Why study in Germany?
Germany is a popular choice for Indian students who want a strong engineering, computer science or business degree without high tuition. Most state universities charge no tuition for bachelor's and most master's courses. You pay a semester contribution of about €70–430 instead.
There are exceptions. Universities in Baden-Württemberg charge non-EU students €1,500 per semester, and some Bavarian universities, such as TUM, now set their own fees. Many master's courses are taught in English, but German helps a lot with daily life and part-time jobs.
Indian applicants need an APS certificate before the visa, and most show funds through a blocked account. After graduating, you can stay up to 18 months to look for a job that matches your degree.
- No tuition for bachelor's and most master's courses at state universities
- Semester contribution of about €70–430, set by each university
- Up to 18 months after graduating to look for a qualified job
- Work up to 140 full days or 280 half days a year while you study
- Many English-taught master's courses in engineering, computing and data
- Scholarships from DAAD and the Deutschlandstipendium
Popular universities in Germany
Technical University of Munich (TUM)
Munich · Non-EU tuition of €2,000–6,000 per semester
RWTH Aachen University
Aachen · English-taught MSc Data Science
Technische Universität Berlin
Berlin · No tuition; English-taught MSc Computer Science
Heidelberg University
Heidelberg · Non-EU fee of €1,500 per semester (Baden-Württemberg)
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Karlsruhe · Non-EU fee of €1,500 per semester (Baden-Württemberg)
University of Mannheim
Mannheim · English-taught Mannheim Master in Management
Frankfurt School of Finance & Management
Frankfurt · Private; Master of Finance and full-time MBA
Constructor University
Bremen · Private; English-taught bachelor's and master's
Popular programmes
- Computer Science
- Data Science & AI
- Mechanical & Automotive Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Renewable Energy
- Management
- Finance
Courses from our Course Finder
Informatics (M.Sc.)
Technical University of Munich (TUM) · Munich · Master’s · 2 years (4 semesters)
Data Engineering and Analytics (M.Sc.)
Technical University of Munich (TUM) · Munich · Master’s · 2 years (4 semesters)
Aerospace (M.Sc.)
Technical University of Munich (TUM) · Munich · Master’s · 2 years (4 semesters)
Management and Technology (M.Sc.)
Technical University of Munich (TUM) · Munich · Master’s · 2 years (4 semesters)
Management and Technology (B.Sc.)
Technical University of Munich (TUM) · Munich · Bachelor’s · 3 years (6 semesters)
Data Science (M.Sc.)
RWTH Aachen University · Aachen · Master’s · 2 years (4 semesters)
Cost of studying: financial breakdown
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition at most state universities | €0No fees for bachelor's and most master's courses; some continuing-education master's charge fees |
| Semester contribution | €70–430 / semesterVaries by university |
| Non-EU tuition in Baden-Württemberg | €1,500 / semesterE.g. Heidelberg, KIT, Mannheim; doctoral students exempt |
| Non-EU tuition at TUM (Bavaria) | €2,000–6,000 / semesterSet per programme |
| Living costs / proof of funds | €992 / month (€11,904 / yr)Usually shown through a blocked account; DAAD estimates €900–1,200 a month to live |
| Student visa fee | €75National (long-stay) visa |
| Health insurance | About €120–130 / monthStatutory student rate if you are under 30 |
Typical tuition in rupees: ≈ ₹7,600–46,600 per semester (European Central Bank and Bank of Russia reference rates, 9 October 2026).
Application checklist
- 1Valid passport issued within the last 10 years
- 2University admission letter that states the language of instruction
- 3APS certificate from APS India (some master's applicants also need dMAT)
- 4English or German test from an approved provider (IELTS, TOEFL or Goethe); online-exam results and 'medium of instruction' letters are not accepted by the embassy
- 5Blocked account of €11,904 for the first year, or a scholarship letter or formal obligation letter
- 6Health insurance cover
- 7Motivation letter and CV
- 8Degree certificates and mark sheets
- 9Two identical sets of all documents for the visa appointment
- 10Book your visa appointment as soon as you have your admission letter
Student visa: German National Visa (Study)
Indian students need a national (long-stay) visa to study in Germany. Apply after you receive your admission letter and APS certificate, and show your funds, usually through a blocked account. In Germany you then register and get a residence permit for study.
What you’ll need
- Passport issued within the last 10 years
- Signed application form and motivation letter
- Admission letter stating the language of instruction
- APS certificate
- Language certificate from an approved body (no online-exam certificates)
- Proof of funds: blocked account of €11,904 for the first year, or a scholarship or formal obligation letter
- Proof of health insurance cover
- Visa fee of €75
Work and employment options
- While you study
- Up to 140 full days or 280 half days a year; student assistant (HiWi) jobs at the university have no day limit
- After you graduate
- After graduating, your residence permit can be extended for up to 18 months while you look for a job that matches your qualification. Once you find one, you switch to a work residence permit, such as the EU Blue Card.
- Up to 18 months after graduating to find a job that matches your degree
- Switch to a work residence permit, such as the EU Blue Card, once you have a qualified job offer
- Student assistant (HiWi) jobs at your university build experience without counting towards the 140-day limit
- English-taught tech roles exist, but German skills widen your options a lot
Good to know: Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester, and TUM in Bavaria charges €2,000–6,000 per semester. Indian applicants also need an APS certificate before the visa.
Scholarships to explore
- DAAD scholarships (search the DAAD scholarship database for your course)
- Deutschlandstipendium
- Political and private foundation scholarships
- Baden-Württemberg universities can exempt a small share of international students from the €1,500 fee (Heidelberg: up to 5%)
Official sources · checked 10 October 2026
- DAAD: costs of education and living (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD: side jobs for students (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD: healthcare and health insurance (opens in a new tab)
- Berlin Immigration Office: residence for study (opens in a new tab)
- German Embassy New Delhi: visa fees (opens in a new tab)
- APS India: Academic Evaluation Centre (opens in a new tab)
Figures are indicative planning ranges and change often. Always confirm fees, funds and visa rules on the university and official government websites before you apply.