| Updated On - Jul 23, 2024
What's New?
- High-Ranking Universities: Universities in Germany ranking among the top 100 include the Technical University Munich, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, and Heidelberg University.
- Admission Requirements: A minimum academic percentage of 65% is required for admission to top universities in Germany, but it is recommended to have an exceptional academic record due to high competition.
- Popular Courses: MS in Automotive Engineering, Data Analytics, Computer Engineering, MBA, B Ed Teaching, and Bachelor’s in Engineering Education are some of the most popular courses in Germany.
- Public and Private Universities Fees: Most of the public universities in Germany don’t charge a tuition fee, and charge a nominal semester contribution ranging from EUR 300 to EUR 6,000 instead. Private universities cost EUR 10,000 to EUR 40,000.
Germany is the most popular non-Anglophone study abroad destination for Indian students. Among the 450, 000+ international students in the country, over 42,000 are Indian students, forming the largest student group based on nationality.
With over 423 higher education institutions offering 2200+ international programs, Germany is known not only for its quality of education but also because of industry-academia integration in fields like engineering, finance, etc. The top universities in Germany are Technical University of Munich, Ludwig Maximilian University, University of Heidelberg, and Freie Universitat Berlin.
Upon completion of their degree, graduates in Germany can avail an 18-months post-study work permit, and are allowed to work in any field while seeking employment. Employment opportunities in Germany are limited, and require fluency in German language. The highly competitive job market results in about 30% of students leaving Germany after their degree. However, the salary packages in Germany are attractive, with an average annual salary of INR 45 lakh.
The top recruiters for Indian students in Germany are Siemens, Carl Zeiss AG, Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler, Continental and Bosch. Graduates from Germany take up job roles like Automotive Engineer, Project Manager, Structural Engineer, Financial Analyst, Bioinformation Engineer, Business Consultant, etc, depending on their field.
Benefits of Studying in Germany for Indian Students
Germany offers international exposure and plenty of opportunities for Indian students. Some of the benefits of studying in Germany include:
- No Tuition Fees at Public Universities: The public universities in Germany are state-funded, and most of them do not charge tuition fees from Indian students. Plus, Germany is more affordable than most European countries, with monthly cost of living between 1000-1500 EUR (INR 91,000 - 1.4 lakh).
- English-Taught Courses: You still need to be fluent in German to find jobs, but English-taught courses give you more time to learn the language and allow you to proceed at your own pace.
- High Quality of Education, Faculty, and Infrastructure: The German education system is unrivaled, practical-oriented and supports independent learning. If you are someone who can do without the hand-holding that mars the education system of India, and prefer to structure your time and resources independently, Germany is the place for you.
- High-Ranking Universities: TUM, LMU, University of Heidelberg, and Freie Universitat Berlin are among the top 100 universities in the world, as per QS Ranking 2025.
Top Universities in Germany
The popular programs for Indian students in the top universities in Germany, categorized by level of study, are provided below.
Bachelor Studies
Bachelor’s programs in Germany are taught in German only. Some of the most popular ones are:
| QS Ranking 2025 | University | Popular Programs |
|---|---|---|
| #28 | Technical University Munich | B.Ed Teaching. |
| #59 | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich | B.S Business Education |
| #84 | Heidelberg University | B.A Education Studies |
| #99 | RWTH Aachen University | B.S Structural Engineering-Vocational |
| #97 | Free University of Berlin | B.A Educational Science |
| #212 | University of Freiburg | B.A Educational Science and Education |
| #191 | University of Hamburg | B.A/B.S Teacher in Grammar School. |
| #102 | Karlsruhe Institute of Technology | B.S Engineering Education |
Master Studies
Several German universities offer master’s programs in German as well as English. The most popular universities for masters in Germany are:
| QS World University Rankings 2025 | University | Top MS Programs |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Technical University of Munich | MS in Civil Engineering |
| MS in Automotive Engineering | ||
| MS in Computational Science and Engineering | ||
| 59 | Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München | MS in Data Science |
| MS in Software Engineering | ||
| MS in Physics | ||
| 97 | Freie Universität Berlin | MS in Bioinformatics | MS in Biochemistry | MS in Computer Science |
| =126 | Humboldt University of Berlin | MS in Chemistry | MS in Economics | MS in Management & Information System |
| 102 | KIT, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology | MS in Geophysics |
| MS in Optics and Photonics | ||
| MS in Water Science and Engineering | ||
| 147 | Technical University Berlin | MS in Civil Engineering | MS in Computer Science | MS in Electrical Engineering |
| 99 | RWTH Aachen University | MS in Data Analytics and Decision Science | MS in Management & Engineering in Technology, Innovation, Marketing & Entrepreneurship | MS in Computer Aided Conception and Production in Mechanical Engineering |
| 212 | University of Freiburg | MS in Nursing Sciences | MS in Biochemistry and Biophysics | MS in Biology |
PhD Studies
German institutes are research-oriented, and partner with organizations to provide students with industry exposure. Some of the popular fields for PhD in Germany include:
| QS World University Rankings 2025 | University | Program/ Faculty |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Technical University of Munich | Econometrics | Strategic Management | Innovative Technologies in Management Research |
| 59 | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich | Humanities and Cultural Studies | Social Sciences and Economics | Natural Sciences and Medicine |
| 126 | Humboldt University of Berlin | Individual Doctorate | Structured PhD Programs |
| 227 | University of Bonn | Microeconomic Theory | Management and Applied Microeconomic | Financial Economics | Macroeconomics and Public Economics | Econometrics and Statistics |
| 97 | Freie University of Berlin | Humanities & Social Sciences | Natural & Life Sciences | Computational Neuroscience Berlin |
| 99 | RWTH Aachen University | Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences | Medicine | Architecture | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering and Information Technology | Arts and Humanities | Business and Economics |
| 252 | University of Goettingen | Göttingen Graduate Center for Neurosciences, Biophysics and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB) |
| 212 | University of Freiburg | Humanities and Social Sciences | Natural Sciences | Life Sciences | Engineering | Marie Curie Programs | Cooperative Doctoral Research Groups |
Study in Germany: Admission Requirements
The admission requirements vary according to your program and university. For public universities in Germany, admission is highly selective, as they provide quality education and infrastructure at low costs. In general, the academic requirements to study in Germany are:
- For Undergraduate:
- XIIth Standard: 65% or above
- GRE: 310 + (not mandatory in most colleges)
- German Language Proficiency: B1 Level in CEFR
- Studienkolleg (Foundation Course) - If your qualifications are deemed insufficient by the university
- Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (School-leaving certificate)
- TestAS - Entrance exam (for some universities)
- For Master’s:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent: 2.5 GPA (75%) or above
- An English (IELTS 6.5) or German Language Certificate (B1 Level), depending on the course language you choose
The documents you need to apply to a German university are:
- A duly completed application form
- Recognized foreign school-leaving certificate
- Certificates for previous university studies (If you’re applying to a postgraduate program, include official transcripts and the diploma certificate)
- Proof of language proficiency
- Copy of your passport and a passport/portrait photo
- Letter of motivation & recommendation letters (if applicable)
- Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Standardized tests (if applicable) (TestAS may be required for certain universities or GMAT/GRE scores for some business schools)
- Akademische Prüfstelle – APS Certificate
Read more: APS Certificate Germany
Visa Requirements
The student visa fee for Indian applicants is 75 EUR (6,815 INR), and provided below is the Germany Study Visa checklist:
- A duly filled and signed national visa application form
- A valid national passport
- Birth certificate
- Health Insurance - From departure to the date of enrolment - approx. 3 months)
- Proof of Admission - Admission letter from the university
- Cover Letter (Including the purpose and duration of stay, the reason for choosing the particular university, study program, and how the particular program will help in career)
- Proof of payment to the university
- Proof of Financial Resources (Finanzierungsnachweis)
To know all about the German visa application process, click here.
Cost of Studying in Germany
Germany is one of the affordable countries in Europe, with no tuition fees in public universities and a comparatively low cost of living. The average cost of living in Germany is around EUR 850 (~74,000 INR) per month or EUR 10,236 (~8.9 lakh INR) per year.
Tuition Fees
The fees for studying in Germany range from EUR 330 - 20,000 (30 Thousand- 5.29 Lakh INR), with private universities charging tuition fees and public universities charging semester contributions.
| University | Annual Tuition Fees | INR Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Technical University Munich, Munich | €6,000 | ₹5.45L |
| Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich | €287 | ₹26.1K |
| Heidelberg University | €3,000 | ₹2.72L |
| RWTH Aachen University | €520 | ₹47.2K |
| Free University of Berlin | €8,200 | ₹7.45L |
| University of Freiburg | €3,000 | ₹2.72L |
| University of Hamburg | €680 | ₹61.7K |
| Karlsruhe Institute of Technology | €1,500 | ₹1.36L |
Cost of Living in Germany
Living in Germany is comparatively affordable. Apart from tuition fees, as an Indian student your living expenses will include accommodation, transport, groceries, phone and internet, gas and electricity, and other miscellaneous expenses.
Part-time jobs are a popular way to manage living expenses in Germany. For instance, “Hiwi” jobs, or assistantships (research assistant, teaching assistant, graduate assistant) are taken up by Indian students to supplement their income.
Scholarships to Study in Germany
You will need a strong academic record to avail a scholarship, as most of them are merit-based. Given below are the scholarship details for Indian students to study in Germany:
| University | Scholarship | Eligibility | Amount (Euro) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free University of Berlin | DAAD | Graduation with above-average results (top 30%) or 85% aggregate | €861 (INR 73,720) per month |
| University of Kaiserslautern | Merit Scholarships | Academic excellence | Tuition Fee Waiver |
| University of Mainz | Santander Postgraduate Internationalisation Scholarship | Excellent academic achievements in past qualifications | EUR 6,030 |
| Ulm University | Stibet Scholarship | Academic achievement | EUR 750/month for 3 to 4 months |
| EBS Business School | International Scholarship | Awarded on a merit basis | 300 euros per month |
| University of Kiel | Erasmus | Academic excellence | 33 600 Euro (1,400 Euro x 24 months) |
| ESCP Business School | Academic excellence | Merit basis | €15,000 |
Study in Germany: Placement
Graduates in Germany can obtain an 18-months post-study work permit after completion of their degree. Germany has a highly competitive job market, and most professions demand fluency in Germany (even if you studied an English-taught course).
The salary packages in Germany are attractive, with an average annual salary of INR 75 lakh. The top recruiters for Indian students in Germany are Siemens, Carl Zeiss AG, Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler, Continental and Bosch. The common professions in Germany include Automotive Engineer, Project Manager, Structural Engineer, Financial Analyst, Bioinformation Engineer, Business Consultant, etc, depending on the field of study.
Some of the highest paying degrees in Germany are provided below.
| Degree | Average Graduate Salary Per Year |
|---|---|
| Executive MBA | USD 131,000 |
| Masters in Finance | USD 125,000 |
| MBA | USD 124,000 |
| Doctorate | USD 123,000 |
| Masters in Management | USD 118,000 |
| PhD | USD 117,000 |
The most popular professions after studying in Germany include:
| Profession | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineer | USD 56,126 |
| Medical Professional (including nurses) | USD 66,900 |
| Hospitality Industry Professional | USD 45,260 |
| Teacher/Tutor | USD 50,574 |
| Researcher | USD 60,336 |
Work Permit
Following graduation, students who complete their studies in Germany are allowed an 18-month extension to work in the country. The work permit doesn't include a student visa and is completely a separate entity. The documents required for post study work permit in Germany include:
- University Degree
- Valid Passport
- Health Insurance
- Proof of Funds
Finding placement in Germany can be challenging (especially if you don’t know the language), but with a good academic record and extensive networking, you have a good chance. With a tuition fee range of 300 EUR- 6,000 EUR (30 Thousand- 5.29 Lakh INR) in public universities and an average annual salary of 35,000 EUR- 45,000 EUR (31-40 Lakh INR), studying in Germany reflects a high ROI.
FAQs
Ques. Do I need IELTS to study in Germany?
Ans: If you are planning to study an English-taught program in Germany, you need an IELTS score of at least 6.5 or equivalent. Alternatively, you need B1 level German fluency to study courses taught in German. English-taught courses are not available for undergraduate studies in Germany.
Ques. Can I study in Germany if I don’t know any German?
Ans. There are English-taught courses available for master’s degree students in Germany, but it is recommended that you learn German all the same, since it is needed to secure placement opportunities.
Ques. How much is the student visa fee in Germany?
Ans: The application fees for the German student visa is 75 EUR (6,815 INR).
Ques. Is studying in Germany actually free?
Ans. Studying in Germany is more affordable than most other study abroad destinations as the public universities are state funded and do not charge any tuition fees. Living in Germany is also feasible, though it is more expensive than India. However, admission to public universities is highly competitive.
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