Everything you need to know about Free Education in Germany | Life in Düsseldorf (2023)

FAQs

How does free education work in Germany? ›

In 2014, Germany officially eliminated tuition for most bachelor's and many master's degree students, regardless of country of origin. Students must still consider administrative fees, the cost of living, and the expenses required to fund the visa process, but going to college in Germany is nominally free to all.

public universities are free! What's more, it is often the public universities that focus on the international exchange of their students. For example, the Düsseldorf university paves the way for 80 European and 30 international university agreements and actively supports the exchange of international students.

Education Criteria– Candidates must have passed class 12th examination. They will not be considered otherwise. Minimum marks required: Candidates must secure a minimum 85% or 9 CGPA in class 12th. Age Limit: There is no age limit.

Undergraduate costs to study in Germany

Although you can study for free at public German universities as an undergraduate, there is a charge per semester for enrolment, confirmation and administration. This is typically no more than €250 (~US$290) per semester, but varies depending on the university.

In Germany, there are generous provisions for students, including a range of state-financed grants (such as BAfög for international students) and private loans. The most common form of education loan in Germany is called Bafög. It is a state-funded loan that is available to students based on their financial needs.

Free study in Germany's top rated public Universities

As most of free degree programs are taught in German language, one need to clear C1 level of German language to get admission in Public Universities.

Düsseldorf

Public Universities in Germany are free for international students. In Germany, public universities are tuition-free, and not just for German or EU citizens! You don't have to have ever been to Germany or speak German to apply to universities in Germany.

No, private universities in Germany are not free. Germany private university fees are high as they charge tuition fees for all their programs unlike most public universities which have zero tuition fees.

What are the requirements to study in Germany? ›

All the public universities in Germany offer free education to all students.

Student jobs and internships

Students from abroad can also work in Germany alongside their studies. Students from EU/EEA countries are allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week during the semester, just like German students are. There is no limit to how much they can earn during semester breaks.

Getting Great at German

German might not be as familiar to English speakers as Spanish, but it's still one of the easiest languages to learn. Like Spanish, it's also a phonetic language, which makes pronunciation easy to figure out.

You can work up to 20 hours per week while studying. If you exceed this, you'll be required to pay into the German social security system, and there could be a negative impact on your studies. Non-EU/EEA students are also able to work in Germany alongside their studies, for 120 full days or 240 half days per year.

The German welfare association Paritätische Gesamtverband has recently revealed that almost every third person studying in Germany lives below the poverty line. This has been followed by calls for BAföG reforms and higher student loans.

You may earn up to 450 euros per month. With a minimum wage of 9.50 euros per hour (as of Jan. 2021), you have to work a maximum of around eleven hours per week or around 47 hours per month for this amount. As a full-time student, you do not have to pay taxes or social security contributions on this amount.

Germany is extremely popular among international students even if German is not that easy to learn. That's because even if you don't speak any German you can still go for a Bachelor's here thanks to the numerous English-taught Bachelor's.

Simply put, no! To study at a German university, you don't need to speak German as long as you meet the minimum language requirements for your desired degree program. However, you will have more options if you consider programs that are taught in English AND German.

Can I study in Germany with only English? ›

While most programs are taught in German, there are opportunities to study in Germany in English, with a growing selection of English-language programs designed for international students.

There are mainly two intakes in Germany summer intake and winter intake.

Everyone can study in Germany tuition-free!

That's right: Germans, Europeans, and all non-Europeans can study in Germany free of charge - without tuition fees.

For families to join students in Germany they would have to apply for a visa for family reunification from the competent Germany mission abroad.

Course in the German language: You can also seek admission to a German university without IELTS by taking admission to a German language program. However, to pursue this program you will need to submit a certification in the German language. A C1 to B1 level certificate will serve the purpose in this case.

Are private universities in Germany good? Even though private universities in Germany do not rank as high as public universities, it doesn't mean that they're not good. The pros of pursuing your higher education in Germany are usually higher than in universities in most countries.

Knowledge of German is not a must

There are a large number of international degree courses at German universities. As a result, you do not need to know German to study in Germany.

Public universities, which tend to be larger in size, are better able to offer work-study positions to a greater number of students. While private colleges are generally more expensive, their ability to offer more attractive financial aid packages can sometimes make them more affordable than public universities.

Which degree is best in Germany? ›

Engineering is by far the most popular and one of the best degrees to study in Germany, and it usually leads to an MS degree. Mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, and electrical engineering are among the engineering disciplines chosen by students.

It requires a good command of German (level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference ) and a successful entrance examination.

The education system in Germany can be broadly classified into Public Universities and Private Universities. Public Universities do no charge students a tuition fee but only an administration fee payable at the start of every semester. The administration fee could range from €150 to €250 a semester.

English Language Requirements to Study at German Universities: To study in English international students have to prove their language proficiency at an upper intermediate to advanced level (B2/C1). German Universities usually accept one of these certificates: A TOEFL or IELTS certificate.

There is no age limit for studying in Germany. In fact, it is not that uncommon for students to be as old as you (or even significantly older) when starting or continuing with university.

According to the number of available positions per year the best apprenticeships for woman in Germany are: 1) Management assistant for office management, 2) Medical assistants, 3) Retail saleswoman, 4) Dental assistant, 5) Sales assistant, 6) Industrial clerk, 7) Hairdresser, 8) Hotel specialist, 9) Administrative ...

The School Day

Classes normally start between 7:30 and 8:15 a.m. and can end between 12 noon and 1:30 p.m. Class periods are normally 45 minutes long with a short break in between.

Realschule (more practical secondary school for grades 5 through 10) Gymnasium (more academic secondary school for grades 5 through 12 or 13) Gesamtschule (comprehensive school for grades 5 through 12 or 13)

Proof of financial resources

Since January 2021 you are expected to demonstrate funds of 861 EUR per month / 10,332 EUR per year. From 1 January 2023, the presumed annual requirement that must be paid into the blocked account when applying for a visa amounts to 11,208 euros.

Is Germany student visa easy to get? ›

The application process is pretty simple if you have all the required documents. However, you should make sure to go prepared. Here's how to apply for the Germany Student Visa: Go to the German Embassy or Consulate in your country.

Cost of living in Germany for students. Not only can you study for free in Germany, but it is also a pretty affordable country. The average costs of living for students range between 700 - 1,000 EUR/month, including accommodation. Find out more about expenses (including health insurance) for students in Germany.

Yes. After you have completed your studies you can stay in Germany while you are looking for a job. Students from non-EU and non-EEA countries who hold a residence permit can apply to have it extended for another 18 months while they search for a job in Germany.

The 'r' sound is, to me, the most difficult in German and often the dead giveaway of a native English speaker. If we take a simple word like aber, the tendency of a native English speaker is to say, 'abER', pronouncing the hard 'r' as one would in English.

It shouldn't take long to become fluent in German. Actually, after 6-8 months of studying in intense courses (about twenty hours every week) you will be able to gain proficiency of your German language to navigate your daily life. It is possible to gain professional proficiency within a mere year!

HHU has affordable bachelor's programs that cost less than 1,000 USD/year. In order to obtain a master's degree the student must spend about 1,000 USD per year.

Europe offers plenty of affordable study options for international students. In many countries, education is free for European students. And there are even some places where non-European students can study for free.

Is University of Cologne free for international students? ›

The University of Cologne does not charge tuition fees. However, all stu- dents must pay a social contribution fee of around € 250 per semester, or € 500 per year.

Study in the Nordic countries for free

Nordic nations Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden all offer opportunities to study free or at low cost: In Norway, university study is available free of charge to all students, regardless of study level or nationality.

anabin is a database you can use to find out how your certificate will be evaluated in Germany. If you have completed university studies already, you may also use the database to find out if your university is recognised in Germany.

Answer: Yes it is possible to study abroad even if you don't have so good grades. Language schools abroad accept students on any level, and there are also other schools like American Community Colleges that accept students with lower grades.

Your nationality and residency

You can apply for funding if all of the following apply: you're an EU national or family member of an EU national, or a family member of a Person of Northern Ireland. you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme.

While public universities are very affordable, the story for students studying in a private university is different. Tuition fees in Germany for international students studying at a private university can cost anywhere between €25,000 - €40,000, depending on your course.

Students in Germany usually spend roughly 850 Euros every month on average as living costs. You will require approximately 10, 300+ Euros annually in living costs and close to 40% of global students will want to find student residences owing to lower costs hovering around 300 EUR per month.

Which country has the best education system? ›

All public universities in Germany do not charge tuition fees at the undergraduate and PhD-level, making it among the world's cheapest countries for international students.

Apart from this, students can also choose their desired university from countries like Australia, the UK, Canada, Germany, and Norway, as many universities in these countries also grant admission without IELTS or TOEFL. For this, students must attend a Pathway program, which usually lasts nine to fifteen months.