Requirements To Study In Germany For Indian Students

Pursuing higher education at a foreign university is a long-drawn and exhausting affair. From shortlisting the right educational institute and searching for a well fit course to applying for it and fulfilling the post-admission formalities, it takes a lot out of applicants. While the requirements to Study in Germany for Indian students is similar to that adopted by institutions in other countries. It is important to review each condition so as to be considered by the university. What is important to note that the Indian students make up for the third-largest population of international students in German universities. As a result, many top universities in Germany list down specific requirements for Indian students in addition to the general conditions. So, if you are wondering what are the requirements to study in Germany for Indian students then, go through this blog.

How to Study in Germany as an International Student? 

Students from all around the world flock to Germany. The number of students applying to German institutions appears to be increasing year after year.

To pursue higher education in Germany, it is necessary to be informed of all of the country’s expected qualifications. Be it university eligibility, visa requirements, language competence scores, or any other crucial criteria, a student must be prepared to meet them all.

Requirements To Study In Germany For Indian Students

Here are some requirements to study in Germany For Indian Students:

Prior Degree Qualification

As the levels of the intended degree program are different, the required levels of qualification also vary. This is to ensure that the candidate is well-versed in the minimum required fundamentals to excel in the studies during the program. While there is some restriction as to the level of education required for pursuing STEM courses in Germany, largely, universities adopt quite a flexible approach with respect to Arts stream subjects, business, languages, social sciences and so forth. A degree certificate is proof that attests to the qualification obtained as well as specific dates of commencement and graduation from the program.

Prospective Degree	Required Qualification
Bachelor’s	Class 12th with at least 50% marks in the required subjects, for instance, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, etc.
Master’s	Three or four-year undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline and subjects with the minimum percentage of marks as set by course and/or university standards. Note: Check official university websites
PhD	A bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in a relevant area of study

Transcripts

The transcript/grade sheet/mark sheet is an official document issued by the university from where you have pursued your higher studies. It mentions the subjects, electives, and the marks obtained in a lucid manner. It must be signed and stamped by the Controller Examination or Head of Department or any other official authority. Typically, university regulations may contain specific instructions as to the subjects studied in the previous qualification. Further, occasionally, you may be asked to prove a certain number of credits in a particular subject, for example, Mathematics, Economics or Statistics. 

German/English Language Proficiency

Proficiency in German and/or English is one of the major requirements to Study in Germany for Indian Students. Scores of IELTS/TOEFL/PTE exams can be used as evidence to prove English language proficiency. Further, a certificate of German language or any other recognised test that attests to the level of proficiency in it can also be used. Moreover, knowing a bit of German language beforehand helps you in gelling up with the study environment. 

Documents Required

During the submission of an online application, in addition to personal and educational details, you may also be asked to attach a few more documents that help the university to understand your strong points and to assess your suitability in terms of programme needs. This includes:

• Passport
• Statement of Purpose [SOP]
• Letter of Recommendation [LOR]
• GRE/GMAT scores
• Work Experience [optional]
• Research Proposal [only for PhD courses]

Proof of Financial Resources

Proof of Financial Resources is one of the essential requirements to study in Germany for Indian students. In order to be granted a Germany Student Visa, you will be asked to submit ‘Proof of Financial Resources’ which, in other words, is just a document that details how you wish to cover the cost of education in Germany. This can be done through several means, namely, a sponsorship letter from the university, loan documents, etc.

Study Visa

Once your application gets approved by the university, the next step is to apply for a student visa, which forms an essential component in the list of requirements to study in Germany for Indian students. Enlisted are the most important documents for obtaining a student visa to study in Germany:

• Admission Letter
• Language Proficiency Scorecard
• Health Insurance Coverage Certificate
• Financial Stability Proof

Registration Certificate

If you find a room or a flat in Germany, you must register with the Einwohnermeldeamt (residents’ registration office) within two weeks. You will subsequently be given a registration certificate that certifies your registration at a specific address.

The registration certificate is required on a variety of occasions, such as when opening a bank account, applying for a library card or a parking permit, and so on.

Residence Permit

European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland students do not require a residency permit. When they register with the residents’ registration office, they obtain a certificate proving their right to dwell in Germany.

• If you are not from one of the above-mentioned countries, you must report to the Ausländerbehörde and apply for a residence permit.
• International students who have been accepted to a higher education institution must get a residence permit in order to study.
• You will be given a chip card with your passport photograph and fingerprints saved on it. It serves as verification that you have a valid residency permit.

Health Insurance

You will require health insurance if you wish to study in Germany. It is an important part of the university requirements in Germany. Without it, international students are not able to enrol in German higher education institutions.

The costs of medical care and pharmaceuticals do not have to be paid privately in the event of an accident or illness with the help of health insurance. When enrolling, international students must show proof of health insurance.

The following nations’ public health insurance programmes are also valid in Germany:

• Member states of EU
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Morocco
• Macedonia
• Montenegro
• Norway
• Switzerland
• Serbia
• Tunisia
• Turkey

If your home country’s health insurance policy is not recognised in Germany, you must enrol in coverage in Germany. A public health insurance policy costs around 110 euros per month until you reach the age of 30 or finish your 14th subject-related semester at university. After that, the monthly cost rises to 190 euros or more.

German University Admission Requirements for Language

The majority of degree programmes in Germany are taught in German. As a result, students must have a working understanding of the German language.

You can demonstrate your German language proficiency by taking one of the following German entrance exams –

• TestDaF is available in over 100 countries. This test can be taken from your own country.
• DSH – This test is only available at a few universities in Germany.
• German universities commonly acknowledge the Goethe-Zertifikat C2, the Telc Deutsch C1 test, and the Deutsches Sprachdiplom (level II) of the Standing Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs. The majority of German language levels necessary for education in Germany are B2 to C2.

If you plan to enrol in an international degree program, you will not be expected to know German. You will then be required to take English language competency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL.

Top German Universities

Here are some of the top Universities in Germany that we have taken as reference in this article on ‘Requirements to Study in Germany for Indian Students’. 

University in Germany	QS WUR Ranking 2023
Technical University of Munich	49
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München	59
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg	=65
Freie Universitaet Berlin	=118
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin	=131
KIT, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology	=141
RWTH Aachen University	=147
Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin)	158
Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen	169
Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg	189

DAAD German Scholarships

From bachelor’s level to postdoctoral research and even to faculty, DAAD scholarship caters to the needs of a variety of individuals. The following table lists down 20 varied scholarship options. 

Name of DAAD Scholarship	Eligibility
Doctoral Programmes in Germany [Research Grants]	Graduates, Doctoral candidates/PhD students, Postdoctoral Researchers
Bi-Nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees/Cotutelle	Graduates, Doctoral candidates/PhD students
Practical Traineeships for Foreign Students of Natural & Technical Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry	Undergraduates and Graduates
Graduate School Scholarship Programme	Doctoral candidates/PhD students
University Summer Courses offered in Germany for Foreign Students and Graduates	Undergraduates, Graduates
Study Scholarships-Postgraduate Studies in the Field of Fine Art, Design, Visual Communication and Film	Graduates Only
Research Stays for University Academics & Scientists	Graduates, Doctoral candidates/PhD students, Postdoctoral Researchers, Faculty
Study-Scholarships-Postgraduate Studies in the Field of Music	Graduates only
Combined Study and Practice Stays for Engineers from Developing Countries (KOSPIE) with Indian IITs	Graduates only
Development-Related Postgraduate Courses Scholarships	Graduates only
DLR DAAD Research Fellowship Programme	Graduates, Doctoral candidates/PhD students, Postdoctoral Researchers, Faculty
Postdoctoral Researchers International Mobility Programme (PRIME)	Postdoctoral researchers
Bilateral Exchange of Academics	Postdoctoral Researchers, Faculty
Helmut-Schmidt Programme (Master’s Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance-PPGG)	Graduates Only
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation: the German Chancellor Fellowship	Graduates Only
Baden-Württemberg Stiftung: the Baden Wurttemberg-STIPENDIUM for University Students	Undergraduates, Graduates, Doctoral candidates/PhD students
Bayer Science & Education Foundation: Carl Duisberg Scholarship	Undergraduates, Graduates
Bayer Science & Education Foundation: Kurt Hassen Scholarship	Undergraduates, Graduates
Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds: PhD Fellowships	Doctoral candidates/PhD students
Evonik Foundation Scholarship	Undergraduates, Graduates, Doctoral candidates/PhD students, Postdoctoral Researchers

FAQs

If you want to get into your dream course in a high-ranked global university, you’ll need more than just good grades; you’ll also need flawless application because the competition is fierce. You may enlist the assistance of Leverage Edu specialists to assist you with the application process so that you can realize your goals. Call us immediately at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling session.