German has always been a favorite destination amongst students aspiring to pursue higher education. The country offers free world-class education and zero-tuition fee for local and international students. India has witnessed a significant growth rate in Indian students moving to Germany for pursuing higher education. Also, the number of individuals opting for a German Student visa has amplified to millions in the last decade. Hence, in this article, we explore the application process for the Germany Study visa and how you can take the step forward with the assistance of our expert Germany immigration Consultants in Delhi at Nationwide Visas.
German Study Visa
Germany offers three types of Study Visas: German Student Visa, German Language Course Visa, and German Student Applicant Visa. Amongst these visa types, the German Student Visa is the most sought-after.
Below are the key requirements for obtaining the Germany Study Visa:
1. Accurate and Precise Documentation
To obtain German study visa the documents (original and 2 copies) needed are:
- Visa application form.
- Passport.
- Information page of the passport copied version in A4 size sheet.
- Cover letter or an admission letter from the German University.
- German language fluency scores.
- Funds proof.
- Educational certificates.
- Student Visa fee receipt proof.
- Photographs (Passport-size).
- Schengen visa proof (if you had one previously).
- German residence permit (if you had one previously).
- Personal cover letter with purpose and stay duration details.
Note: The German embassy can have additional German study visaconditions.They would ask you for the other supporting documents if required. You can reach out to our German immigration Consultants in Delhi at Nationwide Visas to get clarity on additional documentation.
2. Proof of Financial Resources
The most important Germany study visarequirementis the proof of financial resources -Finanzierungsnachweis (financial funds in German). The aspirant must furnish the below documents:
- A German Bank issued a bank guarantee.
- Scholarship certificate, if available.
- The scholarship should include statistics about the total expenditure that it covers.
- Verpflichtungserklärung – A letter issued at the Alien’s Registration Office by a German Resident; in case the German resident is bearing the educational course costs.
- A German blocked bank account with €10,236 deposit in total. This account is meant for covering day-to-day student expenses.
- A letter of commitment for fee payment from the applicant’s guardians. This comprises proof of their financial assets and income details.
3. Admission Letter from University
An additional key requirement of the German study visarequirementsis an admission letter issued by the university of your choice. The letter is issued after a few weeks of the application submission in an electronic mail. You require to print the email and produce that as the admission letter proof. The letter should be furnished in your native country’s German embassy during the visa application process.
4. German Entrance Criterion for Higher Education
Students must produce proof that they can qualify for higher education programs in Germany. The required documents for Germany study visacriterion under this topic are as below.
Zulassungsbescheid
- Indian students must furnish their admission agreement in this study program
- It should be issued by a recognized higher education institution in Germany
- It should also include detail about the language chosen for study along with the course duration information
Bedingter Zulassungsbescheid
Indian students must furnish conditional admission proof of this criterion along with proof of admission in ‘Intensiv-Sprachkurs,’ – an intensive program. The letter confirms that you can partake in this thorough language course before getting admission. The duration of the course is 6 months, inclusive of 18 hours of lessons in one week. The requisite for this is as follows:
- You have to produce the letter of confirmation from the ‘uni-assist’
- Furnish the communication proof with the university about final admission
- Admission confirmation proof of the Applicant
- Language course fee payment proof for the initial 3 months
Studienkolleg
It is a one-year foundation-level course for making students ready for ‘Feststellungsprüfung’. It is a mandatory university-level assessment examination for the applicants. You need to have decent language skills at CEFR B1 level to join the course. The documents needed are as follows:
- Foreign schools leaving certification copies
- Average grades in studies. Applicants can obtain it from the ‘Oberschulamt’ state education officials in their city
- Proof of CEFR B1 level language proficiency
- The statement detailing how the foreign certificate is at par with the German school-leaving certificate
The study visa requirements for ‘Studienkolleg’ are as below:
- Proof of participation in the program
- Proof of any message about final admission with the university
- Confirmation letter from the ‘uni-assist’
5. Preceding Educational Qualification Proof
Education proof is a key necessity in fulfilling the German study visa requirements for Indian students. The essential documents include:
- Marks record
- Degree certificates (applicable for Ph.D. and Mastery program applicants)
- School-leaving certificate (original)
6. Language Skills
Language skill is another pertinent factor for obtaining a Germany study visa. Indian students require to show their aptitude in either the German or English language. Students can also submit certificates if they are hands-on in both languages.
Guidelines for German language skills
Foreign students require to be well acquainted with the basics of the German language. They can also furnish German learning course certificates.
Students can also submit an education completion certificate from a German study program as well.
In German international programs, knowledge of the basic German language is beneficial.
The satisfactory German language grades for each program are mentioned below:
| Educational program (Germany based) | Grade level (Language examination) |
| Graduate/ Bachelor’s Degree | DSH II Level CEFR C1 Level |
| Post-Graduate/Master’s Degree | DSH I Level DSH II Level |
| Doctoral Degree | No exact requirement. The individual education providers select the language they permit for admission. |
The permissible certificates that Indian students can submit as German skill proof are as below:
DSH I Level
- UNIcert III
- DSH Certificate (Level 1 and more)
- GDS Certificate (C1 Level or more)
- Minimum of 14 points in TestDaF Certificate
- Telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule Passing Certificate
- Education Ministers’ Conference language certification (Level 2 + C1 all sections)
CEFR C1 Level
- Education Ministers’ Conference language certification (Level 2 + C2 all sections)
- DSH Certificate (Level 2 or more)
- GDS Certificate (C2 Level or more)
- Approximately 4 points in four sections of TestDaF Certificate
Other certificates comprise:
- ‘Feststellung Prüfungszeugnis’ Assessment Exam Certificate
- Certification of telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule
- Goethe-Institut Test Certificate
- ‘Abitur’ German University Entrance Qualification
- Österreichisches Sprachdiplom (ÖSD Zertifikat C1)
- telc Deutsch B1 Certification ( applicable for music or art universities only)
Directions for English language skills
English is the chosen language for conducting international study programs in German. Hence, impeccable English-speaking skills are a mandate.
Non-international study programs require basic English skills or decent German skills for aspiring candidates.
The German institutes for higher education have outlined their particular rules for non-English speaking students. The certificates that are admissible as English skill proof are as below:
- TOEIC certificate
- Educational Certificate from an English-Speaking Academic Institution. The language score must be 6 (B2)/5 (B1) during education years
- Least of 5.0 (B2) or 4.5 (B1) in IELTS scores
- Cambridge English Certificates. (C2 – Expert level, C1 – Progressive level , B2 – First level, or B1 – Initial level)
- UNIcert® minimum II (B2) or I (B1)
- TOEFL Scores- IbT-test based on internet-60 (B1)/80 (B2) points. CbT- test based on computer- 130 (B1)/170 (B2) points. PbT –test conducted on paper- 450 (B1)/500 (B2) points
- Students with University Entrance Qualifications from an English-speaking nation
- University Degree from an English-speaking nation (higher education)
7. Health Coverage
Another key criterion for Germany study visa is applying for health insurance. Indian students have to cover their medical requirements in case of emergencies.
Germany has two types of healthcare insurance entailing:
- Private insurance: This can be customized as required.
- Public insurance: It covers basic medical complications only.
The health coverage plans for Indian students in Germany has specific guidelines. The instructions for Ph.D. students are:
- You should go for private health coverage plans.
- Foreign nationals over 30 years cannot get statutory insurance.
- Students commencing their 14th semester in Germany cannot select public insurance.
The mandates for preparatory course students are:
- Public health insurance is not accessible to you in Germany.
- You can choose private health insurance plans only.
The guidelines for foreign exchange students are:
- You can choose both public and private health coverage plans.
- Most foreign exchange students prefer private insurance plans as they are simpler to comprehend and manage.
The directions for scholarship doctorate students are:
- If you are unemployed with extended courses then choose any private insurance plan.
- You can opt for a plan based on how much you pay every year. It also comprises how much cost your scholarship can cover.
8. Visa Fees
Visa Fees payment is one of the significant Germany study visa parameters. The payment costs are as below:
- National visa applicants above 18 years of age need to pay a fee of €75.
- National visa applicants under 18 years of age need to pay a fee of €37.50.
- If applying for a German Residence Permit, then you have to pay a fee of €110 (approx).
9. Tuition fees
The fees for the courses are diverse for each university. The average costs are as stated below.
| Program | Average Tuition Fees (yearly) |
| Bachelor Degree | €500 -€20,000 |
| Master’s Degree | €5,000 – €30,000 |
Note: Students can pursue higher education without paying fees in Public German universities. However, you still require to pay for the administration and enrolment charges yearly. Hence, you require to furnish the details about the availability of sufficient funds to cover this.
10. Scholarships
Germany offers an array of scholarships to Indian students and other international students. Students with low financial resources can apply for such scholarships from top universities.
As per the Germany study visa requirement, the scholarship students must furnish proof of confirmation during the visa application.
A few of the most sought-out higher-education German scholarships for Indian students are as follows:
- DAAD WISE Scholarship Program
- Heinrich Boll Scholarships
- Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarship
- ESMT Women’s Academic Scholarship
- Kofi Annan Master of Business Administration (MBA) Scholarships
- Goethe Goes Global Scholarships
- International Scholarships from WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management
- EMS Undergraduate Scholarship
- DLD Executive MBA Scholarship
- University of Stuttgart’s Master Scholarships
Key takeaways from the Germany study visa in a nutshell:
- The documents should not be stapled while submitting the application
- German Missions reserve the right to request further documents or the authentication of certificates, with additional fees charged
- Improper documentation or negation to appear for a visa interview may result in the visa rejection
In case of any confusion, you can contact our German immigration Consultants in Delhiat Nationwide Visas, who will support you through the entire process and will also assist you with supporting documents like admission essays, cover letters, etc.
