🇩🇪 Germany — university admissions for families from abroad

"2027 entry" means the winter semester 2027/28, starting in October 2027 (a few programmes also start in the summer semester, in April).

1. At a glance

• Almost free: public universities charge no tuition in 14 of the 16 states, only a semester contribution of about €100–€350, which often includes a public-transport ticket. The exceptions are Baden-Württemberg (€1,500 per semester for non-EU students) and TUM in Munich (€2,000–€3,000 per semester for non-EU bachelor's students). 🟡 [S5]
• Your diploma must be recognised as university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung). Some foreign diplomas give direct access; others (e.g. a US diploma without APs) require a one-year foundation course (Studienkolleg) first. 🟡 [S3][S6]
• Admission is mostly by grade: many programmes are open to all qualified applicants; popular ones have a local numerus clausus (ranking by school-leaving grade). Medicine is centralised and extremely competitive. 🟡
• Deadline: 15 July 2027 for most restricted programmes in winter 2027/28. Many universities set earlier dates for international applicants, and processing through uni-assist takes 4–8 weeks. 🟡 [S2][S4]
• Mostly in German: only about 430 bachelor's programmes are taught entirely in English (vs about 1,950 master's programmes). German-taught degrees usually need C1 (DSH-2 / TestDaF 4×4). 🟡 [S9][S10]
• Non-EU students: student visa (€75 at the German missions checked) and a blocked account of €11,904 a year (€992 a month). ✅ [S12]

2. The system

• Two main kinds of institutions:
  • **Universities (Universität, TU):** research-oriented, the full range of subjects, the only

  route to medicine, law (Staatsexamen) and a doctorate.

  • **Universities of applied sciences (Hochschule, HAW / FH):** practice-oriented, smaller

  classes, internships; engineering, business, social work, design.

• Bachelor's degree: usually 3 years (6 semesters, 180 ECTS), sometimes 3.5–4 years at applied-sciences universities. Medicine, law and pharmacy end in a state exam (Staatsexamen), not a bachelor's degree.
• Federal system: education is run by the **16 states (Länder)**, so fees, rules and calendars vary by state.
• Admission types per programme:
  • **Open admission (zulassungsfrei):** every qualified applicant is admitted. Apply by the

  university's deadline (often later, e.g. September), or simply enrol.

  • **Local restriction (örtlicher NC):** places ranked mainly by school-leaving grade.
  • Centralised (medicine, dentistry, veterinary, pharmacy) through hochschulstart.de.
• Very independent study: large lectures and exams at the end of the semester, little supervision. Dropout rates are high in some subjects.

3. How to apply

There are three routes, depending on the programme and the applicant:

1. Directly at the university (its own portal). Typical for EU applicants with a recognised diploma.
2. Through uni-assist, the clearing house that checks foreign diplomas for about 170 universities. Fee: €75 for the first application, €30 for each additional one in the same semester. Some universities pay the fee themselves. Processing takes 4–8 weeks: apply at least 8 weeks before the deadline. 🟡 [S2]
3. hochschulstart.de (DoSV, the "dialogue-oriented service procedure"): for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacy (centralised) and for many locally restricted programmes coordinated through the same platform. 🟡 [S4]

Other points:

• Documents: certified copies of the diploma and transcript (with an official translation if not in German or English), language certificates, sometimes a CV and motivation letter. Many universities ask for a VPD (preliminary review documentation) from uni-assist, which converts the foreign grade into a German grade. 🟡 [S2]
• Aptitude tests: some programmes have their own (e.g. art, music, sport). Medicine uses the TMS test, being replaced by the TMSnat (TU Dresden accepts both for 2027/28, only TMSnat from 2028/29). 🟡 [S4]
• No essays or teacher references for most bachelor's programmes. The grade decides.

4. Timeline (winter semester 2027/28)

Mirrored in deadlines tool.

5. Entry requirements for foreign qualifications

The KMK (the states' education ministers' conference) sets the rules. The anabin database says whether a diploma gives direct access (H+), conditional access (H+/-, usually via Studienkolleg + the Feststellungsprüfung exam) or none (H-). The university makes the final decision. The ZAB issues a formal "statement of comparability" (€208, 2–3 months) where needed. 🟡 [S6]

• Grade conversion: foreign grades are converted to the German 1.0–4.0 scale (1.0 = best) with the "modified Bavarian formula". This converted grade is what ranks applicants for restricted programmes. 🟡 [S2]

6. Language requirements

• German-taught programmes: usually C1, proven by DSH-2 or TestDaF 4×4 (or the Goethe C1/C2, telc C1 Hochschule). Some applied-sciences universities accept B2 for some programmes (e.g. Hochschule München). 🟡 [S10]
• English-taught programmes: typically IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT around 80–90 (B2–C1); competitive programmes ask for more. Some require basic German (e.g. A2) by the second semester (Cologne). 🟡 [S10]
• Only about 430 bachelor's programmes are taught fully in English (DAAD, Jan 2026), so most undergraduate options require German. 🟡 [S9]

7. Costs

8. Funding and financial aid

• BAföG (state support, half grant and half interest-free loan; maximum €992 a month in 2026 with own housing and insurance): open to EU citizens with a permanent right of residence (usually after 5 years in Germany) or who are, or whose parents are, workers in Germany. Most students arriving from abroad don't qualify in year 1. 🟡 [S11] ⚠️
• Scholarships: DAAD scholarships (mostly for graduates), the Deutschlandstipendium (€300 a month, merit-based, open to international students), and political or religious foundations (Begabtenförderungswerke). ⚠️
• Student jobs: €603 a month (2026 minijob limit) can be earned without losing BAföG. 🟡 [S11]
• Home-country funding can often be used in Germany (e.g. French bourses for EU study are limited ⚠️; Luxembourg and Norway fund study abroad). This will be covered in each country file.

9. Visas and immigration

• EU/EEA/Swiss citizens: no visa. Register your address (Anmeldung) at the local office (Bürgeramt).
• Non-EU (including UK since Brexit, and US): a national student visa (D visa, about €75, payable in local currency) before arrival. ✅ [S12] US citizens can enter without a visa and apply for the residence permit in Germany. Then a residence permit (about €100) from the local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde). 🟡 [S7] ⚠️
• Proof of funds: a **blocked account (Sperrkonto) of €11,904 for the first year, released at €992 a month** (Federal Foreign Office, since 1 Jan 2025; still current in June 2026). If the university charges tuition, some missions require the amount to be increased by the fee. Banks charge €70–€150 to open the account. Providers: Expatrio, Fintiba. ✅ [S12]
• Visa appointments: in some countries the wait for an embassy appointment is long. Apply as soon as you have the admission letter, or with proof of application.
• Work during studies: 140 full days or 280 half days a year (non-EU), plus unlimited student-assistant jobs at the university. 🟡 [S7]
• After graduation: an 18-month job-seeker permit to find a qualified job, during which any work is allowed; then usually an EU Blue Card or work permit. 🟡 [S7]

10. Traps and tips for cross-border families

1. Check recognition before anything else. Look up the diploma in anabin or use the uni-assist checker. A US diploma without the right APs, or an IB with the wrong subject combination, can mean a whole extra year at a Studienkolleg.
2. IB students: plan the subjects from the start of the IB (age 16) to match the KMK pattern. Changing later is often impossible.
3. German is the real entry requirement. With only ~430 English-taught bachelor's programmes, most options require C1 German. Start a DSH/TestDaF plan at least a year ahead.
4. 15 July is not the deadline for international applicants. uni-assist processing (4–8 weeks) plus earlier university deadlines put the real deadline in May or early June.
5. The grade decides: for restricted programmes, a foreign grade is converted to the German scale, with no essay to compensate. Ask the university for last year's cut-off (Auswahlgrenze).
6. Medicine: centralised, ranked mainly by grade plus the TMS, and only a small share of places for non-EU applicants (traditionally around 5% ⚠️). EU applicants compete like Germans.
7. "Free" is not free for everyone: non-EU students pay €3,000 a year in Baden-Württemberg and €4,000–€6,000 at TUM. Living costs are the main expense everywhere.
8. Housing: apply to the student services' halls (Studierendenwerk) as soon as you have admission. Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne and Berlin are very tight.

11. Open questions / to verify

• anabin rating of the standard French baccalauréat général and its conditions. ⚠️
• Official KMK US rules (which AP subjects, GPA), and UK A-level rules after Brexit. ⚠️
• Residence permit fee (about €100): confirm with the local immigration office. ⚠️
• Medicine quota for non-EU applicants and the hochschulstart dates for 2027 (opening date provisional). ⚠️
• FAU Erlangen and TUM fee changes for 2027/28. ⚠️
• BAföG rules for EU citizens: confirm on bafög.de. ⚠️
• Health insurance cost for students in 2027. ⚠️
• Typical international-applicant deadlines at 3–4 named universities (TU Munich, LMU, Heidelberg, Humboldt). ⚠️

12. For parents: is Germany right for my child?

• Strong in: engineering (the TU9: TUM, RWTH Aachen, KIT…; KIT 42nd worldwide in QS 2026 engineering), natural sciences, medicine (Charité, Heidelberg, LMU), business (Mannheim, 1st in Germany for accounting and finance in QS 2026). 🟡
• Why families choose it: no tuition in 14 of 16 states, good universities everywhere (small differences between them), a strong job market and an 18-month post-study work permit.
• Budget: about €12,000–€17,000 a year (≈ €36,000–€51,000 for 3 years); non-EU + €3,000 a year in Baden-Württemberg, + €4,000–€6,000 at TUM. See How much will it cost?.
• Best for: students with German at C1 (or one of ~430 English-taught bachelor's programmes), strong grades, and independence; budget-conscious families.
• Think twice if: the diploma isn't directly recognised (e.g. a US diploma without APs → an extra year at a Studienkolleg), or the child needs close supervision (large lectures, high dropout in some subjects).
• More: choosing a country · what are my chances? · fields of study · all guides

Sources

All checked on 2026-10-19.