeker permit → EU Blue Card
Full work rights during the 18 months; Blue Card on a qualifying graduate job.
Visa type
MandatoryNational (D) visa for study
Applied in person at the German mission in India; converted to a residence permit after arrival.
Universities & admissions
German public universities are tuition-light but selective on academic fit and document authenticity. The two gatekeepers for Indian students are (1) an APS certificate verifying your degrees and (2) meeting the specific subject and grade requirements of each program.
Degree recognition
Indian 3-year Bachelors is generally accepted for Masters entry
Recognition is checked against the anabin database; some programs still expect a 4-year degree or specific credits. Confirm on the program page.
Grade conversion
Modified Bavarian formula (1.0 best, 4.0 pass)
Competitive Masters typically want an Indian aggregate of ~70%+ (≈ German 2.5 or better). Program-dependent, not a national rule.
Where to apply
uni-assist for many unis; direct portals for others
Each university states whether it uses uni-assist or its own portal.
dMAT (new, Masters)
ConditionalRequired for many Masters fields from Summer 2027 intake
A Digital Master Test that becomes part of the APS procedure for affected Masters applicants. See the callout below.
Shortlist programs by subject fit, not just ranking
RecommendedUse the DAAD International Programmes database to filter by degree level, subject, teaching language (English vs German) and intake. For each shortlisted program, open its official page and note: entry degree required, minimum grade, required tests, application route (uni-assist or direct), and deadline. German admissions are program-specific, a student eligible for one Masters may be ineligible for a near-identical one elsewhere.
Prefer English-taught Masters for students without German, but check that the university still asks for basic German (A1/A2) for daily life.Confirm the student's degree is recognised (anabin)
MandatoryCheck the student's institution and degree in the anabin database. Note anabin rates two things separately: the INSTITUTION (H+ = recognised) and the DEGREE-LEVEL equivalence (marked 'entspricht'/'gleichwertig'). Both need to check out, an H+ university badge alone does not confirm the specific degree qualifies. This is what German universities and the visa office rely on; if recognition isn't clear, admission and the visa get much harder, so steer students to clearly-recognised institutions.
Do not assume a well-known Indian university is automatically 'H+', and don't stop at the institution badge, verify the exact institution AND degree-level combination.Start APS early, it blocks everything downstream
MandatoryThe APS certificate (see the callout) must exist before most universities finalise admission and before the visa appointment. Because it can take 3 to 4 weeks (up to ~3 months in peak season), begin it the moment the student decides on Germany, in parallel with test prep. For affected Masters applicants, the APS certificate now also depends on the dMAT result (see the dMAT callout), so plan that test date into the timeline too.
Indian applicants generally need an APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) certificate verifying their academic documents before they can be admitted and before the student visa can be processed (this became a general requirement for India in 2022, the exact effective date isn't stated on the current APS/embassy pages, so re-confirm before quoting a hard date). Exemptions include PhD/PostDoc applicants, holders of EU/German public scholarships, and International Baccalaureate holders. Fee is ₹18,000. APS India does not guarantee a fixed processing time, commonly 3 to 4 weeks, but longer (up to ~2 to 3 months) in peak season, so start early and never promise the student a firm date.
From the Summer Semester 2027 intake onward, affected Masters applicants must take the dMAT as part of the APS procedure, APS India cannot complete the certificate without the dMAT result. It is administered by g.a.s.t., costs €150, and has a core (cognitive/analytical) module plus a subject module. First certificates issue from 12 October 2026 (registration opened 29 June 2026; exam 26 Sept 2026). AFFECTED FIELDS (per the official list): Engineering; Commerce / Accounting / Finance / Economics; Business / Management. The list does NOT separately name computer science or IT, and interdisciplinary degrees (e.g. Data Science, Business Analytics, Engineering Management, FinTech) are assessed case-by-case, confirm borderline Bachelors directly with APS India rather than assuming. EXEMPT: Bachelors and PhD applicants; Masters applicants for the Winter 2026/27 intake; students who haven't completed 5 semesters (3-year degree) / 7 semesters (4-year degree); official exchange / double-degree / university-partnership participants; and anyone who completed APS online registration or shipped their APS documents before 29 June 2026. Build the test date into the timeline so it doesn't delay APS and, in turn, admission and the visa.
A state-recognised (staatlich anerkannt) private university, one listed as H+ on anabin, awards a degree that is legally and academically identical to a public university's, with the exact same post-study rights (the 18-month job-seeker permit). Unrecognised institutions cannot legally award German degrees at all. So the question is never 'public or private', it is 'is this specific institution recognised (H+)?'. Steer students by recognition, not by the funding model.
Sources
- Study in Germany, official portal, DAAD / Federal Ministry of Education and Research
- uni-assist, application processing for international applicants, uni-assist e.V.
- APS India, Academic Evaluation Centre, APS India (Science Section, German Embassy New Delhi + DAAD)
- dMAT (Digital Master Test), part of the APS procedure, APS India
Language & tests
Two language tracks: an English-taught program needs proof of English; a German-taught program needs proof of German. For India, the German mission is strict about which certificates it accepts, this catches students out every year.
English-taught programs (university admission)
ConditionalIELTS Academic 6.0 to 6.5 overall, min ~5.5 to 6.0 per band
This is the admission cutoff set per program, many Masters ask 6.5 overall (some 7.0 for competitive ones), Bachelors often 6.0. TOEFL is accepted by many universities, but see the visa-office restriction below for India.
German-taught programs
ConditionalTestDaF, DSH, Goethe/telc/ÖSD (usually C1)
Most German-taught Bachelors/Masters require ~C1; some Bachelors accept B2 + a Studienkolleg.
GRE/GMAT
OptionalNot usually required; asked by some Masters/MBA
Check the individual program.
- Book IELTS/TestDaF early, seats fill months ahead near intake deadlines.
- Even for English-taught programs, an A1/A2 German certificate strengthens the visa file and daily life; some universities require it.
- Match the test score to the visa timeline, not just admission: the certificate must be ready for the visa appointment.
For applications in India, the German mission accepts Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan, ÖSD, telc (German) and IELTS or ALTE-member tests (English). Duolingo English Test, Pearson PTE, and the TOEFL Home Edition are NOT recognised for visa purposes in India, even if a university admits on them. Always secure a visa-office-accepted certificate.
Applying to universities
Applications flow either through uni-assist (a shared clearing house that checks documents for many universities) or directly on a university's portal. The winter intake is the main one; deadlines cluster around 15 July, with many competitive programs closing earlier.
Lock the intake and deadline per program
RecommendedDecide winter (starts ~October, apply by ~15 July) or summer (starts ~April, apply by ~15 January). Then record each program's exact deadline, many close 1 to 3 months earlier than the university-wide date, and uni-assist needs extra weeks to pre-check documents.
When: 8 to 10 months before intakePrepare the document set
MandatoryTypical set: 10th & 12th marksheets, Bachelors transcripts + degree/provisional certificate, APS certificate, language certificate, CV (Europass style), statement of purpose / letter of motivation, and (for some) letters of recommendation. Have officially certified copies where required.
You get: A reusable, certified document pack for every application.Apply via uni-assist or the university portal
MandatoryFor uni-assist universities, create one uni-assist account, upload documents, and pay the handling fee (roughly €75 for the first application and ~€30 for each additional in the same term, confirm current fees on uni-assist). uni-assist verifies and forwards to the universities. For direct-application universities, submit on their own portal.
Cost: uni-assist handling fee ≈ €75 first / €30 additional (confirm current rate)Track results and accept the admission (Zulassungsbescheid)
MandatoryWatch each portal for the admission letter (Zulassungsbescheid), this is the single most important document for the visa. Accept the offer and, where required, pay the semester contribution to enrol.
You get: Admission letter (Zulassungsbescheid), required for the visa appointment.
There is the university deadline AND the uni-assist pre-check lead time. Submit to uni-assist several weeks before the university deadline so verification completes in time.
Student visa
Indian students apply for a national (category D) visa for study. Since 1 January 2025 the application is filed online through the Consular Services Portal (digital.diplo.de); after a digital pre-check you attend a VFS Global centre for biometrics, and the German Mission for your jurisdiction (Embassy New Delhi or the Consulates General in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata) decides it. The visa lets you enter; you convert it into a residence permit after arriving.
Visa type
MandatoryNational (D) visa for study
Fee
Mandatory₹8,500 / €75 for adults (2026)
The mission states ₹8,500 (₹4,300 for minors), payable in INR at the exchange rate on the appointment day. VFS adds a separate service fee. Confirm the current amount before the appointment.
How to apply
MandatoryConsular Services Portal (digital.diplo.de) → VFS biometrics
Where the online route is available it is obligatory. Book the biometrics slot early, waits can be long near intake.
Assemble the visa file
MandatoryCore documents: valid passport, visa application form + photos, admission letter (Zulassungsbescheid), APS certificate, proof of funds (blocked account confirmation, Sperrbestätigung, or a recognised scholarship/sponsorship letter), health insurance certificate valid from arrival, academic certificates, language certificate, CV and motivation letter. Indian 'affidavits of support' are NOT accepted as proof of funds.
Proof of funds must be a blocked account or an official sponsorship/scholarship letter, never a plain affidavit.Open the blocked account and get health insurance
MandatoryFund a blocked account (Sperrkonto) with €11,904 (2026) through a recognised provider, and take out health insurance valid from your intended arrival date (travel/incoming insurance covers the gap before your public statutory insurance starts on enrolment). Both go into the visa file.
When: Before the visa appointmentFile through the Consular Services Portal, then give biometrics at VFS
MandatorySince 1 January 2025, national student-visa applications in India are submitted online through the Consular Services Portal (digital.diplo.de), where the online route exists it is obligatory. In the portal choose the study purpose, complete the questionnaire, and upload the document set. After the mission's digital pre-check you book a biometrics appointment at a VFS Global centre; the German Mission for your jurisdiction then decides the file. Pay the €75 fee (in the INR equivalent). This applies the same way whether the student is going to a public or a private university, the difference is in the documents (see the callout), not the channel.
Cost: ₹8,500 / €75 (paid in INR) + VFS service feeYou get: A submitted application with biometrics captured, awaiting the mission's decision.Wait for processing, then collect the visa
Once forwarded to the competent authorities in Germany, processing commonly takes about 6 to 8 weeks and can be longer in peak months (May, Sept), so apply as early as the mission allows once you hold the admission letter. The entry visa is usually issued for ~90 days (sometimes up to a year), enough to enter, register, and apply for the residence permit.
When: Apply as early as permitted; allow ~6 to 8 weeks
There is no separate 'embassy-only' channel for one group, everyone applies through the same Consular Services Portal and gives biometrics at VFS, and which mission handles the file is set by the applicant's home jurisdiction (state), not the university's funding model. Two things genuinely differ. (1) Money proof: public/state universities usually charge no tuition, so proof of funds is essentially just the blocked account, whereas a student at a PRIVATE fee-charging university must ALSO submit proof of the fee amount (e.g. an invoice) plus evidence the first year is paid or a substantial deposit made. (2) Conditional vs unconditional admission: an unconditional degree offer follows the standard portal → VFS route regardless of public/private; a conditional admission that first requires a Studienkolleg or language course is a preparatory pathway with its own checklist, treat those as the prep-course case, which is what agents often mislabel as 'private university'.
The D visa gets you into Germany. The longer-term right to stay is the residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) you apply for locally after registering your address and enrolling, see 'After you land'.
Sources
- Consular Services Portal, apply for a national visa online, German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt)
- Studies, incl. preparatory college and language courses, Visa info, German Missions in India (Auswärtiges Amt)
- National Visa, general information, German Missions in India (Auswärtiges Amt)
- Checklist for a German national visa, students (PDF), German Missions in India (Auswärtiges Amt)
Money & proof of funds
Germany's low tuition is real, but you must prove you can cover living costs up front. The government sets the required amount at the BAföG living rate and locks it in a blocked account you draw down monthly.
Blocked account (Sperrkonto)
Mandatory€11,904 for 2026
= €992/month for 12 months (the BAföG rate). This is the minimum accepted; you may deposit more, never less.
Monthly release
€992/month max after arrival
You cannot withdraw the whole sum at once, it releases monthly to fund living costs.
Tuition
€0 at most public unis (first degree)
Exceptions are growing: Baden-Württemberg €1,500/semester for non-EU, and TU Munich (Bavaria) since Winter 2024/25 (Bachelors €2,000 to 3,000, Masters €4,000 to 6,000 per semester). Check the specific university. Private unis charge full fees.
Semester contribution
Conditional≈ €100 to 350 per semester
Administrative fee, NOT tuition. At most universities it now includes (or lets you add) the Deutschland-Semesterticket for unlimited nationwide regional/local transport (~€208.80/semester, WS 2025/26), which is why the total varies so much. Set per university, confirm on the university's page.
Health insurance
Mandatory≈ €141 to 151/month (public student rate, 2026)
LEGALLY MANDATORY, you cannot enrol or get the residence permit without it (statutory: TK, AOK, Barmer…): base + nursing-care + insurer supplement. TK is ≈€141.16 (under 23) to €146.29 (23+); other insurers run slightly higher (e.g. Barmer up to ≈€151.42). Generally only available to students UNDER 30, older students usually need private insurance. Confirm with the insurer.
Choose a recognised blocked-account provider
MandatoryOpen a Sperrkonto with a provider the German missions accept (e.g. established fintech blocked-account services or a German bank). Transfer €11,904, receive the blocking confirmation (Sperrbestätigung), and submit it with the visa. After arrival and address registration, the monthly €992 begins releasing to your German current account.
Cost: €11,904 deposit + a small provider setup/monthly feeLayer in scholarships and reduce cash pressure
OptionalScholarships do not usually replace the blocked account unless they fully cover living costs and are recognised. Point strong students at DAAD scholarships and university/foundation awards early, deadlines are often a year ahead. Recognised full scholarships can substitute for the blocked account in the visa file.
A DAAD or EU/German public scholarship also exempts the student from APS.Budget realistically beyond the minimum
RecommendedThe €992/month is a floor. Big cities (Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg) run higher, especially rent. Counsel students to budget €992 to 1,200/month and to line up student accommodation (Studierendenwerk halls, WG shared flats) early because housing is the real bottleneck. Budget for a rent DEPOSIT (Kaution) too, legally capped at 3 months' cold rent (BGB §551), refundable when you leave, and know that private landlords often ask for a SCHUFA credit report, which new arrivals don't have yet; offer alternatives (a deposit-guarantee/Mietkautionsbürgschaft, or university halls that skip the SCHUFA check).
Housing shortages in university cities are severe, start the accommodation search months ahead.
The blocked-account minimum tracks the BAföG rate and is revised periodically (it was €11,208, then €11,904). Always confirm the current figure on the German mission's page before the student funds the account.
Before you fly
Once the visa is stamped, the goal is to land ready: accommodation lined up, first appointments pre-booked, and documents organised so the tight post-arrival deadlines are easy to hit.
Enrol / confirm your university start (Immatrikulation prep)
MandatoryRespond to the university's enrolment instructions, pay the semester contribution if not already paid, and note the enrolment (Immatrikulation) documents you must present in person. Enrolment usually requires proof of health insurance.
When: After visa, before departureSecure accommodation for at least the first weeks
MandatoryYou need a real address to register (Anmeldung) and to open a bank account, so arrange at least temporary housing before flying: a Studierendenwerk hall, a sublet, or a booked short-stay. Get a landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) commitment, you cannot register without it.
No fixed address = no Anmeldung = no residence permit and no bank account. Do not fly in without somewhere confirmed.Book flights sensibly
RecommendedBook the flight only after the visa is in hand. Aim to arrive 1 to 3 weeks before classes so there is time for Anmeldung, bank account, insurance activation and the residence-permit appointment. Carry documents (admission, blocked account, insurance, APS, academic originals) in hand luggage, not checked bags.
When: Arrive 1 to 3 weeks before classesPre-book the Bürgeramt (Anmeldung) and Ausländerbehörde (residence permit) appointments now if the city allows online booking, slots go fast.Prepare a document folder + digital backups
RecommendedPhysical folder: passport+visa, admission letter, blocked-account confirmation, insurance certificate, APS, all academic originals and certified copies, passport photos (biometric), and vaccination/medical records. Keep scanned copies in cloud storage.
You get: A grab-and-go folder that covers every first-week appointment.
After you land
Germany front-loads bureaucracy into your first weeks, in a strict order: register your address, then open a bank account and activate insurance, then convert your visa into a residence permit, then enrol. Miss the sequence and everything else stalls.
Register your address (Anmeldung) within 14 days
MandatoryBook an appointment at the local Bürgeramt / Einwohnermeldeamt and register your residence within 14 days of moving in. Bring your passport, visa, the completed registration form, and the landlord's confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). You receive a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) and, shortly after, your tax ID by post.
When: Within 14 days of moving inYou get: Meldebescheinigung, needed for the bank account, residence permit, and almost everything else.Late registration can be fined (up to €1,000 under Bundesmeldegesetz §54). If appointments are scarce, book the earliest slot and keep proof you booked within 14 days.Open a German bank account and unlock the blocked funds
RecommendedWith the Meldebescheinigung and passport, open a German current account (Girokonto). Link it to your blocked account so the €992/month releases to you. Many banks offer free student accounts.
You get: A local account receiving your monthly blocked-account release.Activate statutory health insurance
MandatorySwitch from travel/incoming insurance to German statutory student health insurance (e.g. TK, AOK, Barmer), enrolment at the university requires proof of insurance, and it is legally mandatory. Budget roughly €141 to 151/month (2026). Statutory student cover is generally only open to students under 30; older students usually need private insurance.
You get: Insurance confirmation for university enrolment.Enrol at the university (Immatrikulation)
MandatoryComplete in-person enrolment: present admission letter, passport/visa, Anmeldung, health insurance proof, and pay the semester contribution if outstanding. You receive your student ID / matriculation certificate, which is itself required for the residence permit.
You get: Matriculation certificate + student ID (often includes a transport ticket).Apply for your residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) at the Ausländerbehörde
MandatoryBefore the entry visa expires, apply at the local foreigners' authority (Ausländerbehörde) for the student residence permit (§16b AufenthG). Bring: passport, Anmeldung, matriculation certificate, blocked-account proof, health insurance, biometric photos, and the fee. You give biometrics and receive an electronic residence permit card (eAT).
When: Before the entry visa expiresCost: €100 for first issuance (AufenthV §45); extensions slightly lessYou get: Electronic residence permit (eAT) authorising your full study stay.Settle the essentials: transport ticket, SIM, broadcasting fee
Transport is the big student win: most universities offer the Deutschland-Semesterticket, a heavily discounted version of the nationwide Deutschlandticket that gives UNLIMITED regional and local public transport across all of Germany. It costs around €34.80/month (≈ €208.80/semester in winter 2025/26, rising to ~€37.80/month for 2026/27) and is usually paid through, or added on top of, the semester contribution. Buying the standalone Deutschlandticket instead costs €63/month (2026), so the student version is the one to get. Also: grab a German SIM (prepaid is easiest at first), and note the household broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag, €18.36/month) is per dwelling, students in shared flats should coordinate so it is not paid twice.
Confirm whether your university auto-includes the Deutschland-Semesterticket or requires an opt-in, it's the cheapest way to travel Germany-wide.
Nearly every later step, bank account, residence permit, tax ID, sometimes a phone contract, asks for your Meldebescheinigung first. Do the Anmeldung before anything else.
Unlike many countries, Germany legally requires you to physically register your home address with the city (Anmeldung) within 14 days, telling the authorities exactly where you live. It is not optional and not the same as university enrolment.
Working & staying on
Students can work meaningful hours to support themselves, and Germany's real draw is the back end: an 18-month permit to find a job after graduating, then a straightforward route to the EU Blue Card and permanent residence.
Work while studying
140 full days / 280 half days per year
A day up to 4 hours counts as a half day. Also framed as up to 20 hrs/week during lecture periods; unlimited in semester breaks. Now codified in §16b(3) AufenthG (raised from 120/240 on 1 March 2024).
Student assistant (Hiwi) roles
Generally outside the day cap
Academic assistant jobs at the university are treated separately, confirm current specifics.
Post-study permit
18 months to seek qualified work (§20 AufenthG)
Non-renewable; the clock starts at graduation; full work allowed during it. Must follow directly from the §16b study permit.
EU Blue Card
€50,700/yr, or €45,934.20 for shortage jobs & recent grads (2026)
The reduced threshold covers shortage occupations (IT, engineering, natural sciences, maths, health) and graduates within 3 years of their degree, most Indian STEM graduates. Thresholds are revised every year (effective 1 Jan), so re-confirm. Leads to settlement (permanent residence) faster, especially with B1 German.
Work part-time within the day cap
Students may work up to 140 full (or 280 half) days per year, or up to 20 hours/week during lecture periods, with unlimited hours in the breaks. Typical jobs: working-student (Werkstudent) roles, Hiwi positions, hospitality. Keep within the cap, exceeding it breaches the residence permit.
Switch to the 18-month job-seeker permit at graduation
OptionalApply for the §20 residence permit to look for qualified employment as soon as you have proof of graduation, it follows directly from the student permit, lasts up to 18 months, is non-renewable, and lets you work without restriction while you search. Applying late risks refusal.
When: Immediately after graduatingMove onto the EU Blue Card or a work permit
OptionalOnce the student has a graduate-level job offer meeting the Blue Card salary threshold, €50,700/year in 2026, or the reduced €45,934.20 for shortage occupations (IT, engineering, sciences, maths, health) and graduates within 3 years, convert to an EU Blue Card. These figures are revised annually, so confirm the current year's. The Blue Card shortens the road to permanent residence (settlement to ~21 months with B1 German). Below the threshold, a standard qualified-employment residence permit applies.
Common mistakes applying to Germany
The Germany route fails in predictable places. These are the ones that cost applicants an intake.
- Starting APS too late. It gates admission and the visa and can take weeks to months, begin it the day the student commits to Germany.
- Forgetting the new dMAT for affected Masters applicants (engineering/IT, commerce, finance, economics, business, management) from the Summer 2027 intake, APS cannot be completed without it, so it silently blocks admission and the visa if missed.
- For private-university students, omitting proof of tuition-fee payment in the visa file, public-university applicants don't need it, so it's easy to forget that private-uni cases require the invoice plus proof of first-year payment on top of the blocked account.
- Assuming every public university is tuition-free. Baden-Württemberg (€1,500/semester) and TU Munich (€2,000 to 6,000/semester from Winter 2024/25) charge non-EU tuition, and more states may follow, check the specific university before quoting 'free'.
- Using a visa-office-rejected English/German test in India (Duolingo, PTE, TOEFL Home Edition). Universities may accept them; the mission does not.
- Treating an affidavit of support as proof of funds. Only a blocked account or a recognised sponsorship/scholarship letter counts.
- Underestimating housing. No address = no Anmeldung = no residence permit or bank account. Housing, not admission, is often the real blocker.
- Missing the two-layer deadline: the university deadline AND the uni-assist pre-check lead time.
- Assuming the entry visa is the end. The residence permit must be applied for locally, before the ~90-day visa lapses.
- Quoting a stale blocked-account figure. It changes with the BAföG rate, re-confirm each cycle.
- Booking flights before the visa is stamped, or arriving too close to day one to complete Anmeldung, insurance, and the residence-permit appointment.
Decide Germany → start APS + tests → shortlist & check recognition → apply (uni-assist/direct) by 15 July → get admission → open blocked account + insurance → book & attend visa appointment → arrange housing → fly 1 to 3 weeks early → Anmeldung → bank + insurance → enrol → residence permit.
Official sources
Every figure above traces to one of these. Rules and fees change, so confirm anything you are about to act on at the source.
- Studies, incl. preparatory college and language courses, Visa info, German Missions in India (Auswärtiges Amt)
- National Visa, general information, German Missions in India (Auswärtiges Amt)
- Checklist for a German national visa, students (PDF), German Missions in India (Auswärtiges Amt)
- Consular Services Portal, apply for a national visa online, German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt)
- APS India, Academic Evaluation Centre, APS India (Science Section, German Embassy New Delhi + DAAD)
- dMAT (Digital Master Test), part of the APS procedure, APS India
- dMAT for graduate students in India, test details, fields & fee, g.a.s.t. (Gesellschaft für Akademische Studienvorbereitung und Testentwicklung)
- Study in Germany, official portal, DAAD / Federal Ministry of Education and Research
- uni-assist, application processing for international applicants, uni-assist e.V.
- Tuition fees for students from non-EU countries, Technical University of Munich (TUM)
- Health insurance for international students, Techniker Krankenkasse (TK, statutory insurer)
- Working while studying, rules for international students, Make it in Germany (Federal Government portal)
- Staying in Germany after your studies, Make it in Germany (Federal Government portal)
- EU Blue Card, eligibility and salary thresholds, Make it in Germany (Federal Government portal)
- Residence Act (AufenthG), §16b study, §20 job-search (English text), Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de)
- Federal Registration Act (Bundesmeldegesetz), §17 registration duty (English text), Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de)
- Residence Ordinance (AufenthV) §45, residence-permit fees, Federal Ministry of Justice (gesetze-im-internet.de)
Check where you actually qualify
This page is the same for everyone. Your marks, your budget and your subject are not. Run a free eligibility check to see your odds across 13 countries and the real programs open to you in each.
Other destinations
Bramica is independent and takes no commission from any university, recruiter or agency. This guide is information, not immigration advice. Rules, fees and thresholds change; confirm the current requirement on the official source before acting on it.