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Country guide

Study in Germany

Everything an international student needs to apply to a Germany university: grading scale, fees, language tests, visa proof, top universities, and deadlines.

Grading scale

1.0 (best) – 5.0 (fail), inverted

4.0 is the minimum pass; 1.0–1.5 is excellent

Convert your grades

Application requirements

Application fees

Most public universities charge €0; Uni-Assist processes international applications for ~€75 (first programme) and ~€30 per additional

Language tests

German-taught programmes typically require TestDaF TDN 4 or DSH-2, equivalent to C1. English-taught master's programmes typically require IELTS 6.5–7.0 or TOEFL iBT 90–100.

Cost & visa proof

Estimated tuition, accommodation, living costs, and the visa financial proof requirement — by city and university type.

Open Study Cost Estimator

Top universities in Germany

Ranking source: QS World University Rankings & Times Higher Education 2024 (where noted). Links go to each university's official admissions page.

UniversityCityRankingAdmissions
Technical University of Munich (TUM)MunichQS 28Open
Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU)MunichQS 54Open
Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergQS 84Open
Humboldt University of BerlinBerlinQS 120Open
Free University of Berlin (FU)BerlinQS 98Open
RWTH AachenAachenQS 99Open
University of FreiburgFreiburgQS 192Open
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)KarlsruheQS 119Open
University of TübingenTübingenQS 213Open
University of GöttingenGöttingenQS 191Open

Application timeline

Winter semester (Oct start)

Typical window

Apr 1 – Jul 15

Summer semester (Apr start)

Typical window

Dec 1 – Jan 15

Individual programmes vary. Always confirm on the target university's official admissions page.

Cost of living (per month)

Berlin

€950 – €1,250

Munich

€1,250 – €1,600

Hamburg

€950 – €1,300

Aachen

€800 – €1,050

Indicative all-in ranges for student accommodation, food, transport, and basic utilities. Personal lifestyle and accommodation type swing these significantly.

Common questions

Do I need an APS certificate?+
Students from China, Vietnam, India, and a few other countries must obtain an APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) certificate before applying. Check the German embassy in your country for current rules.
Is there tuition at public universities?+
Most German public universities charge no tuition — only a small semester contribution of €150–€350. Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500/semester for bachelor's and master's programmes.
How does Uni-Assist work?+
Uni-Assist is a centralised application service used by ~180 German universities for international applicants. They evaluate your transcripts and forward complete applications to the universities — typically ~€75 for the first application and ~€30 per additional programme.
Are English-taught master's competitive?+
Yes — programmes at TUM, LMU, and Heidelberg are very competitive. Plan for stronger evidence of English (IELTS 7.0+, TOEFL 100+), a clear motivation letter, and a strong undergraduate GPA equivalent to a German 2.0 or better.

Next steps

Convert your grades

Use the My Grades tool to translate your transcript into the german scale.

Plan your application

Personalised application checklist for Germany at every degree level.

See related conversions

Every conversion involving the german grading scale, in one place.